Devices and methods for controlling patient temperature
Inventors
Kulstad, Erik • Caherty, Hugh Patrick
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8231664-B2
Publication Date
2012-07-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
Relatively non-invasive devices and methods for heating or cooling a patient's body are disclosed. Devices and methods for treating ischemic conditions by inducing therapeutic hypothermia are disclosed. Devices and methods for inducing therapeutic hypothermia through esophageal cooling are disclosed. Devices and methods for operative temperature management are disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an esophageal heat transfer device comprising a plurality of lumens that provide a fluid path for flow of a heat transfer medium, and a heat transfer region configured for contacting esophageal epithelium of a patient. The device includes a proximal end with an input port and an output port, and a distal end configured for insertion into an esophagus of a patient. A hollow tube is included with a distal end configured to extend into a stomach of the patient.
The invention further provides a system for cooling or warming at least one portion of a patient's body using a heat transfer device having proximal and distal ends and at least one semi-rigid tube extending therebetween. The proximal end includes a heat transfer medium input port and output port, while the distal end is configured for insertion into an orifice of a patient. The semi-rigid tube defines an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen that provide a fluid path for a heat transfer medium, and the system includes a supply line and a return line connected to the input and output ports. The system also includes the hollow tube with a distal end extending into the stomach of the patient.
The invention also provides a system for controlling core body temperature of a subject that includes a heat transfer tube insertable within the esophagus and configured to contact the epithelial lining of the esophagus. An external heat exchanger contains a heat transfer fluid, and a pump flows the heat transfer fluid through a circuit within the heat transfer tube. A heat transfer element is in contact with the external heat exchanger, and a sensor detects a parameter and generates a signal representative of the parameter that is transmitted to a microprocessor. The microprocessor controls flow of the heat transfer fluid within the circuit and/or the temperature of the heat transfer fluid, and a hollow tube extends into the stomach.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims (three total) cover an esophageal heat transfer device and multiple related system configurations for cooling and warming and for controlling core body temperature. Across these claims, the inventive coverage is centered on a plurality of lumens or inflow/outflow lumens, a heat transfer region contacting esophageal epithelium, proximal input/output ports, insertion into the esophagus or an orifice of a patient, and a hollow tube extending into the stomach; the core-body-temperature system additionally includes an external heat exchanger, pump, sensor, and microprocessor control.
Esophageal heat transfer device with multi-lumen fluid path and hollow stomach tube
An esophageal heat transfer device comprising a plurality of lumens configured to provide a fluid path for flow of a heat transfer medium, a heat transfer region configured for contacting esophageal epithelium of a patient, a proximal end including an input port and an output port, and a distal end configured for insertion into an esophagus of a patient, the heat transfer device further comprising a hollow tube having a distal end configured to extend into a stomach of said patient.
Cooling or warming system with semi-rigid inflow/outflow lumens and hollow stomach tube
A system for cooling or warming at least one portion of a patient's body comprising a heat transfer device including a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one semi-rigid tube extending therebetween, the proximal end including a heat transfer medium input port and a heat transfer medium output port, the distal end configured for insertion into an orifice of a patient, the at least one semi-rigid tube defining an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen, the lumens configured to provide a fluid path for flow of a heat transfer medium, a supply line connected to said input port, a return line connected to said output port, and a hollow tube having a distal end configured to extend into a stomach of said patient.
Core body temperature control system with external heat exchanger, pump, sensor-to-microprocessor control and hollow stomach tube
A system for controlling core body temperature of a subject comprising a heat transfer tube insertable within the esophagus of said subject, wherein said tube is configured to contact the epithelial lining of the esophagus, an external heat exchanger containing a heat transfer fluid, a pump for flowing said heat transfer fluid through a circuit within the heat transfer tube, a heat transfer element in contact with the external heat exchanger, a sensor for detecting a parameter and generating a signal representative of the parameter, wherein the signal is transmitted to a microprocessor to control flow of the heat transfer fluid within the circuit or the temperature of the heat transfer fluid, and a hollow tube having a distal end configured to extend into a stomach of said subject.
Across the independent claims, the patent’s claim coverage is directed to an esophageal heat transfer device and systems that cool or warm by flowing a heat transfer medium through multi-lumen or semi-rigid inflow/outflow lumens with proximal input/output ports and a heat transfer region contacting esophageal epithelium, paired with a hollow tube extending into the stomach. The core-body-temperature control independent claim adds an external heat exchanger, pump-driven circulation within a heat transfer tube circuit, and sensor-generated signals transmitted to a microprocessor for controlling fluid flow and/or fluid temperature.
Stated Advantages
System/device provides cooling or heating performance that is unexpectedly superior versus prior esophageal cooling approaches, as reported in the partial content.
Ability to induce therapeutic hypothermia for purposes including ischemia-reperfusion injury, stroke/traumatic brain injury, myocardial infarction, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and cardiac arrest, as described in the partial content.
Ability to manage operative core temperature, as described in the partial content.
Documented Applications
Therapeutic hypothermia for ischemia-reperfusion injury, as described in the partial content.
Therapeutic hypothermia for stroke/traumatic brain injury, as described in the partial content.
Therapeutic hypothermia for myocardial infarction, as described in the partial content.
Therapeutic hypothermia for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), as described in the partial content.
Therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest, as described in the partial content.
Operative core temperature management, as described in the partial content.
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