Patient infusion media warmer system and method of use

• US 20070045272A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thermacode Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Thermacode Technology LLC
• Inventors: Barker, Garrett, Earp, Wyatt, French, C.
• Application Number:
  US11/501,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20070045272A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/036 Heaters specially adapted for garment heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/267 the insulating base being an organic material, e.g. plastic H05B3/262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/286 the insulating material being an organic material, e.g. plastic

Abstract

A warming unit and system and method for warming an infusion medium prior to introducing the medium into a patient'"'"'s body. The apparatus includes an outer casing, inlet and outlet tubes secured to the outer casing, a fluid conduit for transporting the infusion medium through the warming unit, and a heating element disposed proximate to the fluid conduit for warming the infusion medium flowing therethrough. The warming unit forms part of the system, which further includes a controller for controlling various functions of and separate from the warming unit, a reservoir containing the infusion medium, and a power source for powering the warming unit.

Claims

1. A system for delivering and warming a patient infusion medium comprising:

a warming unit, the warming unit including;

an inlet tube;

an outlet tube;

a fluid conduit disposed between and in communication with the inlet tube and the outlet tube;

a heating element disposed proximate to the fluid conduit for warming the patient infusion medium;

an outer casing enclosing the fluid conduit and the heating member; and

a controller for controlling an operation of the warming unit provided separately for the warming unit; and

a power supply for providing power to the warming unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

A reservoir connected to the warming unit.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube are permanently attached to the outer casing.

4. The system according to claim 1, the heating member further comprising:

a substrate;

wherein the heating element is disposed on the substrate.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the fluid conduit forms a serpentine path;

wherein the heating element forms a shape corresponding to the serpentine path of the fluid conduit; and

wherein the shape of the heating element and the path of the fluid conduit generally align.

6. The system according to claim 1, the warming unit further comprising:

a connector portion for coupling the warming unit to the controller.

7. The system according to claim 1, the warming unit further comprising:

a sensor for measuring a temperature of the patient infusion medium passing through the warming unit.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is disposed within the fluid conduit.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the fluid conduit is defined by an inner surface of the outer casing.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the fluid conduit is defined by the heating member.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the outer casing is contoured to conform to an anatomical shape of a patient.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the contoured portion outer casing forms an air gap between a portion of the outer casing and the patient.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the warming unit is disposable.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing comprises:

an first casing portion; and

a second casing portion;

wherein the first and second portions are permanently attachable to each other.

15. The system according to claim 14, the warming unit further comprising:

a seal disposed between the upper and lower casing portions.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet tubes are formed from flexible tubing.

17. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fitting coupled to the outlet tube;

wherein a second patient infusion medium is introduced to the outlet tube via the fitting.

18. The warming unit of claim 17, wherein the second patient infusion medium is introduced via the fitting so as to avoid adverse heating effects on the second patient infusion media.

19. The warming unit of claim 18, wherein the second patient infusion medium includes an oncology drug.

20. A method for warming a patient infusion medium comprising:

introducing the patient infusion medium into a fluid conduit disposed in an outer casing of a fluid warmer;

warming the patient infusion medium with a heating member;

passing the patient infusion medium out of the fluid conduit; and

controlling warming of the patient infusion medium with control electronics provided external to the outer casing of the fluid warmer.

21. The method according to claim 20, the method further comprising the step of:

retaining the patient infusion medium within the fluid conduit for a predetermined period of time.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein warming the patient infusion medium includes:

passing the patient infusion medium proximate to the heating member.

23. The method according to claim 20, the method further comprising:

measuring a temperature of the patient infusion medium with a sensor disposed in the fluid conduit.

24. The method according to claim 23, the method further comprising:

triggering an alarm when a temperature of the patient infusion medium exceeds a predetermined temperature.

25. The method according to claim 24, the method further comprising:

ceasing warming of the patient infusion medium when the patient infusion medium exceeds the predetermined temperature.

26. The method according to claim 20, the method further comprising:

measuring a temperature of the heating member with a sensor disposed proximate to the heating member; and

ceasing warming of the patient infusion medium when the heating member exceeds a predetermined temperature.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

adding a second patient infusion medium to the patient infusion medium after the patient infusion medium is warmed.

28. The warming unit of claim 27, wherein the second patient infusion medium is introduced after the patient infusion medium is warmed to avoid adverse heating effects on the second patient infusion media.

29. The warming unit of claim 28, wherein the second patient infusion medium includes an oncology drug.