Apparatus for controlledly warming low flow rate infusates
First Claim
1. Infusate warming apparatus comprisingan elongated housing having opposite ends and defininga heating cavity with electrically conductive interior walls;
- a divider dividing said cavity lengthwise into first and second cavity sections;
an elongated conductor having opposite ends, said conductor extending alongside said divider in one of said cavity sections;
fluid conducting means for conducting infusate through said first cavity section alongside said, said fluid conducting means having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, andconnector means extending into said housing for coupling an external microwave signal of a selected frequency to one end of said conductor so that the conductor and infusate in said first cavity section constitute an asymmetric transmission line.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Infusate warming apparatus comprises a housing defining an internal cavity. A lossy asymmetric transmission line is situated in the housing which transmission line includes an elongated electrical conductor having opposite ends and a conduit for conducting infusate which is highly absorptive to electromagnetic energy of a first frequency through the housing in close proximity to the conductor. A connector extends into the housing for coupling an external electromagnetic signal of the first frequency to one end of the conductor so as to subject the infusate to an energy field which heats the infusate. A temperature sensor for sensing the infusate temperature and controlling the signal to maintain a constant infusate delivering temperature is also disclosed.
135 Citations
59 Claims
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1. Infusate warming apparatus comprising
an elongated housing having opposite ends and defining a heating cavity with electrically conductive interior walls; -
a divider dividing said cavity lengthwise into first and second cavity sections; an elongated conductor having opposite ends, said conductor extending alongside said divider in one of said cavity sections; fluid conducting means for conducting infusate through said first cavity section alongside said, said fluid conducting means having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and connector means extending into said housing for coupling an external microwave signal of a selected frequency to one end of said conductor so that the conductor and infusate in said first cavity section constitute an asymmetric transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Infusate warming apparatus comprising
a housing defining an internal cavity; -
a lossy asymmetric transmission line situated in said housing, said transmission line including an elongated electrical conductor having opposite ends and fluid conducting means for conducting infusate which is highly absorptive to electromagnetic energy of a first frequency through said housing in close proximity to the conductor, and connecting means extending into said housing for coupling an external electromagnetic signal of said first frequency to one end of the conductor so as to subject the infusate to an energy field which heats the infusate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Infusate warming apparatus comprising
a circuit board including a dielectric substrate having opposite faces and an elongated conductor extending along a face of the substrate, said conductor having first and second ends; -
a housing for supporting the circuit board, said housing defining a cavity extending alongside a face of the substrate and opposite the conductor; a low dielectric material in said cavity; a cover hinged to the housing so that the cover can swing between an open position wherein the cover extends away from the housing and exposes the circuit board and a closed position wherein the cover covers the circuit board and forms with the housing an all around-enclosure for the circuit board, said cover having a recess to provide clearance for a fluid carrier positioned against the circuit board when the cover is moved to its closed position, and a connector extending into the housing and connected electrically to one end of the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Infusate warming apparatus comprising
an elongated heating cavity having electrically conductive interior walls; -
a fluid inlet into the cavity; a fluid outlet from the cavity; a fluid conduit for conducting a liquid through the cavity, said conduit having one end communicating with the inlet and another end communicating with the outlet; an electrical conductor in the cavity, said conductor having first and second ends and a segment between said ends which extends alongside and generally parallel to said conduit, said conductor and the liquid in the conduit constituting a transmission line which provides a good impedance match and low reflection within the cavity so that the liquid in the conduit absorbs substantially all of the energy within the cavity, and a source for delivering an electromagnetic signal to the first end of the conductor so that the conductor radiates electromagnetic energy into the cavity, the length of the transmission line being selected so that the transmission line produces a good impedance match and low reflection within the cavity whereby the liquid in the conduit absorbs and is heated by said energy. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. Infusate warming apparatus comprising
an elongated fluid carrier including an elongated rigid plate of low dielectric material, said plate having opposite flat faces and opposite ends; -
a fluid flow path extending along the plate between said opposite ends thereof, said path having a substantially uniform cross section and a selected total length; a fluid inlet connector at one end of the carrier and communicating with said flow path, and a fluid outlet connector at the other end of the carrier and communicating with said flow path, said inlet and outlet connectors being collinear. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification