Method for maintaining environmental conditions for a medical device

• US 6,293,962 B1
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Bishay, Jon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/706,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 337/2, 337/1, 337/12, 62/33, 62/36, 62/36.2, 62/37, 429/120, 607/1, 607/2
• US Class Current: 607/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/001 Temperature-modifying means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0014 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0016 Heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/105 Cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1912 whose output amplitude can take more than two discrete values

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for maintaining an electrotherapy device wherein the air temperature of the electrotherapy device environment is monitored and then adjusted based on the results of the monitoring step. The method may be accomplished by using an environmental carrying case. Additionally it is contemplated that air of the environment may be circulated to produce an ambient temperature. Monitoring the temperature may accomplished by using a thermostat or a temperature sensitive switch. In a preferred embodiment, a cooling means is activated when the temperature reaches a threshold temperature between 25° C. and 50° C., more preferably 43° C. The cooling means may be a fan. In a preferred embodiment, a heating means is activated when the temperature reaches a threshold temperature between −10° C. and 20° C., more preferably 0° C. The heating means may be heat strips.

Claims

1. A method of using an environmental chamber, comprising:

placing an electrotherapy device into the environmental chamber;

monitoring a temperature of said electrotherapy device; and

maintaining an interior of the environmental chamber within a predetermined temperature range, based on said monitoring, by using a cooler or a heater.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined temperature range is from 25°

C. to 50°

C.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining includes circulating air in the environmental chamber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring includes using a thermostat.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring includes using a temperature sensitive switch.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining includes using a cooler when said temperature reaches a threshold temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said threshold temperature is between 25°

C. and 50°

C.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said cooler is a fan.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining includes using a heater when said temperature reaches a threshold temperature.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said threshold temperature is between −

10°

C. and 20°

C.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said heater is a heat strip.