초록 ▼

A kit for establishing and maintaining hypothermia in a patient for neurotherapeutic purposes includes a high cooling capacity catheter that is advanced into the patient's central venous system to quickly cool the patient to, e.g., 32.degree. C. or so. Once hypothermia has been established, the high

A kit for establishing and maintaining hypothermia in a patient for neurotherapeutic purposes includes a high cooling capacity catheter that is advanced into the patient's central venous system to quickly cool the patient to, e.g., 32.degree. C. or so. Once hypothermia has been established, the high capacity catheter is removed and replaced with a lower cooling capacity catheter which maintains a desired reduced temperature. The lower capacity catheter advantageously can be configured as a central venous catheter for permitting the catheter to be used for multiple functions. Alternatively, the high cooling capacity catheter can be used to attenuate a fever and lower the patient's body temperature to normal, with the lower capacity catheter being used to maintain normal body temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for establishing and maintaining a desired temperature in a patient, comprising the acts of:lowering the patient's temperature using a first catheter placed in the venous system of the patient; and maintaining the temperature at a desired level using a central venous catheter having a he

1. A method for establishing and maintaining a desired temperature in a patient, comprising the acts of:lowering the patient's temperature using a first catheter placed in the venous system of the patient; and maintaining the temperature at a desired level using a central venous catheter having a heat exchange region, the central venous catheter being different from the first catheter.