Thermoelectric Brain Cooler Helmet
University of Gaziosmanpaşa, Tokat/Turkey.
Hypothermia is known to provide protective effect on brain following a trauma. A helmet with flexible thermoelectric modules inside was designed recently to generate hypothermia for brain. In this study, cooling performance and temperature control performance of this helmet were assessed and compared with traditional methods. Temperature measurements were taken in an experimental set-up under loaded and unloaded conditions. The same type of flexible thermoelectric modules was used for temperature measurement. The results showed that the helmet had important advantages over the traditional methods. The cooling performance of the helmet could be controlled. Cooling performance as good as 10°C/minute could be obtained. The temperature was lowered to the required level within five minutes after starting of the temperature control, the highly critical duration for saving the brain. The temperature can be kept under control and can also be raised when necessary. Keywords—Hypothermia, Brain Cooling, Thermoelectric, Thermoelectric Cooling.
INTRODUCTION: Death and disability caused by traffic accidents is a major problem all over the world. To protect brain during a stroke or a life saving procedure like one after a traffic accident is critical. It is also important to protect the brain during open heart surgery as the brain is very likely to have the ischemic damage. When the heart beat stops, the blood cannot circulate in the body and oxygen cannot be supplied to tissues and organs. Functioning of some organs like the kidneys are not easily affected by cessation of oxygen supply but the brain is extremely sensitive to oxygen deprivation. Some brain cells start to die only five minutes after oxygen supply is cut. If not fixed on time, this may end up with complete dying of brain or serious brain damage. Even if the heart re-starts to function, the cells may continue to die. This may happen as the blood that starts to reflow suddenly are charged with inflammatory cells that are generated during lack of oxygen supply.
Every centigrade degree under the normal body temperature reduces the metabolism by 5-7 %. Hypothermia also avoids starting of some biochemical reactions. Therefore, stopping of death of the cells by cooling the head as soon as possible is a must. Cranial-Cerebral Hypothermia is commonly used for protection and the therapy of the brain. This is done traditionally by placing ice on the head or inserting the head inside cold water. Hypothermia reduces oxygen consumption of tissues and hence protects organism and especially the brain against deathly effect of hypoxin. When temperature in the brain is reduced to 30-32 °C, the brain can survive without blood, oxygen, and glucose. The brain can survive for 45-60 minutes even when the heart stops. 30-32 °C is 5-7 °C less than the body temperature.
When the brain is kept at this temperature, the brain can be kept in a better condition even when the heart stops. The purpose here is to limit neurologic problems during trauma or stroke. Otherwise, the person may be exposed to numerous neurologic damages such as memory, speech, and motion problems. Because of these facts, hypothermia has been started to be used for treatment of brain injury.
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