Temperature control system and method for heating and maintaining medical items at desired temperatures
DCFirst Claim
1. A temperature control system for heating medical items to desired temperatures comprising:
- a system housing;
a heating chamber disposed within said housing for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a desired temperature, wherein said heating chamber includes;
a medical item support structure to support said at least one medical item within said heating chamber and including at least one receptacle each for receiving a corresponding medical item and heating said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature, wherein said each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls and said medical item support structure is manipulable relative to said housing to facilitate entry and removal of said at least one medical item within said system;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of said heating chamber; and
a heater for applying heat to said first wall of each said receptacle;
wherein said secondary walls of said each receptacle are arranged to conduct heat from the first wall of said each receptacle and distribute said conducted heat about said corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
a controller to facilitate entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber and to control said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature control system includes a cabinet or system housing having a plurality of drawers for containing intravenous solution bags or other medical items. Each drawer is individually controlled, and generally includes a window and a plurality of sub-compartments with each sub-compartment accommodating an intravenous solution bag or other medical item. The drawers are each pivotable relative to the system housing to permit access to the sub-compartments, while the drawer windows enable the intravenous solution bags to be viewed during heating. A heating element is typically disposed beneath each drawer bottom wall to apply heat to walls of corresponding sub-compartments and evenly distribute heat to intravenous solution bags contained within those sub-compartments. Each drawer is associated with a controller that controls the heating element to apply heat to the corresponding drawer sub-compartments in accordance with a comparison between desired and measured temperatures associated with that drawer. Alternatively, the system may include a single common controller to control the heating element of each drawer based on the desired and measured temperatures associated with that drawer. The temperature control system may be mounted on a wall, intravenous (IV) pole, transportable cart or other suitable structure via a support mechanism. In addition, several temperature control systems may be mounted in a stacked or other arrangement on a transportable cart or other structure to provide heating capability for numerous medical items.
223 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A temperature control system for heating medical items to desired temperatures comprising:
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a system housing;
a heating chamber disposed within said housing for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a desired temperature, wherein said heating chamber includes;
a medical item support structure to support said at least one medical item within said heating chamber and including at least one receptacle each for receiving a corresponding medical item and heating said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature, wherein said each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls and said medical item support structure is manipulable relative to said housing to facilitate entry and removal of said at least one medical item within said system;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of said heating chamber; and
a heater for applying heat to said first wall of each said receptacle;
wherein said secondary walls of said each receptacle are arranged to conduct heat from the first wall of said each receptacle and distribute said conducted heat about said corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
a controller to facilitate entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber and to control said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (4, 7)
a plurality of said heating chambers each for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a corresponding desired temperature;
wherein said controller facilitates entry of a desired temperature for each heating chamber and controls said heater of said each heating chamber to heat said at least one medical item contained within that heating chamber to said corresponding desired temperature in response to a temperature measured by said temperature sensor associated with that heating chamber.
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2. A temperature control system for heating medical items to desired temperatures comprising:
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a system housing;
a heating chamber disposed within said housing for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a desired temperature, wherein said heating chamber includes;
at least one receptacle each for receiving a corresponding medical item and heating said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature, wherein said each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of said heating chamber;
a heater for applying heat to said first wall of each said receptacle; and
a drawer having said at least one receptacle and a pivoting mechanism for pivoting said drawer relative to said housing to facilitate entry and removal of said drawer within said system;
wherein said secondary walls of said each receptacle are arranged to conduct heat from the first wall of said each receptacle and distribute said conducted heat about said corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
a controller to facilitate entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber and to control said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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5. A temperature control system for heating medical items to desired temperatures comprising:
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a system housing;
a plurality of heating chambers disposed within said housing each for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a corresponding desired temperature, wherein said each heating chamber includes;
a medical item support structure to support said at least one medical item within that heating chamber and including at least one receptacle each for receiving a corresponding medical item and heating said corresponding medical item to said corresponding desired temperature, wherein said each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of that heating chamber; and
a heater for applying heat to said first wall of each said receptacle;
wherein said secondary walls of said each receptacle are arranged to conduct heat from the first wall of said each receptacle and distribute said conducted heat about said corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said corresponding desired temperature; and
a plurality of controllers each associated with a respective heating chamber to facilitate entry of a desired temperature for that heating chamber and to control said heater of said respective heating chamber to heat at least one medical item contained within that heating chamber to said corresponding desired temperature in response to a temperature measured by said temperature sensor associated with said respective heating chamber. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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8. A temperature control system for heating medical items to desired temperatures comprising:
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a system housing;
a plurality of heating chambers disposed within said housing each for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a corresponding desired temperature, wherein at least two of said heating chambers are associated with different respective desired temperatures and said each heating chamber includes;
a medical item support structure to support said at least one medical item within that heating chamber and including at least one receptacle each for receiving a corresponding medical item and heating said corresponding medical item to said corresponding desired temperature, wherein said each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of that heating chamber; and
a heater for applying heat to said first wall of each said receptacle;
wherein said secondary walls of said each receptacle are arranged to conduct heat from the first wall of said each receptacle and distribute said conducted heat about said corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said corresponding desired temperature; and
a controller to facilitate entry of a desired temperature for each heating chamber and to control said heater of said each heating chamber to heat said at least one medical item contained within that heating chamber to said corresponding desired temperature in response to a temperature measured by said temperature sensor associated with that heating chamber.
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9. A temperature control system for heating medical items to desired temperatures comprising:
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a system housing;
medical equipment fastened to said system housing;
a heating chamber disposed within said housing for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a desired temperature, wherein said each heating chamber includes;
at least one receptacle each for receiving a corresponding medical item and heating said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature, wherein said each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of said heating chamber; and
a heater for applying heat to said first wall of each said receptacle;
wherein said secondary walls of said each receptacle are arranged to conduct heat from the first wall of said each receptacle and distribute said conducted heat about said corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
a controller to facilitate entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber and to control said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor.
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10. A temperature control system for heating medical items to desired temperatures comprising:
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a system housing;
a heating chamber disposed within said housing for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a desired temperature, wherein said heating chamber includes;
at least one receptacle each for receiving a corresponding medical item and heating said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature, wherein said each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of said heating chamber; and
a heater for applying heat to said first wall of each said receptacle;
wherein said secondary walls of said each receptacle are arranged to conduct heat from the first wall of said each receptacle and distribute said conducted heat about said corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature;
a controller to facilitate entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber and to control said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor; and
a support mechanism to suspend said system from a support structure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
a structure member disposed on said support structure and having a base and an engagement member protruding from said base; and
a system member disposed on said system housing and having a receptacle for receiving said engagement member to suspend said system from said support structure.
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12. The system of claim 11 wherein said support structure is an intravenous pole.
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13. The system of claim 12 wherein said structure member further includes a pair of plates each having a groove defined therein, wherein said base is fastened to one of said plates and said plates are disposed about said pole with said pole positioned in said grooves to fasten said structure member to said pole.
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14. The system of claim 10 further including a transportable device, wherein said support structure suspending said system is disposed on said transportable device to facilitate system mobility.
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15. A temperature control system for heating medical items to desired temperatures comprising:
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a support structure;
a plurality of temperature control units, wherein each temperature control unit includes;
a housing;
at least one heating chamber disposed within said housing for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a desired temperature;
at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a corresponding heating chamber;
at least one heater for heating a corresponding heating chamber; and
at least one controller to facilitate entry of a desired temperature for each heating chamber and to control each heater to heat said at least one medical item within said each heating chamber to said desired temperature associated with that chamber in response to said temperature measured by a corresponding temperature sensor; and
a plurality of support mechanisms for suspending respective temperature control units from said support structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
said support structure includes a plurality of sequential sections;
at least one of said temperature control units is suspended from a respective section of said support structure, thereby forming respective tiers; and
said tiers are arranged in stacked relation to suspend said plurality of temperature control units from said support structure.
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17. The system of claim 15 further including a transportable device, wherein said support structure suspending said plurality of temperature control units is disposed on said transportable device to facilitate system mobility.
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18. In a temperature control system including a system housing and a heating chamber disposed within said housing and having at least one receptacle for receiving a corresponding medical item, wherein each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls and is manipulable relative to said housing to facilitate entry and removal of said corresponding medical item within said system, a method of heating medical items to a desired temperature comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving at least one medical item within said at least one receptacle in response to manipulation of said at least one receptacle relative to said housing;
(b) measuring a temperature of said heating chamber via a temperature sensor;
(c) applying heat to said first wall of each receptacle via a heater;
(d) conducting heat from said first wall of each receptacle, via respective secondary walls, to distribute said conducted heat about a corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
(e) facilitating entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber, via a controller, and controlling said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
(c.1) applying heat to a portion and less than the entirety of said first wall of each said receptacle.
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22. The method of claim 18 further including a plurality of said heating chambers for receiving at least one medical item and a plurality of controllers associated with corresponding heating chambers, and wherein step (a) further includes:
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(a.1) receiving said at least one medical item within each heating chamber;
step (b) further includes;
(b.1) measuring a temperature of each heating chamber via a corresponding temperature sensor;
step (c) further includes;
(c.1) applying heat within each heating chamber, via a corresponding heater, to said first wall of said each heating chamber receptacle;
step (d) further includes;
(d.1) conducting heat from said first wall of each heating chamber receptacle, via respective secondary walls, to distribute said conducted heat about a corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
step (e) further includes;
(e.1) facilitating entry of a desired temperature for each heating chamber, via a corresponding controller, and controlling said heater of said corresponding heating chamber to heat said at least one medical item contained within that heating chamber to said corresponding desired temperature in response to a temperature measured by said temperature sensor associated with said corresponding heating chamber.
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19. In a temperature control system including a system housing, a heating chamber disposed within said housing and having at least one receptacle for receiving a corresponding medical item and a drawer having said at least one receptacle, wherein each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls, a method of heating medical items to a desired temperature comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving at least one medical item within said at least one receptacle, wherein step (a) further includes;
(a.1) pivoting said drawer relative to said housing to facilitate entry and removal of said drawer within said system;
(b) measuring a temperature of said heating chamber via a temperature sensor;
(c) applying heat to said first wall of each receptacle via a heater;
(d) conducting heat from said first wall of each receptacle via respective secondary walls, to distribute said conducted heat about a corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
(e) facilitating entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber, via a controller, and controlling said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (20)
(a.2) viewing said at least one medical item within said heating chamber through said window during heating.
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23. In a temperature control system including a system housing, a plurality of heating chambers each disposed within said housing and having at least one receptacle for receiving at least one medical item and a plurality of controllers associated with corresponding heating chambers, wherein each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls, a method of heating medical items to a desired temperature comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving said at least one medical item within each heating chamber;
(b) measuring a temperature of each heating chamber via a corresponding temperature sensor;
(c) applying heat within each heating chamber, via a corresponding heater, to said first wall of each heating chamber receptacle;
(d) conducting heat from said first wall of each heating chamber receptacle, via respective secondary walls, to distribute said conducted heat about a corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
(e) facilitating entry of said desired temperature for each heating chamber, via a corresponding controller, and controlling said heater of said corresponding heating chamber to heat said at least one medical item contained within that heating chamber to said corresponding desired temperature in response to a temperature measured by said temperature sensor associated with said corresponding heating, chamber wherein step (e) further includes;
(e.1) entering different desired temperatures for at least two of said heating chambers.
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24. In a temperature control system including a system housing, a plurality of heating chambers each disposed within said housing and having at least one receptacle for receiving at least one medical item, wherein each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls a method of heating medical items to a desired temperature comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving said at least one medical item within each heating chamber;
(b) measuring a temperature of each heating chamber via a corresponding temperature sensor, (c) applying heat within each heating chamber, via a corresponding heater, to said first wall of each heating chamber receptacle;
(d) conducting heat from said first wall of each heating chamber receptacle, via respective secondary walls, to distribute said conducted heat about a corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
(e) facilitating entry of a desired temperature for each heating chamber, via a controller, and controlling said heater of each said heating chamber to heat said at least one medical item contained within that heating chamber to said corresponding desired temperature in response to a temperature measured by said temperature sensor associated with that heating chamber. - View Dependent Claims (25)
(e.1) entering different desired temperatures for at least two of said heating chambers.
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26. In a temperature control system including a system housing and a heating chamber disposed within said housing and having at least one receptacle for receiving a corresponding medical item, wherein each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls, a method of heating medical items to a desired temperature comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving at least one medical item within said at least one receptacle, wherein step (a) further includes;
(a.1) fastening medical equipment to said housing;
(b) measuring a temperature of said heating chamber via a temperature sensor;
(c) applying heat to said first wall of each receptacle via a heater;
(d) conducting heat from said first wall of each receptacle, via respective secondary walls, to distribute said conducted heat about a corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
(e) facilitating entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber, via a controller, and controlling said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor.
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27. In a temperature control system including a system housing, a heating chamber disposed within said housing and having at least one receptacle for receiving a corresponding medical item and a support mechanism, wherein each receptacle is defined by a first thermally conductive wall and a plurality of secondary thermally conductive walls, a method of heating medical items to a desired temperature comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving at least one medical item within said at least one receptacle, wherein step (a) further includes;
(a.1) suspending said system from a support structure via said support mechanism;
(b) measuring a temperature of said heating chamber via a temperature sensor;
(c) applying heat to said first wall of each receptacle via a heater;
(d) conducting heat from said first wall of each receptacle, via respective secondary walls, to distribute said conducted heat about a corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature; and
(e) facilitating entry of said desired temperature for said heating chamber, via a controller, and controlling said heater to heat said at least one medical item to said desired temperature in response to said temperature measured by said temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
(a.1.1) receiving said engagement member within said receptacle to suspend said system from said support structure.
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29. The method of claim 28 wherein said support structure is an intravenous pole and said structure member further includes a pair of plates each having a groove defined therein, wherein said base is fastened to one of said plates and step (a.1.1) further includes:
(a.1.1.1) disposing said plates about said pole with said pole positioned in said grooves to fasten said structure member to said pole.
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30. The method of claim 27 wherein said system further includes a transportable device, and step (a.1) further includes:
(a.1.1) disposing said support structure suspending said system on said transportable device to facilitate system mobility.
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31. In a temperature control system including a support structure, a plurality of temperature control units and a plurality of support mechanisms, wherein each temperature control unit includes a housing and at least one heating chamber disposed within said housing for receiving at least one medical item and heating said at least one medical item to a desired temperature, a method of heating numerous medical items to desired temperatures comprising the step of:
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(a) suspending each temperature control unit from said support structure via a corresponding support mechanism to heat medical items placed within said units. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
(a.1) suspending at least one of said temperature control units from each said section of said support structure, thereby forming respective tiers; and
(a.2) arranging said tiers in stacked relation to suspend said plurality of temperature control units from said support structure.
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33. The method of claim 31 wherein said system further includes a transportable device, and step (a) further includes:
(a.1) disposing said support structure suspending said plurality of temperature control units on said transportable device to facilitate system mobility.
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34. In a temperature control system having at least one receptacle each for receiving a corresponding medical item, wherein each said receptacle is defined by a plurality of walls and is manipulable relative to a system housing to facilitate entry and removal of said corresponding medical item within said system, a method of heating medical items to a desired temperature comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving at least one medical item within said at least one receptacle in response to manipulation of said at least one receptacle relative to said housing;
(b) applying heat to a first wall of each said receptacle and conducting said applied heat from said first wall to remaining walls of that receptacle to distribute said conducted heat about a corresponding medical item contained within that receptacle; and
(c) controlling said heat applied to said first wall of each said receptacle in accordance with a measured temperature of said at least one receptacle to heat said corresponding medical item to said desired temperature.
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35. A temperature control system for heating items to desired temperatures comprising:
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a system housing;
a plurality of heating chambers disposed within said housing each for receiving at least one item and heating said at least one item to a corresponding desired temperature, wherein at least two of said heating chambers are associated with different respective desired temperatures; and
a controller to facilitate entry of a desired temperature for each heating chamber and to control said each heating chamber to heat said at least one item contained within that heating chamber to said corresponding desired temperature.
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36. In a temperature control system including a system housing and a plurality of heating chambers each disposed within said housing and receiving at least one item, a method of heating items to a desired temperature comprising the step of:
(a) facilitating entry of a desired temperature for each heating chamber, via a controller, and controlling said each heating chamber, via said controller, to heat said at least one item contained within that heating chamber to said corresponding desired temperature, wherein at least two of said heating chambers are associated with different respective desired temperatures.
Specification