Patent ID: 6224624
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A heat transfer device for transferring heat to or from surrounding blood flow to heat or cool the surrounding blood flow, comprising:a catheter capable of insertion into a selected blood vessel in the vascular system of a patient;a heat transfer element attached to a distal portion of said catheter and adapted to transfer heat to or from surrounding blood flow to heat or cool the surrounding blood flow, the heat transfer device including more than one heat transfer segment forming a blood mixing-enhancing element adapted to enhance mixing of blood flow along said heat transfer element, the blood mixing-enhancing element including a plurality of exterior surface irregularities, said surface irregularities comprise a helical ridge and a helical groove formed on each said heat transfer segment, and said helical ridge and helical groove on each said heat transfer segment has an opposite helical twist to said helical ridge and helical groove on an adjacent heat transfer segment so as to create repetitively changing directions of blood flow in surrounding blood.