초록 ▼

An improved intravascular device (20) is adapted for use in treating hypothermia in a patient. The improved device includes an elongated flexible catheter (21) having a distal end piece (26) arranged in spaced relation to a catheter main body portion (32). The distal end piece and catheter main body

An improved intravascular device (20) is adapted for use in treating hypothermia in a patient. The improved device includes an elongated flexible catheter (21) having a distal end piece (26) arranged in spaced relation to a catheter main body portion (32). The distal end piece and catheter main body portions are joined by a wire stylet (33) and by a flexible wall portion (43). The stylet is adapted to be rotated relative to the catheter main body portion to selectively furl and unfurl the flexible wall portion. Once inserted into a patient blood vessel, a pump (25) is arranged to circulate heated fluid (e.g., heated saline solution) through communicating chambers (45,44) in heat exchange relation to blood flowing past the catheter. The pressure of fluid supplied by pump 25 may be caused to pulsate to prevent blood from clotting on the catheter.

대표청구항 ▼

An intravascular device for use in treating hypothermia in a patient, comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having a distal end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel of said patient and moved therealong to a desired location within the patient\s body, and having a proximal end adapted to r

An intravascular device for use in treating hypothermia in a patient, comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having a distal end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel of said patient and moved therealong to a desired location within the patient\s body, and having a proximal end adapted to remain outside the patient\s body, said catheter having an inflatable portion adjacent said distal end, said inflatable portion having an outer surface arranged to contact blood within said vessel and having an inner surface facing into a chamber, said inflatable portion being adapted to be moved between a deflated position in which said inner surface is arranged relatively close to the longitudinal axis of said catheter and an inflated position in which said inner surface is arranged relatively far from said longitudinal axis, said catheter having an end piece converted to said inflatable portion at said distal said catheter end, having a main body spaced from said end piece by said inflatable portion and terminating in said proximal end, said end piece being arranged for movement relative to said main body, said main body having a first lumen converted to said inflatable portion and; inflation means positioned proximate said proximal end and communicating with said chamber for selectively causing said inflatable portion to be moved between said deflated and inflated positions, and for causing a heated fluid to flow simultaneously into and out of said chamber in heat exchange relation to blood flowing past said catheter inflatable portion; and a stylet having a distal end secured to said end piece, having an intermediate portion movably arranged within said first lumen, and having a proximal end arranged adjacent the proximal end of said main body, and wherein said stylet may be selectively rotated relative to said main body to move said inflatable portion between furled and unfurled positions; whereby the distal end of said catheter may be inserted into a blood vessel and moved therealong to a desired position within said patient, and said inflation means may be operated to cause said inflatable portion to move toward said inflated position and to cause heated fluid to flow through said chamber to heat blood flowing past said inflated portion.