CENTRAL VENOUS LINE COOLING CATHETER HAVING A SPIRAL-SHAPED HEAT EXCHANGE MEMBER

摘要

A catheter (20) and a method of using the catheter (20) are disclosed that serve to create an efficient and rapid controlled manner of regulating a patient's body temperature. The catheter (20) is a heat exchange catheter insertable into a blood vessel of a patient, circulating a heat exchange fluid therein, and including a spiral-shaped inflatable balloon (124) that mixes laminar layers of the heat exchange fluid flowing inside the balloon (124).