In-line microwave warming apparatus
First Claim
1. Microwave apparatus for the warming of a liquid flowing in a liquid conduit, said apparatus comprising:
- a microwave heating cavity, means for applying microwave energy at a selected power level to said microwave heating cavity, means for supporting a length of said liquid conduit in said microwave heating cavity extending between input and output sides thereof, microwave energy being applied to the conduit and to the fluid flowing therein, non-invasive temperature monitoring means for measuring the temperature of a liquid flowing in the liquid conduit at said cavity, said means for supporting a length of said liquid conduit comprising a support member that supports a predetermined length of said liquid conduit within the cavity wherein said predetermined length is greater than the distance between the input and output sides of said cavity so as to enhance heating action, and control means responsive to said measured temperature for controlling the power of said means for applying microwave energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microwave apparatus for warming of a liquid such as blood or IV fluids in which the warming occurs in-line by means of a microwave heating cavity having a source of microwave energy coupled thereto. A support element in the form of a bobbin forms an assembly with an IV tube wound about the bobbin. This tubing-bobbin assembly is inserted into the microwave heating cavity. A non-invasive, non-perturbing microwave temperature monitor is provided coupled to the microwave heating cavity for monitoring the temperature of liquid flowing in the IV tube. Controls are provided including a desired operating temperature selector for combining signals representative of, not only cavity temperature, but also inlet and outlet temperatures to control the power level of microwave energy delivered to the heating cavity.
159 Citations
40 Claims
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1. Microwave apparatus for the warming of a liquid flowing in a liquid conduit, said apparatus comprising:
- a microwave heating cavity, means for applying microwave energy at a selected power level to said microwave heating cavity, means for supporting a length of said liquid conduit in said microwave heating cavity extending between input and output sides thereof, microwave energy being applied to the conduit and to the fluid flowing therein, non-invasive temperature monitoring means for measuring the temperature of a liquid flowing in the liquid conduit at said cavity, said means for supporting a length of said liquid conduit comprising a support member that supports a predetermined length of said liquid conduit within the cavity wherein said predetermined length is greater than the distance between the input and output sides of said cavity so as to enhance heating action, and control means responsive to said measured temperature for controlling the power of said means for applying microwave energy.
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2. A device for detecting the temperature of a fluid flowing in a conduit, which conduit is transparent to microwave energy comprising:
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a single waveguide structure having first and second walls; means for defining a first opening formed in said first wall of the waveguide and means defining a second opening formed in said second wall of the waveguide, said second wall being disposed relative to the first wall in a manner to permit the conduit to pass therebetween; a coaxial probe mounted in said waveguide and spaced from the conduit passing through the waveguide; a radiometer; and means for connecting the probe output to the radiometer; radiation detected by the probe being proportional to the temperature of fluid in the portion of the conduit passing through the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 18)
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6. Microwave apparatus for warming of a liquid flowing in a liquid conduit, said apparatus comprising a microwave energy sauce, having an output signal:
- a microwave heating cavity, means for applying microwave energy at a selected power level from said microwave source to said microwave heating cavity, means for supporting a selected length of said liquid conduit in said microwave heating cavity, microwave energy being applied to the conduit and to the fluid flowing therein, non-invasive microwave temperature monitoring means for directly measuring the temperature of liquid flowing in said liquid conduit at said cavity and at at least one of an inlet to the cavity and an outlet therefrom, means for selecting a desired operating temperature, and control means responsive to the desired operating temperature and to all measured temperatures for controlling the power of the microwave energy.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- 36. A method of warming a liquid flowing in a liquid conduit by means of a microwave heating cavity having microwave energy coupled thereto from a microwave transmitter, said method comprising the steps of, providing at least a part of the heating cavity that can be opened and closed, providing a support assembly including a length of said liquid conduit, disposing said support assembly in said cavity, closing said cavity, applying controlled microwave energy to said cavity to cause liquid warming as the liquid flows through the cavity, monitoring the liquid temperature at the cavity and at at least one of the input and output thereto, selecting a desired liquid temperature and controlling the energy coupled to said cavity in response to the selected liquid temperature and the monitored temperature to maintain a desired liquid temperature.
Specification