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Publication Number
US-9717862-B2
Publication Date
2017-08-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates in one aspect to an infusion fluid warmer which comprises a casing shell having an upper wall structure and a lower, opposing, wall structure. The casing shell encloses a fluid channel or passage extending through the casing shell in-between the upper and lower wall structures and fluid inlet and outlet ports coupled to opposite ends of the fluid channel or passage to allow a flow of infusion fluid through the casing shell. A housing shell is formed in a thermally conducting and electrically insulating material and a heating element is bonded to the housing shell and thermally coupled thereto. The fluid channel or passage extends through the housing shell or extends around the housing shell such that heat energy is transferred to the infusion fluid by direct physical contact with housing shell material.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an infusion fluid warmer that includes a casing shell with an upper wall structure and an opposing lower wall structure enclosing a fluid channel. The casing shell includes fluid inlet and outlet ports coupled to opposite ends of the fluid channel to allow a flow of infusion fluid through the casing shell. A housing shell formed in a thermally conducting and electrically insulating material comprises a plate shaped upper wall structure and an opposing plate shaped lower wall structure.
First and second heating elements are bonded to the plate shaped upper wall structure and the plate shaped lower wall structure, respectively, and are thermally coupled to the corresponding plate shaped wall structures. An aluminum heat exchanger is sandwiched between the plate shaped upper wall structure and the opposing plate shaped lower wall structure and is thermally coupled to the plate shaped upper wall structure and the plate shaped lower wall structure. A straight portion of the fluid channel possesses a rectangular cross-sectional profile and extends through the aluminum heat exchanger such that heat energy is transferred to the infusion fluid by direct physical contact with aluminum heat exchanger material.
Electrical power is delivered to the first and/or second heating element through a pair of electrical coupling terminals on at least one surface of the plate shaped upper and lower wall structures facing away from the fluid channel. The warmer can further include a temperature sensor and a controller circuit that adjusts instantaneous power dissipation to reach a desired or target temperature of the infusion fluid based on temperature data from the temperature sensor. A controller circuit can include one or more semiconductor transistors and/or semiconductor diodes to deliver a modulated drive signal to the heating elements, and the warmer can provide portable operation powered by a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, or a super capacitor with thermal coupling by direct contact.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set centers on an infusion fluid warmer with a thermally conducting and electrically insulating housing shell and a fluid channel that extends through an aluminum heat exchanger to enable heat transfer by direct physical contact. The independent claim contains multiple inventive features, including a specific casing/housing/heat-exchanger arrangement, the rectangular cross-sectional straight portion of the fluid channel through the aluminum heat exchanger, bonded heating elements on opposing plate-shaped wall structures, and electrical coupling terminals facing away from the fluid channel.
Aluminum heat exchanger with direct physical contact heat transfer
A straight portion of the fluid channel possesses a rectangular cross-sectional profile and extends through the aluminum heat exchanger such that heat energy is transferred to the infusion fluid by direct physical contact with aluminum heat exchanger material.
Thermally conducting, electrically insulating plate-shaped housing shell
A housing shell formed in a thermally conducting and electrically insulating material and comprising a plate shaped upper wall structure and an opposing plate shaped lower wall structure.
Bonded first and second heating elements thermally coupled to opposing plates
A first heating element bonded to the plate shaped upper wall structure and thermally coupled thereto; and a second heating element bonded to the plate shaped lower wall structure and thermally coupled thereto.
Aluminum heat exchanger sandwiched between plate-shaped upper and lower structures
An aluminum heat exchanger sandwiched between the plate shaped upper wall structure and the opposing plate shaped lower wall structure and thermally coupled to the plate shaped upper wall structure and plate shaped lower wall structure.
Electrical coupling terminals on surfaces facing away from the fluid channel
At least one surface of the plate shaped upper and lower wall structures facing away from the fluid channel comprises a pair of electrical coupling terminals for receipt of electrical power to the first heating element or the second heating element.
Overall, the claim coverage defines an infusion fluid warmer in which bonded heating elements act on a thermally conducting and electrically insulating plate-shaped housing shell, while the infusion-fluid heat transfer is specifically realized by a rectangular straight portion of a fluid channel extending through an aluminum heat exchanger to transfer heat by direct physical contact. Electrical power delivery is implemented via coupling terminals on surfaces facing away from the fluid channel, and further dependent refinements include sensor/controller power adjustment and semiconductor-based modulated drive.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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