Central venous catheter with heat exchange membrane

Abstract

A central venous catheter includes coolant supply and return lumens which communicate coolant to and from first and second heat exchange membranes arranged along the distal segment of the catheter. The coolant in the heat exchange membranes removes heat from the patient. Additional lumens are provided for conventional central venous catheter uses.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for making a heat exchange catheter device, comprising the acts of: 
 disposing a multi-lumen catheter body in a connector manifold mold;    disposing plural connector tubes in the connector manifold mold;    interconnecting a respective lumen with a respective connector tube using a mandrel;    directing a plastic material into the connector manifold mold; and    removing the mandrels such that a respective channel is defined between each respective lumen and its connector tube.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of engaging at least one heat exchange membrane with a distal segment of the catheter body.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the catheter body is made of urethane.  
     
     
         4 . A method for treating a patient, comprising the acts of: 
 advancing a heat exchange catheter device into the patient; and    circulating coolant through the catheter device while preventing infusion of the coolant directly into the patient's bloodstream, the catheter device including a heat exchange region established by: one or more heat exchange membranes, or one or more hollow fibers, or one or more chamber-defining enclosures.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the act of performing aneurysm surgery while the patient's temperature is below normal body temperature.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the act of treating head trauma in the patient while the patient's temperature is below normal body temperature.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the act of treating cardiac arrest in the patient while the patient's temperature is below normal body temperature.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the act of performing minimally invasive heart surgery on the patient while the patient's temperature is below normal body temperature.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the act of treating cardiac malady in the patient while the patient's temperature is below normal body temperature.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the act of maintaining the temperature of a patient at or below normal body temperature, when the patient runs or attempts to run a fever.