Method and apparatus for modifying the temperature of a patient

摘要

A heat exchange fluid supply system for supplying a heat exchange fluid to an intravascular heat exchange catheter includes a disposable cassette having a bulkhead and an external heat exchanger, and which is configured to operate in combination with a reusable master control unit. The bulkhead includes a reservoir section and a pump section. The reservoir section is provided with a means to monitor the amount of heat exchange fluid that is in the system. The bulkhead provides the mechanism for priming the system with heat exchange fluid from an external source and for circulating fluid to the catheter in a closed circuit. The pump section is configured to allow for pumping of heat exchange fluid at a constant pressure.

主权项

1. A system for maintaining or changing the temperature of at least a portion of the body of a subject, comprising:
a heat exchange catheter having at least one recirculating-fluid-type intracorporeal heat exchanger, the heat exchange catheter being insertable into the vasculature of the subject such that the heat exchanger is in contact with blood flowing within the vasculature; an extracorporeal heat exchanger configured to be fluidly coupled to the disposable heat exchange catheter; a pump head in fluid communication with the heat exchange catheter and the extracorporeal heat exchanger, the pump head, extracorporeal heat exchanger and heat exchange catheter providing a disposable fluid circuit through which heat exchange fluid flows; a heater/cooler device in thermal communication with the disposable extracorporeal heat exchanger, the heater/cooler device configured to add heat to the heat exchange fluid or subtract heat from the heat exchange fluid flowing through the primary heat exchanger; at least one sensor for monitoring the temperature of at least a portion of the subject's body, the at least one sensor providing signals representative of the monitored temperature of the at least a portion of the subject's body; a reservoir disposed between and in fluid communication with the external heat exchanger and the pump; a pump driver configured to drive the pump head to flow heat exchange fluid through the heat exchange circuit; and a controller configured to control the pump driver in response to the signals provided by the at least one sensor to maintain or change the temperature of at least a portion of the subject.