Fluid warming cassette with rails and a stiffening member

• US 7,316,666 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Arizant Healthcare Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Wayne E., Entenman, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schell; Laura C.
• Application Number:
  US10/822,580
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 604/113, 604/114, 604/6.13, 604/403, 604/408, 392/465, 392/470, 392/479, 222/146.1, 222/146.2, 222/146.5, 165/46, 607/112, 219/518
• US Class Current: 604/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

A fluid warming cassette useful in a system for warming parenteral fluids is provided. The cassette comprises a thermally conductive, flexible fluid container with a fluid channel. Rails are disposed in the fluid container near its periphery, and a stiffener is disposed in the fluid container, between the rails, near an end of the cassette. Together, the rails and stiffener impart structural rigidity to the fluid container. The fluid container, rails and stiffener are joined into an integrated structure useful as a fluid warming cassette. One or more of the rails has a multilateral shape to key the cassette for insertion into a fluid warming unit.

Claims

1. A fluid warming cassette, comprising:

a first sheet and a second sheet joined together to form a fluid container with a periphery, the periphery having a proximal end, a distal end and first and second sides there between;

a fluid channel in the fluid container between the first sheet and the second sheet;

first and second rails disposed between the first sheet and second sheet, inside the periphery, near the first and second sides, respectively; and

a planar stiffener near the proximal end, separate from the first and second rails, disposed between the first sheet and the second sheet, and extending between the rails for substantially the width of the fluid container from near the first rail to near the second rail.

2. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which each of the first and second rails has a multi-lateral cross-section.

3. The fluid warming cassette of claim 2, in which each of the first and second rails has a first surface supporting a respective arch of the first sheet and a second surface, opposite the first surface and flush with the second sheet.

4. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the stiffener has a first elongate portion extending between the first and second rails and a second portion protruding from the first portion in the direction of the distal end.

5. The fluid warming cassette of claim 4 in which the fluid channel is disposed between the first and second rails, and between the second portion and the distal end.

6. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1, further including a handle portion in the proximal end constituted of the first and second sheets sandwiching the stiffener.

7. The fluid warming cassette of claim 6 in which the stiffener has a first elongate portion extending between the first and second rails and a second portion protruding from the first portion toward the fluid channel.

8. The fluid warming cassette of claim 6 in which the handle portion includes a label surface.

9. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 further including first and second ports in fluid communication with the fluid channel.

10. The fluid warming cassette of claim 9 in which the first and second ports are disposed perpendicularly to the fluid container.

11. The fluid warming cassette of claim 10 in which the first and second ports constitute a cassette insertion stop.

12. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the rails are made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, polyolefin, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and other polymeric materials.

13. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the rails are made from a material selected from the group consisting of spring steel, aluminum, and other metallic materials.

14. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the rails are made from a composite material.

15. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the stiffener is made from high density polyethylene.

16. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the stiffener is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, ABS and PVC.

17. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the stiffener is made from cardboard or card stock.

18. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the stiffener is made from metal.

19. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the first sheet and second sheet are made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide (Nylon®

, DuPont), polyethylene glycol terephthalate (Mylar®

, DuPont), metal foils, ionomer resins (Surlyn®

, DuPont), polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, and ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) co-polymer.

20. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the first sheet includes a plurality of layers and the second sheet includes a plurality of layers.

21. The fluid warming cassette of claim 20 in which the first sheet includes an inner layer and an outer layer laminated to the inner layer;

and

in which the second sheet includes an inner layer and an outer layer laminated to the inner layer.

22. The fluid warming cassette of claim 21 in which the inner layers of the first and second sheets are formed from a first material having a first melting point, and the outer layers of the first and second sheets are formed from a second material having a second melting point which is higher than the first melting point.

23. The fluid warming cassette of claim 21 in which the inner layers of the first and second sheets are joined by a thermo-bond or by extrusion coating.

24. The fluid warming cassette of claim 21 in which the outer layer material is selected from the group of materials consisting of polyester, polyamide, polyethylene glycol terephthalate, metal foils, and ionomer resins.

25. The fluid warming cassette of claim 21 in which the inner layer material is selected from the group of materials consisting of polyolefin (polyethylene, polypropylene), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, and ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) co-polymer.

26. The fluid warming cassette of claim 1 in which the fluid channel has a serpentine pattern.

27. A fluid warming cassette comprising:

a flexible, planar fluid container with a periphery, two edges, a proximal end, and a distal end;

a fluid channel in the fluid container, the fluid channel having two ends;

first and second rails disposed in the fluid container, inside the periphery, near the first and second edges, respectively;

at least one of the rails for keying the fluid warming cassette for insertion into a fluid warming unit

a planar stiffener near the proximal end, separate from the first and second rails, disposed in the fluid container, and extending between the rails for substantially the width of the fluid container from near the first rail to near the second rail; and

two fluid ports on the fluid container, each fluid port in fluid communication with a respective end of the fluid channel and disposed perpendicularly to the fluid container.

28. A fluid warming cassette comprising:

a flexible fluid container with two edges and two ends;

a fluid channel in the fluid container;

first and second rails disposed in the fluid container, near first and second edges of the fluid container, respectively; and

a handle portion near a proximal end of the fluid container and including a planar piece sandwiched in the fluid container between the rails for substantially the width of the fluid container.

29. The fluid warming cassette of claim 28, in which the planar piece is for stiffening the fluid container transversely between the first and second rails.

30. The fluid warming cassette of claim 28, in which at least one rail has a shape for keying the insertion of the cassette into a fluid warming unit.

31. The fluid warming cassette of claim 30, further including an inlet port, perpendicular to the fluid container and opening into the fluid channel, and an outlet port, perpendicular to the fluid container and opening into the fluid channel.

32. The fluid warming cassette of claim 31, in which the planar piece has a first section extending transversely between the rails, near the end, and a second section extending from the first section toward the fluid channel.

33. A fluid warming kit, including:

a fluid warming cassette constituted of a flexible, planar fluid container with a periphery, two edges, a proximal end, and a distal end, a fluid channel in the fluid container, rails disposed in the fluid container, inside the periphery, near the edges, a planar stiffener near the proximal end, separate from the rails, disposed in the fluid container, and extending between the rails for substantially the width of the fluid container from near the first rail to near the second rail, and inlet and outlet ports perpendicular to the fluid warming cassette and opening into the fluid channel;

an inlet line including an inlet end for receiving fluid from one or more sources, a drip chamber, and an outlet coupled to the inlet port; and

an outlet line including a bubble trap with an inlet coupled to the outlet port and an outlet, an injection site coupled to the outlet of the bubble trap, and an outlet end for delivering warmed fluid.