Targeted cooling of tissue within a body
Devices and methods to cool a target tissue region inside the body are described. Fluid cooled below normal body temperature and blood at a normal body temperature are provided to the tissue region in proportions to cool the tissue region. A system for controlling the temperature of the target tissue region is disclosed. The system includes a catheter and a control system that controls the amount of cool fluid and blood provided to the tissue region. A catheter for providing cool fluid to the tissue region is also provided. The catheter includes a temperature sensor that extends to a location distal to the distal end of the catheter to sense the temperature of the tissue region.
1 .- 35 . (canceled)
36 . A catheter for providing cool fluid to a tissue region inside a body, the catheter comprising:
an elongated member having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough to a distal end of the elongated member; and
a temperature sensor that extends to a location distal to the distal end of the elongated member to sense the temperature of the tissue region.
37 . The catheter of claim 36 wherein the temperature sensor is a thermocouple.
38 . The catheter of claim 37 wherein the thermocouple comprises two conductors of different material extending from a proximal end of the catheter and joined at a distal end to form a junction.
39 . The catheter of claim 36 wherein the temperature sensor senses the temperature of the tissue region by measuring the temperature of a vessel wall located distal to the distal end of the elongated member and adjacent to the target tissue region.
40 . The catheter of claim 36 wherein the temperature sensor senses the temperature of the tissue region by measuring the temperature of the cool fluid provided to the tissue region distal to the distal end of the elongated member and adjacent to the target tissue region.