New Therapeutic Hypothermia System Offers Faster Cooling, Warming

June 16, 2010 – A new therapeutic hypothermia system promises faster cooling and warming rates as well as precise temperature control. Royal Philips Electronics recently announced the launch of the Philips InnerCool RTx Endovascular System for cooling and warming, which provides advanced whole body temperature modulation therapy in a closed-loop system from the inside out.

The system boasts average cooling rates of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius per hour and average warming rates of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius per hour. [1] A gradual warming option is also available.

When cooling a patient, physicians sometimes have to paralyze the patient in order to prevent shivering, which increases body heat. However, faster cooling rates on the InnerCool RTx allow physicians to get patients below the shivering threshold more quickly without having to resort to paralysis. [2]

The InnerCool RTx also offers precise temperature control and the ability to effectively cool a wide range of patients, including those with high body mass index who are typically considered difficult to cool. [1]

References

1 Steinberg G.K., Ogilvy C.S., Shuer L.M., et al. “Comparison of endovascular and surface cooling during unruptured cerebral aneurysm repair.” Neurosurgery. 2004;55:307-315.

2 Lyden P.D., Allgren R.L., Ng K., et al. “Intravascular cooling in the treatment of stroke (ICTus): Early clinical experience.” Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. 2005;14:107-114.