Temperature sensing device for selectively measuring temperature at desired locations along an intravenous fluid line
First Claim
1. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical solution comprising:
- a medical solution container containing a sterile medical solution;
a fluid line coupled to said medical solution container to receive said sterile medical solution;
a fitting disposed at a selected location along said fluid line and including;
first and second open ends each securable to selected portions of said fluid line;
a passage disposed within said fining and extending between said first and second open ends to permit said sterile medical solution flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting;
a connection port disposed on an exterior surface of said fitting and including an open proximal end and an open distal end, wherein said distal end is in fluid communication with said passage; and
a metallic receptacle including an open proximal end and a closed distal end to directly contact and conduct thermal energy from said sterile medical solution flowing within said passage, wherein a substantial majority of said receptacle is fixedly disposed within said connection port and external of said passage to form a fluid tight seal to maintain said sterile medical solution within said passage, and said closed distal end of said receptacle extends slightly beyond the distal end of said connection port and contacts fluid flowing within said passage; and
a temperature sensor removably received within said receptacle open proximal end to measure temperature of said sterile medical solution flowing through said fitting and to generate an electrical temperature signal indicating said measured solution temperature to facilitate maintenance of a desired temperature for said medical solution;
wherein at least one portion of said passage located proximally of said receptacle includes the same transverse cross-sectional dimensions as at least one other passage portion located distally of said receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature sensing device measures the temperature of a fluid at selected locations along an IV fluid line. The device is secured to a selected portion of the IV line and includes a temperature sensor for measuring fluid flowing within that line. The device is coupled to a temperature display device to display the measured temperature. The temperature sensing device may include: a housing with a lower cover to engage the line and a temperature sensor; a holder movable along the line and including a temperature sensor; a housing with a lower member including a tip to pierce and measure temperature of fluid within the line; a resilient member with a spiral configuration and a tip to pierce and measure temperature of fluid within the line; a ‘T’-type fitting including a temperature sensor; or a ‘Y’-type fitting including a temperature sensor in the form of a needle.
283 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical solution comprising:
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a medical solution container containing a sterile medical solution; a fluid line coupled to said medical solution container to receive said sterile medical solution; a fitting disposed at a selected location along said fluid line and including; first and second open ends each securable to selected portions of said fluid line; a passage disposed within said fining and extending between said first and second open ends to permit said sterile medical solution flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting; a connection port disposed on an exterior surface of said fitting and including an open proximal end and an open distal end, wherein said distal end is in fluid communication with said passage; and a metallic receptacle including an open proximal end and a closed distal end to directly contact and conduct thermal energy from said sterile medical solution flowing within said passage, wherein a substantial majority of said receptacle is fixedly disposed within said connection port and external of said passage to form a fluid tight seal to maintain said sterile medical solution within said passage, and said closed distal end of said receptacle extends slightly beyond the distal end of said connection port and contacts fluid flowing within said passage; and a temperature sensor removably received within said receptacle open proximal end to measure temperature of said sterile medical solution flowing through said fitting and to generate an electrical temperature signal indicating said measured solution temperature to facilitate maintenance of a desired temperature for said medical solution; wherein at least one portion of said passage located proximally of said receptacle includes the same transverse cross-sectional dimensions as at least one other passage portion located distally of said receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical solution comprising:
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a medical solution container including a sterile medical solution; a fluid line coupled to said medical solution container to receive said sterile medical solution; connector means disposed at a selected location along said fluid line for permitting solution flow therethrough, said connector means including; first and second open ends each securable to selected portions of said fluid line; flow means disposed within said connector means and extending between said first and second open ends for permitting said sterile medical solution flowing within said fluid line to flow through said connector means; fluid access means disposed on an exterior surface of said connector means and including an open proximal end and an open distal end, wherein the open distal end of said fluid access means is in fluid communication with said flow means; and metallic thermal contact means including an open proximal end and a closed distal end for directly contacting and conducting thermal energy from said sterile medical solution flowing within said flow means, wherein a substantial majority of said thermal contact means is fixedly disposed within said fluid access means and external of said flow means to form a fluid tight seal to maintain said sterile medical solution within said flow means, and said closed distal end of the thermal contact means extends slightly beyond the distal end of said fluid access means and contacts fluid flowing within said flow means; and temperature sensing means removably received within said open proximal end of said thermal contact means for measuring temperature of said sterile medical solution flowing through said connector means and for generating an electrical temperature signal indicating said measured solution temperature to facilitate maintenance of a desired temperature for said medical solution; wherein at least one portion of said flow means located proximally of said metallic thermal contact means includes the same transverse cross-sectional dimensions as at least one other portion of said flow means located distally of said metallic thermal contact means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification