Systems and methods for intravascular cooling

摘要

Methods and systems for infusing a cooled infusate to a target location in a patient are described. A temperature of the blood and infusate admixture upstream of the catheter as well as at other locations along the catheter may be monitored and a feedback system utilized to control the volume, temperature, and/or infusion rate of the infusate so as to achieve a predetermined temperature at the target location. Control may also be based on the patient's native vessel flow rate. The system may monitor or calculate hematocrit upstream of the catheter and adjust infusion so as to provide sufficient oxygenation of the blood and infusate admixture. The system may also monitor reflux of the infusate past a distal end of the catheter and reduce infusion upon the detection of reflux.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
communicating with a source of an infusate; controlling at least one of (a) a temperature of the infusate, (b) an infusion rate of the infusate through an insertion device, and (c) a volume of the infusate passing through the insertion device in a downstream direction, in accordance with a temperature of a blood and infusate mixture downstream relative to an infusate exit location of the insertion device while the insertion device is placed in a blood vessel of a patient with a downstream flow of blood for infusion of the infusate, and in accordance with at least one of (a) a temperature of the infusate at least one of at and adjacent the exit location, (b) a temperature upstream and adjacent the exit location, and (c) a core body temperature of the patient; receiving signals from a plurality of temperature sensors, at least one of the temperature sensors is positioned downstream relative to the infusate exit location; measuring a temperature of the infusate and blood mixture by at least one of the temperature sensors; and measuring at least one of (a) the temperature of the infusate adjacent the exit location, (b) the temperature upstream and adjacent the exit location, and (c) the core body temperature of the patient by at least another one of the temperature sensors; wherein the temperature sensors include a first temperature sensor positioned downstream relative to an infusate exit location of a catheter and adapted to measure the temperature of the infusate and blood mixture when the catheter is placed in the blood vessel of the patient for infusion of the infusate, a second temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the infusate at least one of at and adjacent the exit location, a third temperature sensor adapted to measure a temperature outside the catheter upstream and adjacent the exit location, and a fourth temperature sensor adapted to measure the core body temperature of the patient.