Hinged Fluid Holder Plates for Aseptic Temperature Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid heating and cooling systems in healthcare are susceptible to bacterial growth and contamination due to the use of heat transfer fluids operating at normothermic temperatures, which increases the risk of infection, and face challenges in cleaning and detecting fluid leakage in closed systems.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state heating and cooling system that utilizes a hinged device with flexible fluid holders, eliminating the need for a heat transfer fluid, and features a passageway formed upon closure, ensuring aseptic operation and easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a heat transfer fluid operating at normothermic temperature is used, then thermal energy transfer is efficient, but bacterial growth and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the heat transfer fluid from the system by implementing direct thermal contact between the therapeutic fluid and the temperature forcing device. This removes the intermediary fluid that was causing bacterial growth risks while maintaining efficient thermal energy transfer through direct conduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable fluid holders that are discarded after single use, eliminating the need for complex sterilization processes and preventing bacterial contamination. This disposable approach ensures each use is sterile without requiring the heat transfer fluid to be repeatedly disinfected.
2Reliability
If a closed narrow slotted chamber is used for fluid heating, then fluid containment is achieved, but cleaning and leakage detection become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid containment system into a removable fluid holder that can be easily detached from the temperature forcing device. This segmentation allows the fluid holder to be easily cleaned or replaced, and enables visual inspection for leakage without disassembling complex internal structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic accessibility through a hinged top plate that can be opened to provide visual and physical access to the fluid holder and fluid path. This dynamic opening mechanism allows easy inspection for leakage and simplifies cleaning procedures while maintaining secure containment during operation.
3Ease of operation
If a hinged top plate design is used, then cleaning accessibility and leakage visualization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible fluid holder made of thin film material that can be easily manipulated and cleaned. The flexibility of this thin film structure allows it to conform to the heating surface while enabling easy removal and cleaning, reducing the complexity of rigid mechanical cleaning 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
The system reduces the risk of bacterial contamination and facilitates easy cleaning by eliminating direct contact between the fluid and the temperature forcing device, while providing efficient temperature adjustment without a heat transfer fluid.
Implementation Method 1
The heat transfer fluid is pumped to the heat exchanger where the thermal energy is transferred into or out of the therapeutic fluid
Implementation Method 2
Temperature adjustments are often performed by using a resistance heater to warm a heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 3
a refrigeration system to cool the same heat transfer fluid as required
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Described herein is a system for heating and/or cooling a fluid that includes a temperature forcing device having a bottom plate and a top plate hingedly coupled to the bottom plate. At least one of the bottom plate and the top plate has a recess or other area for receiving at least one flexible fluid holder (e.g., a polymer bag). The bottom plate and/or top plate also has at least one protrusion and/or recession in its interior wall(s) such that a fluid passageway in the flexible fluid holder is defined when the fluid holder is placed between the top and bottom plates, and the plates are closed together. The fluid holder then has a fluid inlet for receiving the fluid to be heated and/or cooled and a fluid outlet for delivering the fluid. The fluid, upon being heated and/or cooled by the temperature forcing device, may then be delivered to a patient or may be delivered to another system component, e.g., for additional heating/cooling.