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Parenteral fluid warmer apparatus and disposable cassette utilizing thin, flexible heat-exchange membrane

  • US 5,245,693 A
  • Filed: 03/15/1991
  • Issued: 09/14/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A disposable cassette adapted for placement between a pair of heating elements so as to warm parenteral fluids flowing through the cassette for intravenous delivery to a patient, the cassette comprising:

  • insulative passageway means for insulating, supporting and spacing first and second heat conductive membrane means one from the other, and defining a thin, planar serpentine flow path having top and bottom sides and an inlet end and an outlet end, such that a thin sheet of parenteral fluid enters the inlt end, travels through the serpentine flow path, and exits the outlet end;

    a first flexible, heat conductive membrane means supported on one side of said passageway means and providing heat transfer from one of the heating elements to one of the top and bottom sides of the serpentine flow path, said first heat conductive membrane means comprising an inlet port for communicating the parenteral fluid to the inlet end of the serpentine flow path, and an outlet port for exit of the warmed parenteral fluid from the serpentine flow path;

    a second flexible, heat conductive membrane means supported on an opposite side of said passageway means so as to be insulated from the first flexible, heat conductive membrane, and providing heat transfer from the other heating element to the other of the top and bottom sides of the serpentine flow path, such that said serpentine flow path is essentially completely covered on the top and bottom sides thereof from the inlet to the outlet ends by the first and second heat conductive membrane means which are insulated and spaced from one another; and

    support means providing a peripheral framework that encompasses and sealingly receives and holds generally in the plane of the serpentine flow path essentially all of the peripheral edges of the first and second heat conductive membrane means with the insulative passageway means sandwiched therebetween without obstructing contact of the first and second heat conductive membrane means with the pair of heating elements when the cassette is placed therebetween.

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