Oxygenator Housing Wall Infrared Heating Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oxygenators require complex heater-cooler devices for temperature control, which can lead to contamination and are heavy and immobile, necessitating regular cleaning and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a radiation source and receiver within the oxygenator, utilizing infrared light or inductive heating to control blood temperature between the inlet and outlet, eliminating the need for external heater-cooler devices and allowing for precise temperature regulation using a single voltage source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an external heater-cooler device with water bath is used for temperature control, then temperature regulation capability is achieved, but device complexity and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the oxygenator housing, merging the temperature control function with the oxygenator structure itself. This eliminates the need for separate external heater-cooler devices and water baths, directly resolving the technical contradiction by achieving temperature control while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The water bath and cooling equipment are extracted from the oxygenator system, removing the source of contamination and excessive weight. Only the essential heating function remains, integrated into the housing, which resolves the contradiction by maintaining temperature control capability while eliminating unnecessary complexity
2Temperature
If an external heater-cooler device with water bath is used, then temperature control is achieved, but weight and mobility are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is merged with the oxygenator housing structure, creating a compact integrated unit. This integration eliminates the need for heavy external water baths and cooling equipment, achieving temperature control while minimizing weight increase
Solution Approach 2:
The heavy water bath and cooling equipment are extracted from the system, removing the primary sources of excessive weight. The remaining heating element is integrated into the housing, achieving temperature control with minimal weight penalty
3Temperature
If an external heater-cooler device is used in the vicinity of the oxygenator, then temperature control is achieved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water bath is extracted from the system, removing the primary source of contamination. By eliminating the water bath and integrating heating directly into the oxygenator, the risk of water contamination and air pollution is completely eliminated
Solution Approach 2:
The housing wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the heating element and the blood, allowing thermal energy transfer while preventing contamination. The heating element operates isolated from the blood path, with heat transferred through the housing wall structure
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 efficient and precise temperature control of blood within the oxygenator, reducing the risk of contamination and improving mobility, while allowing for heating of non-blood liquids and preventing overheating through advanced temperature management systems.
Implementation Method 1
the radiation source emits infrared light and that the receiver has a dark, preferably a matte-black, surface
Implementation Method 2
the infrared light radiation emits heat energy to the blood when it impinges onto the blood
Implementation Method 3
the radiation source has an induction coil and the receiver is made of a material that is capable of induction
Implementation Method 4
the receiver is made of a material that is capable of induction
Data Source
AI summary
An oxygenator with a housing wall, which delimits a housing space with a blood inlet and a blood outlet, a gas inlet and a gas outlet, has a heating element which is arranged in the oxygenator between blood inlet and blood outlet in order to control the temperature of blood flowing through the housing space. For this purpose, the oxygenator has a radiation source and a receiver. The radiation source can be an infrared emitter and the receiver a matte-black surface, or the radiation source is an induction coil and the receiver has a material capable of induction. In a method for regulating the heat output on a heating element of an oxygenator, the through-flow of the blood through the oxygenator and the power of a pump acting on the through-flow are measured, and the heating power is adjusted in accordance therewith.