Rapid Infuser Single Flow Path Fluid Heating System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical fluid heating systems face inefficiencies in heating blood or blood products at high flow rates, risk of contamination, and challenges in detecting fluid levels due to tubing deformation, particularly at low pressures, which can lead to overheating and clogging issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of a single flow path fluid heating system with a toroidal design and a vacuum release valve to prevent tubing deformation, along with a slack time heating method that stores thermal energy in the infusate reservoir, ensuring efficient heating and minimizing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a water bath reservoir is used to preheat infusate, then heating efficiency is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the water bath reservoir and water pump from the system, extracting the problematic components that caused size and complexity issues. Instead, it uses an in-line electromagnetic heat exchanger that directly heats the infusate without requiring a separate water bath system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical water pump and water bath system with an electromagnetic heating system. The electromagnetic heat exchanger uses electromagnetic fields to directly heat the infusate, eliminating the need for mechanical pumping and water bath maintenance.
2Temperature
If a water bath heat exchanger is used, then heating capability is improved, but risk of infusate contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary heating mechanism. The electromagnetic heat exchanger uses electromagnetic induction to generate heat directly in the infusate or in a heat transfer medium that does not contact the infusate, eliminating the contamination risk associated with water bath systems.
3Productivity
If high flow rates are used for rapid infusion, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but heating power requirements exceed available energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the heating parameters by using electromagnetic induction heating, which provides much higher power density than conventional water bath heating. This allows the system to deliver the high power needed for rapid heating at high flow rates without exceeding available energy supply.
4Stress or pressure
If inflow tubing is made non-rigid to minimize pressure difference, then pressure equalization is improved, but fluid level detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an optical sensor system that provides feedback on fluid level detection. The sensor detects changes in light transmission or reflection caused by the presence or absence of fluid, providing accurate detection even when the tubing deforms due to pressure differences.
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 provides efficient and controlled heating of blood or blood products at various flow rates, prevents overheating and clogging, and accurately detects fluid levels, while reducing contamination risks and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
When the fluid level in the infusate reservoir is low (or zero), the pressure in the infusate reservoir and the inflow tubing can be lower than the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the non-rigid inflow tubing deforms to minimize the pressure difference.
Implementation Method 2
the sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver (FIG. 14A-14C), and measures velocity of ultrasound waves from the transmitter to distinguish between fluid and air
Implementation Method 3
The electro-magnetic heater includes a primary inductor (coil), generating an alternating magnetic field. A high current density in the secondary inductors (e.g., multiple thin ribbon like conductors placed in parallel) converts electric energy into thermal energy
Implementation Method 4
A high current density in the secondary inductors (e.g., multiple thin ribbon like conductors placed in parallel) converts electric energy into thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides improved technologies relating to medical fluid heating systems and apparatus. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to systems and apparatus for heating a fluid and, more particularly, for quickly and controllably heating a flow of blood or a blood product, for example, for infusion into a patient or for hyperthermia treatment. In particular, in a first aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system and apparatus featuring single flow path fluid heating (“single path flow”). Moreover, in a second aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system, apparatus, and related method for efficiently utilizing the thermal energy of an infusate stored in a reservoir (“slack time heating”). Furthermore, in a third aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a fluid heating system and apparatus featuring a vacuum release valve designed to prevent the undesired orientation of deformed inflow tubing (“vacuum release valve”).