Method and device for reducing secondary brain injury

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for reducing secondary brain injury. The apparatus includes a brain-cooling probe and a control console. The brain-cooling probe cools the brain to prevent secondary injury by cooling the cerebrospinal fluid within one or more brain ventricles. The brain-cooling probe withdraws a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid from a ventricle into a cooling chamber located ex-vivo in close proximity to the head. After the cerebrospinal fluid is cooled it is then reintroduced back into the ventricle. This process is repeated in a cyclical or continuous manner in order to achieve and maintain a predetermined brain ventricle temperature lower than normal body temperature. The apparatus and method disclosed provides effective brain ventricle cooling without the need to introduce extra-corporeal fluids into the brain.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A brain probe assembly, comprising: 
 a probe defining a lumen and having a distal end configured to insert within a brain ventricle; and    a cooling assembly coupled to the probe, the cooling assembly operable to remove fluid from the brain ventricle via the probe, adjust a temperature of the fluid, and return the fluid to the brain ventricle via the probe.    
   
   
       22 . The brain probe assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the brain probe assembly further comprises a fixation device operable to couple the probe to a cranium.  
   
   
       23 . The brain probe assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the fixation device comprises a fixation plug configured to insert within a craniotomy formed in the cranium.  
   
   
       24 . The brain probe assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the probe comprises a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       25 . The brain probe assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the probe comprises a pressure sensor.  
   
   
       26 . The brain probe assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the probe comprises a drainage assembly in fluid communication with the lumen defined by the probe.  
   
   
       27 . The brain probe assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the probe comprises an antiseptic pad disposed on a proximal end of the probe.  
   
   
       28 . The brain probe assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the brain probe assembly further comprises a fixation device operable to couple the cooling assembly to a cranium.  
   
   
       29 . A brain probe system, comprising: 
 a probe defining a lumen and having a distal end configured to insert within a brain ventricle;    a cooling assembly coupled to the probe, the cooling assembly operable to remove fluid from the brain ventricle via the probe, adjust a temperature of the fluid, and return the fluid to the brain ventricle via the probe; and    a controller configured to detect a state of the fluid of the brain ventricle and operate the cooling assembly based upon the detected state.    
   
   
       30 . The brain probe system of  claim 29  wherein the controller is configured to detect a temperature of the fluid and operate the cooling assembly until the detected temperature approaches a threshold temperature.  
   
   
       31 . The brain probe system of  claim 29  wherein the controller is configured to detect a pressure of the fluid and operate the cooling assembly until the detected pressure approaches a threshold pressure.  
   
   
       32 . The brain probe system of  claim 29 , wherein the system further comprises a fixation device operable to couple the probe to a cranium.  
   
   
       33 . The brain probe system of  claim 32 , wherein the fixation device comprises a fixation plug configured to insert within a craniotomy formed in the cranium.  
   
   
       34 . The brain probe system of  claim 29 , wherein the probe comprises a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       35 . The brain probe system of  claim 29 , wherein the probe comprises a pressure sensor.  
   
   
       36 . The brain probe system of  claim 29 , wherein the probe comprises a drainage assembly in fluid communication with the lumen defined by the probe.  
   
   
       37 . The brain probe system of  claim 29 , wherein the probe comprises an antiseptic pad disposed on a proximal end of the probe.  
   
   
       38 . The brain probe system of  claim 29 , wherein the system further comprises a fixation device operable to couple the cooling assembly to a cranium.  
   
   
       39 . A method for inducing cerebral hypothermia, comprising: 
 inserting a probe within a brain ventricle, the probe defining a lumen;    removing fluid from the brain ventricle via the probe;    adjusting a temperature of the fluid removed from the brain; and    returning the fluid to the brain ventricle via the probe.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a temperature of the fluid removed from the brain ventricle based upon a state of the fluid.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a temperature of the fluid removed from the brain ventricle based upon a temperature of the fluid.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a temperature of the fluid removed from the brain ventricle based upon a pressure of the fluid.