Fluid warming system
First Claim
1. A fluid heating apparatus for warming an infusion or irrigation liquid prior to delivery of the liquid to a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a flow-through polymeric chamber through which the liquid flows, the polymeric flow-through chamber having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port;
at least one electrically resistive heating element disposed in a wall of the chamber for heating the liquid, the heating element having a surface area of at least about 15 cm2 ; and
an electrical connection element for connecting the heating element to a controller for power and temperature control.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for heating a fluid to normothermic temperature prior to delivery of the fluid to a patient are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid to be warmed prior to delivery to a patient can be passed through a polymeric, flow-through chamber disposed in the fluid delivery line. An electrically resistive heating element for heating the fluid can be molded into the chamber to heat the fluid from room or ambient storage temperatures to a normothermic or body temperature of the patient. A probe of a temperature monitoring element can be used to monitor the temperature of the fluid exiting the chamber. In another embodiment, this information can be relayed back to a controller for controlling the power to the resistance element and hence, the temperature of the fluid. In still another embodiment, an infrared temperature sensor can be used for monitoring the temperature on the fluid exiting the chamber by scanning through a window in the outlet port of the chamber or elsewhere in the fluid line.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A fluid heating apparatus for warming an infusion or irrigation liquid prior to delivery of the liquid to a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a flow-through polymeric chamber through which the liquid flows, the polymeric flow-through chamber having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port; at least one electrically resistive heating element disposed in a wall of the chamber for heating the liquid, the heating element having a surface area of at least about 15 cm2 ; and an electrical connection element for connecting the heating element to a controller for power and temperature control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A fluid heating system for warming an infusion or irrigation liquid prior to delivery of the liquid to a patient, the system comprising:
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a flow-through polymeric chamber through which the liquid flows, the polymeric flow-through chamber having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port; at least one electrically resistive heating element disposed in a wall of the chamber for heating the liquid, the heating element having a surface area of at least about 15 cm2 ; and an external controller in electrical connection with the heating element for controlling the power to the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for warming an infusion or irrigation fluid entering a biological body, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a polymeric flow-through chamber through which the fluid may pass, the polymeric flow-through chamber having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port; providing at least one electrically resistive heating element that is disposed in a wall of the chamber for heating the liquid, the heating element having a surface area of at least about 15 cm2 ; flowing the fluid though the chamber; and heating the fluid with the at least one heating element while the fluid passes through the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification