Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-19
2003-07-01
Casler, Brian L. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C604S103070, C606S022000, C607S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06585692
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to methods and systems for patient temperature management.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been discovered that the medical outcome for a patient suffering from severe brain trauma or from ischemia caused by stroke or heart attack is improved if the patient is cooled below normal body temperature (38° C.). Furthermore, it is also accepted that for such patients, it is important to prevent hyperthermia (fever) even if it is decided not to induce hypothermia.
As recognized by the present invention, the above-mentioned advantages in regulating temperature can be realized by cooling the patient's entire body. Moreover, the present invention understands that since many patients already are intubated with central venous catheters for other clinically approved purposes anyway such as drug delivery and blood monitoring, providing a central venous catheter that can also cool the blood requires no additional surgical procedures for those patients. A cooling central venous catheter is disclosed in the above-referenced parent application.
Other cooling catheters have been disclosed but unfortunately do not recognize the above-noted desirability of combining conventional central venous line functions with a temperature regulation function. The present invention, however, makes this critical observation and provides the solutions set forth herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A central venous access catheter includes a central heat exchange fluid supply lumen terminating at a distal end, and plural heat exchange fluid return tubes communicating with the supply lumen at the distal end and carrying heat exchange fluid in a closed circuit. Each return tube is formed spirally around the supply lumen such that a body fluid flowing past the return tube exchanges heat with the fluid flowing therein. The catheter also defines at least two infusion lumens separated from the heat exchange fluid and terminating in respective ports that are longitudinally separated from each other. With this structure, each infusion lumen provides access to the central venous blood supply of a patient when the catheter is placed in the central venous system of a patient. In one preferred embodiment, an anchor is located proximal to at least one return tube and is configured for affixing the catheter to the skin of a patient.
In another aspect, a central venous access catheter includes a central heat exchange fluid supply lumen terminating at a distal end, and plural heat exchange fluid return tubes communicating with the supply lumen at the distal end and carrying heat exchange fluid in a closed circuit. Each return tube is formed spirally around the supply lumen such that a body fluid flowing past the return tube exchanges heat with the fluid flowing therein. An anchor can be located proximal to at least one return tube and can be configured for affixing the catheter to the skin of a patient.
In still another aspect, a central venous catheter includes at least first and second hollow spiral-shaped heat exchange elements. Each heat exchange element conveys a heat exchange fluid for exchanging heat with a body fluid flowing past the element. At least one closed circuit fluid pathway conveys heat exchange fluid to and from the heat exchange elements, and at least first and second infusion lumens are separated from the heat exchange fluid and terminate in respective ports that are longitudinally separated from each other. Each infusion lumen provides access to the central venous blood supply of a patient when the catheter is placed in the central venous system of a patient.
In yet another aspect, a central venous catheter includes first, second, and third hollow corkscrew heat exchange elements, a closed circuit fluid pathway for conveying heat exchange fluid to and from the heat exchange elements, and an anchor located proximal to at least one heat exchange element and configured for affixing the catheter to the skin of a patient.
In another aspect, a method for treating a patient includes advancing a catheter into the central venous system of the patient and circulating a heat exchange fluid through the catheter to exchange heat with the patient. Simultaneously with the circulating act, one or more central venous (CV) line functions is undertaken using the catheter.
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Alsius Corporation
Casler Brian L.
Rogitz John L.
Serke Catherine
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