Blood Temperature Control for Targeted Hypothermia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling body temperature in medical settings, particularly for therapeutic hypothermia, lack precision and efficiency in targeting specific body locations, leading to potential organ damage during ischemic events like myocardial infarction.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a heat exchanger, temperature sensors, and a controller that estimates and adjusts the temperature at a target location within the body by exchanging heat with flowing blood, using algorithms to account for temperature differences and historical data to achieve precise temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a heat exchanger is used to exchange heat with flowing blood at a location different from the target location, then the system can remotely affect target tissue temperature, but the temperature measurement at the sensing location does not directly reflect the target location temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses blood as an intermediary medium to transfer heat between the heat exchanger (positioned in accessible vasculature) and the target tissue. The blood flowing through the heat exchanger picks up or releases heat, then delivers this thermal energy to the target tissue through perfusion, enabling indirect temperature control of difficult-to-reach areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system measures temperature at an accessible location (such as arterial or venous blood temperature) and uses this measurement as a surrogate or copy to estimate the target tissue temperature. The controller uses algorithms to translate the surrogate temperature measurement into an accurate estimate of the target location temperature, avoiding the need for direct measurement in the target tissue.
2Reliability
If the heat exchanger continuously exchanges heat with blood, then the target location temperature can be maintained, but the system cannot accurately measure the temperature change at the target location
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback control loop where the controller continuously monitors the surrogate temperature measurement (blood temperature at accessible location) and adjusts the heat exchanger operation accordingly. The controller uses algorithms to estimate target tissue temperature from the surrogate measurement and modulates heat exchange to maintain the target temperature within desired parameters, creating a closed-loop control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical temperature measurement at the target location with an algorithmic estimation system. Instead of physically measuring target tissue temperature, the system uses computational algorithms to calculate the target temperature based on surrogate measurements and heat transfer models, substituting computational processing for direct physical measurement.
3Ease of operation
If the system uses surrogate temperature measurements to estimate target location temperature, then the system can operate with accessible sensors, but the estimation algorithms add system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms the temperature control problem by changing the measurement parameter from direct target tissue temperature to surrogate blood temperature. This parameter substitution allows use of accessible sensors while the controller compensates through algorithmic processing that accounts for the relationship between surrogate and target temperatures, effectively trading measurement simplicity for computational complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively cools or warms specific body locations, such as the left ventricle, to target temperatures, reducing infarct size and minimizing reperfusion injury by rapidly inducing hypothermia, thereby improving patient outcomes during ischemic events.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heat exchanger useable to exchange heat with the subject's flowing blood at a heat exchange location
Implementation Method 2
at least one temperature sensor positioned and useable to sense body temperature(s) at one or more temperature sensing location(s) in or on the subject's body
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods for controlling the temperature of all or part of the body of a human or animal subject.