Fluid temperature sensor
First Claim
1. For use in a flow system such as a cardiovascular flow measuring system wherein a cold injectate fluid is delivered in a known amount from a supply through a catheter into a patient'"'"'s blood vessel and the resultant change in the temperature of the patient'"'"'s blood is sensed to determine the circulatory blood flow rate, an improved injectate fluid temperature sensor comprising:
- a disposable housing defining a through lumen for conducting injectate fluid therethrough;
a disposable thermally conductive enclosure hermetically sealingly joined to the housing and projecting transversely into said lumen to be in heat transfer association with injectate fluid conducted through said lumen; and
a reusable temperature sensor removably installed in said enclosure, said sensor providing a signal corresponding accurately to the temperature of the injectate fluid conducted through said lumen.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature sensing device for use in a fluid flow system for accurately sensing the temperature of fluid delivered through a lumen of a housing of the device. A temperature sensor element is isolated from the fluid in the lumen by its reception in an enclosure extending through a portion of the wall of the housing into the lumen. The temperature sensor is provided in association with a connector including suitable leads for transferring the electrically generated signal from the sensor to a cable connected to a computer for use in making thermodilution determinations. By permitting the expensive temperature sensor structure to be reusable without the need for repeated sterilization thereof while permitting the flow-through housing to be disposable, long, troublefree life at low cost is provided.
81 Citations
18 Claims
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1. For use in a flow system such as a cardiovascular flow measuring system wherein a cold injectate fluid is delivered in a known amount from a supply through a catheter into a patient'"'"'s blood vessel and the resultant change in the temperature of the patient'"'"'s blood is sensed to determine the circulatory blood flow rate, an improved injectate fluid temperature sensor comprising:
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a disposable housing defining a through lumen for conducting injectate fluid therethrough; a disposable thermally conductive enclosure hermetically sealingly joined to the housing and projecting transversely into said lumen to be in heat transfer association with injectate fluid conducted through said lumen; and a reusable temperature sensor removably installed in said enclosure, said sensor providing a signal corresponding accurately to the temperature of the injectate fluid conducted through said lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification