Portable Device for Heating Up Intravenous Fluids

• US 20080281268A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hotwatch APS
• Original Assignee: Hotwatch APS
• Inventors: Vest Hansen, Jan Erik
• Application Number:
  US12/091,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20080281268A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

A system is disclosed for heating a flow of intravenous fluid comprising an intravenous tube (3) for connecting a source of intravenous fluid to an intravenous catheter (9), the intravenous tube comprising heating means (21) integrated therein for raising the temperature of the intravenous flow in the tube and a portable unit (2) comprising the energy source for providing electrical power to the heating means integral with a pump (5) for controlling the flow of the fluid. Hereby is provided a path between a source of intravenous fluid and an intravenous catheter ensured to be highly hygienic, because the number of connections wherein the flow of intravenous fluid can be contaminated is limited to a minimum as compared to other systems with multiple connections to external units.

Claims

1. A portable unit for providing energy to heat intravenous fluids, the unit comprising a housing comprising:

an elongated opening to receive a length of a flexible intravenous tube for connecting a source of intravenous fluid to an intravenous catheter,

an energy source comprising one or more rechargeable cells arranged to provide electrical power to heat intravenous fluid flowing in the intravenous tube, and

a pump for controlling flow rate of intravenous fluid in the intravenous tube, the pump operating by manipulating an outer surface of the length of an intravenous tube received in said elongated opening by means of a single piston that during operation alternately compresses and releases the compress of the piece of flexible and elastic length of intravenous tube the housing further including mounting means for fastening the unit to a patient receiving the intravenous fluids.

3. A portable unit according to claim 1, wherein said energy source is able to supply sufficient power to raise the temperature of the intravenous fluid with an amount between 20°

C. and 30°

C. at a flow rate of 100 ml/min.

4. A portable unit according to any of claims 1, wherein said energy source comprises means for supplying electrical power to heating means arranged externally to the unit.

5. A portable unit according to claim 4, wherein the said means for supplying electrical power are arranged within or adjacent to the elongated opening of the housing.

7. A portable unit according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling operation of at least one element of the unit in response to at least one control input from means for providing a measure of at least one physical property of the flow of intravenous fluid.

8. A portable unit according to claim 7, wherein said means for providing a measure of at least one physical property of the intravenous fluid comprises temperature measure means for measuring the temperature of the flow of fluid in the intravenous tube and providing an output accordingly to the control means.

9. A portable unit according to claim 8, wherein the temperature measuring means are arranged within or adjacent to the elongated opening of the housing.

10. A portable unit according to claim 7, wherein said means for providing a measure of at least one physical property of the intravenous fluid comprises means for providing a measure of the flow rate of fluid in the intravenous tube and providing an input accordingly to the control means.

11. A portable unit according to claim 10, wherein said means for providing a measure of the flow rate of fluid in the intravenous tube comprises alarm means for providing an alarm signal when the source of intravenous fluid is empty.

12. A portable unit according to claim 10, wherein said means for providing a measure of the flow rate of fluid in the intravenous tube comprises alarm means for providing an alarm signal in case the flow of intravenous fluid is interrupted.

13. A portable unit according to claim 7 to 12, wherein the control means controls the operation of the pump.

14. A portable unit according to claim 7, wherein the control means controls the supply of power from the energy source to heat intravenous fluid flowing in the intravenous tube.

15. A portable unit according to claim 7, wherein the operation of the pump and/or the supply of energy from the energy source to heat intravenous fluid flowing in the intravenous tube are controlled so as to limit the temperature of the flow of intravenous fluid to a temperature interval between 35°

C. and 40°

C.

16. A system for heating a flow of intravenous fluid comprising:

an intravenous tube enclosed in a sterile packaging and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet for connecting a source of intravenous fluid to an intravenous catheter, said intravenous tube comprising heating means integrated therein for raising the temperature of the intravenous flow in the tube, and connection means for connecting said heating means with an external energy source, and

a portable unit according to claim 1, wherein said energy source comprises an external energy source.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the surface area in contact with the intravenous fluid of said heating means comprises an area of at least 20 cm².

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein said integrated heating means comprises one or more heating wires inlaid in the enclosure of the intravenous tube.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein said integrated heating means comprising heating wires encased in the wall of the intravenous tube.

20. A system according to claim 16, wherein said heating means extends a substantial portion of the tube length comprising between about 75 cm and about 200 cm of the tube length.

22. A system according to claim 16, wherein the intravenous tube comprises two one-way valves and the single piston of the pump compresses and releases the compress of the piece of flexible and elastic length of intravenous tube between the two valves.

23. A system according to claim 16, wherein the energy source is connected to a heating element in the portable unit, which then is in contact with the outer surface of a part of the intravenous tube.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the heating element in the portable unit during operation is in contact with the outer surface of part of the intravenous tube received in the elongated opening of the portable unit.

2. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

21. A system according to 16 configured for heating a flow of intravenous fluid from a source of intravenous fluid to a patient.