Portable Head and Neck Cooling Device for Rapid Therapeutic Hypothermia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for patient temperature management are not portable, require specialized training and equipment, take too long to achieve target temperatures, and have complications such as pneumonia due to long treatment times, and do not effectively cool the two carotid arteries and two vertebral arteries simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A portable device with a head and neck covering that uses CO2 cooled liquid to create turbulent flow in compartments covering the carotid and vertebral arteries, allowing for rapid cooling and easy placement by emergency medical technicians, with features like thickenings to press on carotid arteries and independent compartments for efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If current temperature management devices are used, then therapeutic hypothermia can be achieved, but the treatment takes hours and requires ICU setting
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the head and neck region into multiple independent compartments, each targeting specific anatomical structures (carotid arteries, vertebral arteries, brain regions). This segmentation allows parallel cooling of multiple areas simultaneously, reducing total cooling time while maintaining portability and simplifying placement procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates pre-positioned thickenings along the anatomical course of carotid arteries that automatically press on the arteries when the device is placed. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for complex manual adjustment during placement, reducing placement time and complexity while ensuring effective cooling from the start
2Reliability
If current temperature management devices are used, then brain cooling is achieved, but they do not cover all major arteries simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple compartments, each designed to cover specific arteries (carotid and vertebral) and brain regions. This segmentation enables simultaneous cooling of all major blood vessels supplying the brain without requiring a single complex structure, thereby improving reliability while managing device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Each compartment is designed to perform multiple functions: cooling specific arteries, cooling adjacent brain regions, and working in parallel with other compartments. This multi-functionality ensures comprehensive coverage of all major arteries and brain areas simultaneously, enhancing cooling effectiveness without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
3Reliability
If current temperature management devices are used, then therapeutic hypothermia is provided, but complications such as pneumonia occur due to long treatment times
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cooling into multiple compartments that can operate in parallel, the device achieves the required therapeutic hypothermia effect more quickly. This reduces the total treatment duration, thereby minimizing the risk of complications such as pneumonia that are associated with prolonged treatment times while maintaining the neuroprotective benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables more rapid achievement of target temperature through its multi-compartment design and turbulent flow generation. By changing the time parameter (reducing treatment duration) while maintaining the temperature parameter (therapeutic hypothermia effect), the device preserves neuroprotective benefits while reducing complication risks
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 rapid therapeutic hypothermia of the head and neck, reducing brain injury risk and improving survivability in emergencies like cardiac arrest and stroke, with minimal complications and the ability to be used outside an ICU.
Implementation Method 1
the compartments are constructed to produce a turbulent flow in each compartment
Implementation Method 2
a source of CO2 cooled liquid, which delivers the CO2 cooled liquid to the at least one inlet tubing
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device and method used for patient temperature management, wherein the device is designed to cool the patient's head and blood flow to the head and neck including the two carotid and the two vertebral arteries of a patient after trauma in order to prevent inflammation and reduce swelling in the brain. It is portable with a rapid cooling capability feature, does not require an ICU setting, eliminates certain complications that could affect the patient otherwise, and can be quickly and easily placed on the patient with little training or expertise.