Radio frequency fluid warmer

• US 9,949,321 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Medical Device Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Linamp Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Khanifar, Ahmad, Khanifar, Elham
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Quang
• Application Number:
  US15/454,051
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 604 27, 604 48, 604 14, 604113, 604114, 606 27- 31, 607 90, 607 98-106
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/705 using microwave tuning
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/802 for heating fluids methods of heating fluids in conventional microwave ovens H05B6/687

Abstract

The present invention is generally a radio frequency apparatus for warming fluids such as IV fluids. In exemplary embodiments, a uniform warming of fluids is achieved by exposing a fluid-carrying tube to Radio Frequency (RF) energy. The RF energy may be supplied by an RF generator, which is coupled to a waveguide. The waveguide typically includes an inlet into which a fluid tube may be introduced. Inside the waveguide, a pathway may be formed wherein the fluid tube may rest in a predetermined position. In exemplary embodiments, the pathway guides the positioning of the tube along a transmission-line length of the waveguide, in a manner such that the tube gradually approaches an electromagnetic field inside the waveguide and exits at a second terminal end of the waveguide. Having absorbed energy supplied from the RF generator, the fluid inside the tube exits the apparatus warmed to a desired temperature.

Claims

1. A radio frequency fluid warmer apparatus, comprising:

a first shell;

a waveguide including first and second electromagnetic ports, an inlet for receiving a fluid, and an outlet for dispensing the fluid;

a tube for routing the fluid inside the waveguide between the inlet and the outlet during operation of the apparatus;

a source of electromagnetic energy coupled to the first electromagnetic port;

a termination coupled to the second electromagnetic port for preserving a matched waveguide condition; and

a second shell configured to register with the first shell, wherein the second shell comprises a structure including a pathway for positioning the tube inside the waveguide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first electromagnetic port is situated in closer proximity to the inlet than to the outlet of the waveguide; and

the second electromagnetic port is situated in closer proximity to the outlet than to the inlet of the waveguide.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveguide further includes a pathway for positioning the tube inside the waveguide.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signals are applied along a length of the waveguide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is a rectangular waveguide and the inlet is situated substantially at a sidewall of the rectangular waveguide.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a position x of the tube along a width of the rectangular waveguide is given by:

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second electromagnetic port is situated in proximity to the outlet and substantially at the center of a back wall of the waveguide, and wherein a pathway inside the waveguide positions the tube between the inlet and the outlet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sensors situated in proximity to the inlet and outlet of the waveguide; and

a control module in communication with the one or more sensors, the control module configured to;

monitor a temperature of the fluid inside the tube based on sensing data of the one or more sensors; and

control a power level of the source of electromagnetic energy in response to the sensing data.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic choke implemented into mating edges of the first and second shells to prevent electromagnetic leakage.

10. A radio frequency fluid warmer apparatus, comprising:

a first shell;

a waveguide including first and second electromagnetic ports, an inlet, and an outlet for receiving a fluid tube that traverses the waveguide;

a pathway situated inside the waveguide for routing the fluid tube between the inlet and the outlet;

a radio frequency generator coupled to the first electromagnetic port;

a termination coupled to the second electromagnetic port for preserving a matched waveguide condition; and

a second shell configured to register with the first shell, wherein the second shell comprises a structure that forms the pathway for positioning the tube inside the waveguide.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the waveguide is a rectangular waveguide and the inlet is situated substantially at a sidewall of the rectangular waveguide.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a position x of the tube along a width of the rectangular waveguide is given by:

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

one or more sensors situated in proximity to the inlet and outlet of the waveguide; and

a control module in communication with the radio frequency generator and the one or more sensors, the control module configured to;

monitor a temperature of the fluid inside the tube based on sensing data from the one or more sensors; and

control an output of the radio frequency generator in response to the sensing data.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the structure that forms the pathway for positioning the tube inside the waveguide comprises a foam structure.

15. A system for warming intravenous fluids using radio frequency signals, comprising:

a rectangular waveguide housed in a first compartment of an enclosure, the rectangular waveguide including first and second electromagnetic ports, an inlet situated substantially at a sidewall of the rectangular waveguide for receiving a fluid, and an outlet for dispensing the fluid;

a control module housed in a second compartment of the enclosure and configured to;

generate radio frequency signals from an energy source; and

apply the radio frequency signals to the first electromagnetic port;

a tube for routing the fluid inside the rectangular waveguide between the inlet and the outlet of the rectangular waveguide during operation of the system; and

a termination coupled to the second electromagnetic port for preserving a matched waveguide condition.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rectangular waveguide further includes a pathway for positioning the tube inside the waveguide.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a position x of the tube along a width of the rectangular waveguide is given by:

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the radio frequency signals are applied along a length of the rectangular waveguide.