Automated Therapy System and Method

Abstract

An automated therapy system having an infusion catheter; a sensor adapted to sense a patient parameter; and a controller communicating with the sensor and programmed to control flow output from the infusion catheter into a patient based on the patient parameter without removing fluid from the patient. The invention also includes a method of controlling infusion of a fluid to a patient. The method includes the following steps: monitoring a patient parameter with a sensor to generate a sensor signal; providing the sensor signal to a controller; and adjusting fluid flow to the patient based on the sensor signal without removing fluid from the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of inducing and reversing therapeutic hypothermia in a patient, the method comprising:
 infusing a therapeutic agent from a catheter into a peritoneal cavity of the patient;   monitoring a flow of the therapeutic agent through the catheter with a sensor to generate a sensor signal;   providing the sensor signal to a controller; and   adjusting infusion of the therapeutic agent from the catheter to the peritoneal cavity with the controller based on the sensor signal to induce or reverse therapeutic hypothermia in the patient without removing the therapeutic agent from the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutic agent is infused into the patient with a peritoneal catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the infusing step comprises a peritoneal lavage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the adjusting step is performed after the infusing step. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a chilled fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is positioned in the catheter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is separate from the catheter. 
     
     
         8 . A system configured to induce and reverse therapeutic hypothermia or hyperthermia in a patient, the system comprising:
 a fluid source having a therapeutic agent;   a peritoneal catheter coupled to the fluid source, the peritoneal catheter configured to infuse the therapeutic agent into a peritoneal cavity of the patient;   a sensor configured to monitor a flow of the therapeutic agent through the peritoneal catheter to generate a sensor signal; and   a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller configured to adjust infusion of the therapeutic agent from the peritoneal catheter into the peritoneal cavity based on the sensor signal to induce or reverse therapeutic hypothermia or hyperthermia in the patient without removing the therapeutic agent from the patient.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the sensor is disposed in the peritoneal catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the sensor is separate from the peritoneal catheter. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust flow based on the sensor signal. 
     
     
         12 . A method of inducing and reversing therapeutic hyperthermia in a patient, the method comprising:
 infusing a therapeutic agent from a catheter into a peritoneal cavity of the patient;   monitoring a flow of the therapeutic agent through the catheter with a sensor to generate a sensor signal;   providing the sensor signal to a controller; and   adjusting infusion of the therapeutic agent from the catheter to the peritoneal cavity with the controller based on the sensor signal to induce or reverse therapeutic hyperthermia in the patient without removing the therapeutic agent from the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the therapeutic agent is infused into the patient with a peritoneal catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the infusing step comprises a peritoneal lavage. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the adjusting step is performed after the infusing step.