Heat exchanger for blood
First Claim
1. A disposable heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of blood, comprising a plurality of generally parallel tubes having smooth inner walls, inlet and outlet means for supplying blood to and for collecting blood from the tubes, a jacket about the tubes having inlet and outlet means enabling the flow of a heat exchange medium through the jacket and in heat exchange proximity with the tubes, the tubes being characterized by including elongated inserts therein, each insert having periodic reverse bends providing the insert with a serpentine configuration, outer surfaces of the bends being in heat-exchange contact with inner walls of the tubes, the tubes with inserts being of sufficient number, length and flow area to enable gentle, laminar blood flow through the tubes at 37°
- C. at a rate of up to about 5 liters per minute.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable, tube-and-shell heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of blood. The tube portion includes a plurality of parallel tubes having serpentine inserts therein in heat-exchange contact with smooth inner walls of the tubes. The tubes are of sufficient number, length and flow area to permit gentle laminar blood flow at 37° C. of up to five liters per minute.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A disposable heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of blood, comprising a plurality of generally parallel tubes having smooth inner walls, inlet and outlet means for supplying blood to and for collecting blood from the tubes, a jacket about the tubes having inlet and outlet means enabling the flow of a heat exchange medium through the jacket and in heat exchange proximity with the tubes, the tubes being characterized by including elongated inserts therein, each insert having periodic reverse bends providing the insert with a serpentine configuration, outer surfaces of the bends being in heat-exchange contact with inner walls of the tubes, the tubes with inserts being of sufficient number, length and flow area to enable gentle, laminar blood flow through the tubes at 37°
- C. at a rate of up to about 5 liters per minute.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A disposable heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of blood, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of metal tubes having smooth interior walls and circular cross-sections, inlet and outlet means for supplying blood to and for collecting blood from the tubes, heat-exchange means for applying a heat exchange medium to exterior surfaces of the tubes, the tubes having elongated metal inserts therein, each insert having periodic reverse bends along its length providing the insert with a serpentine configuration, exterior surfaces of the inserts at such bends lying in metal-to-metal contact with interior surfaces of the tubes and being retained in the tubes by friction between the contacting surfaces of the tubes and inserts, the interiors of the tubes and surfaces of the associated inserts having a continuous, thin, biologically-acceptable coating thereon, the tubes with inserts being sufficient in number, length and flow area to provide, at a pressure drop across the tubes of not greater than about 85 mm of mercury and at a blood temperature of about 37°
- C. a laminar flow of blood characterized by a Reynolds number of not greater than about 400 and a blood flow rate of not less than about 5 liters per minute.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
Specification