Patent Application
20090234325
The invention relates to cerebral and systemic cooling via the nasal cavity, oral cavity, and other parts of the body, and more particularly to methods and devices for cerebral and systemic cooling using ice slurries.
Patients experiencing cerebral ischemia often suffer from disabilities ranging from transient neurological deficit to irreversible damage (stroke) or death. Cerebral ischemia, i.e., reduction or cessation of blood flow to the central nervous system, can be characterized as either global or focal. Global cerebral ischemia refers to reduction of blood flow within the cerebral vasculature resulting from systemic circulatory failure caused by, e.g., shock, cardiac failure, or cardiac arrest. Within minutes of circulatory failure, tissues become ischemic, particularly in the heart and brain.
The most common form of shock is cardiogenic shock, which results from severe depression of cardiac performance. The most frequent cause of cardiogenic shock is myocardial infarction with loss of substantial muscle mass. Pump failure can also result from acute myocarditis or from depression of myocardial contractility following cardiac arrest or prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass. Mechanical abnormalities, such as severe valvular stenosis, massive aortic or mitral regurgitation, acutely acquired ventricular septal defects, can also cause cardiogenic shock by reducing cardiac output. Additional causes of cardiogenic shock include cardiac arrhythmia, such as ventricular fibrillation. With sudden cessation of blood flow to the brain, complete loss of consciousness is a sine qua non in cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest often progresses to death within minutes if active interventions, e.g., cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation, use of inotropic agents and vasoconstrictors such as dopamine, dobutamine, or epinephrine, are not undertaken promptly. The most common cause of death during hospitalization after resuscitated cardiac arrests is related to the severity of ischemic injury to the central nervous system, e.g., anoxic encephalopathy. The ability to resuscitate patients of cardiac arrest is related to the time from onset to institution of resuscitative efforts, the mechanism, and the clinical status of the patient prior to the arrest.
Prompt resuscitation of cardiac arrest is vital in preventing long term cardiac and neurological complications and death. Basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) remained the gold standard for the initial treatment of cardiac arrest. This early CPR buys time by keeping vital organs perfused with oxygen while waiting for trained personnel and equipment to reverse the arrest. Advanced CPR, including defibrillation and drug administration, often is necessary to reverse the arrest. Drugs commonly used in CPR include sympathomimetic drugs, vasopressors, and anti-arrhythmic agents. Although it is known to cause tachycardia and ventricular arrhythmias, Epinephrine, a naturally occurring catecholamine that has both alpha and beta receptor activities, is the most frequently used vasopressor agent during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Epinephrine's alpha-vasoconstrictive activity is important in raising the perfusion pressure of myocardium and brain.
Focal cerebral ischemia refers to cessation or reduction of blood flow within the cerebral vasculature resulting in stroke, a syndrome characterized by the acute onset of a neurological deficit that persists for at least 24 hours, reflecting focal involvement of the central nervous system. Approximately 80% of the stroke population is hemispheric ischemic strokes, caused by occluded vessels that deprive the brain of oxygen-carrying blood. Ischemic strokes are often caused by emboli or pieces of thrombotic tissue that have dislodged from other body sites or from the cerebral vessels themselves to occlude in the narrow cerebral arteries more distally. Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for the remaining 20% of the annual stroke population. Hemorrhagic stroke often occurs due to rupture of an aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation bleeding into the brain tissue, resulting in cerebral infarction. Other causes of focal cerebral ischemia include vasospasm due to subarachnoid hemorrhage from head trauma or iatrogenic intervention.
Current treatment for acute stroke and head injury is mainly supportive. A thrombolytic agent, e.g., tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), can be administered to non-hemorrhagic stroke patients. Treatment with systemic t-PA is associated with increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage and other hemorrhagic complications. Aside from the administration of thrombolytic agents and heparin, there are no therapeutic options currently on the market for patients suffering from occlusion focal cerebral ischemia. Vasospasm may be partially responsive to vasodilating agents. The newly developing field of neurovascular surgery, which involves placing minimally invasive devices within the carotid arteries to physically remove the offending lesion, may provide a therapeutic option for these patients in the future, although this kind of manipulation may lead to vasospasm itself.
In both stroke and cardiogenic shock, patients develop neurological deficits due to reduction in cerebral blood flow. Thus treatments should include measures to maintain viability of neural tissue, thereby increasing the length of time available for interventional treatment and minimizing brain damage while waiting for resolution of the ischemia. New devices and methods are thus needed to minimize neurologic deficits in treating patients with either stroke or cardiogenic shock caused by reduced cerebral perfusion.
Research has shown that cooling the brain may prevent the damage caused by reduced cerebral perfusion. Initially research focused on selective cerebral cooling via external cooling methods. Studies have also been performed that suggest that the cooling of the upper airway can directly influence human brain temperature, see for example Direct cooling of the human brain by heat loss from the upper respiratory tract, Zenon Mariak, et al. 8750-7587 The American Physiological Society 1999, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Furthermore, because the distance between the roof of the nose and the floor of the anterior cranial fossa is usually only a fraction of a millimeter, the nasal cavity might be a site where respiratory evaporative heat loss or convection can significantly affect adjacent brain temperatures, especially because most of the warming of inhaled air occurs in the uppermost segment of the airways. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a device and method for achieving cerebral cooling via the nasal and/or oral cavities of a patient.
The invention relates to methods, devices, and compositions for jugular, pharyngeal and/or cerebral cooling, preferably via the nasal and/or oral cavities. The cooling occurs by direct heat transfer through the pharynx as well as by hematogenous cooling through the carotids as they pass by the oropharynx and through the Circle of Willis, which lies millimeters away from the pharynx. The direct cooling will be obtained through the heat loss of an ice slurry in the nasal cavity, oral cavity, and/or throat. Additionally, cooling may occur through convection in the nasal and/or oral cavities. Such cerebral cooling may help to minimize neurologic deficits in treating patients with either stroke or cardiogenic shock caused by reduced cerebral perfusion or in the treatment of migraines. In the following description, where a cooling assembly, device, or method is described for insertion into a nostril of a patient, a second cooling assembly or device can optionally also be inserted into the other nostril to maximize cooling. Among the many important advantages of the present invention is patient safety by comparison with transpulmonary and intravascular cooling methods and devices.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a cooling assembly for insertion into a nasal cavity of a patient through a patient's nostril. The cooling assembly includes a flexible balloon defining a chamber, a first elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the chamber, and, optionally, a second elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the chamber. The cooling assembly may further comprise a third elongate tubular member having a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the flexible balloon is mounted circumferentially about the third elongate tubular member.
In use, the cooling assembly is inserted into a nasal cavity of a patient through the patient's nostril. An ice slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals is infused through the lumen of the first elongate tubular member into the chamber of the flexible balloon. The two phase slurry may be, but is not limited to, a saline ice slurry, a perfluorocarbon ice slurry or any other suitable ice slurry. During this process, the chamber of the flexible balloon expands to place the flexible balloon in contact with the nasopharynx and/or nasal cavity. Heat transfer to the ice slurry to melt the ice particles cools the nasopharynx and blood circulating through the carotid arteries and results in reduction of the cerebral and/or jugular temperature of the patient by at least 0.1° C. in one hour. Alternatively, the cerebral temperature may be reduced by at least 1° C., alternatively at least 2° C., alternatively at least 3° C., alternatively at least 4° C., alternatively at least 5° C., alternatively at least 6° C., alternatively at least 7° C., alternatively at least 8° C., alternatively at least 9° C., alternatively at least 10° C. The melted slurry is then withdrawn, suctioned, or drained from the chamber through the lumen of the second tubular member. In some embodiments, the melted slurry could be infused and withdrawn through a single tubular member.
The method may further include the step of recirculating the slurry by infusing the slurry through the lumen of the first elongate tubular member and withdrawing the slurry through the lumen of the second elongate tubular member. The slurry may be infused using a pump at a flow rate of between about 5 ml/min and about 5 L/min, alternatively between about 100 ml/min and about 1 L/min, alternatively between about 200 ml/min and about 800 ml/min, alternatively between about 300 ml/min and about 700 ml/min, alternatively between about 400 ml/min and about 600 ml/min, alternatively between about 450 ml/min and about 550 ml/min, alternatively about 500 ml/min.
Where the cooling assembly comprises a flexible balloon mounted circumferentially about a third elongate tubular member having a lumen, the third elongate tubular member should be positioned such that the lumen is in fluid communication with the patient's nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, and/or esophagus, such that the patient can breathe through the lumen of the third elongate tubular member. Alternatively, a medical device could be passed through the lumen of the third elongate tubular member. A drug may also be eluted from a surface of the flexible balloon.
In other embodiments, a slush or super-cooled gel can be circulated through the cooling assembly. In addition, a second cooling assembly could be inserted into the patient's other nostril to maximize pharyngeal and/or cerebral cooling.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a cooling assembly for insertion into a nasal cavity of a patient through a patient's nostril. The cooling assembly includes a balloon defining a chamber. A branched tubular member comprises a first tubular member that branches into a second and a third tubular member, all of which have lumens. The lumen of the first tubular member is in fluid communication with the chamber and with the lumens of the second and third tubular members. A pump is connected to the second tubular member. A cooler is connected to the pump and to the third tubular member.
In use, the cooling assembly is inserted into a patient's nostril. The chamber of the balloon is infused with a slurry via the first and second lumens. The slurry is then withdrawn from the chamber through the lumens of the first and third tubular members. The chamber of the balloon expands to place the surface of the balloon in contact with the nasal cavity when the chamber is infused with slurry, such that a cerebral temperature of the patient is reduced by at least 1° C. in about one hour. The slurry can be continuously cooled and re-circulated through the chamber of the balloon using a pump or other means. The slurry could be an ice slurry, a saline ice slurry, a perfluorocarbon ice slurry or any other suitable ice slurry. In other embodiments, a slush or super-cooled gel can be circulated through the cooling assembly. A second cooling assembly could be inserted into the patient's other nostril to maximize cerebral cooling.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a cooling assembly for insertion into an oral cavity of a patient through the patient's mouth. The cooling assembly includes a flexible balloon defining a chamber, a first elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the chamber, and, optionally, a second elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the chamber.
In use, the cooling assembly is inserted into an oral cavity of a patient through the patient's mouth. An ice slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals is infused through the lumen of the first elongate tubular member into the chamber of the flexible balloon. The two phase slurry may be, but is not limited to, a saline ice slurry, a perfluorocarbon ice slurry or any other suitable ice slurry. The chamber of the flexible balloon expands as it is filled with ice slurry and is placed in contact with the adjacent anatomy of the oral cavity. Heat transfer to the ice slurry to melt the ice particles cools the oral cavity and blood circulating through the carotid arteries which results in reduction of the cerebral and/or jugular temperature of the patient by at least 0.1° C. in one hour. Alternatively, the cerebral temperature may be reduced by at least 1° C., alternatively at least 2° C., alternatively at least 3° C., alternatively at least 4° C., alternatively at least 5° C., alternatively at least 6° C., alternatively at least 7° C., alternatively at least 8° C., alternatively at least 9° C., alternatively at least 10° C. The melted slurry is then withdrawn, suctioned, or drained from the chamber through the lumen of the first tubular member. In some embodiments, the melted slurry can be withdrawn, suctioned, or drained from the chamber through the lumen of the second tubular member. The method may further include the step of re-circulating the slurry by infusing the slurry through the lumen of the first elongate tubular member and withdrawing the slurry through the lumen of the second elongate tubular member. The slurry may be infused using a pump at a flow rate of between about 5 ml/min and about 5 L/min, alternatively between about 100 ml/min and about 1 L/min, alternatively between about 200 ml/min and about 800 ml/min, alternatively between about 300 ml/min and about 700 ml/min, alternatively between about 400 ml/min and about 600 ml/min, alternatively between about 450 ml/min and about 550 ml/min, alternatively about 500 ml/min. A drug may also be eluted from a surface of the flexible balloon. In other embodiments, a slush or super-cooled gel can be circulated through the cooling assembly.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a cooling assembly for insertion into the throat of a patient through the patient's mouth or nasal cavity. The cooling assembly includes a flexible balloon defining a chamber, a first elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the chamber, and a second elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the chamber. In use, the cooling assembly is inserted through the patient's mouth or nose and advanced until the flexible balloon is positioned in the patient's throat. An ice slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals is infused through the lumen of the first elongate tubular member into the chamber of the flexible balloon. The two phase slurry may be, but is not limited to, a saline ice slurry, a perfluorocarbon ice slurry or any other suitable ice slurry. The chamber of the flexible balloon expands as it is filled with ice slurry and is placed in contact with the adjacent anatomy of the throat. Heat transfer to the ice slurry to melt the ice particles cools the nasopharynx and oropharynx as well as the blood circulating through the carotid arteries. The melted slurry is then suctioned, from the chamber through the lumen of the second tubular member. Alternatively, the slurry can be infused and withdrawn through a single tubular member. The method may further include the step of circulating the slurry by alternately infusing the slurry through the lumen of the first elongate tubular member and withdrawing the slurry through the same lumen or the lumen of the second elongate tubular member.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a method of pharyngeal cooling with an ice slurry using a modified laryngeal mask, endotracheal tube or any other suitable artificial airway to isolate the trachea and provide access to the patient's airways. The modified laryngeal mask comprises a first elongate tube having a first lumen in fluid communication with an inflatable mask for inflating the mask, a second lumen in fluid communication with the area beyond the inflatable mask for providing air flow to the lungs and a third lumen in fluid communication with a flexible balloon. The inflatable mask is mounted near the distal end of the elongate tube and the flexible balloon is mounted proximal to the inflatable mask in the distal region of the elongate tube. In use, the modified laryngeal mask is inserted into patient's mouth and advanced until the inflatable mask is positioned in the trachea and the flexible balloon is positioned adjacent the nasopharynx and/or oropharynx. The inflatable mask is then expanded such that the mask conforms to the adjacent anatomy and forms a low pressure seal substantially sealing off the patient's oral and nasal cavity from the rest of the patient's trachea to provide an airway for the patient to breath. A two phase slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals is then delivered into the flexible balloon via the third lumen such that the balloon expands to place the balloon in contact with the pharynx. Heat transfer to the ice slurry to melt the ice particles cools the pharynx and the blood flowing through the carotid arteries and allows for rapid cooling of the patient's brain. The two phase slurry may be, but is not limited to a saline ice slurry, a perfluorocarbon ice slurry, or any other suitable ice slurry. The melted slurry can be drained or suctioned from the flexible balloon via the third lumen. Alternatively, a fourth lumen can be used to drain or suction the melted slurry from the flexible balloon. The method may further include the step of re-circulating the slurry by alternately infusing the slurry through the lumen of the second elongate tubular member and withdrawing the slurry through the lumen of the second or third elongate tubular member. The slurry may be infused using a pump at a flow rate of between about 5 ml/min and about 5 L/min, alternatively between about 100 ml/min and about 400 ml/min, alternatively between about 150 ml/min and about 200 ml/min. In alternative embodiments, a slush or super-cooled gel can be delivered to the sealed off nasal cavity through the nostrils to provide cerebral cooling. A drug may also be eluted from a surface of the flexible balloon.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a method of pharyngeal cooling via a patient's nasal cavity using a modified laryngeal mask, endotracheal tube, or any other suitable artificial airway to isolate the patient's airways. For example, a laryngeal mask comprising an elongate tube having a first lumen in fluid communication with an inflatable mask to inflate and deflate the mask and a second lumen extending beyond the inflatable mask and communicating with the area beyond the mask to provide air flow to the lungs is inserted into the patient's mouth and advanced until the inflatable mask is positioned in the trachea. The inflatable mask is then expanded by inflation through the first lumen such that the mask conforms to the adjacent anatomy and forms a low pressure seal substantially sealing off the patient's oral and nasal cavity from the rest of the patient's airways in order to prevent liquid from leaking into the patient's lungs. The second lumen provides an airway for the patient to breath. A two-phase, or ice, slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals can be delivered into the patient's nasal cavity, for example, through the lumen of an second elongate tubular member and circulated through the nasal cavity to allow for rapid cooling of the patient's pharynx and/or nasal cavity. The melted slurry can be allowed to run out of the patient's mouth or alternatively the patient's nose. Alternatively, the melted slurry can be withdrawn, drained, or suctioned from the nasal cavity through the lumen of the second elongate tubular member. The method may further include the step of re-circulating the slurry by delivering the slurry to the nasal cavity through the lumen of a first tubular member and withdrawing the slurry through the lumen of a second tubular member. In alternative embodiments, a slush or super-cooled gel can be delivered to the nasal cavity to provide cerebral cooling. A drug may also be eluted from a surface of the inflatable mask.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a method of pharyngeal cooling via a patient's oral cavity using a modified laryngeal mask, endotracheal tube or any other suitable artificial airway to isolate the patient's airways. For example, a laryngeal mark comprising an elongate tube having a first lumen in fluid communication with an inflatable mask and a second lumen extending beyond the mask is inserted into the patient's mouth and advanced until the inflatable mask is positioned in the trachea. The inflatable mask is then expanded by inflation through the first lumen such that the mask conforms to the adjacent anatomy and forms a low pressure seal substantially sealing off the patient's oral and nasal cavity from the rest of the patient's airways in order to prevent liquid from leaking into the patient's lungs. The second lumen provides an airway for the patient to breath. A two-phase, or ice, slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals can be delivered into the patient's mouth and circulated through the oral cavity to allow for rapid cooling of the patient's oropharynx and retrotonsilar space. In an alternative embodiment, a flexible balloon, in fluid communication with a second elongate tubular member can be attached to the laryngeal mask such that when the inflatable mask is positioned in the larynx, the flexible balloon will be positioned in the rear of the oral cavity. Here, the ice slurry can be delivered to the flexible balloon via the second elongate tubular member such that the flexible balloon is placed in contact with the oropharynx. The two phase slurry can be, but is not limited to, a saline ice slurry, a perfluorocarbon ice slurry or any other suitable ice slurry. The melted slurry can be allowed to run out of the patient's mouth or alternatively the patient's nose. Alternatively, the melted slurry can be withdrawn, drained, or suctioned from the oral cavity through the lumen of a second elongate tubular member. The method may further include the step of re-circulating the slurry by delivering the slurry to the oral cavity through the lumen of a first tubular member and withdrawing the slurry through the lumen of a second tubular member. In alternative embodiments, a slush or super-cooled gel can be delivered to the oral cavity to provide cerebral cooling. A drug may also be eluted from a surface of the inflatable mask.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a method of pharyngeal cooling via a patient's throat using a modified laryngeal mask, endotracheal tube, or any other suitable artificial airway to isolate the patient's airways. For example, a laryngeal mark comprising an elongate tube in fluid communication with an inflatable mask is inserted into the patient's mouth and advanced until the inflatable mask is positioned in the trachea. The inflatable mask is then expanded such that the mask conforms to the adjacent anatomy and forms a low pressure seal substantially sealing off the patient's oral and nasal cavity from the rest of the patient's airways in order to prevent liquid from leaking into the patient's trachea and lungs and to provide an airway for the patient to breath. A two-phase, or ice, slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals can be delivered into the patient's throat via a second elongate tubular member and circulated through the throat to allow for rapid cooling of the patient's pharynx. The two phase slurry can be, but is not limited to, a saline ice slurry, a perfluorocarbon ice slurry or any other suitable ice slurry. The melted slurry can be withdrawn, drained, or suctioned from the throat through the lumen of a third elongate tubular member. The method may further include the step of re-circulating the slurry by delivering the slurry to the patient's throat through the lumen of the second tubular member and withdrawing the slurry through the lumen of a third tubular member. In alternative embodiments, a slush or super-cooled gel can be delivered to the patient's throat via the second elongate tubular member to provide cerebral cooling. A drug may also be eluted from a surface of the inflatable mask.
In an alternative embodiment of this invention, thin impermeable membranes surrounding a space may be placed over the carotid arteries externally. For example, the membranes may extend from clavicle to the ear lobe and be approximately 4 cm in width. The membranes may be cooled using a liquid perfluorocarbon, preferably with a boiling point less than 37° C., delivered cold or at room temperature. The membrane must be filled such that vapor can still escape. The membranes may be of a radiator shape to increase surface area. In addition, the membranes may have an inlet and a larger bore outlet. Adhesive may be used to stick the membranes to the neck, e.g., like an EKG patch. Alternatively, a collar with cold patches confined to the carotid region may be used. The liquid in the membranes may be cold saline, refrigerants, or perfluorocarbons with a boiling point of above or below 37° C. Additionally, a vasodilator cream may be applied behind the cooling membrane to dilate vessels maximally.
In an alternative embodiment of this invention, a thin impermeable membrane may be placed inside the oral cavity over each carotid behind the tonsils with adhesive. The membrane may be for example, 4 cm length and 1.5 cm width. These membranes may cool in the same way as described above. The membrane may be of a radiator shape to increase surface area. In addition, the membranes may have an inlet and a larger bore outlet. The inlet can be in fluid communication with a first elongate tubular member. An ice slurry, such as a saline ice slurry or a perfluorocarbon ice slurry, can be delivered to the membrane via the first elongate tubular member to provide cooling of the oral cavity via heat transfer to the ice slurry. The melted slurry can be allowed to flow out of the larger outlet bore or alternatively, a second elongate tubular member can be connected to the outlet bore for suctioning the melted slurry through the outlet bore and lumen of the second elongate tubular member. The membrane should be sized sufficiently small so as not to obstruct the airway or induce gagging as it expands with slurry. In an alternative embodiment, the membrane can be mounted circumferentially around a third elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the patient's pharynx and/or esophagus such that the patient can breath through the lumen of the third elongate tubular member
In an alternative embodiment, a nasal catheter may be designed to include an elongate tubular member extending into the patient's nasopharynx and further including having one or more parallel lumens and one or more expandable members mounted on the distal end. In use, the nasal catheter may be inserted into one of the patient's nostrils and positioned in the posterior aspect of the nasal cavity, proximal to the opening to the nasopharynx. Once positioned in posterior aspect of the nasal cavity, the one or more expandable members may be expanded to conform to the posterior aspect of the nasal cavity and form a seal isolating the nasal cavity from the nasopharynx and the rest of the patient's airways in order to prevent liquid from leaking into the throat. Once isolated, a cooling liquid, such as an ice slurry, super-cooled gel or slush, may be delivered into one of the patient's nostrils via a first lumen in the nasal catheter and circulated though the nasal cavity to allow for rapid cooling of the patient's head. For example, in one embodiment, a two-phase, or ice, slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals can be delivered into the patient's nasal cavity via the nasal catheter. The melted slurry may then be allowed to run out the patient's other nostril.
In an alternative embodiment, the elongate tubular member may further comprise a second lumen having a port proximal to the expandable member whereby the melted slurry may be suctioned from the patient's nasal cavity. In addition, this melted slurry may be recycled for successive production of an ice slurry and delivery into the patient's nasal cavity. In addition, the elongate tubular member may further comprise a set of two expandable members located on the proximal end to occlude the nostrils and thus further isolate the nasal cavity and prevent fluid from leaking out of the patient's nostrils. In this embodiment, the elongate member may further include a third lumen extending between the distal and proximal ends of the elongate member and having an opening at the distal and proximal ends and for providing a breathing passage through the nasal cavity while it is occluded by the expandable members. In use, the catheter may be inserted into one of the patient's nostrils and positioned in the posterior aspect of the nasal cavity, proximal to the opening to the nasopharynx. Once positioned in posterior aspect of the nasal cavity, the one or more distal expandable members may be expanded to conform to the posterior aspect of the nasal cavity and form a seal isolating the nasal cavity from the nasopharynx while the two proximal expandable members may be expanded to occlude the patient's nostrils and isolate the nasal cavity. Once isolated, an ice slurry, for example a saline ice slurry or a PFC ice slurry, may be delivered to the nasal cavity via a delivery lumen and suctioned out of the nasal cavity via a suction lumen. The nasal cavity is completely isolated so none of the liquid may leak to the throat or run out the patient's nostrils however the suction lumen allows melted slurry to be removed from the nasal cavity so that cold ice slurry can be continuously introduced. Use of the distal and proximal expandable members to isolate the nasal cavity, however, may cause a pressure build up in the nasal cavity. To prevent such a pressure build-up, the expandable members may be made of a somewhat porous material such as cork, wool, cotton or any other slightly porous material known to those skilled in the art. The slightly porous material may prevent pressure build up while still preventing most fluid leakage. In addition, the third lumen with openings on the proximal and distal ends of the elongate tubular member permits the patient to continue breathing through his nose even while the nasal cavity is isolated for treatment.
In an alternative embodiment, anesthetics, such as lidocaine or marcaine, vasodilators, such as beta blockers, Nitric Oxide or nitroglycerin, neuroprotective agents and any other drugs for systemic absorption, such as insulin and Cerovive, may also be delivered to the nasal cavity with this device. It is further contemplated that these drugs may be delivered unaccompanied or may be delivered in addition to a cooling agent to facilitate cerebral cooling.
In an alternative embodiment, a conductive gel may be delivered to the isolated nasal cavity via the delivery lumen. Once the gel has been delivered to the nasal cavity, a conductive device that conducts heat may be inserted to the nasal cavity via either the delivery lumen or a fourth lumen to cool the conductive gel in place. The conductive device could be a metal, such as copper. Alternatively, the conductive device may be a probe through which a chilled fluid is circulated, a probe in which a fluid undergoes a phase change, or a heat pipe, which is a sealed system utilizing an internal fluid that boils on one end and condenses on the other end in order to transmit heat. In the case of the probe with the fluid undergoing a phase change, the fluid may have a boiling point below body temperature, such as Freon. Additionally, an external cooling source, such as a refrigeration system, thermoelectric heat pump, ice bath, or evaporative cooler, will be connected to the proximal end of the probe.
In an alternative embodiment, a second nasal catheter comprising an elongate tubular member with an expandable member mounted on the distal end may be inserted in the patient's second nostril. In this embodiment, the balloons may be positioned on either side of the nasal cavity before the septum and expanded to isolate the nasal cavity from the rest of the patient's airways.
The compositions of this invention include two-phase slurries, or slurry ice comprised of high concentrations of “micro” ice crystals of a phase change liquid, typically 0.1 to 1 mm in diameter, suspended in a liquid carrier. For example, the slurry can comprise 5-80% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 20% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 30% ice concentration, alternatively greater than 40% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 50% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 60% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 70% ice crystals. In some embodiments, the phase change liquid and liquid carrier can comprise the same or different liquids. For example, the phase change liquid and carrier can comprise the same liquid, such as an ice slurry comprising ice particles suspended in water. Alternatively, the carrier liquid can have a lower freezing point than the phase change liquid such that it will remain a liquid when the mixture is cooled to the freezing point of the phase change liquid. Ice slurries suitable for medical use include saline ice slurries and perfluorocarbon ice slurries.
Compounds having suitable characteristics for use as a liquid carrier in a two phase slurry include hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and perfluorohydrocarbons. Saline is another example of a substance having suitable characteristics for use herein. As used in this specification, the terms “fluorocarbon,” “perfluorocarbon,” and “perfluorohydrocarbon” are synonymous. In addition to containing carbon and fluorine, these compounds may also contain other atoms. In one embodiment, the compounds could contain a heteroatom, such as nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or a halogen, such as bromine or chlorine. These compounds may be linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or any combination thereof.
In another embodiment, the compounds are highly fluorinated compounds, which are compounds containing at least three fluorine atoms. These highly fluorinated compounds may also contain other atoms besides carbon and fluorine. These other atoms include, but are not limited to, hydrogen; heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur; and halogens such as bromine or chlorine. In one embodiment, the number of the atoms that are not carbon or fluorine comprise a minority of the total number of atoms in the compound. These highly fluorinated compounds may be linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or any combination thereof Examples of these compounds include, but are not limited to, C4F9Br (b.p. 43° C.), CF3CF(CF3)CF═CF2 (b.p. 51° C.), or CF3CF(CF3)CH═CH2.
In another embodiment, the compounds are hydrofluorocarbons, which are compounds where the number of hydrogen atoms exceeds the number of fluorine atoms. These hydrofluorocarbons may also contain other atoms besides hydrogen, carbon, and fluorine. These other atoms include, but are not limited to, heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur and halogens such as chlorine and bromine. For example, hydrofluorocarbons include, but are not limited to, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, more specifically, hydrochlorofluoralkanes. In one embodiment, the number of the atoms other than carbon and fluorine comprise a minority of the total number of atoms in the compound. These hydrofluorocarbons may be linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or any combination thereof.
Nitric oxide or adrenergic agents, such as adrenaline (epinephrine) or albuterol, may be added in minute doses to the compositions described in any of the previously described embodiments. The NO or other agent is inhaled and acts as a potent nasal vasodilator, which improves the rate of action of the slurry and counteracts nasal vasoconstriction caused by administering cold substances to the nasal cavity. The NO may be included in an amount of about 2 to about 80 parts per million, in other cases in an amount of about 3 to about 20 parts per million, in other cases in an amount of about 4 to about 10 parts per million, in other cases in an amount of about 5 to about 8 parts per million, in other cases in an amount of about 5 parts per million. The ice slurry is delivered to the nasal cavity, oral cavity and or throat of a patient so that the ice slurry causes cerebral cooling by heat transfer to the ice slurry to effect the phase change of the suspended ice particles in the ice slurry. In addition indirect hematogenous cooling occurs through the carotids as they pass by the oropharynx and through the Circle of Willis which lies millimeters away from the pharynx. The administration of the slurry is continued until the cerebral temperature is reduced to 35° C. or below, more preferably to 34° C. or below, more preferably to 33° C. or below. In certain methods, the administration of the slurry may be continued to provide for systemic cooling as well as cerebral cooling.
Evaporative Cooling in the Nasal Cavity
As shown in
In another alternative embodiment, depicted in
The liquids used with this catheter include liquids having a boiling point of about 38-300° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 38-200° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 60-150° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 70-125° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 75-110° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 60-70° C. Compounds having suitable characteristics for use herein include hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and perfluorohydrocarbons. Saline is another example of a substance having suitable characteristics for use herein. As used in this specification, the terms “fluorocarbon,” “perfluorocarbon,” and “perfluorohydrocarbon” are synonymous. In addition to containing carbon and fluorine, these compounds may also contain other atoms. In one embodiment, the compounds could contain a heteroatom, such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or a halogen, such as bromine or chlorine. These compounds may be linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or any combination thereof. Exemplary perfluorocarbons include perfluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluoropentane, 2-methyl-perfluoropentane, perfluorohexane, perfluoroheptane, and perfluorooctane.
The liquids delivered through the catheter (single or multi-lumen) may also comprise a humidifier. Alternatively, the humidifier may be delivered separately through the catheter or using an alternative delivery device. When used in conjunction with the cooling liquid, the humidifier would have to be cooled or else it would counteract the cooling effect of the other liquid. Where the humidifier was used independently for humidification, it could also be warmed. The humidifiers may be delivered through the same ports in the catheter as the cooling liquid. Alternatively, a different lumen and/or port in the catheter may be used to deliver the humidifier. The purpose of the humidification is to prevent the sensation of dryness, the crusting and trauma that could result from the dryness, the nasal congestion and mucous production that could result from dryness imparted by the high gas flow rates or from the evaporation of the liquid (e.g., PFC). The congestion and mucous production reduce the effectiveness of the cooling by limiting the cavity in which the evaporation occurs and by directly blocking holes in the catheter. This phenomenon may account for rapid initial cooling rates observed, followed by slower cooling rates beyond the first 20 to 30 minutes.
The humidifier may be, but is not limited to isotonic saline, or water. Where water is used as the humidifier, the quantity needed to be added for full saturation is about 41 micrograms/L of gas. Alternative nasal inhalers, such as but not limited to, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine (e.g., Afrin), antihistamines, ipratropium (e.g., Atrovent), and anticholinergics, may also be used to saturate the air in the nasal cavity.
The gases used with the catheter include any gas capable of evaporating the liquid. The gas can include, but is not limited to, nitrogen, air, oxygen, argon, or mixtures thereof.
In use, as seen in
In addition, the ability to nebulize the liquid at each delivery port ensures that the distribution of varying sizes of liquid particles will be uniform throughout the nasal cavity. Specifically, when a liquid is nebulized, a spray with liquid particles of various sizes is created. If the liquid was nebulized at the proximal end of the nasal catheter or outside of the catheter and then transported as a nebulized liquid spray through the catheter lumen to the multiple delivery ports, the smaller liquid particles would flow through the proximal delivery ports while the larger liquid particles would be carried to the distal end of the tube before being delivered to the nasal cavity via one of the delivery ports near the distal end of the nasal catheter. This would result in an uneven distribution of the liquid particles within the nasal cavity. Conversely, when the liquid is transported through the nasal catheter and nebulized separately at each delivery port just prior to delivery, the size distribution of liquid particles distributed at any given point in the nasal cavity is uniform. This is critical because an even distribution of the varying sized liquid particles provides for better evaporation of the liquid spray, which results in better cooling through evaporative heat loss and is more tolerable to the patient. Furthermore, since the liquid begins to evaporate immediately upon contact with the gas, mixing at the point of use in the patient will ensure efficient use of all available cooling.
The liquid flow rate is also a critical factor for cerebral cooling.
In addition to the liquid flow rate, it has also been shown that the ratio of gas flow rate to liquid flow rate is a critical factor affecting the cerebral cooling within the nasal cavity. Initially, it was thought that increasing the liquid flow rate would increase cooling. The cooling rate, however, only increases if the gas flow is concurrently increased to evaporate the nebulized liquid. This is necessary because the cooling within the nasal cavity is achieved through evaporative heat loss as nebulized liquid evaporates. If the nasal cavity becomes saturated with the evaporated liquid, however, then the evaporation rate decreases and consequently, the cooling rate decreases. Thus, the rate of evaporation is dependant on the concentration of the liquid within the nasal cavity as well as the flow rate of the liquid. Therefore, increasing the liquid flow rate to the nasal cavity only increases the cooling rate if the gas flow rate is also increased to evaporate off the nebulized liquid. The ratio for the liquid delivery rate: gas delivery rate to optimize the evaporation and maintain a constant rate of evaporation preferably ranges from 1:25 mL-1:5000 mL, more preferably from 1:500 mL-1:2000 mL, more preferably from 1:700 mL-1:1500 mL.
The flow rate of the gas and liquid can be altered during the process according to the amount of cooling achieved. Feedback can be provided in the form of nose temperature, body temperature, brain temperature, rectal temperature, etc. For example, an alarm could be triggered when the body temperature falls below 35° C. and delivery of the fluids and gas could be stopped. Additionally, or in the alternative, feedback in the form of the brain temperature could be provided such that the rate of delivery of the fluids and gases increases if the cooling rate of the brain is less than about 5° C. in one hour, alternatively less than about 4° C. in one hour, alternatively less than about 3° C. in one hour, alternatively less than about 2° C. in one hour, alternatively less than about 1° C. in one hour.
Cooling Calculations
The following calculations estimate the maximum cooling that can be obtained using a unit dose of 2 liters of perfluorohexane. The cooling effect of PFH is related to two aspects of thermodynamics: (1) heat capacity of the liquid, as it is warmed from its temperature at application to that of the body and (2) heat of vaporization as it changes from the liquid to the gas state. The relevant properties of perfluorohexane are as follows:
ρ, Density: 1.68 grams/ml
c, Specific Heat: 1.09 kJ/kg° C.=0.26 cal/g° C.
h, Latent Heat: 85.5 kJ/kg=20.4 cal/g
The calculation for heat transfer due to warming the liquid is:
Q=c*m*(T2−T1) or Q=cmΔT Equation 1
Where m=the mass of the liquid administered
In the patient case, the heat removed is calculated using the following assumptions: (1) a unit dose quantity of 2 liters is used; (2) the PFC is administered at 0° C.; and (3) the PFC is warmed completely to body temperature of 37° C.
Q=2000 ml*1.68 g/ml*0.26 cal/g° C.*(37° C.−0° C.)=32,300 calories
The calculation for heat transfer due to evaporation of the liquid is:
Q=h*m Equation 2
Therefore, assuming a dose of 2 liters,
Q=2000 ml*1.68 g/ml*20.5 cal/g=68,900 calories
For a 2 liter quantity of liquid, the maximum heat removal=100,000 calories or 100 Kcal. The amount of cooling to the body can be calculated using the following assumptions: (1) patient weight of 70 Kg, (2) specific heat of patient—0.83 cal/g° C., (3) heat generated by metabolism or other sources is negligible, and (4) other heat added or removed from the patient is negligible. After rearranging Equation 1 (ΔT=Q/(c*m)), the net change in temperature of the whole body of the patient can be calculated as follows:
ΔT=100 kcal/(0.83 cal/g° c*70 kg)=1.72° C.
Therefore, the maximum whole body cooling that could occur from a 2 liter dose is approximately 1.7° C. This should result in a body temperature no lower than 35° C., which should not cause any cold related complications.
The sensitivity, i.e., the resultant temperature change experienced by the patient, will depend on the size of the patient. For a very small patient of 40 Kg (88 pounds), the resultant temperature change is ΔT=100 cal/(0.83 cal/g° c*40 kg)=2.1° C. For a very large patient of 100 Kg, the resultant temperature change is ΔT=100 cal/(0.83 cal/g° c*100 g)=0.83° C.
By applying the cooling spray to the nasal cavity, there will be more cooling in the head than the remainder of the body. Calculations can be done to determine how cold the head might become if all the cooling is focused solely in the head. The amount of cooling to the head can be calculated using the following assumptions: (1) mass of head=5 kg, (2) specific heat of head=0.83 (same as rest of body), and (3) heat transfer from body (warming from cerebral blood flow) is negligible.
ΔT=q/(s*m)=100 kcal/(0.83 cal/g° C.*5 kg)=24 Degrees C.
This corresponds to a potential minimum head temperature of 13° C.
The above calculations assume that every bit of the liquid is warmed fully to body temperature and evaporates completely. It is likely that in a clinical setting, there will be incomplete warming and evaporation. Specifically, some of the gas and vapor leaving the body will not be at 37° C., and some of the liquid will trickle out of the patient without contributing to heat transfer. These effects will tend to reduce the cooling from the calculated values.
The head cooling calculation assumes that absolutely no heat will be added to the head from the body. This is, however, a poor assumption. The cerebral blood flow is on the order of 1 L per minute, and assuming that this blood is cooled by only 2 degrees while in the head, the calculation becomes as follows:
Net heat removal=100 Kcal−1000 ml/min*30 min*0.83 cal/g° C.*2° C.=50 Kcal
Therefore, the cooling in the head is reduced by at least half of the previously calculated value to 12° C., for a minimum possible 25° C. head temperature
Experimental Data
In use, the nasal catheter of the present invention was inserted through the nose into the nasal cavity. Temperature was measured at baseline (3 times over 10 minutes) and at every minute or continuously at the ventricle or epidural space, where available, and bladder or rectum during the procedure. A suction catheter was positioned in the patient's mouth to prevent pharyngeal liquid from entering the esophagus and a nasogastric (NG) tube was placed in the patient's stomach to suction any liquid PFC or PFC vapor. NG suction was continuous. Nasal cooling was administered via a nasal catheter with one oxygen PFC mixer and fan spray nozzle per naris. Nasal prongs were positioned in the narices and secured to the nose by tape. After measurement of baseline temperatures, cooling was initiated. Temperature was monitored until it returned to the baseline value. A portion of the PFC was recovered from the oral suction catheter placed in the back of the patient's throat. This recovered PFC can be reused and recycled. The following parameters were used for the human studies.
Oxygen was delivered at about 20 L/min throughout the delivery period, alternatively at about 30 L/min throughout the delivery period, alternatively at about 40 L/min throughout the delivery period, depending on the patient.
The PFC (e.g., perfluorohexane) was delivered at a rate of about 15 mL/min, alternatively at about 25 mL/min, alternatively at about 35 mL/min, alternatively at about 45 mL/min, alternatively at about 50 mL/min, alternatively at about 55 mL/min, alternatively at about 65 mL/min, alternatively at about 75 mL/min, alternatively at about 80 mL/min, alternatively at about 85 mL/min, alternatively at about 95 mL/min, alternatively at about 100 mL/min, depending on the patient. The liquid flow rate was sometimes started at a lower flow rate (e.g., about 15 mL/min or about 25 mL/min) and increased to a faster flow rate (e.g., about 45 mL/min, about 50 mL/min, or about 100 mL/min). Alternatively, the liquid flow rate was started at a faster flow rate (e.g., about 50 mL/min) and gradually reduced to a slower flow rate (e.g., about 25 mL/min). A total of amount of about 1.0 L of PFC was delivered, alternatively about 1.5 L, alternatively about 2.0 L, depending on the patient.
The delivery period was approximately 20 minutes, alternatively approximately 25 minutes, alternatively approximately 30 minutes, alternatively approximately 35 minutes, alternatively approximately 40 minutes, alternatively approximately 45 minutes.
In one method, oxygen is delivered at about 40 L/min and PFC is delivered at about 80 mL/min throughout the delivery period. A total of about 2 L of PFC is delivered. The delivery period is approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
The catheter of the present invention can also be used in combination with other cooling or heating devices. For example, the catheter may be used in combination with a helmet or cooling cap for synergistic cooling as seen in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,600, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. As seen in
In another alternative embodiment, a mask can be used in conjunction with the catheter (single or multi-lumen) to increase the amount of air/oxygen/gas delivered to the nasal cavity. This would result in an increase in the rate of liquid evaporation, and therefore the rate of cooling, without increasing the intranasal pressure. As see in
The catheters of the present invention can also be used as drug delivery catheters for delivery of nebulized drugs to the nasal cavity. It is further contemplated that these drugs may be delivered unaccompanied or may be delivered in addition to a cooling agent to facilitate cerebral cooling. As discussed previously, the ability to nebulize the liquid at each delivery port ensures that the distribution of varying sizes of liquid particles will be uniform throughout the nasal cavity, which provides for better evaporation of the liquid spray. The drug delivery catheter may include, but is not limited to, at least 20 delivery ports, alternatively at least 30 delivery ports, alternatively at least 40 delivery ports, alternatively at least 50 delivery ports, alternatively at least 60 delivery ports. Use of such a drug delivery catheter with nebulizing delivery ports may provide more accurate dosing than existing nasal delivery systems, which suffer from problems of liquid dripping down the patient's throat.
The drug could be provided in a liquid suspension or a mixture. The liquid suspension could utilize various liquid carriers, depending on the drug. Liquid carriers include, but are not limited to, water, saline, PFC, and combinations thereof. Use of saline as a carrier has an advantage in that may drugs are already sold with saline as the carrier. Additionally, there are no suspension problems. Use of a PFC as a carrier has an advantage in that, because the PFC would evaporate, the drug would not be diluted.
Drugs that may be delivered using an intranasal delivery catheter include, but are not limited to, neuroprotective agents and malignant hyperthermia, insulin, β-blockers, β-agonists, antihistamines, contraceptives, anesthetics, painkillers, antibiotics, steroids, aspirin, sumatriptan, Viagra, nitroglycerin, hormones, neurodrugs, anti-convulsants, prozac, anti-epileptics, analgesics, NMDA antagonists, narcan, noxone, naltrexone, auxiolytics, and muscle relaxants.
Other Nasal Catheter Designs
In an alternative embodiment, as seen in
In addition, as seen in
The advantages of this invention include: relative ease of placement; available port provides same function as nasogastric tube; similarity to standard nasogastric tubes in design and use; ease of breathing, speaking, etc., through mouth for the patient; liquid flow rate is not dependant on ventilation and can be set by clinician; high turnover flow through cooling enabled; utilization of well perfused anatomical features; perfluorocarbon is well tolerated in lungs; perfluorocarbon in the stomach is also tolerated, and can be easily suctioned with the gastric portion of the catheter.
The compositions of the invention include liquids having a boiling point of about 38-300° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 38-200° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 60-150° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 70-125° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 75-110° C., more preferably a boiling point of about 60-70° C. Compounds having suitable characteristics for use herein include hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and perfluorohydrocarbons. Saline is another example of a substance having suitable characteristics for use herein. As used in this specification, the terms “fluorocarbon,” “perfluorocarbon,” and “perfluorohydrocarbon” are synonymous. In addition to containing carbon and fluorine, these compounds may also contain other atoms. In one embodiment, the compounds could contain a heteroatom, such as nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or a halogen, such as bromine or chlorine. These compounds may be linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or any combination thereof
In another embodiment, the compounds are highly fluorinated compounds, which are compounds containing at least three fluorine atoms. These highly fluorinated compounds may also contain other atoms besides carbon and fluorine. These other atoms include, but are not limited to, hydrogen; heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur; and halogens such as bromine or chlorine. In one embodiment, the number of the atoms that are not carbon or fluorine comprise a minority of the total number of atoms in the compound. These highly fluorinated compounds may be linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or any combination thereof Examples of these compounds include, but are not limited to, C4F9Br (b.p. 43° C.), CF3CF(CF3)CF═CF2 (b.p. 51° C.), and CF3CF(CF3)CH═CH2.
In another embodiment, the compounds are hydrofluorocarbons, which are compounds where the number of hydrogen atoms exceeds the number of fluorine atoms. These hydrofluorocarbons may also contain other atoms besides hydrogen, carbon, and fluorine. These other atoms include, but are not limited to, heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur and halogens such as chlorine and bromine. For example, hydrofluorocarbons include, but are not limited to, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, more specifically, hydrochlorofluoralkanes. In one embodiment, the number of the atoms other than carbon and fluorine comprise a minority of the total number of atoms in the compound. These hydrofluorocarbons may be linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or any combination thereof.
A mixture of two or more highly fluorinated compounds, hydrofluorocarbons, light fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, perfluorohydrocarbons, or any of the above-mentioned compounds may also be used. The mixture may contain any of the previously mentioned compounds in different phases (e.g., one gas, one liquid). The mixture has a boiling point above 37° C., even though any individual component of the mixture may have a boiling point below 37° C.
Light fluorocarbons are fluorocarbons that have a boiling point below 37° C. These light fluorocarbons may also contain other atoms besides carbon, and fluorine. These other atoms include, but are not limited to, hydrogen; heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur; and halogens such as chlorine and bromine. For example, light fluorocarbons include, but are not limited to perfluorobutane and perfluoropentane. In one embodiment, the number of the atoms other than carbon and fluorine comprise a minority of the total number of atoms in the compound. These light fluorocarbons may be linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, or any combination thereof.
In certain methods, a liquid having a boiling point of 38-300° C., more preferably having a boiling point of 38-200° C., more preferably having a boiling point of 38-150° C., is selected. The liquid is nebulized to form a mist. The droplets preferably range in size from 0.1-100 microns, more preferably 1-5 microns, more preferably 2-4 microns. The mist is optionally cooled below body temperature and delivered to the airway of a patient so that the patient inhales the mist. Inhalation of the mist causes systemic cooling by heat transfer from the lungs to the cooler mist and/or by evaporative heat loss as the mist evaporates. The administration of the liquid is continued until the systemic temperature is reduced to 35° C. or below, more preferably to 34° C. or below, more preferably to 33° C. or below. The rate of cooling can be adjusted by varying the temperature of the inhalate, the concentration of the responsible compound or compound mixture, the rate of delivery, the particle size, and the percentage of each compound in the mixture.
Nitric oxide or adrenergic agents, such as adrenaline (epinephrine) or albuterol, may be added in minute doses to the compositions described in any of the previously described embodiments. The NO or other agent is inhaled and acts as a potent nasal vasodilator, which improves the rate of action of the cooling mist and counteracts nasal vasoconstriction caused by administering cold substances to the nasal cavity. The NO may be included in an amount of about 2 to about 80 parts per million, in other cases in an amount of about 3 to about 20 parts per million, in other cases in an amount of about 4 to about 10 parts per million, in other cases in an amount of about 5 to about 8 parts per million, in other cases in an amount of about 5 parts per million.
In other methods, administration of cold mists will occur in cycles with intervening cycles of administering another gas, preferably a cold dry gas such as dry air or dry heliox, e.g., a mixture of helium and oxygen. With continuous administration of perfluorocarbon mist, the gaseous phase in the nasal cavity may become saturated with gaseous PFC, thereby slowing the rate of evaporative heat loss. In order to accelerate the rate of evaporative heat loss, it may be desired to periodically purge nasal cavity of perfluorocarbon. This can be done by cycling administration of cold mists with administering another gas, preferably a dry gas such as dry air or dry heliox.
Where cycling is desired, it is recommended that the cycles occur for about 3 seconds or more, in other cases for about 30 seconds or more, in other cases for about one minute or more, in other cases for about two minutes or more, in other cases for about five minutes or more, in other cases for about ten minutes or more, in other cases for about 30 minutes or more. The intervening cycle of dry gas may last for an equal period (e.g., about 3 seconds of cold mist followed by about 3 seconds of dr gas, about 30 seconds of cold mist followed by about 30 seconds of dry gas, about one minute of cold mist followed by about one minute of dry gas, about two minutes of cold mist followed by about two minutes of dry gas, about five minutes of cold mist followed by about five minutes of dry gas, about ten minutes of cold mist followed by about ten minutes of dr gas, about 30 minutes of cold mist followed by about 30 minutes of dry gas, or for a shorter or longer period (about ten minutes of cold mist followed by about two minutes of dry gas).
In certain methods, a liquid having a boiling point of 38-300° C. is selected. The liquid is nebulized to form a mist. The droplets preferably range in size from 1-5 microns. The mist is delivered to the nasal and or oral cavities of a patient so that the patient of the mist causes cerebral cooling by heat transfer to the cooler mist and/or by evaporative heat loss. In addition indirect hematogenous cooling occurs through the carotids as they pass by the oropharynx and through the Circle of Willis which lies millimeters away from the pharynx. The administration of the liquid is continued until the cerebral temperature is reduced to 35° C. or below, more preferably to 34° C. or below, more preferably to 33° C. or below. In certain methods, the administration of the liquid may be continued to provide for systemic cooling as well as cerebral cooling. In certain methods, the liquid may be cooled to below body temperature before delivery. The mist droplets may range in size from 1-5 microns.
The table in
Nasal catheter 910 is connected to mixing catheter 914 by a connecting tube 916. Connecting tube 916 is a hollow, open ended tube for attaching nasal catheter 910 to mixing catheter 914 and for placing nasal catheter 910 in fluid communication with at least the lower lumen 920 of mixing catheter 914. It can be made from metal ‘hypodermic’ tubing, or a suitable plastic. As shown in
At this point, the gas is moving at a high velocity, and the liquid experiences high shear forces, breaking the stream into small droplets that then flow through the lumen of nasal catheter 910 and are delivered as a spray to the patient's nasal cavity through the spray nozzle 915.
Expandable members 992a-b and 991a-b at the distal and proximal ends of catheter 990 prevent the fluid from leaking into the throat or running out the patient's nostrils. The warmed liquid may then be suctioned from the nasal cavity via suction lumen 999, which is in fluid communication with port 998. This liquid may be discarded or alternatively it may be recycled for successive use. Because there is a dedicated lumen for delivery and suction, however, delivery of the cooling fluid to the nasal cavity does not need to be interrupted.
Convective Cooling in the Nasal Cavity
In another aspect of this invention, a catheter with a flexible balloon having a chamber filled with a two-phase slurry, or ice slurry can be used to cool the brain via the nasal cavity. As seen in
In use, as seen in
The melted slurry can be withdrawn or suctioned back out of flexible balloon 204 via lumen 208. This allows the ice slurry to be continuously delivered at a rate sufficient to induce or maintain a desired balloon pressure and/or to achieve a desired brain temperature. For example, the ice slurry can be circulated at a rate to achieve a reduction of the cerebral temperature of the patient by at least 0.1° C. in one hour. Alternatively, the cerebral temperature may be reduced by at least 1° C., alternatively at least 2° C., alternatively at least 3° C., alternatively at least 4° C., alternatively at least 5° C., alternatively at least 6° C., alternatively at least 7° C., alternatively at least 8° C., alternatively at least 9° C., alternatively at least 10° C. Additionally, in some embodiments, a second assembly can also be inserted into the other nostril such that maximum cooling can be obtained. The cooling of the brain occurs by convection or heat exchange from the cold ice slurry in the chamber of the balloon to the warm nasal cavity. Lumen 210 of catheter 202 allows the patient to breathe through his nose after the flexible balloon 204 is inflated. Alternatively, when the patient is getting oxygen through alternative means, other medical devices can be passed through lumen 210. These medical devices include, but are not limited to, oxygen tube, nasogastric tube, fiber optics, laryngoscope, pH probes, and esophageal manometry.
The ice slurry is comprised of high concentrations of “micro” ice crystals of a phase change liquid, typically 0.1 to 1 mm in diameter, suspended in a liquid carrier. The ice slurry has a substantially greater cooling capacity than an equal volume of cooled liquid due to the additional heat transfer required to melt the ice particles. For example, depending on the ice concentration in the slurry, the ice slurry can have 5-7 times the cooling capacity of an equal volume of cooled liquid. In addition, the small size of the ice particles provides a greater heat transfer area further improving the cooling efficiency of the slurry.
In some embodiments, the phase change liquid and liquid carrier can comprise different liquids. For example, the carrier liquid can have a lower freezing point than the phase change liquid such that it will remain a liquid when the mixture is cooled to the freezing point of the phase change liquid. Alternatively, the phase change liquid and carrier can comprise the same liquid, such as an ice slurry comprising ice particles suspended in water. Here, a freezing point depressant, such as sodium chloride, various alcohols, sugar or any other biologically suitable freezing point depressant can be added to the liquid to ensure that a portion of the liquid will remain a liquid as it is cooled to the freezing point. Ice slurries suitable for medical use include saline ice slurries and perfluorocarbon ice slurries.
In one embodiment, a saline ice slurry comprising an aqueous solution of water and sodium chloride can be used to cool the brain. The sodium chloride acts as a freezing point depressant to improve the fluidity of the ice particles suspended in the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is cooled to the transition temperature where ice crystals form until the desired concentration of ice crystals is reached. In some embodiments, the saline ice slurry can have a concentration of between 5-80% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 20% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 30% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 40% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 50% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 60% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 70% ice crystals.
In other embodiments, the slurry can comprise a phase change liquid, such as water, and a carrier liquid, such as perfluorocarbon, which has a lower freezing point. Here the mixture is cooled to the freezing point of the water to create a perfluorocarbon slurry ice comprised of a suspension of ice particles in the perfluorocarbon liquid, such as perfluorohexane or 2-methyl perfluoropentane. The concentration of ice particles in the perfluorocarbon liquid can be adjusted by altering the percentage of water in the water-perfluorocarbon mixture. For example, in some embodiments, the perfluorocarbon-water mixture can comprise between about 5-50% water such that the perfluorocarbon slurry comprises between about 5-50% ice crystals. Alternatively, the perfluorocarbon-water mixture can comprise between about 10-40% water such that the perfluorocarbon slurry comprises between about 10-40% ice crystals. Alternatively, the perfluorocarbon-water mixture can comprise greater than 30% water such that the perfluorocarbon slurry comprises greater than 30% ice crystals. Alternatively, the perfluorocarbon slurry can comprise greater than 40% water, alternatively greater than 50% water, alternatively greater than 60% water, alternatively greater than 70% water, alternatively greater than 80% ice crystals.
In an alternative embodiment, a flexible balloon having a chamber filled with a cooling fluid, such as an ice slurry, a super-cooled gel or a slush can be used to cool the brain via the nasal cavity. As seen in
In use, as seen in
In an alternative embodiment, a flexible balloon having a chamber filled with a cooling liquid, such as an ice slurry, a super-cooled gel or a slush, can be used to cool the brain via the nasal cavity. As seen in
In use, assembly 700 is inserted into the nasal cavity through a nostril such that flexible balloon 702 is within the nasal cavity. A cooling fluid can then be used to inflate flexible balloon 702 to a sufficient pressure such that flexible balloon 702 expands and is in contact with a substantial portion of the nasal cavity. The cooling fluid, such as an ice slurry is then re-circulated through flexible balloon 702 via lumens 706, 716, and 721, cooler 722, and pump 724. For instance, the used cooling liquid may be withdrawn from chamber 703 by having pump 722 withdraw the melted slurry through lumens 706 and 721 of elongate tubular members 708 and 720, respectively. The melted slurry can then be pumped into cooler for further cooling to recreate the two-phase ice slurry, and then pumped back into chamber 703 through lumens 716 and 706 of elongate tubular members 715 and 708. In order to optimize cooling and minimize tissue damage, it may be desirable to continuously inflate and deflate flexible balloon 702. Additionally, a second assembly can also be inserted into the other nostril such that maximum cooling can be obtained. The cooling of the brain would occur by convection or heat exchange from the ice slurry in the balloon to the warm nasal cavity.
In an alternative embodiment, a flexible balloon having a chamber filled with a cooling liquid and a cold finger inside of a second balloon can be used to cool the brain via the nasal cavity. As seen in
Cold probe 607 may also have fins surrounding the cold probe (not shown) to increase the surface area of the probe. Alternatively, a heat pipe could be used in place of the cold probe. The heat pipe could be filled with a gas such as freon or ammonia, or alternatively, the heat pipe could be connected to a circulating cooling liquid reservoir or other cooling source (such as a block of ice).
In use, assembly 600 is inserted into the nasal cavity through the patient's nostril such that flexible balloon 602 is within the nasal cavity. A cooling fluid can then be used in inflate flexible balloon 602 to a sufficient pressure such that flexible balloon 602 expands and is in contact with a substantial portion of the nasal cavity. The cooling agent will then be circulated into second balloon 605 via port 608 at the distal end of cold probe 607 and elongate tubular member 614. Alternatively, the cooling agent may not be recirculated, but rather be vented out of a port in second balloon 605 (not shown). Additionally, the fluid in the balloon can be agitated to prevent freezing. This may be accomplished by moving cold probe 607 or pulsing the infusion of the cooling agent into second balloon 605. Additionally, a second assembly can also be inserted into the other nostril such that maximum cooling can be obtained. The cooling of the brain would occur by convection or heat exchange from the cold liquid in the balloon to the warm nasal cavity.
In an alternative embodiment, a flexible balloon having a chamber filled with a cooling liquid and a cold finger can be used to cool the brain via the nasal cavity. As seen in
In use, with the patient lying on his back, assembly 650 is inserted into the nasal cavity through the patient's nostril such that flexible balloon 652 is within nasal cavity 670. A cooling fluid can then be used in inflate flexible balloon 652 to a sufficient pressure such that flexible balloon 652 expands and is in contact with a substantial portion of nasal cavity 670. The cooling agent will flow out of port 658 of cold probe 657 and produce gas bubbles 660 in the cooling liquid in chamber 653, thereby cooling the liquid further and agitating the liquid to aid in mixing the liquid throughout chamber 653. The gas bubbles can exit chamber 653 through port 654 with air venting filter 656, which allows for the release of gas and not liquid. Additionally, the fluid in the balloon can be agitated to prevent freezing. This may be accomplished by moving cold probe 657 or pulsing the infusion of the cooling agent into chamber 653. Additionally, a second assembly can also be inserted into the other nostril such that maximum cooling can be obtained. The cooling of the brain would occur by convection or heat exchange from the cold liquid in the balloon to the warm nasal cavity.
Flexible balloons for use in the nasal cavity are sized such that upon inflation, they are capable of making good contact with the surfaces of the nasal cavity, including the portion of the cavity that lies posterior to the cavernous sinus. In one embodiment, the length of the flexible balloon will depend upon the size of the nasal cavity and may be less than 15 cm long, alternatively less than 14 cm long, alternatively less than 13 cm long, alternatively less than 12 cm long, alternatively less than 11 cm long, alternatively less than 10 cm long, alternatively less than 9 cm long, alternatively less than 8 cm long. The flexible balloons may also have the shape of the nasal cavity. Alternatively, as seen in
In use, the pressure in these flexible balloons for use in the nasal cavity can oscillate between lower and higher pressures. In other words, the fluid can be infused to fill the chamber defined by the balloon either slowly or quickly. When expanded at higher pressures, presumably more heat transfer will occur due to increased contact with the nasal cavity. Extended periods at higher pressures, however, may not be desirable due to possible problems with stopping blood flow in the surrounding tissue. Additionally, the act of pulsing the liquid would result in increased circulation of the liquid. Rapid pulsing, for the purposes of mixing the liquid within the balloon chamber, could range from about 0.5 to about 200 Hz, alternatively from about 1 to about 150 Hz, alternatively from about 1 to about 100 Hz, alternatively from about 10 to about 100 Hz, alternatively from about 25 to about 100 Hz. Slower pulsing could be used to effect physiologic responses, such as deflating the balloon to allow blood flow to resume circulation in the cooled area. Slower pulsing could range from about one inflation per second to about one inflation per 10 minutes, alternatively from about one inflation per second to about one inflation per 5 minutes, alternatively from about one inflation per second to about one inflation per 3 minutes. Alternatively, the balloon could be inflated approximately once every 30 seconds, alternatively once every 1 minute, alternatively once every 2 minutes, alternatively once every 3 minutes, alternatively once every 4 minutes, alternatively once every 5 minutes, alternatively once every 6 minutes, alternatively once every 7 minutes, alternatively once every 8 minutes, alternatively once every 9 minutes, alternatively once every 10 minutes. During these slower cycling periods, the balloon could remain inflated for approximately 1% of the cycling period, alternatively approximately 5% of the cycling period, alternatively approximately 10% of the cycling period, alternatively approximately 20% of the cycling period, alternatively approximately 30% of the cycling period, alternatively approximately 40% of the cycling period, alternatively approximately 50% of the cycling period.
The cooling fluid used to fill the flexible balloons may include, but is not limited to, water, refrigerant, saline, PFC, anti-freeze solution, or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment, the chambers of the flexible balloons may be filled with foam, e.g., open cell foam. Alternatively, the foam, e.g., open-cell foam may be surrounded by a membrane. In either embodiment, the open-cell foam will aid in conforming the balloon to the applicable cavity, for example, the nasal cavity, while also helping to distribute cooling. The foam may be made from urethane, latex, rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and other open-cell materials.
In use, before insertion into the body cavity, the foam that is contained either within the flexible balloon or the membrane will be compacted using a vacuum source. After the compacted foam has been inserted into the desired body cavity, e.g., the nasal cavity, the vacuum will be released and the balloon will be allowed to expand to contact the surrounding tissue. Saline, water, PFC, refrigerant, anti-freeze solution, other cooling fluid, or a combination thereof can then be circulated into the open-cell foam to cool the surrounding tissue.
In an alternative embodiment, modified laryngeal mask endotracheal tube or any other suitable artificial airway can be used for delivering a cooling liquid such as an ice slurry to the nasopharyngeal region. For example, as shown in
In use, once the patient's nasal and oral cavities have been substantially isolated to secure the patient's airways, an ice slurry can be delivered to the flexible balloon 1018 in the patient's nasopharynx 270 via elongate tubular member 1016. The ice slurry can be delivered in a volume such that the flexible balloon expands to contact a substantial portion of the nasopharynx 270, thereby maximizing the heat transfer area. Direct cooling of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx and brain will be obtained as the ice slurry absorbs heat from the nasopharynx to melt the ice particles as well as hematogenous cooling through the carotids as they pass by the oropharynx and through the Circle of Willis, which lies millimeters away from the pharynx.
As discussed above, ice slurries suitable for medical use include saline ice slurries and perfluorocarbon ice slurries. The ice slurry is comprised of high concentrations of “micro” ice crystals, typically 0.1 to 1 mm in diameter, of a phase change liquid such as water suspended in a liquid carrier such as saline or perfluorocarbon. In some embodiments, the ice slurry can have a concentration of between 5-40% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 20% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 30% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 40% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 50% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 60% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 70% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 80% ice crystals.
The melted ice slurry can then be withdrawn or suctioned from the flexible balloon 1018 via the second elongate tubular member 1016. Alternatively, a third elongate tubular member (not shown) in fluid communication with the flexible balloon 1018 can be used to suction the melted slurry from the flexible balloon 1018. Using a third elongate tubular member to suction the melted slurry from the balloon provides a rapid, more efficient method of removing the melted slurry from the balloon thus maximizing the delivery rate for the chilled ice slurry. In some embodiments, the melted ice slurry may be re-cooled and continuously re-circulated through the second elongate tubular member 1016.
Cooling Calculations
The following calculations estimate the maximum cooling that can be obtained when a chilled liquid is circulated through the nasal cavity, where the chilled fluid is either directly in contact with the nasal tissues or contained in a flexible membrane ‘balloon’ within the nose.
A cooling liquid is circulated into and out of the nasal cavity. The following calculations are done assuming that the chilled fluid will be an aqueous fluid. The following are properties of water:
Density: 1 gram/ml
Heat capacity: 1 cal/gram-° C.
The liquid will enter the nasal cavity at a temperature well below body temperature, and exit at a warmer temperature. The warming of the water will be equal to the cooling of the body, so the calculations for heat added to the water is the same as that for heat removed from the body.
Q′=c*m*(T2−T1) or Q′=cmΔT Equation 1
Q′=the rate of heat transfer
m=the mass flow rate of the liquid administered
c=the heat capacity of the liquid
T1=the temperature of the liquid at administration
T2=the temperature to which the liquid is warmed
If the flow rate is 500 ml/min, inlet temperature is 2° C., outlet temperature is 4° C.
Heat Transfer=500 ml/min*g/ml*1 cal/gm° C.*(4° C.−2° C.)=1000 cal/min
Conversion factors: 1 calorie/minute=0.06978 watt
1000 cal/min*0.06978 Watt/cal/min=70 Watts
The cooling of the whole body can be calculated using the same equation as above. The heat capacity of the human body is generally accepted to be 0.85 cal/gm° C. For this calculation, other sources of heat entering or leaving the body, and heat generated in the body are neglected, as it is likely those aspects balance out in a stable patient. Cooling therefore reduces to the equation below.
Whole body cooling (ΔT)=Heat removed/(mass*heat capacity)
Continuing the example above, for a 75 kg patient, the temperature change is calculated below to be 0.93° C. per hour, which is close to the target cooling rate for patients.
For whole body cooling (WBC), the following formula can be developed from the above:
WBC(° C./hr)=ΔT(liquid, ° C.)*Flow rate(ml/min)/(Patient wt(kg)*14.3)
or
WBC(° C./hr)=Cooling(watts)/Patient Weight (kg)
The surface of the balloon may be treated or modified to maximize thermal conductance. A gel may also be optionally applied to the exterior of flexible balloons 204, 254 before insertion into the nasal cavity. The gel would preferably have good thermal conduction properties and be a better conductor than air. Additionally, the gel could also act as a lubricant to assist in the insertion. The gel would help the flexible balloon make better contact with the mucous membrane and would also fill some of the air space in the nasal cavity, which should increase effective surface area. The gel may include, but is not limited to, any aqueous gel, a poloxamer-based gel, a cellulose gel (such as KY jelly), a nasal-packing jelly, a hydrogel (such as MeroGel or GelFilm), or a thermal gel. Alternatively, sponges may be attached to the surface of the balloon. Sponges, such as PVA sponges, are commonly used as packing material in noses and will conform to the shapes of the nasal cavity when wet. Alternatively, a hydrophilic coating may also be applied to the outer surface of the balloon to prevent beading on the outside.
Advantages of this apparatus and method include rapid circulation of the cooling fluid, rapid transfer of heat from the flexible balloon to the membranes of the nasal cavity, and flexibility in choice of coolant because the fluid is contained. Heat is transferred through the mucosa from the pool of blood in the cavernous sinus to the cooling fluid in the flexible balloon, thereby cooling the pool of blood in the cavernous sinus. Consequently, the blood in the carotid arteries, which runs through the cavernous sinus, is also cooled as it travels to the brain. In particular, the maximal heat exchange will likely be with the ascending carotid arteries immediately before entry into the intracranial space and the terminal portion of the extracranial internal carotid artery.
In another aspect of the invention, as seen in
In another aspect of the invention, a sponge may be inserted into the nasal cavity of a patient to substantially fill the cavity. As mentioned previously, the sponge could surround the outside of a balloon to help fill the nasal cavity. The sponges may help to fill the back of the mouth and come into intimate contact with the soft palate and upper pharynx. Alternatively, the sponge could be inserted into the nasal cavity alone. The sponge could be connected to an inlet and outlet tubular member to allow for circulation of fluids within the sponge. In contrast to the balloon, the increased surface area of the sponge would allow for better contact with the interior surfaces of the nasal cavity. Additionally, the sponges could be designed with finger or hair-like extrusions to increase the surface area, thereby increasing contact with the interior surfaces of the nasal cavity. A hollow tube could be inserted through the sponge and/or balloon to facilitate breathing.
Convective Cooling in Other Parts of the Body
In another aspect of this invention, a modified nasogastric tube with a flexible balloon having a chamber filled with a cooling liquid may be used to cool the brain. As seen in
In use, the patient is intubated and the assembly is inserted through a patient's nostril, down the back of the throat, through the esophagus, and into the stomach. The assembly is positioned such that flexible balloon 354 is located in the nasal cavity and the esophagus and flexible balloon 358 is located in the stomach. A cooling fluid can then be infused into flexible balloons 354, 358 to expand the balloons such that they substantially fill and contact the nasal cavity, esophagus, and stomach, respectively. The cooling fluid could be pumped in through nasogastric tube 354 and suctioned out of elongate tubular member 360 at a rate sufficient to induce or maintain a desired pressure in the flexible balloons 354, 358 or a desired brain temperature. The cooling fluid may then be recirculated through flexible balloons 354, 358 via nasogastric tube 356, shaft 360, and a refrigerated pump (not shown).
In another aspect of this invention, a modified laryngeal mask having a flexible balloon having a chamber filled with a cooling liquid can be used to cool the brain. As seen in
In use, as seen in
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in
The melted ice slurry can then be allowed to run out the patient's mouth and/or nose. Alternatively, a second elongate tubular member (not shown) can be used to suction the melted slurry from the oral cavity 207. Using a second elongate tubular member to suction the melted slurry from the oral cavity provides more efficient method of removing the melted slurry thus maximizing the delivery rate for the chilled ice slurry. In some embodiments, the melted ice slurry may be re-cooled and continuously re-circulated through the first elongate tubular member 1116.
In an alternative embodiment, a laryngeal mask, endotracheal tube, or any other suitable artificial airway can be used to isolate the patient's airways thereby enabling direct delivery of an ice slurry, slush or super cooled gel to the patient's throat. As discussed above, a laryngeal mask comprising an elongate tube in fluid communication with an inflatable mask is inserted into the patient's trachea via the patient's mouth. The inflatable mask is inflated until it conforms to the adjacent anatomy and forms a low pressure seal substantially sealing off the patient's trachea 271 to prevent the slurry from leaking into the patient's lungs. A medically acceptable ice slurry, such as a saline ice slurry or a perfluorocarbon ice slurry having a temperature of between about −5° C. to about 5° C. and comprising between about 5-80% ice crystals can be delivered into the patient's mouth via a second elongate tubular member and circulated through the throat to allow for rapid cooling of the patient's pharynx. The melted slurry can be withdrawn, drained, or suctioned from the throat through the lumen of a third elongate tubular member. In some embodiments, the melted slurry can be continuously circulated through the patient's throat by continuously withdrawing melted slurry and infusing ice slurry via the second and third elongate tubular members.
In another aspect of this invention, a cooling pad may be used to cool the brain via the oral cavity. As seen in
In use, the assembly 400 is inserted into the oral cavity through the mouth such that the flexible balloon or pad 402 covers the retromandibular area or peritonsillar region. A cooling fluid, such as an ice slurry, a slush or a super-cooled gel, can then be infused into the chamber of flexible balloon or pad 402 to expand it to a sufficient pressure such that flexible balloon or pad 402 is substantially in contact with the retromandibular area or peritonsillar region. Direct cooling of the brain will be obtained through convection or heat transfer between flexible balloon or pad 402 and the extracranial carotid artery as the ice slurry, slush, or a super-cooled gel absorbs heat from the oral cavity to melt the ice particles. The melted ice slurry can then be withdrawn from the flexible balloon via lumen 406 to allow the balloon to be re-infused with cool ice slurry to maintain the cerebral cooling. The melted slurry can be suctioned at a rate sufficient to induce or maintain a desired balloon pressure or achieve a desired brain temperature. In some embodiments, the melted ice slurry may be re-cooled and continuously re-circulated through flexible balloon 402 via lumens 404, 406, using pump 412 and cooler 410 or a refrigerated pump.
The cooling fluid used with these inventions may include, but is not limited to, ice slurries discussed above, such as saline ice slurries and perfluorocarbon ice slurries. The ice slurries are comprised of high concentrations of “micro” ice crystals, typically 0.1 to 1 mm in diameter, of a phase change liquid such as water suspended in a liquid carrier such as saline or perfluorocarbon. In some embodiments, the ice slurry can have a concentration of between 5-40% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 20% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 30% ice concentration. The ice slurry has a substantially greater cooling capacity than an equal volume of cooled liquid due to the additional heat transfer required to melt the ice particles. For example, depending on the ice concentration in the slurry, the ice slurry can have 5-7 times the cooling capacity of an equal volume of cooled liquid. In addition, the small size of the ice particles provides a greater heat transfer area further improving the cooling efficiency of the slurry.
Optionally, a gel may also be optionally applied to the exterior of flexible balloons before insertion into the oral cavity. The gel would preferably have good thermal conduction properties and be a better conductor than air. Additionally, the gel could also act as a lubricant to assist in the insertion. The gel may include, but is not limited to, any aqueous gel, a poloxamer-based gel, a cellulose gel (such as KY jelly), a nasal-packing jelly, or a thermal gel. Alternatively, sponges may be attached to the surface of the balloon. Sponges, such as PVA sponges, are commonly used as packing material and will conform to the shapes of the oral cavity when wet. The sponges could be designed with finger or hair-like extrusions to increase the surface area, thereby increasing contact with the interior surfaces of the oral cavity. The sponges may fill the back of the mouth and allow for maximal cooling at the soft palate and retropharynx. Alternatively, a hydrophilic coating may also be applied to the outer surface of the balloon to prevent beading on the outside. A tube may also be inserted to allow breathing.
In another aspect of this invention, a catheter with a flexible balloon having a chamber filled with a two-phase slurry, or ice slurry can be used to cool the brain via the patient's throat. As seen in
In use, assembly 1200 is inserted into the nasal cavity through the patient's nostril such that flexible balloon 1204 is within the positioned in the pharynx and the distal end of catheter 202 extends through the laryngopharyngeal region of the throat. An ice slurry can be delivered to the chamber of the flexible balloon 1204 via lumen 1206. The ice slurry can be delivered in a volume to inflate the chamber of flexible balloon 1204 to a sufficient pressure such that flexible balloon 1204 expands and is in contact with a substantial portion of the pharynx. The ice slurry is comprised of high concentrations of “micro” ice crystals of a phase change liquid, typically 0.1 to 1 mm in diameter, suspended in a liquid carrier. For example, the slurry can comprise 5-80% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 20% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 30% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 40% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 50% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 60% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 70% ice crystals, alternatively greater than 80% ice crystals. In some embodiments, the phase change liquid and liquid carrier can comprise the same or different liquids. For example, the phase change liquid and carrier can comprise the same liquid, such as an ice slurry comprising ice particles suspended in water. Here, a freezing point depressant, such as sodium chloride, various alcohols, sugar or any other biologically suitable freezing point depressant can be added to the liquid to ensure that a portion of the liquid will remain a liquid as it is cooled to the freezing point. Alternatively, the carrier liquid can have a lower freezing point than the phase change liquid such as ice particles suspended in a perfluorocarbon, such that it will remain a liquid when the mixture is cooled to the freezing point of the phase change liquid. Ice slurries suitable for medical use include saline ice slurries and perfluorocarbon ice slurries.
The melted slurry can be withdrawn or suctioned back out of the flexible balloon 1204 via second elongate tubular member 1208. This allows the ice slurry to be continuously delivered at a rate sufficient to induce or maintain a desired balloon pressure and/or to achieve a desired brain temperature. For example, the slurry can be circulated at a rate to achieve a reduction of the cerebral temperature of the patient by at least 0.1° C. in one hour. Alternatively, the slurry may be circulated at a rate to reduce the cerebral temperature by at least 1° C., alternatively at least 2° C., alternatively at least 3° C., alternatively at least 4° C., alternatively at least 5° C., alternatively at least 6° C., alternatively at least 7° C., alternatively at least 8° C., alternatively at least 9° C., alternatively at least 10° C.
Fluid/Gas Delivery Systems
In another embodiment, the invention includes a liquid and gas delivery system for the delivery of a fixed, or substantially fixed, ratio of liquid and gas. As seen in
Mixing manifold 510 can be connected to catheters 540 and 545, each containing multiple delivery ports 541 and 546 for delivery of the gas and liquid mixture to, for instance, the nasal cavity. Liquid can flow from line 530 into liquid lumens 572 and 574 of catheters 540 and 545 through ports 560 and 562, respectively. Similarly, gas can flow from line 507 into lumens 542 and 547 of catheters 540 and 545 through ports in the distal ends of the respective catheters. The gas and liquid can later be mixed and delivered to the nasal cavity through the multiple ports 541 and 546 as a nebulized spray, as described above. Pressure in the nasal cavity can be measured through pressure lines 511 and 512, which are in communication with ports 565 and 566 located near the distal ends of catheters 540 and 545 through pressure lumens 576 and 578 and ports 561 and 563, respectively. Alternatively, a separate catheter could be inserted to measure the pressure in the nasal cavity (not shown). If a pressure measured in the nasal cavity in which the liquid and gas is being delivered is found to be too high, overpressure safety device 515 will stop the flow of gas, and consequently, the flow of liquid, to the nasal cavity. Additionally, the stopcock could be closed when it is desired to only deliver a gas, for instance, oxygen, rather than cool the patient.
An alternative embodiment of the liquid and gas delivery system is depicted in
The fluid control reservoir 968 is rated to withstand the pressure of the compressed gas, for example the fluid control reservoir may be a poly ethylene teraphalate (PET) container tested to pressures in excess of 150 psi. In addition, a burst disk or relief valve 966, set at a value exceeding the expected operating pressure, for example 60 psi, alternatively 70 psi, alternatively 80 psi, alternatively 90 psi, may be added to the fluid reservoir container as a safety means for venting gas in the event of over pressurization. When the pressurized gas flows into fluid reservoir 968, the fluid is routed though an outlet port in the reservoir that is in fluid communication with liquid channel 980 of the dual lumen tubing (not shown). The outlet port may include fluid flow controlling device 972, such as a needle type valve or a variable diameter aperture, to adjust the flow rate of fluid into liquid channel 980 of the dual lumen tubing. In addition, gas flow channel 978 of the dual lumen tubing may also include flow controlling device 970, such as a needle type valve or a variable diameter aperture, to adjust the flow rate of gas into the gas channel of the dual lumen tubing. The flow control valves 970 and 972 of the gas and liquid channels may be independently controlled by the operator to allow full flexibility in varying the gas and/or liquid flow to optimize the gas/liquid flow ratio. The gas and liquid flow control valves 970 an 972 may have fixed orifices that produce a known constant flow for the gas and the liquid, or alternatively, the flow control valves 970 and 972 may include a selector (not shown) that would allow the operator to choose one of several sets of orifices in order to provide the operator with a number of choices for the flow, for example low flow, medium flow, high flow, induction, and maintenance flow rates. Here, each set point on the selector would use a predetermined orifice for the gas flow and a matched orifice for the liquid such that the gas/liquid flow rates and ratios would be optimized for each condition. In an alternative embodiment, the flow rate generated by the fixed orifices may be further altered while maintaining the constant gas/liquid ration, by using pressure regulator to regulate the input pressure of the gas source. In addition, liquid and gas flow meters 974 and 976 may be placed in the liquid and gas flow channels to further monitor and regulate the liquid and gas flow rates. Flow meters 974 and 976 may be any standard flow technology such as turbines, paddlewheels, variable area Rota meters or mass flow meters. In addition, in-line filters (not shown) may be placed in both the gas and liquid channels to prevent particulate matter from being introduced to the patient.
Although the foregoing invention has, for the purposes of clarity and understanding, been described in some detail by way of illustration and example, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced which will still fall within the scope of the appended claims.
