Catheter System with On-Board Temperature Probe

Abstract

A catheter system for controlling the body temperature of a patient by modifying the temperature of blood flowing within a blood vessel of the patient. The catheter system comprises a catheter body having a heat exchange region in contact with the blood; and a temperature probe having a distal end that extends from the catheter body, thereby monitoring the temperature of blood flowing within the blood vessel.

1 .- 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A heat exchange catheter system comprising:
 a heat exchange catheter device comprising a catheter shaft and a temperature probe lumen which extends between a proximal opening on the heat exchange catheter device and a distal opening on the catheter device; and,   an elongate temperature probe having a proximal portion and a distal end;   the temperature probe being insertable into the temperature probe lumen and, when so inserted, axially advanceable from a non-deployed position in which the distal end resides within the temperature probe lumen and the proximal portion extends out of the proximal opening; to a deployed position in which some of the proximal portion has been advanced through the proximal opening and into the temperature probe lumen and the distal end has advanced out of the distal opening to a position a spaced distance away from the heat exchange catheter device.   
     
     
         61 . A system according to  claim 60  wherein said spaced distance is a distance sufficient to allow the temperature probe to accurately sense the body temperature of a subject in whom the heat exchange catheter device has been inserted. 
     
     
         62 . A system according to  claim 60  wherein said spaced distance is between 1.8 mm and 3.2 mm from the heat exchange catheter device. 
     
     
         63 . A system according to  claim 62  wherein the temperature probe further comprises indicia which indicates when the distal end of the temperature probe has reached said spaced distance. 
     
     
         64 . A system according to  claim 63  wherein said indicia comprises marking on the proximal portion of the temperature probe. 
     
     
         65 . A system according to  claim 64  wherein the heat exchange catheter device has a proximal hub and wherein the proximal opening comprises a port on the proximal hub. 
     
     
         66 . A system according to  claim 65  wherein distally advancing the proximal portion of the temperature probe until the marking becomes aligned with the port indicates that the distal end of the temperature probe has reached said spaced distance. 
     
     
         67 . A system according to  claim 60  further comprising a locking surface for locking the temperature probe in its current axial position within the temperature probe lumen. 
     
     
         68 . A system according to  claim 67  wherein the locking surface is useable to lock the temperature probe in position after its distal end has been advanced to said spaced distance. 
     
     
         69 . A system according to  claim 60  wherein the heat exchange catheter comprises a closed loop catheter through which a heat exchange fluid is circulated. 
     
     
         70 . A system according to  claim 60  wherein the temperature probe has at least one thermistor at or near its distal end. 
     
     
         71 . A system according to  claim 70  wherein said at least one thermistor comprises first and second thermistors. 
     
     
         72 . A system according to claim  1  wherein the temperature probe comprises an elongate member having at least one temperature sensor at or near the distal end and one or more wires for connecting said at least one temperature sensor to an extracorporeal control device. 
     
     
         73 . A system according to  claim 72  further comprising a control device programmed to use signals received from said at least one temperature sensor to control operation of the heat exchange catheter. 
     
     
         74 . A system according to  claim 60  wherein at least a portion of the temperature probe lumen is within the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         75 . A system according to  claim 60  wherein at least a portion of the temperature probe lumen is external to the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         76 . A system according to  claim 60  wherein the temperature probe lumen extends external of and along at least a portion of the catheter shaft.