Systems and Methods for Cooling of Intravenous Fluid and Monitoring of In Vivo Characteristics

This method introduces a more effective way to induce hypothermia during treatment for cardiac arrest while precisely measuring in vivo characteristics. This method can be used in the medical industry, particularly the cardiology and urgent care sector.

Hypothermia therapy has been shown to limit the extent of brain damage and cerebral ischemia during cardiac arrest, if performed within an hour after the event. During induced hypothermia body temperature must be closely monitored.

In commonly used methods, hypothermia is induced by covering the patient with cooling blankets or ice. These are impractical because the cooling process is not precisely controlled. Other methods that cool blood in the inferior vena cava with heat exchanging catheters are even less practical because they require a surgical procedure.

In commonly used methods, a traditional thermometer is used to measure body temperature. These traditional thermometers do not provide continuously precise data, and rapid changes in body temperature may go undetected.

This system cools intravenous fluids in order to induce hypothermia during treatment for cardiac arrest by paramedics or hospital personnel. This method uses an intravenous sensor that precisely monitors in vivo characteristics during induced hypothermia.

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