Apparatus for rapid cooling of the brain and method of performing same

Abstract

Rather than cooling the brain by the relatively slow heat conduction through the low heat conductivity of the bony skull and hair covering the head, the present invention teaches the use of a light weight, easily applied neck encircling collar in firm contact with the soft tissue of the neck, and particularly in good thermal contact with the carotid arteries traversing the neck. A coolant flowing through channels embedded in the collar rapidly cools the blood flowing through the carotid arteries which branch into blood vessels throughout the brain providing vascular access and attendant rapid internal cooling throughout the brain including its deepest recesses. Placing the collar on the patient's neck is easily and quickly accomplished simultaneously with other emergency medical techniques, such as CPR, which maintain the patient's heart and lung activity. The collar of the invention contains no metallic parts; the collar, including the coolant channel, may be non-metallized fabric or plastic. This allows X-ray, Cat scan, or MRI procedures to be used while the collar is in place without impairing the effectiveness of the procedure. In a second embodiment, a conventional endotracheal tube, inserted into the trachea is provided with an toroidal bladder surrounding the tube. The toroidal bladder is positioned at the back of the oral cavity, and a coolant flowing through the toroid cools blood vessels in the oral cavity which traverse the brain, providing cooling of the brain tissue.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 030,030 filed Nov. 4, 1996.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates to apparatus and method for cooling the brain, and in particular to apparatus and method for inducing hypothermia throughout the tissues of the brain.[0004]2. Description Relative to the Prior Art[0005]It is well known in the medical art that depriving the brain of oxygen for even a short period of time results in irreversible damage to the brain tissue. Such deprivation occurs during stroke, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, trauma and other severe bodily disturbances that slow or otherwise hinder the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. However, it is also known that lowering the temperature of the brain (hypothermia) slows its metabolic activity, and reduces the chance of tissue damage when the oxygen supply is diminished.[0006]At present, operative neurosurgery and cardiac surgery is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Rather than cooling the brain by the relatively slow heat conduction through the low heat conductivity of the bony skull and hair covering the head, the present invention teaches the use of a light weight, easily applied neck encircling collar in firm contact with the soft tissue of the neck, and particularly in good thermal contact with the carotid arteries traversing the neck. A coolant flowing through channels embedded in the collar rapidly cools the blood flowing through the carotid arteries which branch into blood vessels throughout the brain providing vascular access and attendant rapid internal cooling throughout the brain including its deepest recesses. Placing the collar on the patient's neck is easily and quickly accomplished simultaneously with other emergency medical techniques, such as CPR, which maintain the patient's heart and lung activity.

[0009]In a second embodiment for rapid internal cooling of the brain, a conventional endotracheal tube, inserted into the trachea, is provided with an toroidal bladder surrounding the tube. The toroidal bladder is positioned at the back of the oral cavity, and a coolant flowing through the toroid cools blood vessels in the oral cavity which also traverse the brain, providing cooling of the brain tissue.

Problems solved by technology

It is well known in the medical art that depriving the brain of oxygen for even a short period of time results in irreversible damage to the brain tissue.

However, it is also known that lowering the temperature of the brain (hypothermia) slows its metabolic activity, and reduces the chance of tissue damage when the oxygen supply is diminished.

However, out in the field, when medical emergencies occur, brain cooling must quickly and expeditiously take place without access to the sophisticated equipment available in the hospital operating room.

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