Patent ID: 6497721
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
A method for lessening the severity of damage to neural tissue located within the body of a mammalian patient after said neural tissue has become ischemic or has been otherwise affected by a disease, disorder or trauma which can cause subsequent damage, infraction, hemorrhage or necrosis of said tissue, said method comprising the steps of:A. selecting a portion of the body comprising the brain which contains the tissue, said portion of the body receiving a flow of a body fluid; B. providing a heat exchange catheter device which comprises; i) an elongate, flexible catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and an insertion portion for insertion into a patient's body ii) at least one fluid lumen through which a thermal exchange fluid may be circulated and iii) a heat exchanger located a first location on the catheter along a length of said insertion portion which is less than the entire length of said insertion portion, said heat exchanger being operative to exchange heat between body fluid which flows in heat exchange proximity to said heat exchanger and thermal fluid which is circulated through said catheter; C. inserting the catheter into a fluid-containing body structure of the patient and positioning the catheter such that fluid flowing through the body structure will pass in heat exchange proximity to the heat exchanger before reaching the selected body portion; D. circulating a heat portion exchange fluid through the fluid lumen of the catheter device, such that body fluid will pass in heat exchange proximity to the heat exchanger, said heat exchange fluid being at a temperature other than the body fluid, whereby the temperature of the body fluid will be altered, and will subsequently flow to said neural tissue; E. maintaining the catheter in said position and with the heat transfer fluid at said temperature for a sufficient time to alter the temperature of the neutral tissue, and; F. maintaining the selected portion of the body in Step A at a temperature different than that of the rest of the patient's body by wrapping at least a portion of the patient's body below the head in warming blankets.