초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for performing hypothermia of a selected organ without significant effect on surrounding organs or other tissues. A flexible catheter is inserted through the vascular system of a patient to place the distal tip of the catheter in an artery feeding the selected organ. A compres

A method and apparatus for performing hypothermia of a selected organ without significant effect on surrounding organs or other tissues. A flexible catheter is inserted through the vascular system of a patient to place the distal tip of the catheter in an artery feeding the selected organ. A compressed refrigerant is pumped through the catheter to an expansion element near the distal tip of the catheter, where the refrigerant vaporizes and expands to cool a flexible heat transfer element in the distal tip of the catheter. The heat transfer element cools the blood flowing through the artery, to cool the selected organ, distal to the tip of the catheter.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An apparatus for selective organ hypothermia, said apparatus comprising:a compressor;a flexible elongated catheter, said catheter having a flexible tubular outer catheter body;a flexible tubular inner refrigerant supply conduit located within said outer catheter body, a proximal end

[ I claim:] [1.] An apparatus for selective organ hypothermia, said apparatus comprising:a compressor;a flexible elongated catheter, said catheter having a flexible tubular outer catheter body;a flexible tubular inner refrigerant supply conduit located within said outer catheter body, a proximal end of said inner refrigerant supply conduit being connected in fluid flow communication with an outlet of said compressor;a refrigerant return path within said outer catheter body, a proximal end of said refrigerant return path being connected in fluid flow communication with an inlet of said compressor;an expansion element located adjacent to a distal end of said outer catheter body, said expansion element having an inlet at a distal end of said inner refrigerant supply conduit;a flexible elongated, hollow, heat transfer element mounted to said distal end of said outer catheter body, said heat transfer element being transformable to a shape having an enhanced heat transfer surface area; anda refrigerant chamber within said hollow heat transfer element, said refrigerant chamber being connected in fluid flow communication with an outlet of said expansion element, said refrigerant chamber being connected in fluid flow communication with a distal end of said refrigerant return path within said outer catheter body.