Claims
- 1. A central venous access catheter, comprising:a central heat exchange fluid supply lumen terminating at a distal end; plural heat exchange fluid return tubes communicating with the supply lumen at the distal end for carrying heat exchange fluid, each return tube being formed spirally around the supply lumen such that a body fluid flowing past the return tube exchanges heat with the heat exchange fluid flowing therein; and the catheter also defining at least two infusion lumens separated from the heat exchange fluid and terminating in respective ports longitudinally separated from each other, each infusion lumen providing access to the central venous blood supply of a patient when the catheter is placed in the central venous system of a patient.
- 2. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an anchor located proximal to at least one return tube and configured for affixing the catheter to the skin of a patient.
- 3. The catheter of claim 1, comprising three return tubes.
- 4. A central venous catheter, comprising:at least first and second hollow spiral-shaped heat exchange elements, each being configured for conveying a heat exchange fluid for exchanging heat with a body fluid flowing past the element; at least one fluid pathway for conveying heat exchange fluid to and from the heat exchange elements; and at least first and second infusion lumens separated from the heat exchange fluid and terminating in respective ports longitudinally separated from each other, each infusion lumen providing access to the central venous blood supply of a patient when the catheter is placed in the central venous system of a patient.
- 5. The catheter of claim 4, further comprising an anchor located proximal to at least one heat exchange element and configured for affixing the catheter to the skin of a patient.
- 6. The catheter of claim 4, comprising three heat exchange elements.
- 7. A method for treating a patient, comprising:advancing a catheter into the central venous system of the patient; circulating a heat exchange fluid through the catheter to exchange heat with the patient by removing heat from the patient; and simultaneously with the circulating act, undertaking one or more central venous (CV) line functions.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the catheter has at least one spirally configured heat exchange element.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the element conveys heat exchange fluid in a proximal direction relative to the catheter.
- 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the CV function is medicament infusion.
- 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the CV function is blood monitoring.
- 12. The method of claim 7, comprising undertaking at least two CV functions.
- 13. A central venous catheter, comprising:at least first, second, and third hollow corkscrew heat exchange elements establishing at least part of at least one closed circuit fluid pathway for a heat exchange fluid; and at least first and second infusion lumens separated from the heat exchange fluid and terminating in respective ports longitudinally separated from each other, each infusion lumen providing access to the central venous blood supply of a patient when the catheter is placed in the central venous system of a patient.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/253,109, filed Feb. 19, 1999 now abandoned, incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (39)
Foreign Referenced Citations (30)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 274 411 |
Jul 1988 |
EP |
0 304 258 |
Feb 1989 |
EP |
0 457 456 |
Nov 1991 |
EP |
WO 9117788 |
Nov 1991 |
WO |
WO 9607448 |
Mar 1996 |
WO |
WO 9826831 |
Jun 1998 |
WO |
WO 9831312 |
Jul 1998 |
WO |
WO 0010494 |
Mar 2000 |
WO |
WO 0038601 |
Jul 2000 |
WO |
WO 0047145 |
Aug 2000 |
WO |
WO 0048670 |
Aug 2000 |
WO |
WO 0051534 |
Sep 2000 |
WO |
WO 0053135 |
Sep 2000 |
WO |
WO 0057823 |
Oct 2000 |
WO |
WO 0062837 |
Oct 2000 |
WO |
WO 0066053 |
Nov 2000 |
WO |
WO 0072779 |
Dec 2000 |
WO |
WO 0072787 |
Dec 2000 |
WO |
WO 0103606 |
Jan 2001 |
WO |
WO 0108580 |
Feb 2001 |
WO |
WO 0110323 |
Feb 2001 |
WO |
WO 0110365 |
Feb 2001 |
WO |
WO 0112061 |
Feb 2001 |
WO |
WO 0112122 |
Feb 2001 |
WO |
WO 0113809 |
Mar 2001 |
WO |
WO 0113837 |
Mar 2001 |
WO |
WO 0117471 |
Mar 2001 |
WO |
WO 0119447 |
Mar 2001 |
WO |
WO 0126590 |
Apr 2001 |
WO |
WO 0130413 |
May 2001 |
WO |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/253109 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/839747 |
|
US |