Radio frequency patient heating system

摘要

The system of the present invention includes a heat exchange catheter for warming flowing blood within a blood vessel. The heat exchange catheter includes a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with electrodes. The electrodes generate an electric field that radiates heat to the flowing blood. The electrodes comprise discrete bands that serially align and are spaced apart from each other. Each electrode has a polarity, and for each electrode there is an adjacent electrode having an opposite polarity. A support centrally aligns the catheter body within the blood vessel.