Flexible Layer Heating Device for Dialyzer Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating devices for extracorporeal blood treatment components, such as dialyzers and filters, face challenges including mechanical complexity, space inefficiency, and difficult handling due to their design, which hinders simple coupling and efficient heating.
Innovation Solution
A heating device comprising multiple layers, including a flexible or elastically deformable layer for adapting to the component's surface, a rigid layer for stability, and a flexible layer as the heatable inner surface, allowing for efficient heat transfer and space-saving design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a drum-type hose heater is used, then heating function is provided, but the footprint is large and material consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from a separate drum-type heater and integrates it directly into the holder structure. The holder itself becomes the heating element through integrated heating elements, eliminating the need for an additional external heating device and reducing the overall footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder and heating device are merged into a single integrated structure. The holder comprises a heated inner surface with temperature control, combining the support function and heating function in one component, thereby reducing material consumption and space requirements.
2Temperature
If a jacketed hose heater is used, then heating function is provided, but insertion is comparatively difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the complex jacketed hose structure and replaces it with a simplified holder design that has an opening for inserting the dialyzer. The heating elements are integrated into the holder body, allowing direct insertion without requiring a separate jacketed hose assembly.
3Temperature
If a foil heater is used, then heating function is provided, but coupling is difficult and space requirement is large
Solution Approach 1:
The holder and heating elements are merged into a single integrated unit. The heating elements are embedded within the holder structure, eliminating the need for separate foil heaters and complex coupling processes. The holder directly contacts the dialyzer surface for efficient heat transfer.
4Ease of operation
If automatic coupling by a device is used, then coupling is automated, but mechanical design is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with a simple mechanical structure that allows the dialyzer to be manually inserted and automatically held in place through the holder's geometric constraints and the elastic layer's deformation. The system achieves coupling through its inherent structural design rather than complex automated mechanisms.
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
Enables simple coupling, efficient heating, and reduced space requirements, while maintaining mechanical stability and effective heat transfer, thus addressing the limitations of prior devices.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heating element for heating the component located in the receiving area
Implementation Method 2
at least one of which is a flexible or elastically deformable layer. Such a layer enables the heating device to adapt well to the outer surface of the component to be heated, even in the presence of unevenness, and facilitates the coupling of the component to the heating device because tolerances in the coupling can be compensated for by the elastic or flexible layer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heating device for one or more components of an extracorporeal circuit of a blood treatment apparatus, in particular a dialyzer, an adsorber or a filter, the heating device comprising at least one receptacle for the said component and at least one heating element for heating the component held in the receptacle. The heating device comprises a plurality of layers, at least one layer being a flexible or elastically deformable layer.