Heat exchange system for patient temperature control with multiple coolant chambers for multiple heat exchange modalities

Abstract

Cold plates through which refrigerant flows define a slot between them that can receive a cassette through which sterile working fluid with a relatively low flow rate flows from an intravascular heat exchange catheter. The working fluid from the catheter is heated or cooled by heat exchange with the cold plates through the walls of the cassette to maintain the sterility of the working fluid. On the other hand, high flow rate working fluid chambers surround the cold plates and non-sterile working fluid from an external heat exchange pad flows through the high flow rate working fluid chambers to exchange heat through direct contact with the cold plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus, comprising:
 at least first and second heat exchange assemblies cooperating to establish a first modality working fluid chamber configured for receiving a holder through which first working fluid can flow to and from a first modality patient heat exchanger such that the first working fluid can exchange heat with the heat exchange assemblies through the holder without the first working fluid touching the heat exchange assemblies; and   at least a second modality working fluid chamber through which second working fluid can flow to and from a second modality patient heat exchanger such that the second working fluid from the second modality patient heat exchange member can exchange heat with at least one of the heat exchange assemblies by directly contacting at least one of the heat exchange assemblies, wherein at least the first heat exchange assembly includes at least one passageway through which a third working fluid can flow to exchange heat with at least the first heat exchange assembly, the third working fluid not being the first working fluid or the second working fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first modality patient heat exchanger is established by an intravascular heat exchange catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising the first modality patient heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second modality patient heat exchanger is established by an externally-applied exchange pad. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising the second modality patient heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second working fluid from the second modality patient heat exchanger is not sterile. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second modality working fluid chamber includes a first sub-chamber in the first heat exchange assembly and a second sub-chamber in the second heat exchange assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein third working fluid must flow in series through the heat exchange assemblies such that all third working fluid must flow first through the first heat exchange assembly before flowing through the second heat exchange assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein third working fluid can flow in parallel through the heat exchange assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second working fluid must flow in parallel through the first and second subchambers. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 flowing refrigerant through at least first and second assemblies having respective first and second refrigerant chambers;   receiving, in a region between the first and second assemblies, first working fluid from a catheter so that the first working fluid from the catheter can be heated or cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant chambers; and   receiving, in respective first and second working fluid chambers laterally outboard the respective first and second refrigerant chambers, second working fluid from a heat exchanger configured for exchanging heat with an external surface of a patient to facilitate heat exchange between the second working fluid and the refrigerant.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the region is configured for receiving a cassette through which the first working fluid can flow so that heat can be exchanged between the first and second assemblies and the first working fluid without the first working fluid contacting the first and second assemblies. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising establishing fluid communication between the catheter and the first and second assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising exchanging heat with an external surface of a patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising flowing refrigerant in series through the refrigerant chambers such that all refrigerant flows first through the refrigerant chamber of the first assembly before flowing through the refrigerant chamber of the second assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising flowing refrigerant in parallel through the refrigerant chambers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising flowing the second working fluid in parallel through the first and second working fluid chambers. 
     
     
         18 . System comprising:
 first heat transmitting member;   first working fluid chamber on a first side of the first heat transmitting member;   first refrigerant chamber on a second side of the first heat transmitting member opposite the first side, such that heat exchange is facilitated through the first heat transmitting member between the first refrigerant chamber and the first working fluid chamber; and   second working fluid chamber separated from the first refrigerant chamber by a barrier through which heat exchange may be effected between the second working fluid chamber and the first refrigerant chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , comprising:
 second heat transmitting member, the first working fluid chamber being between the first and second heat transmitting members;   second refrigerant chamber on a side of the second heat transmitting member opposite the first working fluid chamber, such that heat exchange is facilitated through the second heat transmitting member between the second refrigerant chamber and the first working fluid chamber; and   third working fluid chamber separated from the second refrigerant chamber by a barrier through which heat exchange may be effected between the third working fluid chamber and the second refrigerant chamber.