Endogenous Temperature Set-Point Detection During Targeted Temperature Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Targeted Temperature Management (TTM) technologies mask endogenous temperature changes in patients, making it difficult to detect fever or infection, which can delay diagnosis and treatment, especially in critically ill patients undergoing external cooling or heating therapies.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses heat exchange devices and sensors to monitor energy requirements for maintaining target temperatures, detecting changes in endogenous temperature set-points by analyzing thermal input/output parameters, environment temperature, and patient specifics, enabling early detection of fever or infection through algorithmic processing and visual presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If externally induced targeted temperature management is applied to treat disease, then therapeutic temperature control is achieved, but the ability to detect endogenous temperature changes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system that indirectly detects endogenous temperature set-point changes by monitoring the energy expenditure required to maintain the externally imposed target temperature. Instead of directly measuring core body temperature, the system measures the power consumption of the heating/cooling device, which serves as a surrogate indicator of the patient's thermoregulatory response and endogenous set-point temperature.
2Temperature
If external heating or cooling devices are used to maintain target temperature, then therapeutic hypothermia or hyperthermia is achieved, but fever detection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the energy expenditure of the external heating/cooling device and uses this feedback to detect changes in the patient's endogenous temperature set-point. When the patient develops a fever or infection, their thermoregulatory system requires additional energy to maintain the target temperature, which is detected as a change in power consumption by the external device, triggering an alert for potential fever.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring of energy requirements is implemented, then early detection of infection is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the existing TTM device's own power consumption data to perform dual functions: therapeutic temperature control and infection detection. By analyzing the energy expenditure already being measured for temperature management, the system enables early infection detection without requiring separate sensors or monitoring equipment, thus avoiding significant increases in system 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
Enables earlier detection of fever and infection in patients, allowing for timely antibiotic administration and improved clinical outcomes by restoring the ability to monitor endogenous temperature changes during TTM procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A system that uses heat exchange devices and sensors to monitor energy requirements for maintaining target temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and devices for utilizing heat transfer parameters or energy expenditure of devices providing controlled hypothermia, normothermia or hyperthermia to detect changes, or the absence of changes, a patient's endogenous set-point temperature; which is not available during exogenously induced targeted temperature management. A particular embodiment would allow detection of fever in patients undergoing targeted temperature managed.