Method and Apparatus for Measurement and Control of Temperature for Infused Liquids
First Claim
1. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid within a fluid line comprising:
- a fitting securable to said fluid line and including;
a first open end and a second open end, each end being securable to selected portions of said fluid line;
a passage disposed within said fitting to permit said sterile medical fluid flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting;
a connection port in fluid communication with said passage to receive a temperature sensor for measuring temperature of said medical fluid;
wherein said fitting further includes at least one of a looped configuration to direct said medical fluid in a flow path about said temperature sensor, a needle hub assembly to direct said medical fluid into a patient and a flow controller to selectively control flow of said medical fluid through said fitting.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device according to present invention embodiments measures the temperature of fluid within an IV line at selected locations. The device may be in the form of a fitting including a projection in fluid communication with a fluid channel to receive a temperature sensor. A thermally conductive receptacle may be disposed in the projection to receive the temperature sensor and partially extends into the fluid channel for contact with the fluid. The temperature sensor may be coupled to a temperature display device and/or controller to display the measured temperature and/or control a thermal element to regulate fluid temperature. The fitting may further include a looped configuration and/or a control valve that controls the flow of fluid through the fluid channel. In addition, the device may further be connected to, or be in the form of, a needle hub to measure fluid temperature proximate the entry site on a patient.
265 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid within a fluid line comprising:
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a fitting securable to said fluid line and including; a first open end and a second open end, each end being securable to selected portions of said fluid line; a passage disposed within said fitting to permit said sterile medical fluid flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting; a connection port in fluid communication with said passage to receive a temperature sensor for measuring temperature of said medical fluid; wherein said fitting further includes at least one of a looped configuration to direct said medical fluid in a flow path about said temperature sensor, a needle hub assembly to direct said medical fluid into a patient and a flow controller to selectively control flow of said medical fluid through said fitting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid flowing within a medical fluid line via a temperature sensing device including a fitting and a temperature sensor to measure temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting, wherein said fitting includes first and second open ends, a passage disposed within said fitting and extending between said first and second open ends to permit fluid flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting and a connection port in fluid communication with said passage, and wherein said fitting further includes at least one of a looped configuration, a needle hub assembly and a flow controller, said method comprising:
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(a) securing said first and second ends of said fitting to selected portions of said fluid line; (b) measuring a temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting via said temperature sensor disposed within said connection port and generating a temperature signal indicating said measured fluid temperature; (c) in accordance with said fitting including said looped configuration, directing said medical fluid through said looped configuration and in a flow path about said temperature sensor to measure said fluid temperature; (d) in accordance with said fitting including said flow controller, selectively controlling flow of said medical fluid through said fitting via said flow controller; and (e) in accordance with said fitting including said needle hub assembly, directing said medical fluid from said passage into a patient via said needle hub assembly. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid comprising:
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a medical fluid container to house a sterile medical fluid; a fluid line coupled to said medical fluid container to receive said sterile medical fluid therefrom and direct said medical fluid toward a patient; at least one thermal treatment device securable to at least one of said medical fluid container and said fluid line and operable to thermally treat said sterile medical fluid; a fitting disposed at a selected location along said fluid line and including; a first open end and a second open end, each end being securable to selected portions of said fluid line; a passage disposed within said fitting to permit said sterile medical fluid flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting; and a connection port in fluid communication with said passage; a temperature sensor for placement within said connection port to measure temperature of said sterile medical fluid flowing through said fitting and to generate an electrical temperature signal indicating said measured fluid temperature; and a controller coupled to said temperature sensor and said at least one thermal treatment device to control said at least one thermal treatment device to thermally treat said medical fluid to a desired temperature based on said measured fluid temperature. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid flowing within a medical fluid line via a temperature sensing device including a fitting and a temperature sensor to measure temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting, wherein said fitting includes first and second open ends, a passage disposed within said fitting and extending between said first and second open ends to permit fluid flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting and a connection port in fluid communication with said passage, said method comprising:
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(a) securing said first and second ends of said fitting to selected portions of said fluid line; (b) measuring a temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting via said temperature sensor disposed within said connection port and generating a temperature signal indicating said measured fluid temperature; and (c) controlling, via a controller, at least one thermal treatment device disposed proximate at least one of said fluid line and a fluid source to thermally treat said medical fluid to a desired temperature based on said measured fluid temperature. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid within a fluid line comprising:
a fitting securable to said fluid line and including; a first open end and a second open end, each end being securable to selected portions of said fluid line; a passage disposed within said fitting to permit said sterile medical fluid flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting; a connection port in fluid communication with said passage; and a thermally conductive receptacle secured within said connection port and partially extending within said passage a maximum of one half of the passage transverse dimension to enable a distal end of said receptacle to contact said medical fluid flowing within said passage, wherein said receptacle receives a temperature sensor for measuring temperature of said medical fluid. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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66. A method of measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid flowing within a medical fluid line via a temperature sensing device including a fitting and a temperature sensor to measure temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting, wherein said fitting includes first and second open ends, a passage disposed within said fitting and extending between said first and second open ends to permit fluid flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting, a connection port in fluid communication with said passage and a receptacle disposed within said connection port and in direct contact with fluid flowing within said passage, said method comprising:
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(a) securing said first and second ends of said fitting to selected portions of said fluid line; (b) inserting said temperature sensor within said connection port to contact said receptacle, wherein said receptacle partially extends within said passage a maximum of one half of the passage transverse dimension to enable a distal end of said receptacle to contact said medical fluid flowing within said passage; and (c) measuring temperature of fluid flowing through said fitting by measuring the temperature of said receptacle and generating a temperature signal indicating said measured fluid temperature. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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Specification