Heat exchanger for high flow rate infusion
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A heat exchanger for heating fluids, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A combination for heating fluids in an infusion system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification