Fluid Heat Exchanger

• US 20090245765A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smisson-Cartledge Biomedical LLC
• Original Assignee: Smisson-Cartledge Biomedical LLC
• Inventors: KOLTZ, Michael L., SMISSON, Hugh F. III, YORK, Frederick J., JERRELL, Jeffrey W., RAINIER, Bradford J., CHRISTENSEN, John M., CARTLEDGE, Richard G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 392/470
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0281 Apparatus for treatment of blood or blood constituents prior to transfusion, e.g. washing, filtering or thawing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/127 with provisions for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/10 Flow characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for increasing the temperature of a fluid being infused into a patient'"'"'s body while the infusion is taking place. The present invention also provides for improved monitoring of air in the infusion system such to prevent the introduction of air into the patient'"'"'s body receiving the fluid infusion. The present invention also provides for a system pump which provides a variable flow rate that serves a vast amount of infusion needs and purposes. A disposable cartridge in accordance with the present invention will allow for the efficient transfer of heat energy to the fluid being infused into the patient'"'"'s body. The cartridge will further ensure that deleterious amounts of air will not be introduced into the patient'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising a first end, a second opposing end, and an internal heat exchange zone therebetween defined by a first and second plurality of overlapping fins, wherein each fin has a ratio of height to width of at least 1:

2, whereby a fluid enters the first end of the heat exchanger via a inlet port, flows at least partially across the width of each succeeding fin through the heat exchange zone, and flows out the second opposing end of the heat exchanger via an outlet port.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the height of the fins to the width of the fins is from about 1:

2 to 1;

50.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the height of the fins to the width of the fins is from about 1:

4 to 1;

25.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the height of the fins to the width of the fins is from about 1:

5 to 1;

10.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the height of the fins ranges from about 0.25 inches to about 1 inch.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path of the heat exchange zone has a depth of about 0.01 inches to about 0.25 inches.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the distance between a first and second fin within the same plurality of fins is from about 0.1 inches to about 2 inches.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein each of the fins are disposed within the heat exchange zone substantially perpendicular to the first end and to the second opposing end.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of two symmetric units fixed together.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of a single unit.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of at least two units fixed together.

12. A heat exchanger comprising an internal heat exchange zone defined by a first and second plurality of overlapping fins, wherein each fin has a ratio of height to width of at least 1:

2, whereby a fluid enters the internal heat exchange zone, creating a tortious fluid flow paths wherein the fluid flows at least partially across the width of each succeeding fin through the heat exchange zone.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 12, whereby the fluid flow path created by the internal heat exchange zone forms a ribbon of fluid flow having a plurality of linear flow segments caused at least in part by the overlapping fins, wherein the ribbon of fluid flow has a width greater than a length of any of the plurality of linear flow segments.

14. The heat exchanger of claim 13 wherein the ratio of the length of the plurality of linear flow segments to the width of the flow path is from about 1:

2 to 1;

50.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 13 wherein the ratio of the length of the plurality of linear flow segments to the width of the flow path is from about 1:

4 to 1;

25.

16. The heat exchanger of claim 13 wherein the ratio of the length of the plurality of linear flow segments to the width of the flow path is from about 1:

5 to 1;

10.

17. The heat exchanger of claim 13 wherein the length of the plurality of linear flow segments are from about 0.25 inches to about 1 inch in length.

18. The heat exchanger of claim 13 wherein the height of each fin is from about 0.25 inches to about 1 inch.

19. The heat exchanger of claim 13′

wherein the distance between a first and second fin within the first plurality of fins or the second plurality of fins is from about 0.1 inches to about 2 inches.

20. The heat exchanger of claim 13 wherein the fluid flow path created by the heat exchanger has a depth of about 0.01 to about 0.25 inches.

21. The heat exchanger of claim 13, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first end and a second opposing end, and wherein each of the fins are disposed within the heat exchange zone substantially perpendicular to the first end and to the second opposing end.

22. The heat exchanger of claim 21, whereby the fluid enters the internal heat exchange zone via a fluid inlet port proximate the first end and exits the internal heat exchange zone via a fluid outlet port proximate the second opposing end.