Method and apparatus for reducing body temperature of a subject

Abstract

A cooling system includes a pressurized liquid refrigerant source having a liquid refrigerant and a cooling garment coupled to the liquid refrigerant source. The cooling garment defines chambers containing a heat transfer fluid. During operation, a user places the cooling garment in thermal communication with a body portion of a subject. As the cooling garment receives the liquid refrigerant from the pressurized source, the liquid refrigerant thermally contacts the heat transfer fluid and evaporates, thereby reducing the temperature of the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid, in turn, reduces the temperature of the body portion in thermal communication with the cooling garment. The heat transfer fluid acts to substantially evenly distribute cooling, as provided by the evaporation of the liquid refrigerant, to the body portion contacting the cooling garment to minimize localized “cold spots” within the chamber.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . A cooling assembly, comprising: 
 a garment having a chamber configured to receive a liquid refrigerant, the chamber having a vent configured to release evaporated liquid refrigerant; and    a thermal transfer fluid disposed within the chamber, the thermal transfer fluid configured to exchange heat between the liquid refrigerant and a body portion in thermal contact with the garment.    
     
     
         23 . The cooling assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the chamber comprises a pressure relief valve configured to maintain a pressure within the chamber.  
     
     
         24 . The cooling assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the vent comprises a gas permeable membrane forming at least a portion of a wall of the chamber.  
     
     
         25 . The cooling assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the garment comprises an iontophoresis assembly configured to deliver an electric current to a therapeutic agent.  
     
     
         26 . The cooling assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the iontophoresis assembly comprises an anode, a cathode, and a power source in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode.  
     
     
         27 . A thermal exchange assembly, comprising 
 a chamber containing a thermal transfer fluid; and    an evaporator assembly in thermal communication with the thermal transfer fluid, the evaporator assembly having an evaporator chamber configured to receive a liquid refrigerant and having a vent configured to release evaporated liquid refrigerant from the evaporator chamber.    
     
     
         28 . The thermal exchange assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the evaporator assembly a pressure relief valve configured to maintain a pressure within the evaporator chamber.  
     
     
         29 . The thermal exchange assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the vent comprises a gas permeable membrane forming at least a portion of a wall of the evaporator chamber.  
     
     
         30 . A cooling system, comprising: 
 a console containing a liquid refrigerant source;    a garment coupled to the console, the garment having a chamber configured to receive the liquid refrigerant, the chamber having a vent configured to release evaporated liquid refrigerant; and    a thermal transfer fluid disposed within the chamber, the thermal transfer fluid configured to exchange heat between the liquid refrigerant and a body portion in thermal contact with the garment.    
     
     
         31 . The cooling system of  claim 30 , wherein the chamber comprises a pressure relief valve configured to maintain a pressure within the chamber.  
     
     
         32 . The cooling system of  claim 30 , wherein the vent comprises a gas permeable membrane forming at least a portion of a wall of the chamber.  
     
     
         33 . The cooling system of  claim 30 , wherein the garment comprises an iontophoresis assembly configured to deliver an electric current to a therapeutic agent.  
     
     
         34 . The cooling system of  claim 33 , wherein the iontophoresis assembly comprises an anode, a cathode, and a power source in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode.  
     
     
         35 . The cooling system of  claim 30 , further comprising a gel in thermal communication with the garment and configured to thermally contact the body portion.  
     
     
         36 . The cooling system of  claim 35 , wherein the gel includes an anesthetic agent.  
     
     
         37 . The cooling system of  claim 35 , wherein the gel includes a suspension of metal powder disposed therein.  
     
     
         38 . The cooling system of  claim 30 , comprising a flow control valve in fluid communication with the chamber.  
     
     
         39 . The cooling system of  claim 38 , wherein the consol comprises a physiological sensor configured to contact a subject, the control console coupled to the flow control valve and configured adjust the flow control valve based upon a signal received from the physiological sensor.  
     
     
         40 . The cooling system of  claim 30 , wherein the console comprises a treatment device chosen from the group consisting of a defibrillation device, a chest compression apparatus, and an intravenous fluid infusion device.