Patent ID: 8551151

Claim:
A system for maintaining or changing the temperature of at least a portion of the body of a subject, comprising: a disposable heat exchange catheter having at least one recirculating-fluid-type intracorporeal heat exchanger, the disposable heat exchange catheter being insertable into the vasculature of the subject such that the heat exchanger is in contact with blood flowing within the vasculature; a disposable extracorporeal heat exchanger configured to be fluidly coupled to the disposable heat exchange catheter; a disposable pump head in fluid communication with the disposable heat exchange catheter and the extracorporeal heat exchanger, the disposable pump head, extracorporeal heat exchanger and disposable heat exchange catheter providing a disposable fluid circuit through which heat exchange fluid flows; a heater/cooler device in thermal communication with the disposable extracorporeal heat exchanger, the heater/cooler device configured to add heat to the heat exchange fluid or subtract heat from the heat exchange fluid flowing through the disposable extracorporeal heat exchanger; at least one sensor configured for placement within an organ or vessel of the subject's body for monitoring the temperature within the organ or vessel, the at least one sensor providing signals representative of the monitored temperature of the organ or vessel; a reservoir disposed between and in fluid communication with the external heat exchanger and the pump head; and a controller configured to control the heater/cooler device, including a pumping of the heat exchange fluid, in response to the signals provided by the at least one sensor to maintain or change the temperature of at least a portion of the subject.