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In-line fluid heating apparatus with gradation of heat energy from inlet to outlet

  • US 5,381,510 A
  • Filed: 07/21/1993
  • Issued: 01/10/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for heating fluids comprising:

  • a cassette means for transferring heat to fluids flowing therethrough, the cassette means comprising;

    passageway means for defining a thin, planar, elongated, sinuous flow path having first and second sides and an inlet end and an outlet end, such that a thin sheet of fluid enters the inlet end, travels through the flow path, and exits the outlet end;

    a first flexible, heat conductive membrane means supported by the passageway means on one of the first or second sides of the flow path, for providing heat transfer to one of the top and bottom sides of the flow path; and

    a second flexible, heat conductive membrane means supported by the passageway means on the other of the first or second sides of the flow path for providing heat transfer to the other of the first and second sides of the flow path; and

    heating means in contact with at least one of said first and second heat conductive membrane means for generating heat energy, said heating means comprising a heating element means for generating a gradation of heat energy such that more heat energy is available for transfer to the parenteral fluid at the inlet end of the sinuous flow path than is available for transfer to the parenteral fluid at the outlet end of the sinuous flow path, having a shape that is essentially a mirror image of the elongated sinuous flow path, and the heating element means being spaced from and in alignment with at least one of the first or second sides of the elongated flow path.

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