RAPID INDUCTION OF HETEROGENEOUS ICE NUCLEATION IN A BIOLOGICALLY COMPATIBLE COOLANT

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Therapeutic Hypothermia
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Hypothermia is increasingly recognized for its therapeutic potential in various medical conditions.
• Clinical applications require methods for both local and rapid global hypothermia induction.
• Existing methods for rapid hypothermia induction are limited in clinical practicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a sterile, biocompatible, high heat capacity coolant for clinical hypothermia.
• To develop a simple and widely practicable method for rapid human cooling.
• To address the engineering challenges in therapeutic hypothermia delivery.

Main Methods:

• Development of a prototype platform technology for coolant generation.
• Processing of micro-particulate ice saline slurry via heterogeneous ice nucleation.
• Super-cooling a saline stream below its freezing point for ice formation.
• Characterization of coolant properties including ice content and particle size.

Main Results:

• The prototype device produces a sterile, biocompatible ice saline slurry.
• The coolant has a high heat capacity suitable for rapid cooling.
• Continuous production of ~30% ice by mass slurry achieved within 10 minutes.
• Nominal ice particle diameter is less than 100 micrometers.

Conclusions:

• The developed ice saline slurry shows promise as a novel coolant for therapeutic hypothermia.
• The technology facilitates easy administration via standard medical equipment.
• This represents a significant advancement toward meeting clinical needs for rapid patient cooling.