System and method for inducing hypothermia with control and determination of catheter pressure

摘要

Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, methods and devices are provided for control and determination of the pressure within the heat transfer element.

主权项

1. A catheter system to change the temperature of blood by heat transfer to or from a circulating working fluid, comprising:
a supply lumen to introduce a circulating working fluid to a heat transfer element; a return lumen for helically encircling the supply lumen
to enable free stream of blood to flow between the return and supply lumens, andto extract a circulating working fluid from the heat transfer element, the return lumen having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the supply lumen to enhance flexibility of the heat transfer element; and a temperature sensor mounted on the supply lumen or return lumen to sense the temperature of blood in the vicinity of a distal tip of the catheter, wherein contact with both the return and supply lumens inducing turbulence in a substantial portion of the free stream of blood.