Mammalian head cooling system and method

1. A head cooling system comprising:

a source of compressed breathable gas;

a vortex tube comprising an inlet, a hot gas outlet and a cold gas outlet, the inlet operably connected to the source of compressed breathable gas;

a nasal cannula configured to deliver cooled gas to the nasopharyngeal cavity of a subject, in fluid communication with the cold gas outlet; and

a bladder in fluid communication with the hot gas outlet, the bladder capturing at least a portion of gas flowing from the hot gas outlet, and the bladder sized and shaped to provide an exterior surface to contact a body region located between a neck and a pelvis of the subject.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor coupled at or proximal to the nasal cannula, the temperature sensor generating a temperature signal indicative of a temperature level of the breathable gas flowing through the nasal cannula.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a computer operably connected to the temperature sensor, the computer configured to receive the temperature signal and to determine the temperature level of the breathable gas and regulate a pressure of the breathable gas if the temperature level is outside of a predetermined temperature range.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a pressure regulator fluidly coupled between the source of compressed breathable gas and the inlet of the vortex tube, the computer configured to generate a control signal to induce the pressure regulator to change from a first pressure setting to a second pressure setting if the temperature level is outside of the predetermined temperature range.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vortex tube comprises an adjustable fraction control valve for adjusting the flow of hot gas at the hot gas outlet.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a computer operably connected to the fraction control valve, the computer configured to generate a control signal to induce the fraction control valve to change from a first setting to a second setting when the computer determines that a temperature level of breathable gas flowing through the nasal cannula is outside of a predetermined temperature range.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vortex tube comprises a muffler in fluid communication with the hot air outlet, a muffler in fluid communication with the cold air outlet, or a muffler in fluid communication with each of the hot air outlet and the cold air outlet respectively.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nasal cannula is a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) nasal cannula for treatment of sleep apnea.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nasal cannula comprises two substantially parallel nasal prongs for insertion into nostrils, and each nasal prong is at least 2 centimeters in length and comprises at least one aperture for outlet of cooled gas.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bladder has an annular shape.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an oral cannula in fluid communication with the cold gas outlet.

12. A head cooling kit comprising:

a vortex tube comprising an inlet, a hot gas outlet and a cold gas outlet;

a nasal cannula configured to deliver cooled gas to the nasopharyngeal cavity, in fluid communication with the cold gas outlet;

instructions for operably connecting the inlet to a source of compressed breathable gas and securing the nasal cannula to a mammal; and

a bladder in fluid communication with the hot gas outlet, the bladder capturing at least a portion of gas flowing from the hot gas outlet, and the bladder sized and shaped to provide an exterior surface to contact a body region located between a neck and a pelvis.

13. The kit of claim 12 , further comprising a temperature sensor coupled at or proximal to the nasal cannula, the temperature sensor generating a temperature signal indicative of a temperature level of the breathable gas flowing through the nasal cannula.

14. The kit of claim 13 , further comprising a computer operably connected to the temperature sensor, the computer configured to receive the temperature signal and to determine the temperature level of the breathable gas and regulate a pressure of the breathable gas if the temperature level is outside of a predetermined temperature range.

15. The kit of claim 14 , further comprising a pressure regulator fluidly coupled between the source of compressed breathable gas and the inlet of the vortex tube, the computer configured to generate a control signal to induce the pressure regulator to change from a first pressure setting to a second pressure setting if the temperature level is outside of the predetermined temperature range.

16. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the vortex tube comprises an adjustable fraction control valve for adjusting the flow of hot gas at the hot gas outlet.

17. The kit of claim 16 , further comprising a computer operably connected to the fraction control valve, the computer configured to generate a control signal to induce the fraction control valve to change from a first setting to a second setting when the computer determines that a temperature level of breathable gas flowing through the nasal cannula is outside of a predetermined temperature range.

18. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the vortex tube comprises a muffler in fluid communication with the hot air outlet, a muffler in fluid communication with the cold air outlet, or a muffler in fluid communication with each of the hot air outlet and the cold air outlet respectively.

19. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the nasal cannula is a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) nasal cannula for treatment of sleep apnea.

20. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the nasal cannula comprises two substantially parallel nasal prongs for insertion into nostrils, and each nasal prong is at least 2 centimeters in length and comprises at least one aperture for outlet of cooled gas.

21. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the bladder has an annular shape.

22. The kit of claim 12 , further comprising an oral cannula in fluid communication with the cold gas outlet.