Patent ID: 6685731
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method for improving cardiovascular parameters in a patient undergoing a medical procedure under general anesthesia, comprising:(a) contacting a substantial portion of the patient's external body surface, without covering the areas where surgical procedures are performed with a heat exchanger which can transfer heat to or absorb heat from the body surface; (b) continuously measuring parameters from the body including at least the actual body core temperature (aBCT) and determining a parameter indicative of the heat transfer dynamics (HTD) between the body's periphery and the body's core; and (c) in a processor, receiving data signals corresponding to the measured parameters and to the determined HTD, comparing the aBCT with a desired body core temperature (dBCT) needed in order to maintain desired cardiovascular parameters based on the aBCT/dBCT difference, and emitting a control signal to control heat transfer properties of said heat exchanger.