| 摘要 |
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a patient's body temperature and in particular for inducing therapeutic hypothermia. Various embodiments of the system are described. The system includes: a source of breathing gas (1), which may be in the form of a compressed breathing gas mixture; a heat exchanger (2) or other heating and/ or cooling device; and a breathing interface, such as a breathing mask (3) or tracheal tube. Optionally, the system may include additional features, such as a mechanical respirator (11), a nebulizer (18) for introducing medication in to the breathing gas, a body temperature probe (7) and a feedback controller (6 ). The system can use air or a specialized breathing gas mixture, such as He/02 or SF6/02 to increase the heat transfer rate. In addition, the system may include an ice particle generator (10) for introducing fine particles into t he flow of breathing gas to further increase the heat transfer rate. |
