Portable cooler for heat exchange catheter
AssigneeAlsius Corporation
InventorWayne Arthur Noda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable cooler is provided for heat exchange catheters that is powered by one or more batteries. The cooler can include Rankine cycle compressor components or thermoelectric cooler (TEC) components. The cooler can be carried in an ambulance and used to support coolant to an indwelling heat exchange catheter that is placed in the patient's venous system to prevent fever and/or induce therapeutic moderate hypothermia in, e.g., stroke victims, heart attack victims, and cardiac arrest victims.
Claims18
A system for controlling patient temperature, comprising:
- a portable housing;
- a heat exchanger in the housing and powered by at least one battery;
- a heat exchanger element in thermal contact with the heat exchanger, the heat exchange element carrying coolant;
- and
- a closed loop heat exchange catheter outside the housing and receiving coolant from and sending coolant to the heat exchange element, the catheter being configured for placement in the circulatory system of a patient to exchange heat with the blood of the patient.
A method for cooling a patient while the patient is located in a vehicle, comprising:
- disposing a dc-powered heat exchanger in the vehicle;
- advancing a heat exchange catheter into the venous system of the patient;
- establishing fluid communication between the catheter and heat exchanger;
- and
- operating the heat exchanger to circulate coolant through the catheter to cool the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.