Heat transfer catheter with elastic fluid lumens

Abstract

The heat exchange catheters comprise a catheter body having a heat exchange structure formed over a distal region thereof. Heat exchange structure comprises an elastic chamber or balloon which conforms closely to the catheter body when uninflated and which expands to enhance the available heat transfer surface when heat exchange medium is introduced. The elastic structures may consist of elastomeric sheets or membranes or may comprise non-distensible sheets or membranes having elastic elements in order to control expansion and contraction. Methods for fabrication and use are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchange catheter comprising: 
 a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal region; and    a heat exchange balloon structure disposed over the distal region;    wherein the heat exchange balloon structure expands and deflates elastically when uninflated.    
     
     
         2 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure conforms without folding to the distal region of the catheter body when uninflated.  
     
     
         3 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure has a diameter when uninflated which does not exceed that of the catheter body.  
     
     
         4 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the heat exchange balloon structure increases by at least 10% when inflated by heat exchange medium at a pressure in the range from 0.5 psig to 50 psig.  
     
     
         5 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 1 , wherein the catheter body comprises a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 75 A to 80 D.  
     
     
         6 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 4 , wherein the catheter body has a length in the range from 15 cm to 100 cm and a diameter in the range from 1 mm to 4 mm.  
     
     
         7 . A heat exchange catheter as in any of  claim 1  to  6 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure comprises a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 65 A to 45 D.  
     
     
         8 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 6 , wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, silicone rubber, latex, polyvinyls, plasticized PVC, and styrene-ethylene-butylene modified block copolymer with silicone oil.  
     
     
         9 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 7 , wherein the catheter body and the balloon comprise the same material having different hardnesses.  
     
     
         10 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 9 , wherein the same material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, silicone rubber, latex, polyvinyls, plasticized PVC, and styrene-etlhylene-butylene modified block copolymer with silicone oil.  
     
     
         11 . A heat exchange catheter comprising: 
 a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal region, an inflow lumen, and an outflow lumen; and    a heat exchange balloon structure comprising a plurality of elastic polymeric chambers disposed over the distal region and fluidly connected at an inlet end to the inflow lumen and at an outlet end to the outflow lumen.    
     
     
         12 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 11 , wherein the elastic polymeric chambers are arranged axially over the distal region.  
     
     
         13 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 11 , wherein the elastic polymeric chambers are arranged spirally over the distal region.  
     
     
         14 . A heat exchange catheter as in any of claims  11 - 13 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure comprises from two to twelve elongated chambers.  
     
     
         15 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 14 , wherein the elongated chambers are circumferentially spaced apart.  
     
     
         16 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure conforms without folding to the distal region of the catheter body when uninflated.  
     
     
         17 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure has a diameter when uninflated which does not exceed that of the catheter body.  
     
     
         18 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 11 , wherein the surface area of the heat exchange balloon structure increases by at least 10% when inflated by heat exchange medium at a pressure in the range from 0.5 psig to 50 psig.  
     
     
         19 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 11 , wherein the catheter body comprises a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 75 A to 80 D.  
     
     
         20 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 19 , wherein the catheter body has a length in the range from 15 cm to 100 cm and a diameter in the range from 1 mm to 4 mm.  
     
     
         21 . A heat exchange catheter as in any of  claim 11  to  20 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure comprises a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 65 A to 45 D.  
     
     
         22 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 21 , wherein the catheter body and the balloon comprise the same material having different hardnesses.  
     
     
         23 . A heat exchange catheter as in any of  claim 11  to  12 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure comprises a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 65 A to 45 D.  
     
     
         24 . A heat exchange catheter comprising: 
 a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal region, an inflow lumen, and an outflow lumen; and    an elastomer tube coaxially positioned over the distal region;    wherein the elastomer tube is sealed to the catheter body along a multiplicity of lines to define a plurality of separate inflatable chambers, each at which is fluidly connected at an inlet end to the inflow lumen and at an outlet end to the outflow lumen.    
     
     
         25 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 24 , wherein the inflatable chambers are arranged axially over the distal region.  
     
     
         26 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 24 , wherein the inflatable chambers are arranged spirally over the distal region.  
     
     
         27 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 24 , wherein the catheter comprises from two to twelve inflatable chambers.  
     
     
         28 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 27 , wherein the inflatable chambers are circumferentially spaced apart.  
     
     
         29 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 24 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure conforms without folding to the distal region of the catheter body when uninflated.  
     
     
         30 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 24 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure has a diameter when uninflated which does not exceed that of the catheter body.  
     
     
         31 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 24 , wherein the surface area of the heat exchange balloon structure increases by at least 10% when inflated by heat exchange medium at a pressure in the range from 0.5 psig to 50 psig.  
     
     
         32 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 24 , wherein the catheter body comprises a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 75 A to 80 D.  
     
     
         33 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 32 , wherein the catheter body has a length in the range from 15 cm to 100 cm and a diameter in the range from 1 mm to 4 mm.  
     
     
         34 . A heat exchange catheter as in any of  claim 24  to  33 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure comprises a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 65 A to 45 D.  
     
     
         35 . A heat exchange catheter as in  claim 34  wherein the catheter body and the elastomer tube comprise the same material having different hardnesses.  
     
     
         36 . A heat exchange catheter as in any of  claim 24  to  33 , wherein the heat exchange balloon structure comprises a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 65 A to 45 D.  
     
     
         37 . A method for fabricating a catheter, said method comprising: 
 positioning a tubular catheter body over a mandrel, wherein said catheter body has at least an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen;    placing an elastomer tube over a distal region of the catheter body;    attaching the elastomer tube to the tubular catheter body to define a plurality of separate elastically expandable chambers between the outside of the catheter body and the inside of the elastomer tube, wherein an inlet end of the chamber is fluidly connected to the inflow lumen and an outlet end of the chamber is fluidly connected to the outflow lumen.    
     
     
         38 . A method as in  claim 37 , wherein tubular catheter body comprises a polymer having a hardness in the range from 75 A to 82 D and the elastomer tube comprises an elastomer having a hardness in the range from 65 A to 45 D.  
     
     
         39 . A method as  claim 38 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyuirethanes, silicone rubber, latex, polyvinyls, plasticized PVC, and styreneethylene-butylene modified block copolymer with silicone oil and the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, silicone rubber, latex, polyvinyls, plasticized PVC, and styrene-etllylenie-butylene modified block copolymer with silicone oil (C-Flex®), polyurethanes.  
     
     
         40 . A method as in  claim 39 , wherein the polymer and the elastomer are the same material but have different hardnesses.  
     
     
         41 . A method as in  claim 37 , wherein attaching comprises heat staking.  
     
     
         42 . A method as in  claim 37  or  41 , wherein attaching comprises sealing along a multiplicity of lines to define the chambers therebetween.  
     
     
         43 . A method as in  claim 42 , wherein the lines are arranged axially.  
     
     
         44 . A method as in  claim 42 , wherein the lines are arranged spirally.  
     
     
         45 . A method as in  claim 42 , wherein the lines have a width in the range from 0.01 mm to 2 mm to circumferentially separate adjacent chambers.  
     
     
         46 . A method for exchanging heat with vascular circulation of a patient, said method comprising; 
 percutaneously introducing a catheter to a blood vessel of the patient, wherein the catheter includes at least one elastic chamber conformed over a surface thereof;    elastically inflating the chamber with a heat exchange medium, whereby heat is exchanged between the heat exchange medium and the vascular circulation.    
     
     
         47 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein the catheter is introduced to a blood vessel selected from the group consisting of 
 a. the inferior vena cava;    b. the superior vena cave;    C. a jugular vein;    d. a carotid artery;    e. the aorta; and    f. a renal artery.    
     
     
         48 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein the at least one chamber is inflated with the heat exchange medium at a pressure in the range from 0.5 psig to 50 psig and a flow rate in the range from 5 ml/min to 1000 ml/min.  
     
     
         49 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein elastically inflating comprises pulsing the pressure of the heat exchange medium, whereby the surface of the elastic chamber moves in order to enhance heat transfer.  
     
     
         50 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein pressure feedback from the pressure of the heat exchange fluid is used to control the expansion of the heat exchange balloon.  
     
     
         51 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein the flow rate feedback from the heat exchange fluid is used to control the expansion of the balloon.  
     
     
         52 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein the balloon is expanded to a sized based on the size of the vessel in which the heat exchange region is located.  
     
     
         53 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein the pulse rate of the expansion/deflation cycle is controlled to optimize heat exchange.