Device and method for thawing and / or heating a transfusable liquid
The microwave-based device with infrared monitoring and mechanical mixing addresses uneven heating in transfusing liquids, achieving rapid and uniform thawing/heating with safe temperature control.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- EIC MED GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for thawing and heating transfusing liquids, such as blood and blood products, are inefficient and prone to uneven heating, leading to hotspots that exceed safe temperature limits, which cannot be reliably detected by isolated temperature sensors.
A microwave-based device with an infrared camera to monitor temperature distribution, controlling microwave power based on real-time thermal imaging to prevent hotspots and ensure uniform heating, combined with mechanical mixing to enhance heat distribution.
Rapid thawing and heating of transfusing liquids within five to six minutes while maintaining uniform temperature distribution and preventing protein coagulation, ensuring safe temperatures are consistently achieved.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025083492_11062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Device and method for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid
[0002] DESCRIPTION
[0003] The invention relates to a device and a method for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid.
[0004] It is generally known from the prior art to thaw and warm transfuseable fluids, especially blood, blood products, blood plasma, blood plasma products, especially FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma), saline solution, or fluids containing stem cells, in a water bath. This requires a relatively long time, for example, approximately...
[0005] 30 minutes are required. Furthermore, defrosting and heating using a microwave oven is a well-known method. This involves taking localized temperature measurements on a container holding the liquid to be defrosted and / or heated, for example, by temperature sensors placed at specific points on the container.
[0006] The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved device and a method for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid compared to the prior art.
[0007] The object is achieved according to the invention by a device for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid with the features of claim 1 and a method for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid with the features of claim 15.
[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. A device according to the invention for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid comprises a microwave unit for thawing and / or heating the liquid. The microwave unit comprises a heating chamber, a microwave generator, and, in the heating chamber, in particular in a heating interior enclosed by the heating chamber, a fixture for receiving a container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated. The unit is designed and configured for thawing and / or heating the liquid to be thawed and / or heated in the container on the fixture by means of microwave radiation, i.e., electromagnetic waves, in particular high-frequency electromagnetic waves (HF), generated by the microwave generator. The heating chamber of the microwave unit is also referred to as the HF chamber or HF space.
[0009] The heating chamber has a door opening that can be closed by means of a door. A chamber wall of the heating chamber has an opening, in particular a circular one, above the object holder. This chamber wall is, for example, a side wall of the heating chamber or, in particular, a lid, i.e., an upper chamber wall, of the heating chamber. An infrared camera is arranged on the outside of the chamber wall at the opening. The infrared camera is designed and arranged such that a detection area of the infrared camera, passing through the opening, completely captures a surface facing the chamber wall, in particular an upper, i.e., especially upward-facing, surface, of the container arranged on the object holder containing the liquid to be thawed and / or heated.
[0010] The device, in particular at least one control unit of the device, for example designed as or comprising a PID controller, is designed and configured to control the power of the microwave generator depending on a detection result of the infrared camera.
[0011] The heating chamber is designed in such a way that, in particular its heating interior, it is completely or at least substantially completely closed when the door is closed, with the exception of the opening in the chamber wall, and in particular is closed in such a way that no electromagnetic waves or at least only electromagnetic waves below a predetermined limit value can escape from the heating chamber.
[0012] In a method according to the invention for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid using the device, the container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated is inserted through the open door opening into the heating chamber and placed on the object holder, and the door of the heating chamber is closed.
[0013] The liquid to be thawed and / or heated is thawed and / or heated by means of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator, whereby temperatures across the surface of the container facing the chamber wall, which is positioned on the object image and contains the liquid to be thawed and / or heated, are detected by means of the infrared camera, and the power of the microwave generator is regulated depending on the detection result of the infrared camera.
[0014] The container is designed in particular such that it is highly transparent to the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator and, advantageously, is itself not heated, or heated to a significantly lesser extent than, the liquid to be defrosted or heated by the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator. It is thus designed in particular such that it does not absorb and / or reflect the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator, or only to a minimal extent, but rather transmits them well, in particular very well, and in particular completely or at least substantially completely, to the liquid to be defrosted and / or heated.
[0015] The container is designed in such a way that it conducts heat from the liquid to be thawed and / or heated well, advantageously particularly well. That is to say, the container is designed in such a way that it heats up in the same or at least a similar way to the liquid to which it is in contact, in particular without any time delay or only a slight, and in particular a negligible, time delay, compared to the heating of the liquid. The container is designed in such a way that a specific area of the container heats up in the same or at least a similar way to the area of the liquid to which it is in contact, in particular without any time delay or only a slight, and in particular a negligible, time delay, compared to the heating of the liquid.
[0016] The transfusing fluid to be thawed and / or warmed is, in particular, a fluid intended for transfusion after thawing and / or warming. This fluid is, in particular, blood, a unit of blood, blood plasma, a unit of blood plasma, especially fresh frozen plasma (FFP), saline solution, or a fluid containing stem cells. The transfusing fluid to be thawed and / or warmed is, in particular, contained in a bag-shaped, liquid-tight container, especially made of plastic. For such transfusing fluids, the temperature during warming, even partially, must not exceed a predetermined limit, for example, 42°C for blood, a unit of blood, blood plasma, or a unit of blood plasma (FFP), in particular to prevent protein coagulation.This is ensured by the described solution, since the infrared camera completely captures the surface of the container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated that faces the chamber wall of the heating chamber, and thus the temperature of the container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated is captured across the entire surface.
[0017] In contrast to the water bath used in the prior art, the microwave unit enables very rapid defrosting and / or heating, for example, defrosting and subsequent heating to a target temperature specified for the transfusing liquid within five to six minutes. However, this carries the risk of uneven heating, particularly the formation of hotspots due to locally greater heating to a temperature higher than that of surrounding areas. There is a particular risk that the temperature in such hotspots will exceed the specified limit.
[0018] Such hotspots cannot be reliably detected by taking only isolated temperature measurements on the container holding the liquid to be thawed and / or heated, for example, using temperature sensors placed at specific points on the container, as they can also form in areas of the container away from the temperature sensors. This problem is solved in the solution described here by using an infrared camera.
[0019] The infrared camera features, in particular, an imaging sensor.
[0020] Advantageously, the infrared camera has a high frame rate, in particular a frame rate of less than 2 fps (fps = frames per second). The frame rate is also referred to as image frequency, frame rate, or frame rate. The device is specifically designed and configured to detect infrared radiation emitted by the container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated using the imaging sensor of the infrared camera, to create a heat map, in particular a thermal image, to identify hotspots, i.e., hot areas, and to control the power of the microwave generator depending on the identified hotspots and their measured temperature.
[0021] Accordingly, the process specifically provides that the infrared radiation emitted by the container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated is detected by the imaging sensor of the infrared camera, the heat map, in particular the thermal image, is created, hotspots (i.e., hot areas) are identified in the heat map, and the power of the microwave generator is regulated depending on the identified hotspots and their measured temperature. Hotspots are warmer, in particular much warmer, than their surroundings.
[0022] In this way, it can also be reliably prevented that the temperature locally exceeds the specified limit.
[0023] It is specifically intended that the hottest point, i.e., the hotspot or area with the highest temperature, is always determined from the heat map, and the power of the microwave generator is regulated with respect to this temperature. The power of the microwave generator can be regulated, for example, in several power levels or continuously. For instance, it is intended that once a predetermined temperature, particularly a target temperature, is reached (e.g., 39°C for blood, a blood product, blood plasma, or a full-flow plasma product (FFP)), the generation of electromagnetic waves by the microwave generator is stopped, i.e., the microwave generator is switched off, in particular by reducing its power to zero.Since the infrared camera, in particular the lens and electronics of the infrared camera, is sensitive to the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator, the device advantageously includes measures to protect the infrared camera against the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator.
[0024] The infrared camera is positioned outside the heating chamber and is therefore largely shielded from the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator. In particular, the chamber wall of the heating chamber forms a protective shield against the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator.
[0025] It is particularly provided that the diameter of the opening, especially the circular opening, in the chamber wall forming the protective shield is less than 4 mm. Alternatively or additionally, it is particularly provided that, of all possible positions where the infrared camera could completely capture the surface of the container holding the liquid to be thawed and / or heated, facing the chamber wall, the opening in the chamber wall is advantageously formed at the position, particularly also in the chamber wall of the heating chamber, where the effect of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator on the infrared camera through the opening is minimal.
[0026] These protective measures ensure that the effect of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator on the infrared camera does not exceed a permissible level and that the infrared camera is therefore not damaged or its function is impaired.
[0027] In one embodiment of the device, the microwave unit is configured to perform frequency modulation of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator depending on the detection result of the infrared camera. In one embodiment of the method, the frequency modulation of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator is performed depending on the detection result of the infrared camera, in particular depending on the heat map; that is, the frequency of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator is modulated accordingly. The frequency modulation enables, in particular, the relocalization of power input by the electromagnetic waves into the liquid to be defrosted and / or heated, and thus a homogeneous power input into the liquid to be defrosted and / or heated.
[0028] In one embodiment of the device, the object holder is coupled to a pivoting device, in particular for performing a pivoting movement, especially a horizontal alternating linear movement, of the object holder and thereby also of the container arranged thereon with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated; i.e., the pivoting device is designed and configured accordingly. In one embodiment of the method, the object holder and thereby also the container arranged thereon with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated is pivoted by the pivoting device, in particular horizontally, linearly, and alternately.This ensures thorough mixing of the liquid being thawed and / or heated, resulting in improved heat distribution and a more homogeneous energy input. This leads to a more uniform temperature distribution and prevents the formation of hotspots and / or coldspots. Coldspots are colder, often significantly colder, than their surroundings. They can be caused, for example, by ice fragments remaining in the locally thawed liquid.As mentioned above, the swiveling device performs, for example, an alternating linear movement of the object holder, and thus also of the container arranged on it with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated, particularly horizontally, at a predetermined swiveling frequency of, for example, 0.5 Hz to 1.5 Hz, in particular 1 Hz, and / or over a predetermined distance from one endpoint to an opposite endpoint of, for example, 5 mm to 50 mm, in particular 30 mm.
[0029] As an alternative to the alternating linear movement of the object holder, particularly horizontal movement, the swivel device can also be designed and configured to perform a rocking or rotating movement of the object holder and, consequently, of the container holding the liquid to be thawed and / or heated. In one embodiment of the method, the object holder, and thus also the container holding the liquid to be thawed and / or heated, is then swiveled by the device either by rocking, i.e., by a rocking swivel movement, or by a rotating movement. However, the swivel frequency of this rocking and / or rotating swivel movement is advantageously lower, in particular significantly lower, than the swivel frequency specified above for the linear movement. It is, in particular, less than 0.5 Hz, especially to prevent foaming of the liquid.
[0030] This advantageously also results in thorough mixing of the liquid to be defrosted and / or heated, and thus, in particular, better heat distribution within the liquid and homogeneous power input. This enables a more uniform temperature distribution in the liquid and counteracts the formation of hotspots and / or coldspots. In one embodiment of the device, the microwave unit includes a mode stirrer that is adjustable depending on the detection result of the infrared camera.In one embodiment of the method, the mode stirrer, in particular a rotational movement of the mode stirrer and / or alignment of the mode stirrer in a direction of rotation, is controlled depending on the detection result of the infrared camera, in particular depending on the heat map.
[0031] A mode stirrer, also known as a stirrer, tuner, mixer, or mixer, is in particular a mechanical solution for modifying the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator and / or for changing their direction. It is or comprises, in particular, a rotatable metallic reflector structure made of electrically conductive material, especially within the heating chamber, and in particular within the heating interior, by means of which electromagnetic conditions, in particular boundary conditions, in the heating chamber, and in particular in its heating interior, can be modified.
[0032] The mode stirrer, in particular its control in the manner described, enables in particular a relocalization of the power input by the electromagnetic waves into the liquid to be thawed and / or heated.
[0033] In one embodiment, cold spot detection is performed. Specifically, it is provided that the aforementioned cold spots, i.e., cold areas, are identified in the heat map, and the power of the microwave generator is controlled, and in particular limited, to a predetermined value, depending on the identified cold spots and their measured temperature. Alternatively or additionally to this control of the microwave generator power based on the identified cold spots and their measured temperature, it can be provided, for example, that the identified cold spots and their measured temperature are used to determine whether the liquid is completely thawed. If, for example, only thawing of the liquid is intended, and it is determined in this way that the liquid is completely thawed, then the thawing process is advantageously stopped.The power of the microwave generator is specifically reduced to zero. The microwave generator is then effectively switched off. Cold spots are colder, often much colder, than their surroundings. They result primarily from the presence of too much ice in the liquid being defrosted and / or heated.
[0034] In one embodiment, the power of the microwave generator is regulated by controlling an anode current of the microwave generator, in particular by means of an inverter.
[0035] The described solution is therefore specifically designed to thaw and / or heat the transfusing fluid, in particular blood, a blood product, blood plasma, a blood plasma product, in particular FFP, a saline solution, or a fluid containing stem cells, by means of the device, in particular by means of the microwave unit, in particular by means of the microwave radiation generated by the microwave generator, i.e., electromagnetic waves, in particular high-frequency electromagnetic waves (HF), in particular to the predetermined target temperature. This target temperature is advantageously selectable, i.e., can be specified, for example, by an operator of the device.
[0036] Furthermore, it is specifically provided that the infrared radiation emitted by the container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated is detected by the imaging sensor of the infrared camera, in particular that the surface of the container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated facing the chamber wall of the heating chamber is spatially resolved, the heat map is created, in particular with a quantification of hotspots, and the power of the microwave generator is controlled, for example by means of a PID controller, depending on the detection result of the infrared camera, in particular depending on the heat map, in particular depending on the temperature of the hotspots, in particular in such a way that no protein coagulation can take place in the liquid to be thawed and / or heated.
[0037] By measuring the temperature using the infrared camera, and in particular by its high frame rate of advantageously less than 2 fps, a real-time temperature display is advantageously made possible.
[0038] A control circuit for carrying out the control described above includes in particular the infrared camera, especially as a thermosensor, one or more controllers and an adjustable power input into the liquid, especially by controlling the power of the microwave generator.
[0039] In one embodiment, warm exhaust air from the device, particularly from the microwave unit, is used for pretreating the frozen liquid to be thawed. This warm exhaust air is generated, for example, by extracting or blowing warm air from the heating chamber, especially from its heating interior, and / or by air cooling of the microwave generator and / or other components of the device, particularly the microwave unit. In this embodiment, it is therefore specifically provided that a container with the liquid to be thawed and / or heated is thawed and / or heated in the heating chamber of the microwave unit in the manner described above, and at least one further container with liquid to be thawed and / or heated is pretreated outside the heating chamber using the warm exhaust air.
[0040] The object holder is particularly trough-shaped, i.e., specifically a trough, wherein the trough bottom and a circumferential trough wall are advantageously liquid-tight. The holding volume of this, particularly trough-shaped, object holder is particularly larger than the volume of the liquid to be defrosted and / or heated by the microwave unit, i.e., particularly larger than the volume of the container holding the liquid to be defrosted and / or heated.
[0041] The intake volume is particularly large and the tub wall is particularly high, preventing the liquid to be thawed and / or heated from escaping the container, even during a swiveling movement of the object holder using the swiveling device. This prevents contamination of the heating chamber in the event of a leak from a faulty container.
[0042] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.
[0043] It shows:
[0044] Figure 1 schematically shows a device for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid.
[0045] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device 1 for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid F.
[0046] The device 1 comprises a microwave unit 2 for defrosting and / or heating the liquid F. The microwave unit 2 comprises a heating chamber 3, a microwave generator 4, and, in the heating chamber 3, in particular in a heating interior EI enclosed by the heating chamber 3, an object receptacle 5 for receiving a container B with the liquid F to be defrosted and / or heated, and is designed and configured for defrosting and / or heating the liquid F to be defrosted and / or heated in the container B on the object receptacle 5 by means of microwave radiation, i.e., electromagnetic waves, generated by the microwave generator 4.
[0047] The heating chamber 3 has a door opening that can be closed by means of a door 6. A chamber wall 7 of the heating chamber 3 has an opening 8, in particular a circular one, above the object holder 5. In the illustrated example, this chamber wall 7 is a lid of the heating chamber 3 and is therefore referred to as lid 7 in the following. An infrared camera 9 is arranged on the outside of the lid 7 at the opening 8. In the illustrated example, it is attached to the lid 7 by means of a bracket 10.
[0048] The infrared camera 9 is designed and arranged such that a detection area E of the infrared camera 9 completely detects, through the opening 8, a surface facing the lid 7 of the container B arranged on the object mount 5 containing the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated.
[0049] The device 1, in particular at least one control unit of the device 1, for example designed as or comprising a PID controller 11, is designed and configured to control the power of the microwave generator 4 depending on a detection result of the infrared camera 9.
[0050] The infrared camera 9 features, in particular, an imaging sensor.
[0051] Advantageously, the infrared camera 9 has a high frame rate, in particular a frame rate of less than 2 fps. Temperature measurement using the infrared camera 9, and especially its high frame rate of advantageously less than 2 fps, advantageously enables real-time temperature display.
[0052] Since the infrared camera 9 is sensitive to the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4, the device 1 advantageously includes measures to protect the infrared camera 9 against the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4.
[0053] The infrared camera 9 is located outside the heating chamber 3 and is therefore at least largely shielded from the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4 by the heating chamber 3. In particular, the lid 7 of the heating chamber 3 forms a protective shield against the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4.
[0054] It is particularly provided that the diameter of the opening 8, which is particularly circular, in the lid 7 forming the protective shield is less than 4 mm. Alternatively or additionally, it is particularly provided that, of all possible positions at which the infrared camera 9 could completely capture the surface of the container B, which is arranged on the object holder 5 and contains the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated, facing the lid 7 through the opening 8, the opening 8 in the lid 7 is advantageously formed at the position where the effect of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4 on the infrared camera 9 through the opening 8 is minimal.
[0055] These protective measures ensure that the effect of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4 on the infrared camera 9 does not exceed a permissible level and that the infrared camera 9 is therefore not damaged or its function is impaired.
[0056] In a method for thawing and / or heating a liquid F, in particular a transfusing liquid F, using the device 1, the container B with the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated is inserted through the open door opening into the heating chamber 3 and placed on the object holder 5 and the door 6 of the heating chamber 3 is closed.
[0057] The liquid F to be thawed and / or heated is thawed and / or heated by means of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4, whereby temperatures across the surface of the container B, which is arranged on the object mount 5 and contains the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated, facing the lid 7, are detected by means of the infrared camera 9 and the power of the microwave generator 4 is controlled depending on the detection result of the infrared camera 9.
[0058] The liquid F to be thawed and / or warmed is, in particular, blood, a blood product, blood plasma, a blood plasma product, especially FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma), a saline solution, or a liquid containing stem cells. For such transfusing liquids F, the temperature during warming, even partially, must not exceed a predetermined limit, for example, 42°C for blood, a blood product, blood plasma, or a blood plasma product (FFP), particularly to prevent protein coagulation. This is ensured by the described solution, as the infrared camera 9 completely captures the surface of the container B, which is arranged on the object image 5 and contains the liquid F to be thawed and / or warmed, facing the lid 7 of the warming chamber 3. This ensures that the temperature of the container B is measured across its entire surface.
[0059] In contrast to the water bath used in the prior art, microwave unit 2 enables very rapid defrosting and / or heating, for example, defrosting and subsequent heating to a target temperature specified for the transfusing liquid F within five to six minutes. However, this carries the risk of uneven heating, particularly the formation of hotspots, with the added risk that the temperature in such hotspots will exceed the specified limit.
[0060] Such hotspots cannot be reliably detected by taking only isolated temperature measurements on container B containing the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated, for example, by means of temperature sensors placed at specific points on container B, because they can also form in areas of container B containing the liquid F away from the temperature sensors. This problem is solved in the solution described here by using the infrared camera 9.
[0061] It is specifically intended that infrared radiation emitted from container B containing the liquid F to be defrosted and / or heated is detected by the imaging sensor of the infrared camera 9, a heat map is created, hotspots in the heat map are identified, and the power of the microwave generator 4 is controlled depending on the identified hotspots and their determined temperature.
[0062] In this way, it can also be reliably prevented that the temperature locally exceeds the specified limit.
[0063] To carry out this method, the device 1 in particular has a processing unit 12 which is coupled to the infrared camera 9 and is designed and equipped for data processing and image evaluation of data, in particular image information, captured by the infrared camera 9 and forwarded to the processing unit 12, in particular for creating the heat map and determining hotspots and their temperatures and, for example, also coldspots and their temperatures from the heat map.
[0064] It is specifically intended that the hottest point, i.e., the hotspot or area with the highest temperature, is always determined from the heat map, and the power of the microwave generator 4 is regulated with respect to this temperature. The power of the microwave generator 4 can be regulated, for example, in several power levels or continuously. For example, it is intended that once a predetermined temperature, in particular a target temperature, is reached—for example, 39°C for blood, a blood product, blood plasma, or a blood plasma product (FFP)—the generation of electromagnetic waves by the microwave generator 4 is stopped, i.e., the microwave generator 4 is switched off, in particular by reducing its power to zero.
[0065] The method specifically provides that the processing unit 12 generates the heatmap from the data provided by the infrared camera 9, identifies hotspots and their temperatures, and also determines, for example, coldspots and their temperatures, and calculates the temperature of the warmest hotspot as the actual temperature IT. This temperature is then forwarded by the processing unit 12 to the control unit, which is preferably configured as a PID controller 11. Advantageously, the target temperature or another temperature is specified as the setpoint temperature ST for this control unit, which is preferably configured as a PID controller 11. This setpoint temperature ST, especially the target temperature, is, for example, selectable, i.e., can be specified by an operator of the device 1.
[0066] The control unit, specifically designed as a PID controller 11, then compares the actual temperature IT of the warmest hotspot provided by the processing unit 12 with the specified setpoint temperature ST and outputs a manipulated variable SG as the result of the comparison, specifically to a power electronics unit 13 of the device 1, in particular to the microwave generator 4. The power electronics unit 13 receives electrical energy EE, specifically from a mains connection of the device 1, i.e., via a power supply network to which the device 1 is connected, and controls the microwave generator 4. The described control of the microwave generator 4 is thus carried out by the control unit, specifically designed as a PID controller 11, via the power electronics unit 13.
[0067] In one embodiment of the device 1, the microwave unit 2 is configured to perform frequency modulation (FM) of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4, depending on the detection result of the infrared camera 9. In one embodiment of the method, the frequency modulation (FM) of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4 is performed depending on the detection result of the infrared camera 9, in particular depending on the heatmap created by the processing unit 12; that is, the frequency of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4 is modulated accordingly. The frequency modulation (FM) enables, in particular, the relocalization of power input by the electromagnetic waves into the liquid F to be defrosted and / or heated, and thus a homogeneous power input into the liquid F to be defrosted and / or heated.
[0068] In the illustrated embodiment of the device 1, the object holder 5 is coupled to a pivoting device 14, in particular for performing a pivoting movement, especially a horizontal alternating linear movement, of the object holder 5 and thereby also of the container B arranged thereon containing the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated, as schematically illustrated in Figure 1 by means of a double arrow indicating the direction of movement. In one embodiment of the method, the object holder 5 and thereby also the container B arranged thereon containing the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated is pivoted by the pivoting device 14, in particular horizontally, linearly and alternately.This ensures thorough mixing of the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated, resulting in improved heat distribution within the liquid F and a more homogeneous power input. This, in turn, enables a more uniform temperature distribution within the liquid F and prevents the formation of hotspots and / or coldspots.
[0069] The swivel device 14, for example, performs an alternating linear movement, in particular horizontal, of the object holder 5 and thereby also of the container B arranged thereon containing the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated, with a predetermined swivel frequency of, for example, 0.5 Hz to 1.5 Hz, in particular 1 Hz, and / or by a predetermined movement path from one endpoint to an opposite endpoint of, for example, 5 mm to 50 mm, in particular 30 mm.
[0070] In the example shown, the swivel device 14 has a push crank 15, wherein a crank wheel 16 of the push crank 15 is advantageously driven by means of an electric motor.
[0071] In other embodiments, the swivel device 14 can also be configured differently, in particular by means of a different mechanical design, for example driven by an electric linear motor or a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, or for example configured as a rocker or rotary device, for example coupled to one of the aforementioned drives. In the illustrated embodiment of the device 1, the microwave unit 2 has a mode stirrer 17 which is controllable depending on the detection result of the infrared camera 9. In one embodiment of the method, the mode stirrer 17, in particular a rotational movement of the mode stirrer 17 and / or an orientation of the mode stirrer 17 in a direction of rotation, is controlled depending on the detection result of the infrared camera 9, in particular depending on the heat map.
[0072] The mode stirrer 17 is, in particular, a mechanical solution for modifying the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator 4 and / or for changing their direction. It comprises, in particular, a rotatable metallic reflector structure 18 made of electrically conductive material within the heating chamber 3, especially within the heating interior EI, by means of which electromagnetic conditions, in particular boundary conditions, in the heating chamber 3, especially in its heating interior EI, can be modified.
[0073] The mode stirrer 17, in particular its control in the manner described, enables in particular a relocalization of the power input by the electromagnetic waves into the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated. For driving the metallic reflector structure 18, in particular for carrying out its rotational movement, the mode stirrer 17 advantageously has an electric motor which is controllable in the manner described and then rotates the metallic reflector structure 18 accordingly.
[0074] In one embodiment, cold spot detection is performed. It is specifically provided that the aforementioned cold spots are identified in the heat map, particularly by the processing unit 12, and that the power of the microwave generator 4 is also controlled, and in particular limited, to a predetermined value, depending on the identified cold spots and their measured temperature. This control with respect to the cold spots and their temperature is carried out, for example, in the same or a similar manner as described above for hot spots and the control based thereon.
[0075] Alternatively or additionally to this control of the power of the microwave generator 4 depending on the detected cold spots and their measured temperature, it can be provided, for example, that it is determined, based on the detected cold spots and their measured temperature, whether the liquid F is completely thawed. If, for example, only the thawing of the liquid F is intended and it is determined in this way that the
[0076] Once liquid F has completely thawed, the thawing process is advantageously stopped, i.e., the power of microwave generator 4 is reduced to zero. Microwave generator 4 is then switched off.
[0077] In one embodiment, the power of the microwave generator 4 is regulated by controlling an anode current of the microwave generator 4, in particular by means of an inverter. The inverter is in particular a component of the power electronics 13.
[0078] In one embodiment, it is provided that warm exhaust air from the device 1, in particular from the microwave unit 2, is used for pretreating the frozen liquid F to be thawed. The warm exhaust air is generated, for example, by extracting or blowing warm air from the heating chamber 3, in particular from its heating interior EI, and / or by air cooling of the microwave generator 4 and / or other components of the device 1, in particular the microwave unit 2. In this embodiment, it is therefore provided in particular that a container B with the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated is thawed and / or heated in the heating chamber 3 of the microwave unit 2 in the manner described above, and at least one further container B with liquid F to be thawed and / or heated is pretreated outside the heating chamber 3 using the warm exhaust air.
[0079] The object holder 5 is in particular shaped like a trough, i.e., specifically as a trough, wherein a trough bottom and a circumferential trough wall are liquid-tight. The receiving volume of this trough-shaped object holder 5 is in particular larger than the volume of the liquid F to be defrosted and / or heated by the microwave unit 2, i.e., in particular larger than the volume of the container B containing the liquid F to be defrosted and / or heated.
[0080] The receiving volume is particularly large and the trough wall is particularly high enough that even if the liquid F to be thawed and / or heated completely escapes from the container B, and even during a pivoting movement of the object holder 5 by means of the pivoting device 14, leakage or splashing out of the trough-shaped object holder 5 is prevented. This prevents contamination of the heating interior EI in the event of liquid F escaping from a leaking container B.
[0081]
[0082] 1 Device
[0083] 2 microwave units
[0084] 3 Heating chamber
[0085] 4 microwave generator
[0086] 5 Object recording
[0087] 6 door
[0088] 7 lids, chamber wall
[0089] 8 Opening
[0090] 9 Infrared camera
[0091] 10 brackets
[0092] 11 PID controllers
[0093] 12 processing units
[0094] 13 Power Electronics
[0095] 14 Swivel device
[0096] 15 thrust crank
[0097] 16 crank wheel
[0098] 17 fashion trendsetters
[0099] 18 reflector structures
[0100] B Container
[0101] E detection area
[0102] EE electrical energy
[0103] EI heating interior
[0104] F Liquid
[0105] FM frequency modulation
[0106] IT actual value temperature
[0107] SG Control variable
[0108] ST setpoint temperature
Claims
P A T E N T A N S P R Ü C H E 1. Device (1) for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid (F), comprising a microwave unit (2) for thawing and / or heating the liquid (F), wherein the microwave unit (2) comprises a heating chamber (3), a microwave generator (4), and in the heating chamber (3) an object holder (5) for receiving a container (B) with the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated, and is configured and equipped for thawing and / or heating the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated in the container (B) on the object holder (5) by means of electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator (4), wherein the heating chamber (3) has a door opening that can be closed by means of a door (6), wherein a chamber wall (7) of the heating chamber (3) has an opening (8) above the object holder (5), wherein an infrared camera (9) is mounted on the outside of the chamber wall (7) at the opening (8). is arrangedwherein the infrared camera (9) is designed and arranged such that a detection area (E) of the infrared camera (9) completely detects, through the opening (8), a surface of the container (B) facing the chamber wall (7) of the container (B) arranged on the object holder (5) containing the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated, and wherein the device (1) is designed and configured to control the power of the microwave generator (4) depending on a detection result of the infrared camera (9).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the opening (8) in the chamber wall (7) can be viewed from all possible positions in which the infrared camera (9) can be positioned through the opening (8) to view the surface of the container (B) facing the chamber wall (7) on the object recording (5) to be thawed. and / or could completely capture the liquid (F) to be heated, which is the position where the effect of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator (4) through the opening (8) on the infrared camera (9) is least.
3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the infrared camera (9) has an imaging sensor.
4. Device (1) according to claim 3, designed and configured for - Detection of infrared radiation emitted by the container (B) with the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated using the imaging sensor of the infrared camera (9), - Creation of a heatmap, - Identification of hotspots, and - Control of the power of the microwave generator (4) depending on the identified hotspots and their determined temperature.
5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the infrared camera (9) has a frame rate of less than 2 fps.
6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the microwave unit (2) is configured to perform frequency modulation (FM) of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator (4) depending on the detection result of the infrared camera (9).
7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the object holder (5) is coupled to a swiveling device (14).
8. Device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the pivoting device (14) is designed and configured to carry out - a horizontal alternating linear movement of the object capture (5), or - a rocking motion of the object capture (5), or - a rotational movement of the object recording (5).
9. Device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the swivel device (14) is designed and configured to perform the horizontal, alternating linear movement of the object holder (5) with a predetermined swivel frequency of 0.5 Hz to 1.5 Hz, in particular 1 Hz, and / or around a predetermined movement path from one endpoint to an opposite endpoint of 5 mm to 50 mm, in particular 30 mm, or to perform the rocking or rotating swivel movement with a predetermined swivel frequency of less than 0.5 Hz.
10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the microwave unit (2) has a mode stirrer (17) which is adjustable depending on the detection result of the infrared camera (9).
11. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the object receiving (5) is designed as a tub.
12. Device (1) according to claim 11, wherein a tub bottom and a circumferential tub wall are liquid-tight.
13. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a receiving volume of the object receiving (5) is larger than a Volume of the container (B) with the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated.
14. Device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the receiving volume of the object holder (5) is so large and the tub wall is so high that even when the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated escapes from the container (B), and even when the object holder (5) is pivoted by means of the pivoting device (14), leakage or spillage of the liquid (F) from the object holder (5) is prevented.
15. Method for thawing and / or heating a transfusing liquid (F) using a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (B) with the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated is placed in the heating chamber (3) and placed on the object holder (5), the door (6) of the heating chamber (3) is closed, and the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated is thawed and / or heated by means of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator (4), wherein temperatures across the surface of the container (B) with the liquid (F) to be thawed and / or heated, which faces the chamber wall (7), are detected by means of the infrared camera (9), and the power of the microwave generator (4) is controlled depending on the detection result of the infrared camera (9).
16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the infrared radiation emitted by the container (B) with the liquid (F) to be defrosted and / or heated is detected by the imaging sensor of the infrared camera (9), the heat map is created, hotspots are identified, and the power of the microwave generator (4) is adjusted as a function of The system is regulated based on the identified hotspots and their measured temperature.
17. Method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the object holder (5) is pivoted with the pivoting device (14).
18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the object holder (5) is connected to the swivel device (14) - is swivelled horizontally, linearly and alternately, or - is swung by rocking, or - is swivelled by a rotating movement.
19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the swivel device (14) performs the horizontal, alternating linear movement of the object holder (5) with a predetermined swivel frequency of 0.5 Hz to 1.5 Hz, in particular 1 Hz, and / or by a predetermined movement path from one endpoint to an opposite endpoint of 5 mm to 50 mm, in particular 30 mm, or performs the rocking or rotating swivel movement with a predetermined swivel frequency of less than 0.5 Hz.
20. Method according to one of claims 15 to 19, wherein cold spots are determined in the heat map and the power of the microwave generator (4) is controlled depending on the determined cold spots and their determined temperature.
21. Method according to one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the power of the microwave generator (4) is controlled by regulating an anode current of the microwave generator (4).
22. Method according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the frequency modulation (FM) of the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave generator (4) is carried out depending on the detection result of the infrared camera (9).
23. Method according to one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the mode stirrer (17) is controlled depending on the detection result of the infrared camera (9).