Heat exchange catheter having a helically wrapped heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchange catheter has a catheter body with an inflow lumen, an outflow lumen, and an infusion lumen. A first heat exchange balloon helically wraps around at least a portion of the catheter body in fluid communication with the inflow lumen. A second heat exchange balloon helically wraps around at least a portion of the catheter body in fluid communication with the outflow lumen. The first and second balloons form a gap there between to facilitate infusion of fluid into the blood stream of the patient via an infusion port formed within the gap.

1 . A heat exchange catheter comprising: 
 a catheter body having a core, an inflow lumen, an outflow lumen, a proximal region and a distal region;    a balloon helically wrapping around at least a portion of the catheter body and being in fluid communication with the core and at least one of the inflow lumen or the outflow lumen;    the core fluidly communicating with the other of the at least one of the inflow lumen or the outflow lumen;    the balloon and the core forming a fluid circuit to facilitate circulation of a heat exchange fluid through the balloon and the core to exchange heat with a patient.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchange catheter of  claim 1  wherein the balloon is in fluid communication with the inflow lumen.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange catheter of  claim 1  wherein the balloon is in fluid communication with the outflow lumen.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange catheter of  claim 1  further comprising at least one infusion port on the catheter body for infusing a fluid such as nutrients, medication or saline into the patient.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange catheter of  claim 1  wherein the distal portion includes a distal tip comprising a port opening located on the distal tip for infusing a fluid such as nutrients, medication or saline into the patient or for accommodating a guidewire.  
     
     
         6 . A method of circulating a heat exchange fluid within a heat exchange catheter, comprising: 
 circulating the heat exchange fluid through the catheter to exchange heat with the blood stream of a patient, the heat exchange fluid being circulated from a fluid source external to the catheter;    returning the heat exchange fluid through the core of the catheter to the fluid source; and    infusing an infusion fluid into the blood stream of the patient via the catheter.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the heat exchange fluid through the catheter is circulated along a helical path.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the heat exchange fluid through the catheter is circulated along the balloon.  
     
     
         9 . A method of circulating a heat exchange fluid within a heat exchange catheter, comprising: 
 circulating the heat exchange fluid through the core of the catheter to exchange heat with the blood stream of a patient, the heat exchange fluid being circulated from a fluid source external to the catheter;    returning the heat exchange fluid through the balloon of the catheter to the fluid source; and    infusing an infusion fluid into the blood stream of the patient via the catheter.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the heat exchange fluid is circulated at least partially through along a helical path.