Temperature management system and method for burn patients

Abstract

Intravascular closed loop heat exchange catheters are used to manage temperature in burn patients.

1 . A method comprising:
 advancing a closed loop intravascular heat exchange catheter into the vasculature of a burn patient; and   establishing a desired patient temperature using the catheter, wherein the catheter includes plurral heat exchange elements established by one or more hollow elongated segments that have external surfaces which have turbulence-inducing exterior surfaces that are shaped to alter the flow of blood flowing past the elements.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is used to warm the patient during skin graft surgery. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the catheter is used to establish normothermia in the patient should the patient become febrile. 
     
     
         4 , 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange elements are metal. 
     
     
         7 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for treating a burn patient while skin graft surgery is being conducted on the patient, comprising:
 during surgery, circulating working fluid through a catheter in the patient to counter hypothermia in the patient; and   controlling the temperature of the working fluid.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the catheter is used to establish normothermia in the patient should the patient become febrile. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the catheter has plural heat exchange elements. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the heat exchange elements are balloons or are metal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising using the catheter to undertake at least one central venous line function selected from the group consisting of: infusing medicament into the bloodstream, infusing saline into the bloodstream, and monitoring a patient parameter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the act of countering hypothermia is executed by circulating working fluid through the catheter such that the working fluid does not enter the bloodstream and exchanges heat therewith. 
     
     
         21 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange elements are made of gold. 
     
     
         22 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent heat exchange elements are separated by a flexible articulating joint. 
     
     
         23 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange elements are made of single piece of material. 
     
     
         24 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange elements are made of plastic. 
     
     
         25 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange elements are spiral. 
     
     
         26 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange elements are fluted.