Intravascular temperature control catheter

Abstract

An intravascular heat exchange catheter is disclosed that has a non-straight heat exchange element.

1 . A heat exchange catheter, comprising: 
 a body;    at least one coolant supply lumen and at least one coolant return lumen in the body; and    at least one heat exchange element communicating with the lumens and configured for placement within a blood vessel of a patient such that blood can flow past the heat exchange element, wherein coolant is circulated through the body in a closed loop, the heat exchange element including plural longitudinally-spaced links at least when coolant flows through the catheter, each link facing its adjacent links and longitudinally overlapping its adjacent links.    
   
   
       2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the links are longitudinally in sequence with each other.  
   
   
       3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein each link includes a straight hollow top oriented parallel to a long axis of the catheter.  
   
   
       4 . The catheter of  claim 3 , wherein each link includes two hollow legs made integrally with the respective top and extending downwardly from opposite ends of the top.  
   
   
       5 . The catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the legs are connected to or made integrally with respective connector segments, each connector segment connecting a leg of one link with a leg of another link.  
   
   
       6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each link overlaps respective portions of adjacent links, and is spaced transversely therefrom, a longitudinal space being established between every other link.  
   
   
       7 . The catheter of  claim 5 , wherein a leg/connector segment combination that connects a top of a link to a leg/connector segment combination extending to a top of an adjacent link is oriented and configured such that coolant flows in a distal to proximal direction through at least one leg/connector segment combination.  
   
   
       8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed with at least one drug delivery lumen.  
   
   
       9 . The catheter of  claim 8 , wherein the body has two drug delivery lumens.  
   
   
       10 . A heat exchange catheter, comprising: 
 a body;    at least one coolant supply lumen and at least one coolant return lumen in the body; and    at least one heat exchange element communicating with the lumens and configured for placement within a blood vessel of a patient such that blood can flow past the heat exchange element, wherein coolant is circulated through the body in a closed loop, the heat exchange element including plural longitudinally-spaced links at least when coolant flows through the catheter, the links being configured to establish an eagle claw configuration.    
   
   
       11 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein each link faces its adjacent links and longitudinally overlapping its adjacent links.  
   
   
       12 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the links are longitudinally in sequence with each other.  
   
   
       13 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein each link includes a straight hollow top oriented parallel to a long axis of the catheter.  
   
   
       14 . The catheter of  claim 13 , wherein each link includes two hollow legs made integrally with the respective top and extending downwardly from opposite ends of the top.  
   
   
       15 . The catheter of  claim 14 , wherein the legs are connected to or made integrally with respective connector segments, each connector segment connecting a leg of one link with a leg of another link.  
   
   
       16 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of each link overlaps respective portions of adjacent links, and is spaced transversely therefrom, a longitudinal space being established between every other link.  
   
   
       17 . The catheter of  claim 15 , wherein a leg/connector segment combination that connects a top of a link to a leg/connector segment combination extending to a top of an adjacent link is oriented and configured such that coolant flows in a distal to proximal direction through at least one leg/connector segment combination.  
   
   
       18 . The catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the body is formed with at least one drug delivery lumen.  
   
   
       19 . The catheter of  claim 18 , wherein the body has two drug delivery lumens.  
   
   
       20 . A heat exchange catheter, comprising: 
 means for conveying coolant;    heat transfer means connected to the means for conveying coolant, the heat transfer means including non-straight, non-helical link means for exchanging heat with a person's blood.