Temperature management system with assist mode for use with heart-lung machine
View Patent ↗A system and method uses both a heart-lung machine (HLM) and a catheter and/or pad to reach a target temperature for, e.g., cardiac bypass surgery. At or about the target temperature, temperature control of the catheter/pad is suspended and patient temperature controlled using only the HLM.
1. A system for exchanging heat with primary coolant flowing through a patient-engageable heat exchange element, the system having a nominal low temperature alarm setpoint that is substantially at a low end of a temperature range of mild hypothermia, the system comprising:
a processor executing logic comprising:
determining that the system is in an assist mode for assisting another component in reducing patient temperature;
receiving a target temperature signal representing a temperature below the nominal low temperature alarm setpoint; and
resetting the low temperature alarm setpoint to be below the target temperature signal responsive to a determination that the system is in the assist mode.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic executed by the processor further comprises:
establishing primary coolant temperature to approach a target temperature indicated by the target temperature signal; and
at or about target temperature, suspending control of primary coolant temperature.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange element is an intravascular catheter.
4. A Method comprising:
engaging an intravascular heat exchange catheter with the vasculature of a patient receiving treatment from a heart-lung machine;
controlling temperature of working fluid through the heat exchange catheter by using a heat exchange system having a low temperature alarm setpoint of around thirty two degrees C.;
selecting an assist mode of the heat exchange system wherein the heat exchange system assists the heart-lung machine to reduce patient temperature;
receiving a target temperature below the low temperature alarm setpoint;
responsive to receiving the target temperature and to a determination that the system is in the “assist” mode, resetting the low temperature alarm setpoint to a value below the target temperature.