Detecting leakage when heating a perishable dielectric load
Inventors
DALHIELM, Oskar • Westin, Pierre • Ekemar, Lars • Munukka, Kari
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10299318-B2
Publication Date
2019-05-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A cartridge holds a perishable dielectric load, e.g. blood plasma, during heating n a heating chamber by means of an electromagnetic field from an emitting element. A conducting container of the cartridge is arranged between the emitting element and the perishable dielectric load. The conducting container holds dielectric matter and is arranged in contact with a load container for the perishable dielectric load, so that energy from the electromagnetic field is bridged into the perishable dielectric load. A first surface of the cartridge faces the emitting element and contains a recess for receiving any fluid having leaked out from the conducting container and/or the load container. A transmitter module for generating the electromagnetic energy repeatedly measures an impedance of the perishable dielectric load and the conducting container. If, due to any fluid being located in the recess, the impedance deviates substantially from a previous measurement, an alarm signal is generated.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a cartridge and a heater for thawing/warming a perishable dielectric load in a heating chamber by means of an electromagnetic field. The cartridge is configured to hold the perishable dielectric load during heating and includes at least one conducting container arranged between an emitting element for the electromagnetic field and the perishable dielectric load, wherein the conducting container holds dielectric matter and is configured to contact a load container holding the perishable dielectric load so as to bridge energy from the electromagnetic field into the perishable dielectric load.
A first surface of the cartridge is configured to face the emitting element when positioned in the heating chamber, and the first surface contains a recess configured to receive any fluid that has leaked out from the conducting container and/or the load container. The structure includes spacing to inner walls that enables leaked fluid to be transported by gravity into the recess, and a collecting compartment may be used to accumulate excessive fluid from the recess, the conducting container, and/or the load container.
The invention further includes a transmitter module configured to generate electromagnetic energy with predefined spectral properties, to repeatedly measure impedance of the load and the conducting containers, and to adjust the spectral properties to match the impedance for efficient heating. An alarm signal is generated if the required adjustment exceeds a threshold due to leakage into the recess.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims, a cartridge claim and a heater claim. Across these independent claims, the inventive subject matter centers on energy bridging into a perishable dielectric load using a conducting container with dielectric matter, capturing leaked fluid via a recess on a surface facing the emitting element, and controlling electromagnetic energy using predefined spectral properties matched to impedance with an alarm when an adjustment threshold is exceeded.
Energy bridging using conducting containers with dielectric matter
A cartridge configured to hold a perishable dielectric load during heating in a heating chamber by means of an electromagnetic field, including at least one conducting container arranged between an emitting element and the perishable dielectric load, wherein the conducting container holds dielectric matter and is configured to contact a load container holding the perishable dielectric load so as to bridge energy from the electromagnetic field into the perishable dielectric load.
Fluid-leak capture using a recess on a surface facing the emitting element
A cartridge having a first surface configured to face the emitting element when being positioned in the heating chamber, wherein the first surface contains a recess configured to receive any fluid having leaked out from the at least one conducting container and/or the load container.
Impedance-matched spectral control with alarm in a transmitter module
A heater wherein a transmitter module generates electromagnetic energy with predefined spectral properties, repeatedly measures impedance of the perishable dielectric load and the conducting container, adjusts the spectral properties to match the measured impedance, and generates an alarm signal if an adjustment exceeding a threshold is required.
Overall claim coverage focuses on a cartridge that bridges electromagnetic energy into a perishable dielectric load using a conducting container with dielectric matter, while capturing leaked fluid in a recess on a surface facing the emitting element. The heater claim adds impedance-based spectral adjustment and an alarm signal when an adjustment threshold is exceeded.
Stated Advantages
Efficient heating by adjusting electromagnetic spectral properties to match the impedance of the load and the conducting containers.
Reduced heat dissipation into the dielectric matter by dielectric-constant matching.
Leakage management by receiving leaked fluid in the recess and optionally accumulating excessive fluid in a collecting compartment.
Leakage-related monitoring by generating an alarm signal if required spectral adjustment exceeds a threshold due to leakage into the recess.
Documented Applications
Thawing/warming a perishable dielectric load, including blood plasma or blood product, using a cartridge and heater with an electromagnetic field.
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