System and method for treating brain injury
Inventors
Zak, III, John F. • Ertel, Jason R. • Makarov, Sergey • Boll, David J. • Velet, Alex • Stewart, Virginia
Assignees
Tectraum Inc • Nottingham Spirk Design Associates Inc
Publication Number
US-11458039-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-04
Expiration Date
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
The system includes a pump, a heat exchanger, a bladder, a thermometer, and a controller. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the pump. The bladder is configured to be placed over a carotid artery, and is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The thermometer is located with respect to the heat exchanger and configured to measure a temperature of fluid downstream from the heat exchanger. The controller is in electrical communication 28 with the thermometer and the heat exchanger. The controller is configured to 20 control power delivered to or flow through the heat exchanger such that the temperature of the fluid downstream from the heat exchanger measured by the thermometer is between 2 degrees C. and 10 degrees C. for between 10 minutes and 50 minutes.
Core Innovation
The invention is a system and a method for treating a brain injury that includes a pump, a heat exchanger, a bladder configured to be placed over a carotid artery, a thermometer located with respect to the heat exchanger to measure a temperature of fluid downstream from the heat exchanger, and a controller in electrical communication with the thermometer and the heat exchanger. The controller is configured to control power delivered to or flow through the heat exchanger such that the temperature of the fluid downstream from the heat exchanger measured by the thermometer is maintained at a treatment temperature for a treatment time period [procedural detail omitted for safety].
The patent addresses comfort issues associated with head and neck cooling devices, noting that wearers can experience discomfort which may lead them to shorten the time they wear such devices and potentially decrease the efficacy of treatment. To mitigate discomfort and improve acclimation, the invention controls an initial faster ramp down toward a first predetermined temperature threshold followed by a slower ramp down to the treatment temperature, and provides for insulating or protective barriers for sensitive regions of the wearer.
Claims Coverage
This section identifies two independent claims (a method claim and a system claim) and extracts ten main inventive features from those claims.
Fluid delivery to bladder on neck adjacent to carotid artery
Pumping fluid through a heat exchanger to a bladder placed on a wearer's neck adjacent to or over a carotid artery.
Heat removal via heat exchanger
Removing heat from the fluid passing through the heat exchanger.
Temperature measurement downstream from heat exchanger
Measuring a temperature of fluid downstream from the heat exchanger.
Control of power or flow via valve to maintain treatment temperature
Controlling at least one of power delivered to the heat exchanger and flow of the fluid through the heat exchanger by opening and closing a valve to allow fluid from a pump to bypass the heat exchanger such that the measured temperature of the fluid downstream from the heat exchanger is a treatment temperature [procedural detail omitted for safety] for [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Ramp down profile with faster initial cooling
A rate of change of temperature from an initial temperature toward the treatment temperature is faster during an earlier ramp down period from an initial temperature toward a first predetermined temperature threshold as compared to a later ramp down period from the first predetermined temperature threshold to the treatment temperature.
Components positioned in a casing with fluid lines
The pump, the heat exchanger, and a thermometer positioned in a casing and the bladder connected with the casing with fluid lines, wherein the temperature is measured prior to the fluid exiting the casing and entering the fluid lines.
Controller configured to control power and valve to achieve treatment conditions
A controller in electrical communication with the thermometer, the valve and the heat exchanger, the controller configured to control power delivered to the heat exchanger and to control the valve to control flow of fluid through the heat exchanger such that the temperature of the fluid downstream from the heat exchanger measured by the thermometer is a treatment temperature [procedural detail omitted for safety] for [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Controller control of overall ramp down timing based on initial temperature
The controller is configured to control power delivered to or flow through the heat exchanger such that the overall ramp down period time is constrained within specified bounds depending on the initial temperature ranges [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Post-treatment control to restore acclimation temperature
The controller is configured to control power delivered to the heat exchanger and/or flow through the heat exchanger after the treatment time period has elapsed such that power is no longer delivered or power is delivered to heat fluid passing through the heat exchanger and/or flow is controlled until the measured temperature equals at least an acclimation temperature [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Insulating materials for sensitive anatomy and forehead region
Provision of an insulating material for placing on skin over thyroid cartilage and an insulating material for placing on skin over a forehead region to reduce thermal conductivity and to allow pumping fluid at the same temperature to both neck and forehead bladders with forehead insulation providing relief to the wearer.
The independent method claim defines delivery, cooling, measurement, and controlled maintenance of a treatment temperature with a staged ramp down, and the independent system claim defines the physical components and a controller that effects the same controlled temperature, timing, bypass valve operation, and accommodations for user comfort.
Stated Advantages
Mitigates wearer discomfort by providing an initial ramp down and a secondary acclimation ramp down to reduce sudden exposure to very cold treatment temperatures.
Improves treatment adherence by limiting overall ramp down and treatment duration so wearers are more likely to wear the bladders for an adequate treatment period.
Avoids peak electrical draw that could trip electrical hardware by controlling an initial cooldown profile, reducing potential cost impacts from larger power supplies.
Allows greater cooling at the neck while providing relief at the forehead by using insulating material on the forehead so both neck and forehead can receive fluid at the same temperature.
Provides acclimation between successive wearers by controlling power or flow after treatment until the measured temperature reaches an acceptable acclimation level.
Documented Applications
Treating a brain injury by cooling blood flowing through the carotid arteries to provide brain cooling.
Cooling the forehead region using a second bladder to provide forehead cooling concurrent with neck/ carotid cooling.
Interested in licensing this patent?