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 ▼

1. A catheter comprising:a shaft having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having at least one input lumen and at least one output lumen; a heat exchange region disposed substantially at the distal end of the shaft and including at least a first balloon and at least

1. A catheter comprising:a shaft having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having at least one input lumen and at least one output lumen; a heat exchange region disposed substantially at the distal end of the shaft and including at least a first balloon and at least a second balloon each having an outer surface; 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.