Flexible Medical Fluid Bag Heater with Printed Resistive Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical bag heating solutions are bulky, unreliable, and expensive, making them unsuitable for portable use in cramped environments like operating rooms or ambulances, and they fail to address issues such as fluid overload, hypothermia, and electrolyte imbalances during medical fluid administration.
Innovation Solution
A flexible heater system integrated onto a conformable substrate of a medical fluid bag using a matched ink set comprising conductive, resistive, and dielectric layers, printed using additive electronics processes, which allows for enhanced mobility and reliability, along with integrated sensors for temperature and fluid monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional electronic heating hardware is used for medical bags, then heating function is provided, but the equipment becomes bulky and immobile
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is merged with the medical bag by integrating heating elements directly into the bag structure. The conductive adhesive material is applied between the bag wall layers, combining the bag and heater into a single integrated unit, eliminating the need for separate external heating equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements are nested within the multi-layer construction of the medical bag. The conductive adhesive material containing heating components is positioned between the inner and outer bag walls, embedding the heating function within the bag's existing structure.
2Temperature
If conventional electronic heating hardware is used for medical bags, then heating function is provided, but the equipment becomes expensive and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is designed as a disposable component integrated into the single-use medical bag. The conductive adhesive material with heating elements is discarded with the bag after one use, eliminating the need for expensive, maintenance-prone reusable electronic heating equipment.
3Temperature
If rigid substrates are used for printed electronics, then temperature stability is achieved, but flexibility and conformability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The medical bag utilizes flexible polymer wall layers instead of rigid substrates. The conductive adhesive material is applied between these flexible layers, allowing the entire assembly to bend and conform while maintaining thermal stability through the adhesive's material properties.
4Ease of manufacture
If high-volume fabrication methods are used for printed electronics, then cost is reduced, but manufacturing precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive adhesive material serves dual functions: it provides structural adhesion between bag layers and simultaneously forms the heating element. The material's inherent conductive properties eliminate the need for separate precision-printed circuit patterns, achieving both low-cost high-volume fabrication and functional reliability.
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
The solution provides a compact, reliable, and efficient heating system for medical bags that reduces the risk of fluid-related complications, enhances patient safety by preventing overheating or underheating, and enables automated monitoring and reporting of fluid conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one resistive layer electrically associated with the at least one conductive layer and comprising a plurality of heating elements capable of generating heat upon receipt of the current flow
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides an apparatus, system and method of providing a flexible heater on at least one conformable substrate of a medical fluid bag. The disclosed embodiments may include providing a matched function ink set, printed onto at least one substantially planar face of the at least one substrate to form at least: at least one conductive layer capable of receiving current flow from at least one power source; at least one resistive layer electrically associated with the at least one conductive layer and comprising a plurality of heating elements capable of generating heat upon receipt of the current flow; and at least one dielectric layer capable of at least partially insulating the at least one resistive layer.