Peritoneal dialysis solution warmer

• US 6,069,343 A
• Filed: 07/17/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kolowich J. Bruce
• Original Assignee: Kolowich J. Bruce
• Inventors: Kolowich, J. Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Vinod D
• Application Number:
  US09/118,260
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 219/394, 219/386, 219/402, 219/521, 219/405, 219/430, 392/470, 604/114
• US Class Current: 219/399
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/166 Heating for sterilisation A61M1/1686
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1664 with temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1668 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags

Abstract

A warmer for fluid filled containers includes a cabinet with an interior chamber at face with an opening providing access to the interior chamber. The interior chamber is designed to receive and store multiple fluid filled containers and has an inner surface with a top and a bottom. The exterior surface of the cabinet is separated from the inner surface of the interior chamber by an insulated inner layer. A door is provided for covering the access opening and a rack is provided for supporting fluid filled containers in the interior chamber. A sheathing device, a temperature sensor, and a thermal energy distributor are all located in the interior chamber. The heating device is designed to alter the interior air temperature of the chamber, the sensor is designed to sense the interior temperature, and the energy distributor is designed to distribute thermal energy from the heating device. A temperature control device is in communication with the sensor and the heating device and controls the heating device such that the interior air temperature of the chamber is maintained at a generally constant temperature.

Claims

1. A warmer for fluid filled containers, said warmer comprising:

a cabinet having an interior chamber defined therein and a first face with an access opening defined therein, said access opening communicating with said interior chamber, said interior chamber being defined by an inner surface and having a top and a bottom, said cabinet further having an exterior surface separated from said inner surface by an insulating inner layer, said interior chamber being configured to receive and store a plurality of fluid filled containers and having an interior air temperature associated therewith;

a door pivotally supported by said cabinet and having a first position in which said door substantially covers said access opening and a second position in which said door substantially uncovers said access opening,

a rack supported in said interior chamber for supporting the fluid filled containers, said rack spaced from said top and said bottom of said chamber;

a heating device disposed in said interior chamber for altering the interior air temperature thereof;

a thermal energy distributor disposed in said interior chamber for distributing thermal energy from said heating device, said thermal energy distributor comprising a sheet of material having a thermal conductivity greater than 150 Watts/meter-degree Kelvin, said sheet of material disposed adjacent said bottom of said interior chamber and covering substantially all of said bottom of said interior chamber, said sheet further comprising a peripheral lip so that said sheet also defines a catch tray;

a temperature sensor disposed in said interior chamber for sensing the interior air temperature; and

a temperature control device in communication with said sensor and said heating device, said control device operative to control said heating device such that the interior air temperature is maintained at a generally constant temperature.

2. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein the thermal conductivity of said sheet of material is greater than 200 Watts/meter-degree Kelvin.

3. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein the thermal conductivity of said sheet of material is greater than 300 Watts/meter-degree Kelvin.

4. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein said sheet of material is a copper sheet.

5. The warmer according to claim 4, wherein said copper sheet is disposed adjacent said heating device.

6. The warmer according to claim 4, wherein said heating device is disposed adjacent said bottom of said interior chamber and said copper sheet is disposed between said heating device and said bottom.

7. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein said heating device comprises an electrical resistance heating element.

8. The warmer according to claim 7, wherein said heating element has a power consumption of less than 150 Watts.

9. The warmer according to claim 7, wherein said heating element has a power consumption of less than 100 Watts.

10. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein said exterior surface of said cabinet is wood.

11. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface is wood.

12. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein said door has a wood interior surface and a wood exterior surface separated by an insulating inner layer.

13. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein said interior chamber has a width and a height associated therewith, said width being at least 2 times said height.

14. The warmer according to claim 1, wherein said temperature control device is adjustable.

15. The warmer according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary temperature controller connected between said temperature control device and said heating device and operative to interrupt the communication between said temperature control device and said heating device when said interior air temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature thereby preventing said interior temperature from reaching a predetermined dangerous temperature level.

16. A warmer for fluid filled containers, said warmer comprising:

a cabinet having an interior chamber defined therein and a first face with an access opening defined therein, said access opening communicating with said interior chamber, said interior chamber being defined by a wood interior surface and having a top and a bottom, said cabinet further having a wood exterior surface separated from said interior surface by an insulating inner layer, said interior chamber being configured to receive and store a plurality of fluid filled containers, said chamber having an interior air temperature associated therewith;

a door pivotally supported by said cabinet and having a first position in which said door substantially covers said access opening and a second position in which said door is positioned away from said access opening, said door having a wood interior surface and a wood exterior surface separated by an insulating inner layer;

a rack supported within said interior chamber for supporting the fluid filled containers, said rack spaced from said top and said bottom of said chamber;

an electrical resistance heating element disposed adjacent said bottom of said interior chamber for altering the interior air temperature;

a thermal energy distributor disposed in said interior chamber for distributing thermal energy from said heating device, said thermal energy distributor comprising a sheet disposed adjacent and parallel to said bottom of said interior chamber between said bottom and said heating device;

a temperature sensor disposed in said chamber for sensing the interior air temperature; and

an adjustable temperature control device in communication with said sensor and said heating device and operative to control said heating device such that the interior air temperature is maintained at a generally constant temperature.