Medical devices incorporating thermoelectric transducer and controller
First Claim
1. A temperature control system comprising:
- a thermoelectric device;
a controller electrically coupled to the thermoelectric device and configured to sense an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device;
a heat transfer structure thermally coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device;
a temperature controlled medium thermally coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device so that the thermoelectric device is thermally coupled between the heat transfer structure and the temperature controlled medium, wherein said temperature controlled medium comprises a medical instrument configured to contact living tissue; and
a temperature feedback sensor, wherein said controller is configured to generate a first electrical control signal to activate said thermoelectric device and said first electrical control signal is generated in response to a first value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, wherein the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device comprises an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device indicating one of a temperature gradient across the thermoelectric device and a temperature of the temperature controlled medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature control system may include a thermoelectric device, a controller electrically coupled to the thermoelectric device, a heat transfer structure thermally coupled to the thermoelectric device, a temperature controlled medium thermally coupled to the thermoelectric device and a temperature feedback sensor. The controller may be configured to sense a first value of an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device and to generate a first electrical control to activate the thermoelectric device in response to sensing the first value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device. The controller may be further configured to sense a second value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device and to generate a second electrical control signal to activate the thermoelectric device in response to sensing the second value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A temperature control system comprising:
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a thermoelectric device; a controller electrically coupled to the thermoelectric device and configured to sense an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device; a heat transfer structure thermally coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device; a temperature controlled medium thermally coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device so that the thermoelectric device is thermally coupled between the heat transfer structure and the temperature controlled medium, wherein said temperature controlled medium comprises a medical instrument configured to contact living tissue; and a temperature feedback sensor, wherein said controller is configured to generate a first electrical control signal to activate said thermoelectric device and said first electrical control signal is generated in response to a first value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, wherein the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device comprises an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device indicating one of a temperature gradient across the thermoelectric device and a temperature of the temperature controlled medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A temperature control system comprising:
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a thermoelectric device; a controller electrically coupled to the thermoelectric device; a heat transfer structure thermally coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device; and a temperature controlled medium thermally coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device so that the thermoelectric device is thermally coupled between the heat transfer structure and the temperature controlled medium, wherein said temperature controlled medium comprises a medical instrument configured to contact living tissue, wherein said controller is configured to cyclically activate the thermoelectric device and a cycle includes ramping to a first desired temperature or heat flux, maintaining the first desired temperature or heat flux for a period of time, and then ramping to a second desired temperature or heat flux and holding the second desired temperature or heat flux for a second period of time, wherein the temperature control system further comprises a temperature feedback sensor, wherein said controller is configured to generate a first electrical control signal to activate said thermoelectric device and said first electrical control signal is generated in response to a first value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, wherein the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device comprises an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device indicating one of a temperature gradient across the thermoelectric device and a temperature of the temperature controlled medium. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A temperature control system comprising:
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a thermoelectric device; a controller electrically coupled to the thermoelectric device; a heat transfer structure thermally coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device; and a temperature controlled medium thermally coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device so that the thermoelectric device is thermally coupled between the heat transfer structure and the temperature controlled medium, wherein said temperature controlled medium comprises a medical instrument configured to contact living tissue, wherein said controller is configured to cyclically alter the temperature profile of the temperature controlled medium, and a temperature profile cycle includes ramping to a first desired temperature or heat flux, maintaining the first desired temperature or heat flux for a period of time, and then ramping to a second desired temperature or heat flux and holding the second desired temperature or heat flux for a second period of time, wherein the temperature control system further comprises a temperature feedback sensor, wherein said controller is configured to generate a first electrical control signal to activate said thermoelectric device and said first electrical control signal is generated in response to a first value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, wherein the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device comprises an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device indicating one of a temperature gradient across the thermoelectric device and a temperature of the temperature controlled medium. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification