Therapeutic hypothermia—cooling organs to 20–30 °C is vital for mitigating ischemic-reperfusion injury and improving organ viability during emergency care (e.g., cardiac arrest), transplantation, and complex surgeries. Current methods (e.g., heat exchanges, ice packs) are often slow (< 0.03 °C/min), lack control, and cool large areas, risking collateral damage. This PhD project aims to revolutionise targeted therapeutic hypothermia by developing a high-precision, rapid (~10 °C/min) cooling platform utilising saline ice slurry sprays. The core objective is to investigate the fundamental heat transfer mechanisms of sprayed ice slurry droplets impacting tissue/organs. This involves advanced experimental characterisation, including tissue-mimicking phantom fabrication, and robust numerical simulations. This research will culminate in a predictive digital twin capable of simulating and optimising precise tissue/organ cooling. This work establishes foundational science for a minimally-invasive system, offering unparalleled spatial and temporal thermoregulation to significantly enhance patient outcomes and expand medical capabilities.
