Intravascular circulatory assist device

A circulatory assist device, having an outer balloon and an inner balloon, with a control space between the outer and inner balloons. The device is mounted on a catheter, collapsed to a sufficiently small diameter to allow insertion into the vascular system of a patient. An expansion mechanism in the device, such as a stent, can be expanded to hold the outer balloon in an expanded state, while control fluid is pumped into and evacuated from the control space to repeatedly collapse and expand the inner balloon. At least one port is formed in the inner balloon, to allow vascular fluid to enter and exit the inner balloon as the inner balloon expands and contracts. After use, the expansion mechanism is contracted to a smaller diameter to allow withdrawal from the vascular system.

Method and device for performing cooling- or cryo-therapies for, e.g., angioplasty with reduced restenosis or pulmonary vein cell necrosis to inhibit atrial fibrillation employing tissue protection

An enhanced method and device are provided to treat atrial fibrillation or inhibit or reduce restenosis following angioplasty or stent placement. A balloon-tipped catheter is disposed in the area treated or opened through balloon angioplasty immediately following angioplasty. The balloon, which can have a dual balloon structure, may be delivered through a guiding catheter and over a guidewire already in place. A fluid such as a perfluorocarbon flows into the balloon to freeze the tissue adjacent the balloon, this cooling being associated with reduction of restenosis. A similar catheter may be used to reduce atrial fibrillation by inserting and inflating the balloon such that an exterior surface of the balloon contacts at least a partial circumference of the portion of the pulmonary vein adjacent the left atrium. In another embodiment, blood perfusion is performed simultaneously. In another embodiment, tissue contacted by the cryoablation catheter, undesired to be ablated, is protected against damage by a separate heating step.

Miniature mixed gas refrigeration system

A miniature mixed gas refrigeration system is disclosed, having a coaxial catheter (18) with an inner high pressure supply lumen (24) and an outer low pressure return lumen (22). The gas mixture is pressurized by a compressor (12) to a pressure less than 420 psia, for safety reasons. The distal portion (23) of the outer lumen contains a micro- miniature heat exchanger (28) constructed of laminated plates or sheets (42). The plates or sheets (42) establish high pressure (36) and l ow pressure passageways (40), with high surface area, having a tortuous path for the gas flow to maximize heat exchange. The high pressur e outlet (50) of the heat exchanger (28) is connected to a Joule-Thomson expansion element (30) where the high pressure gas is expanded isenthalpically to a lower temperature at least as low as 180K. This low temperature gas cools a heat transfer element (32) mounted in the outer wall of the catheter, to cool an external object. Return gas flows back through the heat exchanger to pre-cool the incoming hi gh pressure gas mixture.

Cryosurgical probe with sheath

A sheath for use on a closed loop Joule-Thomson cryosurgical probe, and the combination of the and the closed loop probe. The sheath is slipped over the probe, thereby separating the probe from the environment. The sheath has a grip which fits over the handle of the cryosurgical probe, and an extendible shroud which can be longitudinally extended to cover tubing and which are attached to the handle. The sheath has a hollow multi-lumen catheter shaped and sized to fit snugly over the cannula of the cryosurgical probe. The catheter is not thermally conductive, preventing transfer of heat from the ambient to the gas mixture, and preventing the freezing of tissues at undesired locations along the catheter. A thermally conductive cap or tip is attached to the distal end of the hollow catheter. The thermally conductive cap or tip fits snugly over the cold tip on the probe, and it efficiently transfers heat from the target tissue to the cold tip, which in turn transfers heat to the expanded gas mixture. Various forms of auxiliary instrumentation can be mounted on the catheter or conductive tip, such as a temperature sensor, a heater, an ultrasonic transducer, or an optical element of a viewing, illumination, or laser system. Connections between the instrumentation near the distal end of the catheter and the probe are made via a plurality of lumens passing longitudinally through the wall of the catheter.

Method and device for applications of selective organ cooling

The invention provides a method and device for heating or cooling a surrounding fluid in a feeding vessel. The device includes a catheter assembly capable of insertion to a selected feeding vessel in the vascular system of a patient. The assembly includes a heat transfer element at a distal end of the catheter assembly, the heat transfer element having a plurality of exterior surface irregularities shaped and arranged to create turbulence in a surrounding fluid, the surface irregularities having a depth at least equal to the boundary layer thickness of flow of the surrounding fluid in the feeding vessel. The assembly also includes a supply catheter 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, and a drug delivery catheter running substantially parallel to the axis of the catheter assembly. The method includes selectively controlling the temperature of a selected volume of blood in a patient by introducing a catheter assembly into a blood vessel feeding a selected volume of blood in a patient and delivering a working fluid through a supply catheter in the catheter assembly and returning the working fluid through a return catheter in the catheter assembly. Heat is transferred between a heat transfer element forming a distal end of the catheter assembly and the volume of blood in the feeding vessel. A liquid, such as a drug, is delivered through a drug delivery catheter to the volume of blood in the feeding vessel.

Stretchable cryoprobe sheath

A sheath for use on a closed loop Joule-Thomson cryosurgical probe, and the combination of the sheath and the closed loop probe. The sheath is slipped over the probe, thereby separating the probe from the environment. The sheath has a grip which fits over the handle of the cryosurgical probe, and an extendible shroud which can be longitudinally extended to cover tubing and which are attached to the handle. The sheath has a hollow multi-lumen catheter shaped and sized to fit snugly over the cannula of the cryosurgical probe. The catheter is not thermally conductive, preventing transfer of heat from the ambient to the gas mixture, and preventing the freezing of tissues at undesired locations along the catheter. A thermally conductive cap or tip is attached to the distal end of the hollow catheter. The thermally conductive cap or tip is biased against the cold tip on the probe by a biasing element in the sheath assembly, to promote heat transfer.

Improved medical procedure

The use of an intravascular cooling element to induce hypothermia in connection with a medical procedure. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a coronary bypass procedure is conducted in which a patient's blood is oxygenated with the patient's lungs and in which blood is circulated using the patient's heart or using an intracorporeal pump. The procedure preferably comprises: (a) positioning a heat transfer element in a blood vessel of a patient; (b) cooling the body of the patient to less than 35°C, more preferably 32±2°C, using the heat transfer element; and (c) forming a fluid communicating graft between an arterial blood supply and the coronary artery. The body of the patient is preferably heated to about 37°C using the heat transfer element subsequent to the step of forming the fluid communicating graft. According to a further aspect of the invention, a hypothermic medical procedure is provided while a patient is in a conscious or semiconscious state, comprising (a) administering a beta-blocking drug to the patient; (b) delivering a heat transfer element to a blood vessel of the patient; and (c) cooling a region of the patient or the body of the patient to less than 35°C using the heat transfer element.

Selective organ cooling apparatus and method

An endovascular heat transfer device which can have a smooth exterior surface, or a surface with ridges and grooves. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments, with each having such a surface. A flexible joint connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. The flexible joints can be bellows or flexible tubes. An inner lumen is disposed within the heat transfer segments. The inner lumen is capable of transporting a pressurized working fluid to a distal end of the heat transfer element.

Selective organ cooling catheter with guidewire apparatus and temperature-monitoring device

A guidable catheter for heating or cooling a surrounding fluid in a feeding vessel in a vasculature of a patient. The catheter includes a heat transfer element, the heat transfer element having a plurality of exterior surface irregularities shaped and arranged to create turbulence in a surrounding fluid. The surface irregularities have a depth at least equal to the boundary layer thickness of flow of the surrounding fluid in the feeding vessel. The catheter assembly also includes 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. The catheter assembly further includes a return catheter to return a working fluid from the interior of the heat transfer element. A guidewire tube is provided adjacent one of the supply catheter or the return catheter and runs substantially parallel to the axis of the guidable catheter to receive a guidewire disposed within the guidewire tube. The guidable catheter may further have a temperature-monitoring device disposed at the distal tip of the guidewire. The temperature-monitoring device may be a thermocouple or a thermistor. Feedback may further be provided to control the temperature of a source of working fluid. A method is also provided for selectively controlling the temperature of a selected volume of blood in a patient. The method includes introducing a guidewire into a blood vessel feeding a selected volume of blood in a patient and introducing a catheter assembly into the blood vessel feeding a selected volume of blood in a patient by inserting the guidewire into a guidewire tube in the catheter assembly. A working fluid is delivered from a source of working fluid through a supply catheter in the catheter assembly and returned through a return catheter in the catheter assembly. Heat is transferred between a heat transfer element forming a distal end of the catheter assembly and the volume of blood in the feeding vessel. The ...

Cooling therapies/device for angioplasty with restenosis

The present invention provides an enhanced method and device to inhibit or reduce the rate of restenosis following angioplasty or stent placement. The invention involves placing a balloon tipped catheter (100) in the area treated or opened through balloon angioplasty immediately following angioplasty. The balloon, which can have a dual balloon structure, may be delivered through a guiding catheter (102) and over a guidewire already in place from a balloon angioplasty. A fluid such as a perfluorocarbon may be flowed into the balloon to freeze the tissue adjacent the balloon, this cooling being associated with reduction of restenosis. The catheter may also be used to reduce atrial fibrillation by inserting and inflating the balloon such that an exterior surface of the balloon is in contact with at least a partial circumference of the portion of the pulmonary vein adjacent the left atrium.

Method and device for applications of selective organ cooling

Selective organ cooling apparatus and method

Stretchable cryoprobe sheath

Cryosurgical probe with disposable sheath

Modified circulatory assist device

A circulatory assist device, having a housing and a pumping membrane, with a control chamber and a pumping chamber. The device is mounted on a catheter, collapsed to a sufficiently small diameter to allow insertion into the vascular system of a patient. An expansion mechanism in the device, such as a stent, can be expanded to hold the housing in an expanded substantially rigid state, while control fluid is pumped into and evacuated from the control chamber to repeatedly deflect the pumping membrane. At least one opening is formed in the device, to allow vascular fluid to enter and exit the pumping chamber as the pumping membrane deflects. Introduction and evacuation of control fluid can be synchronized with the heart cycle of the patient. After use, the housing is contracted to a smaller diameter to allow withdrawal from the vascular system.

Fever regulation method and apparatus

A device and method for providing body cooling for treating fever. The cooling device applies cooling to blood flowing in a vein or artery, e.g., the vena cavae, that is then distributed throughout the body.

Splanchnic nerve stimulation for treatment of obesity

A method for the treatment of obesity or other disorders by electrical activation or inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system is disclosed. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by stimulating the greater splanchnic nerve or other portion of the sympathetic nervous system using an electrode. This nerve activation can result in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure.

Patient temperature regulation method and apparatus

Precooling system for joule-thomson probe

A miniature mixed gas refrigeration system and method is disclosed. A select ed gas mixture is compressed to less than 420 psia for safety reasons. The compressed gas mixture is passed through a primary heat exchanger (140) and a primary/secondary heat exchanger (240) to precool the gas mixture. The secondary side of the primary/secondary heat exchanger is cooled by a secondary Joule-Thomson refrigeration system (200). Flow restrictions in the primary side of the primary/secondary heat exchanger (240) can solidify and trap liquid contaminants. The gas mixture exiting the primary outlet of the primary/secondary heat exchanger (240) passes to a primary expansion element (150) to expand isenthalpically to a to 183K or below to cool a heat transfer element. Return gas through the primary heat exchanger (140) precools the incoming high pressure gas mixture. A distal primary heat exchanger (160) can be added between the primary/secondary heat exchanger (240) and the primary expansion element (150).

Electric modulation of sympathetic nervous system

A method is described for the treatment of obesity or other disorders, by electrical activation or inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by electrically stimulating the greater splanchnic nerve or other portion of the sympathetic nervous system using an implantable pulse generator. This nerve activation can result in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure. Reduced food intake may occur through a variety of mechanisms that reduce appetite and cause satiety. Increased adrenal gland hormone levels will result in increased energy expenditure. Fat and carbohydrate metabolism, which are also increased by sympathetic nerve activation, will accompany the increased energy expenditure.

Method and device for applications of selective organ cooling

The invention provides a method and device for heating or cooling a surrounding fluid in a feeding vessel. The device includes a catheter assembly capable of insertion to a selected feeding vessel in the vascular system of a patient. The assembly includes a heat transfer element at a distal end of the catheter assembly, the heat transfer element (14) having a plurality of exterior surface irregularities (20, 24) shaped and arranged to create turbulence in a surrounding fluid, the surface irregularities (20, 24) having a depth at least equal to the boundary layer thickness of flow of the surrounding fluid in the feeding vessel. The assembly also includes a supply catheter (12) to deliver a working fluid to an interior of the heat transfer element (14), a return catheter (202) to return a working fluid from the interior of the heat transfer element (14), and a drug delivery catheter (312) running substantially parallel to the axis of the catheter assembly.

Splanchnic nerve stimulation for treatment of obesity

A method for the treatment of obesity or other disorders by electrical activation or inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system is disclosed. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by stimulating the greater splanchnic nerve or other portion of the sympathetic nervous system using an electrode. This nerve activation can result in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure.

Insulated catheter for selective organ perfusion

A method and apparatus for performing hypothermia of a selected organ without significant effect on surrounding organs or other tissues, by perfusion of the organ with blood cooled externally from the body of the patient. A flexible supply catheter is inserted percutaneously into an artery. Blood from the supply catheter is cooled in a finned tube heat exchanger or a fluid bath. A flexible delivery catheter is inserted percutaneously through the vascular system of the patient to place the distal end of the catheter in an artery feeding the selected organ. An occlusion device is expanded to occlude the feeder artery at a point proximal to the distal end of the delivery catheter. Cooled blood from the chiller is pumped through the delivery catheter to an outlet near the distal end of the catheter, to cool the selected organ, distal to the tip of the delivery catheter.

Electric modulation of sympathetic nervous system

A method is described for the treatment of obesity or other disorders, by electrical activation or inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by electrically stimulating the greater splanchnic nerve or other portion of the sympathetic nervous system using an implantable pulse generator. This nerve activation can result in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure. Reduced food intake may occur through a variety of mechanisms that reduce appetite and cause satiety. Increased adrenal gland hormone levels will result in increased energy expenditure. Fat and carbohydrate metabolism, which are also increased by sympathetic nerve activation, will accompany the increased energy expenditure.

Mixed gas refrigeration method

A miniatured mixed gas refrigeration system and method of operation are disclosed, having a coaxial catheter (18) with an inner high pressure supply lumen and an outer low pressure return lumen. An optimum gas mixture is formulated from a group of component fluids, according to calculated thermodynamic properties of a group of candidate fluid mixtures. The gas mixture is pressurized by a compressor (12) to a pressure less than 420 psia, for safety reasons. The distal portion (20) of the outer lumen contains a micro-miniature heat exchanger constructed of laminated plates or sheets. The plates or sheets establish high pressure and low pressure passageways, with high surface area, having a tortuous path for the gas flow to maximize heat exchange. The high pressure outlet of the heat exchanger is connected to a Joule-Thomson expansion element where the high pressure gas is expanded isenthalpically to a lower temperature at least as low as 183K. This low temperature gas cools a heat transfer element mounted in the outer wall of the catheter, to cool an external object. Return gas flows back through the heat exchanger to pre-cool the incoming high pressure gas mixture.

MINIATURE MIXED GAS COOLING SYSTEM

Precooling system for joule-thomson probe

A miniature refrigeration system and method of operation. A primary refrigerant is pressurized by a compressor (130) to a relatively low pressure, for safety reasons. The compressed primary refrigerant is passed through a primary-to-secondary heat exchanger (240), to precool the gas mixture. The secondary side of the primary-to-secondary heat exchanger (240) is cooled by a secondary refrigeration system. The primary refrigerant exiting the primary outlet of the primary-to-secondary heat exchanger passes to a primary Joule-Thomson expansion element (150) where the high pressure gas is expanded to a lower temperature. This low temperature gas cools a heat transfer element mounted in the outer wall of the catheter of cryoprobe, to cool surrounding tissue. Return gas can flow back through a distal primary-to-primary heat exchanger (160) to further cool the incoming high pressure gas mixture. A proximal primary-to-primary heat exchanger (140) can be added between the primary-to-secondary heat exchanger (240) and the primary compressor (130).

Selective organ hypothermia method and apparatus

A method and apparatus for performing hypothermia of a selected organ without significant effect on surrounding organs or other tissues. A flexible catheter is inserted through the vascular system of a patient to place the distal tip of the catheter in an artery feeding the selected organ. A compressed refrigerant is pumped through the catheter to an expansion element near the distal tip of the catheter, where the refrigerant vaporizes and expands to cool a flexible heat transfer element in the distal tip of the catheter. The heat transfer element cools the blood flowing through the artery, to cool the selected organ, distal to the tip of the catheter.

Patient temperature regulation apparatus

The invention relates to a system for cooling a patient's body intravascularly, comprising: a flexible catheter (12) insertable into a vein; a flexible conductive heat transfer element (20) attached to a distal end of the flexible catheter; and a warming device applicable to portions of the body.

Fever regulation method and apparatus

Selective organ hypothermia method and apparatus

The present invention is a method, and apparatus for performing hypothermia of a selected body organ without significant effect on surrounding organs or other tissue. A flexible catheter (10) is inserted through the vascular system of a patient to place the distal tip (26) of the catheter in an artery feeding the selected organ. A compressed refrigerant is pumped through the catheter to an expansion element (22) near the distal tip of the catheter, where the refrigerant vaporizes, and expands to cool a flexible heat transfer clement (24) in the distal tip of the catheter. The heat transfer element cools the blood flowing through the artery to cool the selected organ, distal to the tip of the catheter

Apparatus for cell necrosis

A heat transfer device has first and second elongated, articulated segments, each having a turbulence-inducing exterior surface. A flexible joint connects the first and second elongated, articulated segments. An inner coaxial lumen is disposed within the first and second elongated, articulated segments. The inner coaxial lumen is capable of transporting a pressurized working fluid to a distal end of the first elongated, articulated segment

Splanchnic nerve stimulation for treatment of obesity

A method for the treatment of obesity or other disorders by electrical activation or inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system is disclosed. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by stimulating the greater splanchnic nerve or other portion of the sympathetic nervous system using an electrode. This nerve activation can result in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure.

Selective organ cooling apparatus and method

A catheter system and method are provided which change the temperature of a fluid, such as blood, by heat transfer. Selective cooling or heating of an organ may be performed by changing the temperature of the blood feeding the organ. The catheter system includes an inlet lumen and an outlet lumen structured and arranged to carry a working fluid having a temperature different from the adjacent blood. The outlet lumen is configured to induce turbulence in the adjacent fluid passing adjacent the outlet lumen. 1

Miniature mixed gas refrigeration system

A miniature mixed gas refrigeration system is disclosed, having a coaxial catheter (18) with an inner high pressure supply lumen (24) and an outer low pressure return lumen (22). The gas mixture is pressurized by a compressor (12) to a pressure less than 420 psia, for safety reasons. The distal portion (23) of the outer lumen contains a micro-miniature heat exchanger (28) constructed of laminated plates or sheets (42). The plates or sheets (42) establish high pressure (36) and low pressure passageways (40), with high surface area, having a tortuous path for the gas flow to maximize heat exchange. The high pressure outlet (50) of the heat exchanger (28) is connected to a Joule-Thomson expansion element (30) where the high pressure gas is expanded isenthalpically to a lower temperature at least as low as 180K. This low temperature gas cools a heat transfer element (32) mounted in the outer wall of the catheter, to cool an external object. Return gas flows back through the heat exchanger to pre-cool the incoming high pressure gas mixture.

Improved lumen design for catheter

The invention provides a device for heating or cooling a surrounding fluid in a feeding vessel and a method of manufacturing the same. The device includes a catheter assembly (400) capable of insertion to a selected blood vessel in the vascular system of a patient. The assembly includes an elongated catheter body, a heat transfer element (404) located at the distal end of the catheter and including an interior (410), an elongated supply lumen (442) adapted to deliver a working fluid to the interior of the heat transfer element and having a hydraulic diameter (D2), an elongated return lumen (436) for the working fluid having a hydraulic diameter (D3), and wherein the ratio of the hydraulic diameter of the return to the supply lumen is equal to 0.75.

Method and device for performing cooling- or cryo-therapies for, e.g., angioplasty with reduced restenosis or pulmonary vein cell necrosis to inhibit atrial fibrillation

The present invention provides an enhanced method and device to inhibit or reduce the rate of restenosis following angioplasty or stent placement. The invention involves placing a balloon tipped catheter in the area treated or opened through balloon angioplasty immediately following angioplasty. The balloon, which can have a dual balloon structure, may be delivered through a guiding catheter and over a guidewire already in place from a balloon angioplasty. A fluid such as a perfluorocarbon may be flowed into the balloon to freeze the tissue adjacent the balloon, this cooling being associated with reduction of restenosis. The catheter may also be used to reduce atrial fibrillation by inserting and inflating the balloon such that an exterior surface of the balloon is in contact with at least a partial circumference of the portion of the pulmonary vein adjacent the left atrium.

Cryosurgical instrument

A closed cycle cryosurgical instrument having a mixed gas assembly that is mounted in a housing and also having a cryosurgical probe unit. By using special (or certain) gas mixtures as opposed to pure gasses, pressure reductions to ≃ or 1/4 of that required by pure gasses can be obtained. The use of gas mixtures with their attendant lower pressures allows for a closed cycle system since expensive and complex multi-stage compressors are not required. With the gas mixtures it is possible to obtain temperatures in the range of liquid nitrogen using a Joule-Thomson based system.

Selective organ cooling apparatus and method

This invention is a selective organ heat transfer device with deep irregularities in a turbulence inducing exterior surface. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments (20) each having a turbulence inducing exterior surface. A flexible joint (25) connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. An inner lumen is disposed within the heat transfer segments. The inner lumen (42) is capable of transporting a pressurized working fluid to a distal end of the heat transfer element.

Cryosurgical probe with disposable sheath

This invention is a disposable, sterilized sheath (20) for use on a closed loop Joule-Thomson cryosurgical probe (10), the combination of the disposable sheath (20), and the probe (10). The sheath (20) is slipped over the probe (10), thereby separating the probe (10) from the environment. The sheath has a grip (22) which fits over the handle (12) of the probe (10), and an extendible shroud (23) that can be longitudinally extended to cover tubing (18) which is attached to the handle (12). The sheath (20) has a hollow multi-lumen catheter (24) shaped and sized to fit snugly over the cannula (t4) of the probe (10). The catheter (24) is not thermally conductive, preventing transfer of heat from the ambient to the gas mixture, and preventing the freezing of tissues at undesired locations. A thermally conductive cap or tip (26) fits snugly over the cold tip (16) on the probe (12) and it efficiently transfers heat from the target tissue to the cold tip (16), which in turn transfers heat to the expanded gas mixture. Various forms of auxiliary instrumentation can be mounted on the catheter (24) or conductive tip (16), such as a temperature sensor, a heater, an ultrasonic transducer, or an optical element of a viewing illumination or laser system. Connections between the instrumentation near the distal end of the catheter (24) and the probe (10) are made via a plurality of lumens passing longitudinally through the wall of the catheter (24).

Selective organ cooling apparatus and method

Selective organ hypothermia method and apparatus

The present invention is a method, and apparatus for performing hypothermia of a selected body organ without significant effect on surrounding organs or other tissue. A flexible catheter (10) is inserted through the vascular system of a patient to place the distal tip (26) of the catheter in an artery feeding the selected organ. A compressed refrigerant is pumped through the catheter to an expansion element (22) near the distal tip of the catheter, where the refrigerant vaporizes, a nd expands to cool a flexible heat transfer element (24) in the distal tip of the catheter. The heat transfer element cools the blood flowing throu gh the artery to cool the selected organ, distal to the tip of the catheter.

Medical procedure

The use of an intravascular cooling element to induce hypothermia in connection with a medical procedure. According to a first aspect of the present, invention, a coronary bypass procedure is conducted in which a patient's blood is oxygenated with the patient's lungs and in which blood is circulated using the patient's heart or using an intracorporeal pump. The procedure preferably comprises: (a) positioning a heat transfer element in a blood vessel of a patient; (b) cooling the body of the patient to less than 35° C., more preferably 32±2° C., using the heat transfer element; and (c) forming a fluid communicating graft between an arterial blood supply and the coronary artery. The body of the patient is preferably heated to about 37° C. using the heat transfer element subsequent to the step of forming the fluid communicating graft. According to a further aspect of the invention, a hypothermic medical procedure is provided while a patient is in a conscious or semiconscious state, comprising (a) administering a beta-blocking drug to the patient; (b) delivering a heat transfer element to a blood vessel of the patient; and (c) cooling a region of the patient or the body of the patient to less than 35° C. using the heat transfer element.

Cryogenic heat exchanger

A microminiature laminated heat exchanger for use in a cryogenic probe, and a method of manufacture. The heat exchanger has high and low pressure flow patterns (46, 48) etched into oxygen free copper sheets (42), with the flow patterns being tortuous paths promoting turbulent flow. The sheets (42) containing the flow patterns are bonded into a laminated assembly in the shape of a cylinder (28), with a high pressure inlet and a low pressure outlet in a first end, and a high pressure outlet and a low pressure inlet in a second end. The high pressure flow path lies alongside the low pressure flow path, with flow in the two paths being in opposite directions, to accomplish counterflow heat exchange. Substantial portions of the flow paths are either parallel to, or transverse to, the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger, with the resuulting heat flow being essentially radial or axial, respectively.

Patient temperature regulation method and apparatus

A device and method for providing body cooling. The cooling device (14) applies cooling to blood flowing in a vena cavae that is then distributed throughout the body. The cooling can be assisted by use of thermoregulatory drugs or warming devices to prevent shivering and vasoconstriction.

Modified circulatory assist device

Apparatus for use in performing cryosurgery

Selective organ cooling apparatus and method

This invention is a selective organ heat transfer device with deep irregularities in a turbulence inducing exterior surface. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments (20) each having a turbulence inducing exterior surface. A flexible joint (25) connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. An inner lumen is disposed within the heat transfer segments. The inner lumen (42) is capable of transporting a pressurized working fluid to a distal end of the heat transfer element.

Dynamic nerve stimulation in combination with other eating disorder treatment modalities

A method for treatment of obesity or other disorders by electrical activation or inhibition of nerves is disclosed. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by stimulating a nerve using an electrode. The method further comprises performing a surgical procedure and/or administering a weight loss drug.

Inflatable catheter for selective organ heating and cooling and method of using the same

A catheter system and method are provided which change the temperature of a fluid, such as blood, by heat transfer. Selective cooling or heating of an organ may be performed by changing the temperature of the blood feeding the organ. The catheter system includes an inlet lumen and an outlet lumen structured and arranged to carry a working fluid having a temperature different from the adjacent blood. The outlet lumen is configured to induce turbulence in the adjacent fluid passing adjacent the outlet lumen.

Neural stimulation for treatment of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes

Systems and methods for treating metabolic syndrome and/or Type 2 diabetes, and/or one or more of their attendant conditions, by neural stimulation. In one embodiment, an implantable pulse generator is electrically coupled to a peripheral nerve, such as the splanchnic nerve. Neural stimulation configured to either block transmission or stimulate transmission of the peripheral nerve may be used to treat metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.

Dehnbare kryochirurgische sondenhülle

Vorrichtung zur kühlung eines ausgewählten organes

Fever regulation method and apparatus

A device and method for providing body cooling for treating fever. The cooling device applies cooling to blood flowing in a vein or artery, e.g., the vena cavae, that is then distributed throughout the body.

Verfahren und vorrichtung zur regulierung der temperatur eines patienten

Vorrichtung für die selektive kühlung eines organs

Fever regulation method and apparatus

A device and method for providing body cooling for treating fever. The cooling device applies cooling to blood flowing in a vein or artery, e.g., the vena cavae, that is then distributed throughout the body.

Selective organ hypothermia method and apparatus

Cryogenic heat exchanger

Kältererzeugender Wärmeaustauscher

Method of manufacturing a heat transfer element for in vivo cooling