Patent ID: 6312452
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: A61B,A61F,G05D

Abstract:
A guidable catheter for heating or cooling a surrounding fluid in a vessel in the vasculature of a patient comprising:a heat transfer element, the heat transfer element having at least one exterior surface irregularity shaped and arranged to create mixing in a surrounding fluid in a vessel, wherein the heat transfer element has coupled thereto at least one eyelet configured to receive the guidewire threaded therethrough;a supply catheter having a portion disposed within the heat transfer element to deliver a working fluid to an interior of the heat transfer element;a return catheter to return a working fluid from the interior of the heat transfer element; anda guidewire tube adjacent one of the supply catheter or the return catheter and running substantially parallel to the axis of the guidable catheter to receive a guidewire, wherein the heat transfer element is formed from at least two heat transfer segments, adjacent heat transfer segments joined by bellows, and wherein the eyelets are attached to the heat transfer element at the bellows.