Thermal-Regulating Device Reduces Body Temperature

A thermal-regulating device reduces body temperature in hyperthermic patients, and can also be used for monitoring patient temperature.

The RapidCool patient temperature management system consists of a control console, tubing sets, an esophageal temperature sensor, and body surface cooling appliances, including cooling pads for the back, right axilla, and neck, and a cooling cap for the head. The temperature of the body is lowered by cold water supplied to the cooling appliances via tubing sets. The operator can select the desired body temperature using the control console, which will reduce or maintain body temperature through a thermostatic control feature.

An innovative helmet design makes use of the fact that the body responds to decreasing temperature by increasing blood flow to the scalp while reducing blood flow to periphery areas. As a result, the RapidCool System is capable of high rates of cooling compared to standard non-invasive cooling systems, and directs most of its cooling to the head where it is most needed. The non-invasive system rapidly reduces head and body temperature to a set point in the range of 32-37 °C, and does not interfere with cardiac catheterization and other hospital procedures. The RapidCool system is a product of MedCool (Wellesley, MA, USA), and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Physicians induce mild hypothermia, lowering the body temperature to a range of 32 –34 °C for certain surgical procedures, thus gaining a neuroprotective effect. Previous studies have shown that this practice may reduce injury to the brain resulting from cardiac arrest or neurovascular surgery.


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