Heat exchanger for high flow rate infusion

• US 7,983,540 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Arizant Healthcare Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Stapf, Donald E., McGregor, Andrew J., Hansen, Gary L., Arnold, Randall C., Bieberich, Mark T., Miller, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Thor S
• Application Number:
  US12/661,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 392/470, 604/113
• US Class Current: 392/470
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0085 Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/11 Laminar flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0031 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence

Abstract

A heat exchanger has a laminar fluid flow path receivable between the heating plates of a high flow rate infusion unit to which heat is conducted by contact with the heating plates. A bubble trap and a valve are integrated with the heat exchanger. The bubble trap collects air from the infusate exiting the laminar flow path, and includes an air vent in contact with the infusate that vents the air from the bubble trap. The valve shuts off the flow of infusate if air is detected in the bubble trap.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for heating fluids, comprising:

an inlet and an outlet;

a fluid container with a near and distal ends, two edges, and a laminar flow path in fluid communication with the inlet;

a housing attached to the fluid container at the near end;

a bubble trap in the housing in fluid communication with the laminar flow path;

a coupler on an outside face of the housing, adjacent the bubble trap, for contacting ultrasonic sensors; and

,

a valve in the housing in fluid communication with the bubble trap and the outlet.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, the fluid container including a pair of rails, each rail positioned in the fluid container near a respective edge thereof such that the laminar flow path is between the rails, and each rail including a first end at the near end of the fluid container and held in the housing.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further including an air vent opening through a first face of the housing to the bubble trap.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 3, further including a coupler on a second face of the housing, opposite the first face, and adjacent the bubble trap, for conducting measurement signals into and out of the bubble trap.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the valve is constituted of a valve chamber formed in the housing, an opening in a first side of the valve chamber in fluid communication with the bubble trap, and a membrane closing a second side of the valve chamber.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 5, further including an air vent opening through a first face of the housing to the bubble trap.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 5, further including a coupler on a second face of the housing, opposite the first face, and adjacent the bubble trap, for conducting measurement signals into and out of the bubble trap.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 7, further including an air vent opening through a first face of the housing to the bubble trap.

9. A combination for heating fluids in an infusion system, comprising:

a heat exchanger constituted of;

an inlet and an outlet;

a fluid container with a near and distal ends, two edges, and a laminar flow path in fluid communication with the inlet;

a housing attached to the fluid container at the near end;

a bubble trap in the housing in fluid communication with the laminar flow path; and

a valve in the housing in fluid communication with the bubble trap and the outlet; and

,

a pair of opposed heating plates defining space therebetween for slidably receiving the fluid container, the heating plates including;

first opposing channels in the heating plates responsive to pressurized infusate in the laminar flow path for causing an input manifold to form in the fluid container through which infusate spreads from the inlet into the laminar flow path; and

,

second opposing channels in the heating plates responsive to pressurized infusate in the laminar flow path for causing an output manifold to form in the fluid container through which infusate is channeled from the laminar flow path to the outlet.

10. The combination of claim 9, further including means in the heating plates for causing the fluid container to be disengaged from the heating plates.

11. The combination of claim 9, further including air holes in the heating plates to jet compressed air against the fluid container.

12. The combination of claim 9, further comprising means for providing pressurized infusate to the inlet and a patient line connected to the outlet.

13. The combination of claim 12, further comprising means for heating the heating plates.

14. The combination of claim 9, the fluid container including a pair of rails, each rail positioned in the fluid container near a respective edge thereof such that the laminar flow path is between the rails, and each rail including a first end at an end of the fluid container and held in the housing.

15. The combination of claim 9, further including a coupler on an outside face of the housing, adjacent the bubble trap, for contacting ultrasonic sensors.

16. The combination of claim 9, further including an air vent opening through a first face of the housing to the bubble trap.

17. The combination of claim 16, further including a coupler on a second face of the housing, opposite the first face, and adjacent the bubble trap, for conducting measurement signals into and out of the bubble trap.

18. The combination of claim 9, wherein the valve is constituted of a valve chamber formed in the housing, an opening in a first side of the valve chamber in fluid communication with the bubble trap, and a membrane closing a second side of the valve chamber.

19. The combination of claim 18, further including an air vent opening through a first face of the housing to the bubble trap.

20. The combination of claim 19, further including a coupler on a second face of the housing, opposite the first face, and adjacent the bubble trap, for conducting measurement signals into and out of the bubble trap.

21. A method for heating fluids in a combination including a heat exchanger with a fluid container and a pair of opposed heating plates defining space therebetween for receiving the fluid container, comprising:

causing an input manifold to form in the fluid container between first opposing channels in the heating plates in response to infusate pressure;

spreading infusate from the input manifold into a laminar flow path in the fluid container;

causing an output manifold to form in the fluid container between second opposing channels in the heating plates in response to pressurized infusate; and

,

channeling infusate out of the laminar flow path through the output manifold.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising ceasing the flow of infusate through the laminar flow path and blowing jets of compressed air through hole in the heating plates to force infusate out of the fluid container.