Patent ID: 6277143
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A portable apparatus for treating or preventing at least one of brain, brain-stem and associated nervous tissue injuries in a mammal suffering from decreased or compromised blood flow to the brain, comprising:enveloping means for enveloping a head of a mammal, the enveloping means comprising a helmet configured to rest unsupported on the head of a mammal, the helmet including outer and inner shells with at least one cavity intermediate the outer and inner shells for holding a coolant fluid within the at least one cavity;a manually activated and controlled coolant source in communication with the enveloping means, the coolant source instantaneously providing a coolant fluid chilled to a temperature sufficient to slow the metabolism of the brain, whereby when the coolant source is activated, the enveloping means becomes instantly chilled rapidly cooling the brain to a temperature sufficient to slow the metabolism of the brain a sufficient amount so that the mammal remains neurologically intact while efforts are made to restore regular blood flow to the brain of the mammal; andpressing means for pressing a radially inward surface of the enveloping means against the head of a mammal.