Method and apparatus for measurement and control of temperature for infused liquids
First Claim
1. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid comprising:
- a medical fluid container to house a sterile medical fluid;
a fluid line coupled to said medical fluid container to receive said sterile medical fluid therefrom and direct said medical fluid toward a patient;
a thermal treatment device proximate said fluid line and operable to thermally treat said sterile medical fluid proximate said thermal treatment device;
a conduit member disposed at a selected location along said fluid line and including;
a first open end and a second open end, each end being directly securable to selected portions of said fluid line; and
an elongated non-linear tubular body extending between said first and second open ends and forming a non-linear flow path for said sterile medical fluid flowing within said fluid line, wherein said non-linear tubular body includes at least one curved section and a thermally conductive flow member directing flow of and in contact with said sterile medical fluid within said at least one curved section;
a temperature sensor disposed proximate said thermally conductive flow member to measure temperature through said thermally conductive flow member of said sterile medical fluid within said at least one curved section and to generate an electrical temperature signal indicating said measured fluid temperature; and
a controller coupled to said temperature sensor and said thermal treatment device to control said thermal treatment device to thermally treat said medical fluid to attain a desired temperature based on said measured fluid temperature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device according to present invention embodiments measures the temperature of fluid within an IV line at selected locations. The device may be in the form of a fitting including a projection in fluid communication with a fluid channel to receive a temperature sensor. A thermally conductive receptacle may be disposed in the projection to receive the temperature sensor and partially extends into the fluid channel for contact with the fluid. The temperature sensor may be coupled to a temperature display device and/or controller to display the measured temperature and/or control a thermal element to regulate fluid temperature. The fitting may further include a looped configuration and/or a control valve that controls the flow of fluid through the fluid channel. In addition, the device may further be connected to, or be in the form of, a needle hub to measure fluid temperature proximate the entry site on a patient.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid comprising:
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a medical fluid container to house a sterile medical fluid; a fluid line coupled to said medical fluid container to receive said sterile medical fluid therefrom and direct said medical fluid toward a patient; a thermal treatment device proximate said fluid line and operable to thermally treat said sterile medical fluid proximate said thermal treatment device; a conduit member disposed at a selected location along said fluid line and including; a first open end and a second open end, each end being directly securable to selected portions of said fluid line; and an elongated non-linear tubular body extending between said first and second open ends and forming a non-linear flow path for said sterile medical fluid flowing within said fluid line, wherein said non-linear tubular body includes at least one curved section and a thermally conductive flow member directing flow of and in contact with said sterile medical fluid within said at least one curved section; a temperature sensor disposed proximate said thermally conductive flow member to measure temperature through said thermally conductive flow member of said sterile medical fluid within said at least one curved section and to generate an electrical temperature signal indicating said measured fluid temperature; and a controller coupled to said temperature sensor and said thermal treatment device to control said thermal treatment device to thermally treat said medical fluid to attain a desired temperature based on said measured fluid temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of measuring temperature of a sterile medical fluid flowing within a medical fluid line comprising:
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(a) receiving first and second open ends of a conduit member at selected portions of said fluid line, wherein a thermal treatment device is disposed proximate said fluid line and operable to thermally treat said sterile medical fluid proximate said thermal treatment device, and wherein said conduit member further includes an elongated non-linear tubular body extending between said first and second open ends and forming a non-linear flow path for said sterile medical fluid flowing within said fluid line, wherein said non-linear tubular body includes at least one curved section and a thermally conductive flow member directing flow of and in contact with said sterile medical fluid within said at least one curved section; (b) measuring a temperature through said thermally conductive flow member of fluid within said at least one curved section via a temperature sensor disposed proximate said thermally conductive flow member and generating a temperature signal indicating said measured fluid temperature; and (c) controlling, via a controller, said thermal treatment device disposed proximate said fluid line to thermally treat said medical fluid to attain a desired temperature based on said measured fluid temperature. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification