Cassette Shielding Protrusions During Dielectric Thawing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for thawing sensitive dielectric loads, such as frozen blood plasma, face issues with uneven heat distribution and overheating, particularly when using electromagnetic fields, leading to coagulation and reduced viability due to inadequate penetration depth and thermal contact problems.
Innovation Solution
A semi-open Faraday cage configuration is implemented, using electrically conductive materials to encase protruding portions of the load and allowing direct temperature measurement via IR sensors by removing field-equalized material between the load and sensors, ensuring even heating and preventing overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If deionized water is used as field equalizer material in physical contact with the load, then the dielectric field is leveled and heating is enabled, but uneven thermal contact causes local overheating and non-uniform thawing
Solution Approach 1:
The field equalizer is divided into multiple separate dielectric material portions distributed around the load, rather than using a single continuous layer. This segmentation allows each portion to independently contact different areas of the load, ensuring more uniform thermal contact and preventing localized overheating while maintaining overall heating efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If the upper plastic bag with deionized water is removed for IR temperature measurement, then temperature measurement becomes possible, but the field equalizing function is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A specific portion of the field equalizer dielectric material is removed or made transparent in the region where IR temperature measurement is required. This extraction allows IR sensors to directly measure the load temperature without interference from the field equalizer material, while the remaining dielectric material continues to provide field equalization and heating functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The field equalizer is designed with different properties in different regions: dielectric material portions are present in areas requiring field equalization and heating, while specific regions are made transparent or removed to allow IR temperature measurement. This local differentiation enables both heating efficiency and temperature monitoring to coexist.
3Device complexity
If conventional heating methods are used, then simple equipment is required, but penetration depth is small and heating of inner parts is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional thermal heating methods (conduction, convection, radiation) with electromagnetic field-based heating. By applying an oscillating electric field at specific frequencies, the dielectric material and load are heated through dielectric heating mechanisms, achieving rapid penetration and heating of inner parts without complex mechanical heating systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables efficient and uniform thawing of sensitive loads without coagulation, allowing continuous temperature measurement and improving the viability of thawed materials by ensuring even heat distribution and preventing overheating.
Implementation Method 1
by emitting electromagnetic radiation/field at frequencies below 900 MHz from an antenna/antennas in a cavity with electrically conductive walls, dielectric materials placed in the cavity can be heated
Implementation Method 2
A semi-open Faraday cage configuration is implemented, using electrically conductive materials to encase protruding portions of the load
Implementation Method 3
allowing direct temperature measurement via IR sensors by removing field-equalized material between the load and sensors
Data Source
AI summary
When thawing/heating sensitive organic materials such as frozen blood plasma with the help of electromagnetic fields below 400 MHz, for example, hoses and other protruding parts thaw faster than the rest of the plasma, which results in coagulated plasma. This makes the blood plasma unsuitable for transfusion. By placing the protruding portions between surfaces of metallic conductive material, these portions are protected from overheating.