In-line temperature sensing devices, systems and methods

• US 5,806,528 A
• Filed: 10/05/1995
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cystomedix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Urosurge, Inc.
• Inventors: Magliochetti, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh X.
• Application Number:
  US08/539,441
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 215/366, 215/11.2, 215/13.1, 215/365, 128/898, 128/897
• US Class Current: 128/897
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/165 of organic liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for measuring and providing a visual indication of the temperature of a fluid prior to its delivery to a patient are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, in an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of the temperature of the irrigation fluid immediately prior to the fluid being delivered to a patient can be incorporated into the fluid delivery tube. In another aspect of the invention, an irrigation fluid delivery system having a heating means and a temperature sensing means can be used for heating the fluid and for measuring and providing a visual indication of the temperature of the fluid prior to the fluid entering the patient. In both the above-identified embodiment and aspect of the invention, the temperature sensing device can consist of a thermochromic liquid crystalline polymer extruded or otherwise molded into the fluid delivery tube. The polymer can be capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature. In yet another aspect of the invention, the temperature of an irrigation fluid in a fluid delivery tube can be measured prior to the fluid entering the patient. A fluid delivery tube including a thermochromic liquid crystalline polymer which is molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature can be provided. The fluid can be passed through the tube and the temperature of the fluid qualitatively measured by observing the color of the thermotropic polymer in the fluid delivery tube.

Claims

1. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube, the fluid delivery tube having an inlet and an outlet through which fluid may pass and being adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer material is a thermotropic crystalline polymer.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube is disposed in a wall of the tube.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer material is a first color at a storage temperature of the fluid and a second color at a desired pre-determined temperature range of the fluid.

3. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer material is a cholesteric liquid crystalline polymer.

4. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube is disposed in a stripe form.

6. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the device is flexible.

7. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the device is disposable.

8. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer material is transparent at a storage temperature of the fluid and a first color at a desired pre-determined temperature range of the fluid.

10. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the device has a capacity for sensing the temperature of a fluid flow ranging from about 10 ml/min to about 1500 ml/min.

11. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the fluid delivery tube comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyurethane and silicone.

12. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube is extruded within the fluid delivery tube.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer material extruded within the fluid delivery tube is co-extruded within the fluid delivery tube.

14. In an irrigation fluid delivery system having a fluid delivery tube adapted to deliver an irrigation fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature, where the device is rigid.

15. An irrigation fluid delivery system for delivery of a fluid to a patient, the delivery system comprising:

a heating means for heating the fluid; and

a temperature sensing device for measuring and for providing a visual indication of a temperature of the irrigation fluid prior to the irrigation fluid entering the patient, the temperature sensing device comprising a temperature responsive liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature.

16. A method for measuring of a temperature of an irrigation fluid in a fluid delivery tube comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid delivery tube having an inlet and an outlet through which the fluid may pass;

providing a liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature;

flowing the fluid though the tube; and

qualitatively measuring the temperature of the fluid by observing the color of the crystalline polymer in the fluid delivery tube.

17. A method for measuring of a temperature of an irrigation fluid in a fluid delivery tube comprising the steps of:

providing the fluid delivery tube through which the fluid may pass;

providing a liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature;

flowing the fluid though the tube; and

qualitatively measuring the temperature of the fluid by observing the color of the crystalline polymer in the fluid delivery tube;

wherein the measuring step further comprises measuring the fluid temperature to a desired pre-determined temperature range of about 36°

C. to about 44°

C.

18. A method for measuring of a temperature of an irrigation fluid in a fluid delivery tube comprising the steps of:

providing the fluid delivery tube through which the fluid may pass;

providing a liquid crystalline polymer material molded into the fluid delivery tube and capable of exhibiting at least one color change in response to a change in temperature;

flowing the fluid though the tube; and

qualitatively measuring the temperature of the fluid by observing the color of the crystalline polymer in the fluid delivery tube;

wherein the measuring step further comprises measuring the fluid temperature to a maximum of about 50°

C. above a storage temperature of the fluid.