Heated basin

• US 4,967,061 A
• Filed: 10/10/1989
• Issued: 10/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonne Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sonne Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Chan, Anthony, Kast, Michael A., Watkins, Frank T. III, Weber, Jaroy Jr., Kloeckl, Terrance L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US07/418,542
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 219/436, 219/438, 219/437, 219/441, 219/521, 219/385, 219/386
• US Class Current: 219/438
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1928 sensing the temperature of one space

Abstract

Apparatus for warming a sterile liquid includes a basin with a heater assembly, a base surrounding the basin, and an electronic temperature controller. The shape of the basin bottom includes an plateau-like elevated central region and a depressed surrounding rim. The heater assembly is of a thin-film type, and provides relatively greater heating in the central region than in the outer region. Both the heater geometry and the shape of the basin bottom promote a natural and uniform convective flow of the liquid to promote mixing of the warmer and cooler portions of the liquid. The temperature controller allows the user to select the temperature that the liquid is to be warmed to, and provides visual and aural indications of liquid or basin temperatures which exceed reasonable pre-set limits. The controller also halts the flow of electrical current to the heater assembly when an overtemperature problem in the liquid or the basin is detected. A disposable cable connects the temperature controller to the basin.

Claims

1. Apparatus for heating a liquid comprising:

a basin for holding a liquid, the basin having a bottom portion and a side wall portion, and the bottom portion having a non-planar shape including a central elevated region and a depressed edge region of thicker material than the material in the central elevated region;

a heater assembly attached to the underside of the basin bottom for providing greater heat in the central region of the basin bottom than along the edge region of the basin bottom;

a base fixedly attached to the side wall portion of the basin spaced away from the heater assembly on the basin bottom; and

means for supplying and controlling electrical current through the heater assembly for heating liquid in the basin substantially in the central elevated region and additionally in the edge region of the basin to produce convective circulation of liquid in the basin.