Open access sleeve for heated fluid units

• US 8,308,074 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C Change Surgical LLC
• Original Assignee: C Change Surgical LLC
• Inventors: Kammer, Patrick, Rackers, Kevin J., Martel, Mark, Cassidy, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US12/943,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 236/1.C, 219/430, 219/433, 219/435, 219/438, 219476-480, 604/114, 604/291
• US Class Current: 236/1.C
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0018 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1909 whose output amplitude can only take two discrete values
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/20 with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature G05D23/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/22 the sensing element being a thermocouple

Abstract

A series of implementations of open access sleeves for holding one or more closed containers of sterile fluid for use in medical procedures are disclosed. The open access sleeves may be adapted to provide heat to maintain the containers of sterile fluid above the ambient air temperature of the room. The provision of heat may be controlled by a control system. The control system may use a temperature measurement device to obtain a temperature representative of the container of sterile fluid and of the sterile fluid in the container. The access sleeve may be included in a device for maintaining an open volume of sterile fluid within a range of a target temperature to maintain the closed containers of sterile fluid at a temperature near target temperature for open volume of sterile fluid.

Claims

1. A liquid warming device for maintaining fluids used in the provision of medical treatment at a temperature above ambient air temperature, the liquid warming device comprising:

a first heating element adapted to apply heat to a volume of liquid to maintain the volume of liquid at approximately a target temperature, the liquid warming device adapted to be used with a volume of liquid that is not fully enclosed so that the volume of liquid can be readily accessed by someone providing medical treatment;

at least one access sleeve located within the liquid warming device, the access sleeve open to ambient air at an open end and closed at an opposite end, the opposite end connected to the open end by a set of one or more walls running from the open end to the opposite end, wherein the sleeve slopes such that water placed on the access sleeve will flow towards the open end;

a second heating element in thermal contact with at least a portion of the set of walls of the at least one access sleeve, the second heating element responsive to a control system; and

a first temperature sensing device in data communication with the control system used to regulate the operation of the second heating element in order to selectively apply heat to a closed container of sterile fluid placed in the access sleeve.

2. The liquid warming device of claim 1 wherein the slope of a bottom most portion of the access sleeve surface between the opposite end and the open end is substantially horizontal.

3. The liquid warming device of claim 1 wherein the access sleeve between the opposite end and the open end slopes downward towards the opposite end such that a closed container of sterile fluid placed in the access sleeve tends to stay in contact with at least a portion of the opposite end.

4. The liquid warming device of claim 1 further comprising a protrusion extending upward from the access sleeve near the open end of the access sleeve, the protrusion adapted to resist a closed container of sterile fluid sliding out the open end of the access sleeve.

5. The liquid warming device of claim 1 wherein the volume of liquid is contained in a basin.

6. The liquid warming device of claim 1 wherein the volume of liquid is contained in a cavity in the liquid warming device.

7. The liquid warming device of claim 1 wherein the volume of liquid is contained in a depression in a sterile drape.

8. The liquid warming device of claim 1 wherein the height of the access sleeve measured in the direction of floor to ceiling is less than the depth of the access sleeve measured in the direction from the open end to the opposite end of the access sleeve.

9. The liquid warming device of claim 1 wherein the height of the access sleeve measured in the direction of floor to ceiling is more than the depth of the access sleeve measured in the direction from the open end to the opposite end of the access sleeve.

10. The fluid warming device of claim 1 wherein a bottom-most surface in the access sleeve slopes downwards towards the open end of the access sleeve with a slope of not less than 5 degrees and not more than 15 degrees.

11. The fluid warming device of claim 1 wherein a bottom-most surface in the access sleeve slopes downwards towards the open end of the access sleeve with a slope of not less than 1 degree.

12. The fluid warming device of claim 1 wherein a bottom-most surface in the access sleeve slopes downwards towards the open end of the access sleeve with a slope of not less than 5 degrees and not more than 20 degrees.

13. The fluid warming device of claim 1 wherein the second heating element wraps around the set of walls that run from the open end to the opposite end.

14. The fluid warming device of claim 1 wherein the second heating element comprises a self-regulating heating cable that decreases a heat output per linear foot of heating cable as a temperature of the heating cable increases.

15. The fluid warming device of claim 1 wherein the second heating element is responsive to a control system using a cascade control scheme.

16. A dual-ended access sleeve for the provision of heat to at least one closed container of sterile fluid, the dual-ended access sleeve comprising:

an elongated cavity partially defined by a set of one or more walls running from a first open end at one end of the cavity to a second open end;

the elongated cavity of sufficient size to receive a first closed container of sterile fluid at the first open end so that at least a base of the first closed container of sterile fluid may be inserted into the elongated cavity and to receive a second closed container of sterile fluid at the second open end so that at least a base of the second closed container may be inserted into the elongated cavity;

a first temperature sensor placed in proximity to a portion of the set of one or more walls;

a first controller that receives input from the first temperature sensor and controls an amount of heat applied by the at least one first heater to the dual-ended access sleeve.

17. The dual-ended access sleeve of claim 16 wherein the first temperature sensor is located in proximity to the first open end of the elongated cavity and the at least one first heater applies heat in proximity to a portion of the elongated cavity near the first open end;

the dual-ended access sleeve further comprising;

a second temperature sensor placed in proximity a portion of the set of one or more walls;

a second controller that receives input from the second temperature sensor and controls an amount of heat applied by the at least one second heater and the at least one second heater applies heat in proximity to a portion of the elongated cavity near the second open end.

18. The dual-ended access sleeve of claim 17 further comprising:

a first temperature indicator that displays a temperature status of a measured temperature obtained by the first temperature sensor and a second temperature indicator that displays a temperature status of a measured temperature obtained by the second temperature sensor.

19. The dual-ended access sleeve of claim 18 wherein the temperature status of the measured temperature obtained by the first temperature sensor is conveyed by displaying a temperature on a digital display.

20. The dual-ended access sleeve of claim 18 wherein the temperature status of the measured temperature obtained by the first temperature sensor is conveyed by an indicator light that provides an indication of whether the measured temperature is within a desired temperature range.

21. The dual-ended access sleeve of claim 16 wherein the dual-ended access sleeve is adapted so that a container inserted at the first open end tends to slide away from the first open end towards an interior of the dual-ended access sleeve and a container inserted in the second open end tends to slide away from the second open end towards the interior of the dual-ended access sleeve.

22. The dual-ended access sleeve of claim 16 wherein the dual-ended access sleeve is adapted so that a container inserted at the first open end tends to slide towards the first open end and a container inserted in the second open end tends to slide towards the second open.

23. The dual-ended access sleeve of claim 16 wherein the dual-ended access sleeve is adapted so that a container inserted at the first open end tends to slide away from the first open end towards the second open end and a container inserted in the second open end tends to slide towards the second open end.

24. The dual-ended access sleeve of claim 16 further comprising a protrusion that extends upward from a surface of the access sleeve near the first open end to resist the movement of a closed container of sterile fluid from inside the elongated cavity to outside the elongated cavity via the first open end.