System and method for testing heat exchange system for heat exchange catheter

1. A computer-implemented method for testing for proper functioning of a heat exchange system engageable with an indwelling heat exchange catheter to circulate working fluid therein using a pump, comprising:

determining, using a digital processor, whether temperature of heat exchange fluid in a chamber through which the working fluid is circulated is within a range of a command temperature;

if the temperature of the heat exchange fluid is not within the range, stopping the pump;

receiving time input at the processor;

using the time input to determine when a predetermined period commencing when the pump has stopped has elapsed; and

only if (1) the temperature of the heat exchange fluid is not within the range at the elapse of the predetermined period after the pump has stopped, or (2) the temperature of the heat exchange fluid has not changed during the predetermined period after the pump has stopped by at least a predetermined amount, returning an error indication.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein if it is determined that the temperature is not within the range, deciding whether the temperature is warmer than the range or cooler than the range.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein if the temperature is warmer than the range the method further includes measuring the temperature with the pump stopped during the predetermined period and returning an error only at the elapse of the predetermined period if the temperature is not within the range or if the temperature has not changed during the predetermined period by at least the predetermined amount.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein if the temperature is cooler than the range the method further includes measuring the temperature with the pump stopped during the predetermined period and, if the temperature has not changed by the predetermined amount since the pump was stopped, determining whether a compressor has started.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising delaying the test if the compressor has not started.

6. A heat exchanger for treating working fluid to be circulated through an indwelling heat exchange catheter, comprising:

a pump for pumping the working fluid in a fluid path;

a heat exchange chamber in the path and containing a heat exchange fluid having a temperature; and

at least one processor controlling the pump, the processor executing logic comprising:

determining that the heat exchanger is not working properly if the temperature of the heat exchange fluid is not within an expected range only if (1) substantial equalization of heat exchange fluid temperature with working fluid temperature does not occur within a predetermined period after stopping the pump, or (2) temperature does not change by at least a predetermined amount within a predetermined period after stopping the pump.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein if the temperature of the heat exchange fluid is not within the range, the processor stops the pump and only if (1) the temperature is not within the range at the elapse of the predetermined period, or (2) the temperature has not changed during the predetermined period by at least a predetermined amount, returns an error indication.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein if it is determined that the temperature is not within the range, the processor decides whether the temperature is warmer than the range or cooler than the range.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 8 , wherein if the temperature is warmer than the range the processor measures the temperature with the pump stopped during the predetermined period and returns an error only at the elapse of the predetermined period if the temperature is not within the range or if the temperature has not changed during the predetermined period by at least the predetermined amount.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 8 , wherein if the temperature is cooler than the range the processor measures the temperature with the pump stopped during the predetermined period and, if the temperature has not changed by the predetermined amount since the pump was stopped, the processor determines whether a compressor has started.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 10 , wherein the processor delays the test if the compressor has not started.

12. A processor for a heat exchange system for heating and cooling a working fluid circulated through a catheter by a pump, the processor programmed to execute logic comprising:

determining whether a fluid temperature is within a command zone range and if not, determining whether temperature moves toward the range or equalizes with it within predetermined parameters after a pump has stopped, and

only if temperature does not move toward the range or equalize with it within predetermined parameters after the pump has stopped, indicating an error, wherein if the temperature is cooler than the range the processor measures the temperature with the pump stopped during a predetermined period and, if the temperature has not changed by a predetermined amount since the pump was stopped, determines whether a compressor has started.

13. The processor of claim 12 , wherein determining whether temperature moves toward the range or equalizes with it within predetermined parameters after a pump has stopped includes determining whether the temperature is within the range within the predetermined period after the pump is stopped, and determining whether the temperature has changed during the predetermined period by at least the predetermined amount.

14. The processor of claim 13 , wherein if it is determined that the temperature is not within the range, the processor decides whether the temperature is warmer than the range or cooler than the range.

15. The processor of claim 14 , wherein if the temperature is warmer than the range the processor measures the temperature with the pump stopped during the predetermined period and returns an error only at the elapse of the predetermined period if the temperature is not within the range or if the temperature has not changed during the predetermined period by at least the predetermined amount.

16. The processor of claim 2 , wherein the processor delays the test if the compressor has not started.