IV fluid warming system with detection of presence and orientation of an IV fluid heat exchanger

• US 6,775,473 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Arizant Healthcare Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Augustine, Scott Douglas, Ziaimehr, Allen Hamid, Entenman, Scott Allen, Maharaji, Gary Rabindranath
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Quang T.
• Application Number:
  US10/304,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20030077079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 392/470, 392/479, 392/480, 604/113, 604/114, 604/67, 219/518, 340/568.1, 340/572.5, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 392/470
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

An intravenous (IV) fluid warming system with a removable heat exchanger includes a presence detector. The system is for warming an IV fluid before infusion into a body. The system includes a warming unit for warming the IV fluid and an inlet slot for receiving a heat exchanger, preferably embodied as a cassette. The heat exchanger is sized to fit into the inlet slot of the warming unit. The heat exchanger has a heat exchanger membrane with an internal fluid pathway that is in fluid communication with a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port. While the heat exchanger is in the warming unit, the IV fluid flows through the internal fluid pathway of the heat exchanger, warming the fluid. A heat exchanger presence detector is part of the warming system. The presence detector detects the presence of the heat exchanger when it is received in the warming unit. The presence detector enables the heating operation of the warming unit when the presence of the heat exchanger is sensed.

Claims

1. An intravenous (IV) fluid warming system comprising:

a warming unit with an inlet slot;

an IV fluid heat exchanger receivable in the warming unit inlet slot, the IV fluid heat exchanger having an internal fluid pathway and a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the internal fluid pathway; and

a detector acting between the warming unit and the IV fluid heat exchanger to sense the orientation of the IV fluid heat exchanger in the warming unit, the detector including a first magnetic element in the warming unit and a second magnetic element in the IV fluid heat exchanger.

2. The system of claim 1 further including an indicator connected to the first magnetic element for giving an indication of the condition.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the indication is of correct orientation of the IV fluid heat exchanger in the warming unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the IV fluid heat exchanger comprises;

a frame; and

a heat exchanger membrane attached to the frame;

a first layer of heat exchanger membrane; and

a second layer of the heat exchanger membrane joined to the first layer by a substantially continuous seam around the peripheries of the layers.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first layer and second layer are made of a thermoplastic material and are joined by a thermal bond.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

the first layer also being joined to the second layer at a plurality of locations within the substantially continuous seam, forming the internal fluid pathway with a plurality of connected channels.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the IV fluid heat exchanger further comprising a handle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal fluid pathway is serpentine in shape.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fluid inlet port in fluid communication with a first end of the internal fluid pathway;

a fluid inlet line having a first end in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port and a second end connectable to an IV fluid container;

a fluid exit port in fluid communication with a second end of the internal fluid pathway; and

a fluid outlet line having a first end in fluid communication with the fluid outlet port and a second end connectable with a patient infusion system.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising an attachment means for attaching the warming unit to an IV pole.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the attachment means is a clamp.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the warming unit comprises:

a first heater plate positioned on one side of the inlet slot; and

a second heater plate positioned on an opposite side of the inlet slot.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the IV fluid heat exchanger is a disposable cassette.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a warming unit controller; and

a controller display window connected to the warming unit controller.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a thermocouple positioned in the warming unit.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the thermocouple is in communication with the warming unit controller.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a warming unit controller and a presence circuit connected to the warming unit controller.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the detector cooperates with the presence circuit for enabling or disabling the warming unit controller, the presence circuit being enabled in the presence of the IV fluid heat exchanger and disabled in the absence of the IV fluid heat exchanger.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the presence circuit includes an alarm.

20. An intravenous (IV) fluid warming system comprising:

a warming unit with;

an enclosure having an inlet slot; and

,

at least one heating element positioned in the enclosure; and

,

an IV fluid heat exchanger comprising;

a frame receivable in the inlet slot,

a heat exchanger membrane attached to the frame, the heat exchanger membrane having an internal fluid pathway;

a fluid inlet port near a first end of the internal fluid pathway;

a fluid outlet port near a second end of the internal fluid pathway; and

a detector acting between the IV fluid heat exchanger and the warming unit to indicate the orientation of the IV fluid heat exchanger in the warming unit, the detector including a first magnetic element in the warming unit and a second magnetic element in the IV fluid heat exchanger.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the enclosure comprises a first enclosure potion with a handle and a second enclosure portion.

22. The system of claim 20, further including an indicator connected to the detector for giving an indication of the condition.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the indication is of receipt of the IV fluid heat exchanger in the warming unit.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the first magnetic element includes a sensor.

25. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

a warming unit controller; and

a controller display window connected to the warming unit controller.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

a thermocouple positioned in the warming unit.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the thermocouple is in communication with the warming unit controller.

28. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

a warming unit controller and a presence circuit connected to the warming unit controller.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the detector cooperates with the presence circuit for enabling or disabling the warming unit controller, the presence circuit being enabled in the presence of the IV fluid heat exchanger and disabled in the absence of the IV fluid heat exchanger.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the presence circuit includes an alarm.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the first magnetic element is capable of receiving embedded data; and

the second magnetic element includes embedded data, the second magnetic element cooperating with the first magnetic element to transfer the embedded data.

32. An intravenous (IV) fluid warming system comprising:

a warming unit with an inlet slot;

an IV fluid heat exchanger receivable in the warming unit inlet slot, the IV fluid heat exchanger having an internal fluid pathway and a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the internal fluid pathway; and

a detector acting between the warming unit and the IV fluid heat exchanger to sense the presence and orientation of the IV fluid heat exchanger in the warming unit, the detector including a first magnetic element in the warming unit and a second magnetic element in the IV fluid heat exchanger.

33. The system of claim 32 further including an indicator connected to the detector for giving an indication of the condition.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the indication is of the presence and orientation of the IV fluid heat exchanger in the warming unit.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein:

the first magnetic element includes a sensor and a magnet in the warming unit with a gap between them; and

the second magnetic element includes an indicator on the IV fluid heat exchanger sized to fit within the gap between the magnet and sensor when the IV fluid heat exchanger is in the warming unit and properly oriented.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein IV fluid heat exchanger comprises;

a frame; and

a heat exchanger membrane attached to the frame;

a first layer of heat exchanger membrane; and

a second layer of the heat exchanger membrane joined to the first layer by a substantially continuous seam around the peripheries of the layers.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the internal fluid pathway is serpentine in shape.

38. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a fluid inlet port in fluid communication with a first end of the internal fluid pathway;

a fluid inlet line having a first end in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port and a second end connectable to an IV fluid container;

a fluid exit port in fluid communication with a second end of the internal fluid pathway; and

a fluid outlet line having a first end in fluid communication with the fluid outlet port and a second end connectable with a patient infusion system.

39. The system of claim 32, wherein the warming unit comprises:

a first heater plate positioned on one side of the inlet slot; and

a second heater plated positioned on an opposite side of the inlet slot.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein the IV fluid heat exchanger is a disposable cassette.

41. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a warming unit controller; and

a controller display window connected to the warming unit controller.

42. The system of claim 41 further comprising:

a thermocouple positioned in the warming unit.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the thermocouple is in communication with the warming unit controller.

44. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a warming unit controller and a presence circuit connected to the controller.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the detector cooperates with the presence circuit for enabling or disabling the warming unit controller, the presence circuit being enabled in the presence of the IV fluid heat exchanger and disabled in the absence of the IV fluid heat exchanger.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the presence circuit includes an alarm.