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Assignees
Member
NeuroIntactNeuroIntact is a medical device company based in Baltimore, Maryland, focused on developing targeted temperature management (TTM) therapies to preserve neurological function in critical care settings, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cardiac arrest. The company specializes in intranasal delivery of TTM, aiming to optimize brain temperature while minimizing systemic effects and side effects seen with whole-body cooling. Backed by recent funding and industry partnerships, NeuroIntact is advancing its devices through clinical evaluation and commercialization, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and care for both military and civilian populations.
NeuroIntact is a medical device company based in Baltimore, Maryland, focused on developing targeted temperature management (TTM) therapies to preserve neurological function in critical care settings, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cardiac arrest. The company specializes in intranasal delivery of TTM, aiming to optimize brain temperature while minimizing systemic effects and side effects seen with whole-body cooling. Backed by recent funding and industry partnerships, NeuroIntact is advancing its devices through clinical evaluation and commercialization, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and care for both military and civilian populations.
Publication Number
US-11737912-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for cooling the brain of a human subject, includes a cooling subsystem which inputs a flow of air or breathable gas, cool the air or breathable gas, and outputs cooled air or breathable gas which is delivered to a human subject. A flow control device controls a flow rate of the flow of the air or breathable gas input to the cooling subsystem and a flow rate of the cooled air or breathable gas delivered to the human subject. One or more flow rate sensors measure at least a flow rate of flow of cooled air or breathable gas. One or more temperature sensors measure at least a temperature of a brain and the temperature of the flow of cooled air or breathable gas. A controller adjusts a cooling rate, the temperature, and the flow rate of flow of cooled air or breathable gas delivered to the human subject to cool the brain of the human subject.
Core Innovation
The invention is a closed-loop system and method for selective brain cooling that delivers cooled air or breathable gas, preferably via a nasal cannula, using a cooling subsystem with a gas block in thermal communication with a thermoelectric cooler. The system includes a heat-exchanger subsystem, a flow control device and pump or compressor, and sensors for flow rate and temperature at brain or brain-correlative sites, with cooled gas output routed to a delivery line.
A controller coupled to the cooling subsystem and sensors uses feedback, for example a PID-like algorithm, to adjust cooling rate, temperature, and flow rate to achieve therapeutic hypothermia or target temperature management. Optional features include humidification, an onboard battery, a user interface, a portable compressor or blower, and heat-exchange structures such as heat pipes, fins, and a fan, with operational ranges documented [procedural detail omitted for safety] to support pre-hospital and point-of-injury use.
Claims Coverage
One independent claim is identified; it recites five inventive features.
Cooling subsystem with gas block thermally coupled to a thermoelectric cooler
A cooling subsystem configured to input a flow of air or breathable gas, the cooling subsystem comprising a gas block including a surface in thermal communication with a thermoelectric cooling (TEC) device and configured such that the flow of air or breathable gas contacts the gas block at a location in thermal communication with TEC to cool the air or breathable gas and output cooled air or breathable gas to a line coupled to a device adapted to deliver the cooled air or breathable gas to a human subject.
Flow control device configured to control flow rates
A flow control device coupled to the cooling subsystem configured to control a flow rate of the flow of the air or breathable gas input to the cooling subsystem and a flow rate of the cooled air or breathable gas output to the line.
Flow rate sensors measuring cooled gas flow
One or more flow rate sensors coupled to the cooling subsystem configured to measure at least a flow rate of flow of cooled air or breathable gas.
Temperature sensors measuring subject and gas temperatures
One or more temperature sensors configured to measure at least a temperature of a brain or a brain correlative site of the human subject and the temperature of the flow of cooled air or breathable gas.
Controller for closed-loop adjustment based on measured temperatures and flow
A controller coupled to the cooling subsystem, the flow control device, the one or more flow rate sensors, and the one or more temperature sensors, the controller configured to adjust a cooling rate, the temperature, and the flow rate of flow of cooled air or breathable gas delivered to the human subject based on at least the measured temperature of the brain or the brain correlative site and the measured flow rate of the flow of cooled air or breathable gas to cool the brain of the human subject.
The claim focuses on closed-loop delivery of cooled air or breathable gas to cool the brain, combining a TEC-cooled gas block, flow control, flow and temperature sensing, and a controller that adjusts cooling parameters based on measured subject and gas conditions.
Stated Advantages
Rapid, selective intranasal brain cooling at point-of-injury.
Automated control to reduce adverse effects and improve timing within the therapeutic window.
Portability for pre-hospital use enabled by an onboard battery and a portable compressor or blower.
Achieving therapeutic hypothermia or target temperature management.
Documented Applications
Point-of-injury use such as battlefield, transport, and emergency settings for rapid, selective intranasal brain cooling.
Pre-hospital use supported by a portable compressor or blower and an onboard battery.
Therapeutic hypothermia or target temperature management.
Selective brain cooling via delivery of cooled air or breathable gas, preferably via a nasal cannula.
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