The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling apatients body temperature and in particular for inducing therapeutichypothermia. Various embodiments of the system are described. The systemincludes: a source of breathing gas (1), which may be in the form of acompressed breathing gas mixture a heat exchanger (2) or other heating and/orcooling device and a breathing interface, such as a breathing mask (3) ortracheal tube. Optionally, the system may include additional features, such asa mechanical respirator (11), a nebulizer (18) for introducing medication intothe breathing gas, a body temperature probe (7) and a feedback controller (6).The system can use air or a specialized breathing gas mixture, such as He/02or SF6/02 to increase the heat transfer rate. In addition, the system mayinclude an ice particle generator (10) for introducing fine particles into theflow of breathing gas to further increase the heat transfer rate.
