초록 ▼

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying w

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the blood vessel, heat may be transferred to or from blood flowing within the vessel and the patient's body temperature may thereby be increased or decreased as desired. The invention will find use in treating undesirable conditions of hypothermia and hyperthermia, or for inducing a condition of artificial hypothermia when desired. The method and system further provide for the cooling of initially hypothermic patients whose blood or body temperature has been warmed above the desired target level and the warming of initially hyperthermic patients whose blood or body temperature has been cooled below the desired target temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for restoring normal body temperature to a patient having a body temperature above or below normal body temperature, said method comprising;selectively introducing heat to the blood flow for a hypothermic patient having a body temperature that is below normal bod

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for restoring normal body temperature to a patient having a body temperature above or below normal body temperature, said method comprising;selectively introducing heat to the blood flow for a hypothermic patient having a body temperature that is below normal body temperature or removing heat from the blood flow from a hyperthermic patient having a body temperature that is above normal body temperature;monitoring a temperature characteristic of the hypothermic or hyperthermic patient to detect indication of temperature overshoot; andselectively removing heat through a catheter from the blood flow of the initially hypothermic patient to lower the patient's core body temperature if the temperature characteristic indicates that the patient has or will become hyperthermic, wherein the catheter includes a region that is in contact with the blood, and the region is at a temperature below normal body temperature, or introducing heat through the catheter to the blood flow of the initially hyperthermic patient to raise the patient's core body temperature if the temperature characteristic indicates that the patient has or will become hypothermic, wherein the catheter includes a region that is in contact with the blood, and the region is at a temperature above normal body temperature.