Intravenous fluid warming system
First Claim
1. A fluid warming device, comprising:
- a housing comprising a main body, a heat exchange body receiving compartment, and a cover movably coupled to the main body between an open position and a closed position;
a heater assembly disposed within the main body and having a heat conducting surface disposed proximate the heat exchange body receiving compartment; and
a heat exchange body removably disposable in the heat exchange body receiving compartment of the main body and having an input port and an output port to couple the heat exchange body to tubing to flow a fluid to be warmed through the heat exchange body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid warming device may include a housing comprising a main body, a heat exchange body receiving compartment, and a cover movably coupled to the main body between an open position and a closed position; a heater assembly disposed within the main body and having a heat conducting surface disposed proximate the heat exchange body receiving compartment; and a heat exchange body removably disposable in the heat exchange body receiving compartment of the main body and having an input port and an output port to couple the heat exchange body to tubing to flow a fluid to be warmed through the heat exchange body. In another aspect, a fluid warming system increases or decreases power to a heater assembly to adjust the fluid temperature to ensure that the fluid is at an appropriate temperature when it reaches the patient.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fluid warming device, comprising:
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a housing comprising a main body, a heat exchange body receiving compartment, and a cover movably coupled to the main body between an open position and a closed position; a heater assembly disposed within the main body and having a heat conducting surface disposed proximate the heat exchange body receiving compartment; and a heat exchange body removably disposable in the heat exchange body receiving compartment of the main body and having an input port and an output port to couple the heat exchange body to tubing to flow a fluid to be warmed through the heat exchange body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of minimizing heat loss through IV tubing to a patient, comprising:
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a) determining a temperature drop across a heat exchange body of an IV fluid warming device; b) determining a temperature drop of the IV tubing to the environment, the IV tubing extending from the IV fluid warming device to the patient; c) determining if the temperature drop along the IV tubing is greater than a determined temperature limit; d) determining if the total temperature drop along the IV tubing and across the heat exchange body is greater than a determined drop limit; e) if the determined values from c) or d) are greater than their respective limits, determining the actual fluid temperature as a fluid output temperature minus the drop limit; f) if either of the determined values from c) or d) are not greater than their respective limits, determining the actual fluid temperature as a fluid output temperature minus the heat exchanger temperature drop; and g) adjusting power to the heat exchanger to achieve a desired output temperature. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of minimizing heat loss through IV tubing to a patient, comprising:
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a) providing a heat exchange body, coupled between an IV fluid source and the patient via IV tubing, to a heat exchange body receiving compartment of an IV fluid warming device that comprises a housing including a main body, the heat exchange body receiving compartment, a cover movably coupled to the main body between an open position and a closed position, and a heater assembly disposed within the main body and having a heat conducting surface disposed proximate the heat exchange body receiving compartment such that the heat exchange body is in heat exchange communication with the heater assembly; b) determining a temperature drop across the heat exchange body by dividing heater power of the heater assembly by the thermal resistance of the heater assembly; c) determining a temperature drop of the IV tubing to the environment, the IV tubing extending from the IV fluid warming device to the patient, by determining the difference between a fluid target temperature and ambient temperature, multiplying this difference by a radiation loss constant to get a result, and dividing the result by heater power of the heater assembly; d) determining if the temperature drop along the IV tubing is greater than a determined temperature limit; e) determining if the total temperature drop along the IV tubing and across the heat exchange body is greater than a determined drop limit; f) if the determined values from d) or e) are greater than their respective limits, determining the actual fluid temperature as a fluid output temperature minus the drop limit; g) if either of the determined values from d) or e) are not greater than their respective limits, determining the actual fluid temperature as a fluid output temperature minus the heat exchanger temperature drop; and h) adjusting power to the heat exchanger to achieve a desired output temperature.
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Specification