Intravascular catheter and method for treatment of hypothermia

Claim 1

An intravascular device for use in treating hypothermia in a patient, comprising: an elongated flexible catheter having a distal end adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel of said patient and moved therealong to a desired location within the patient's body, and having a proximal end adapted to remain outside the patient's body, said catheter having an inflatable portion adjacent said distal end, said inflatable portion having an outer surface arranged to contact blood within said vessel and having an inner surface facing into a chamber, said inflatable portion being adapted to be moved between a deflated position in which said inner surface is arranged relatively close to the longitudinal axis of said catheter and an inflated position in which said inner surface is arranged relatively far from said longitudinal axis, said catheter having an end piece converted to said inflatable portion at said distal said catheter end, having a main body spaced from said end piece by said inflatable portion and terminating in said proximal end, said end piece being arranged for movement relative to said main body, said main body having a first lumen converted to said inflatable portion and; inflation means positioned proximate said proximal end and communicating with said chamber for selectively causing said inflatable portion to be moved between said deflated and inflated positions, and for causing a heated fluid to flow simultaneously into and out of said chamber in heat exchange relation to blood flowing past said catheter inflatable portion; and a stylet having a distal end secured to said end piece, having an intermediate portion movably arranged within said first lumen, and having a proximal end arranged adjacent the proximal end of said main body, and wherein said stylet may be selectively rotated relative to said main body to move said inflatable portion between furled and unfurled positions; whereby the distal end of said catheter may be inserted into a blood vessel and moved therealong to a desired position within said patient, and said inflation means may be operated to cause said inflatable portion to move toward said inflated position and to cause heated fluid to flow through said chamber to heat blood flowing past said inflated portion.

Claim 10

The method of treating a patient suffering from hypothermia, comprising the steps of: making a suitable incision in a blood vessel; inserting the distal end of an elongated flexible catheter through said incision into said blood vessel; moving said catheter along said blood vessel to a desired location within the patient's body; inflating a chamber within said catheter to cause an inflatable portion to move outwardly toward an inflated position; pulsing the pressure within said chamber to cause said inflatable portion to oscillate in said inflated position; causing heated fluid to flow through said chamber in heat exchange relation to blood in said vessel; deflating said chamber to cause said inflatable portion to move inwardly toward a deflated position; withdrawing said catheter from said blood vessel; and closing said incision; thereby to transfer heat to the blood of said patient.

Claim 11

The method of treating a patient suffering from hypothermia, comprising the steps of: making a suitable incision in a blood vessel; inserting the distal end of an elongated flexible catheter through said incision into said blood vessel; moving said catheter along said blood vessel to a desired location within the patient's body; inflating a chamber within said catheter to cause an inflatable portion to move outwardly toward an inflated position; pulsing the pressure within said chamber to cause said inflatable portion to oscillate in said inflated position; causing heated fluid to flow through said chamber in heat exchange relation to blood in said vessel; deflating said chamber to cause said inflatable portion to move inwardly toward a deflated position; withdrawing said catheter from said blood vessel; and closing said incision; thereby to transfer heat to the blood of said patient.