Patent ID: 7758623

Claim:
A heat exchange catheter system for cooling a target organ, the heat exchange catheter system adapted for placement within an anatomical structure of a subject, comprising: (a) a first elongate tubular body ( 1 ) having a proximal end and a distal end, (b) a second elongate tubular body ( 2 ) having a proximal end and a distal end, (c) a balloon ( 4 ) defining a lumen ( 8 ) in fluid communication with both the first elongate tubular body ( 1 ) and the second elongate tubular body ( 2 ) so as to form a continuous fluid pathway, further comprising a third elongate tubular body ( 3 ) having a proximal end and a distal end, the third elongate tubular body disposed longitudinally within the second elongate tubular body, and wherein the balloon is sealably affixed to the outer surface of the first elongate tubular body and sealably affixed to the outer surface of the third elongate tubular body, the lumen ( 8 ) further comprising a thermal exchange composition, wherein the thermal exchange composition is disposed within the continuous fluid pathway formed by the second elongate tubular body ( 2 ), the first elongate tubular body ( 1 ), and the balloon lumen ( 8 ) and wherein the thermal exchange composition is selected from the group consisting of a solid, a gel, a liquid, and a gas, and (d) a transducer ( 29 ), and wherein the balloon ( 4 ), when inflated, has a longitudinally disposed groove ( 32 ) upon its outer surface, wherein the groove ( 32 ) is not in contact with the first elongate tubular body ( 1 ) and the balloon ( 4 ) is adapted to conform in shape and size to the interior of the anatomical structure such that when placed within the anatomical structure and inflated, the outer surface of the balloon is at least partially in contact with the inner surface of the anatomical structure providing a heat exchange surface by which heat is exchanged between the anatomical structure and interior of the balloon, and whereby the target organ adjacent to the anatomical structure is thereby cooled.