초록 ▼

A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include at least one balloon which is adapted to receive a remotely cooled

A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include at least one balloon which is adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. Embodiments including multiple balloons enhance the surface area of contact, and the mixing of both the heat exchange and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body without cooling the entire body system. It is of particular advantage in brain surgeries where stroke, trauma or cryogenic tumors can best be addressed under hypothermic conditions.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A catheter adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid flowing in a first direction through a body conduit, the catheter comprising:a shaft having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having an input lumen and output lumen;a heat exchange re

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A catheter adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid flowing in a first direction through a body conduit, the catheter comprising:a shaft having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having an input lumen and output lumen;a heat exchange region disposed a the distal end of the shaft and including a first balloon and a second balloon each having an outer surface adapted to be operatively placed in heat exchange relationship with the body fluid flowing in the first direction;the input lumen of the shaft being coupled to the first balloon at a first location, and the output lumen of the shaft being coupled to the first balloon at a second location so that a heat exchange fluid introduced into the input lumen will enter the first balloon at the first location and will exit the first balloon at the second location through the output lumen; andthe first location being disposed in the first direction relative to the second location when the catheter is operatively disposed in the body fluid.