Heating/cooling system for indwelling heat exchange catheter

Abstract

A cooling system for an indwelling heat exchange catheter includes a heat exchange bath that is configured to receive a conduit that carries saline to and from the catheter. A heating/cooling fluid is in the bath and exchanges heat with the saline. The heating/cooling fluid flows through a heat exchanger that includes a refrigerant and two variable speed DC compressor for removing heat from the refrigerant. A gear pump circulates the working fluid to and from the catheter and is removably engaged with a pump support platform.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An assembly, comprising:
 a platform supporting a motor; and   a pump engaged with the platform for pumping working fluid to and from a cooling member for a patient, the motor being coupled to the pump to provide power to the pump when the pump is engaged with the platform;   wherein the pump support platform includes a first arcuate support collar and a second arcuate support collar, the collars being received in a pump bore in the platform, the pump being received by the support collars in the pump bore.   
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the pump is removably coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 23 , comprising:
 a magnet extending from the pump and coupled thereto;   a cup-shaped member coupled to the motor to receive the magnet and magnetically engage the magnet such that as the cup-shaped member is rotated by the motor it causes the magnet to rotate which, in turn, causes the pump to pump fluid.   
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the platform comprises:
 a pump locking bore, the pump removably engaging the pump locking bore.   
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 23 , comprising:
 at least one sensor for detecting the presence of the pump when it is engaged with the platform.   
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the pump is a diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the platform includes an overflow bore through which any saline that may leak from the pump can flow. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the pump is a gear pump. 
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein a magnetic coupling is established between the cup-shaped member and the magnet to be broken under a predetermined overpressure. 
     
     
         32 . An assembly, comprising:
 a support supporting a motor; and   a pump engaged with the support and configured for pumping working fluid to and from a heat exchange member, the motor being coupled to the pump to provide power to the pump;   the support including a first arcuate support collar and a second arcuate support collar, the collars being received in a pump bore in the support, the pump being received by the support collars in the pump bore.   
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32 , comprising:
 at least one sensor for detecting the presence of the pump when it is engaged with the support.   
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the pump is a diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the support includes an overflow bore through which any saline that may leak from the pump can flow. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the pump is a gear pump. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 32 , comprising:
 a magnet extending from the pump and coupled thereto;   a cup-shaped member coupled to the motor to receive the magnet and magnetically engage the magnet such that as the cup-shaped member is rotated by the motor it causes the magnet to rotate which, in turn, causes the pump to pump fluid.   
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 32 , comprising first and second magnetic elements respectively coupled to the pump and the motor to couple the pump to the motor, a magnetic coupling being established by the magnetic elements to be broken under a predetermined overpressure. 
     
     
         39 . An assembly, comprising:
 a support configured for supporting a motor;   a pump engaged with the support and configured to pump working fluid to and from a heat exchange member to exchange heat with a patient, the motor being couplable to the pump to provide power to the pump;   at least a first arcuate support collar and a second arcuate support collar, the collars being received in a pump bore in the support, the pump being received by the support collars in the pump bore.   
     
     
         40 . The assembly of  claim 39 , comprising:
 first and second magnetic elements respectively coupled to the pump and the motor to couple the pump to the motor, a magnetic coupling being established by the magnetic elements to be broken under a predetermined overpressure.   
     
     
         41 . The assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the pump is a gear pump. 
     
     
         42 . The assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the first magnetic element is established at least in part by a magnet extending from the pump and coupled thereto and the second magnetic element is established at least in part by a cup-shaped member coupled to the motor to receive the magnet and magnetically engage the magnet such that as the cup-shaped member is rotated by the motor it causes the magnet to rotate which, in turn, causes the pump to pump fluid.