Patent ID: 7494504

Claim:
A method for cooling neural tissue located within the body of a mammalian patient, said method comprising the steps of: A. selecting a portion of the body containing the tissue, which portion receives a flow of a body fluid. B. providing a heat exchange catheter device which comprises; i) an elongate, flexible catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and an insertion portion for insertion into a patient's body ii) at least one fluid lumen through which a thermal exchange fluid may be circulated and iii) a heat exchanger located a first location on the catheter along a length of said insertion portion which is less than the entire length of said insertion portion, said heat exchanger being operative to exchange heat between body fluid which flows in heat exchange proximity to said heat exchanger and the thermal fluid which is circulated through said catheter; C. inserting the catheter into the fluid-containing body structure of the patient and positioning the catheter such that fluid flowing through the body structure will pass in heat exchange proximity to the heat exchanger before reaching the selected body portion; D. circulating a heat exchange fluid through the fluid lumen of the catheter device, such that body fluid will pass in heat exchange proximity to the heat exchanger, said heat exchange fluid being at a temperature other than the body fluid, whereby the temperature of the body fluid will be altered, and will subsequently flow to said neural tissue; E. maintaining the catheter in said position and with the heat transfer fluid at said temperature for a sufficient time to alter the temperature of the neural tissue; and F. maintaining the selected portion of the body in Sten A at a temperature different than that of the rest of the patient's body; wherein Step F comprises wrapping at least a portion of the patient's body below the head in warming blankets.