Single Flow Path Fluid Heating System for Blood Warming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid warming systems for medical applications are cumbersome, prone to contamination, and inefficient in heating at high flow rates, with dual flow path systems experiencing stagnant flow issues and potential overheating, and existing sensors struggle to accurately detect fluid levels due to tubing deformation.
Innovation Solution
A single flow path fluid heating system with a toroidal design and electromagnetic heating, combined with a slack time heating method that stores thermal energy in the infusate and a vacuum release valve to prevent tubing deformation, ensuring efficient heating and accurate fluid level detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a water bath reservoir and water pump are used to heat infusate, then heating capability is achieved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the water bath reservoir and water pump from the system. Instead of using a separate water bath to heat the infusate, the invention uses direct electromagnetic induction heating of the infusate in the heat exchanger, removing the need for a large water bath and pump while maintaining heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical water pump and water circulation system with an electromagnetic field-based heating system. The electromagnetic induction heater directly heats the infusate without requiring mechanical pumping of water through a heat exchanger, thereby reducing device complexity and size.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If a water bath reservoir is used for heat transfer, then thermal energy storage is achieved, but risk of infusate contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the water bath reservoir from the system, eliminating the potential contamination pathway. The infusate is heated directly by electromagnetic induction in the heat exchanger without contact with a separate water bath, thus preventing contamination while maintaining thermal energy transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the heat exchanger walls as an intermediary between the electromagnetic field and the infusate. The electromagnetic field induces currents in the heat exchanger, which then transfers thermal energy to the infusate through conduction, eliminating the need for a water bath intermediary and preventing contamination.
3Productivity
If high power is delivered to heat fluid at high flow rates, then heating efficiency is improved, but energy requirements exceed typical AC outlet capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the heating parameters by using electromagnetic induction heating, which provides more efficient heat transfer to the infusate. This method achieves higher heating rates at high flow rates with reduced power consumption compared to conventional water bath heating, making it compatible with typical AC outlet capacity.
4Area of stationary object
If dual flow path heat exchanger is used, then heat transfer surface area is increased, but stagnant flow and overheating occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the dual flow path heat exchanger design and uses a single heat exchanger with electromagnetic induction heating. This removes the stagnant flow issues associated with dual flow paths while maintaining adequate heat transfer surface area through the induction heating mechanism.
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 at various flow rates, prevents overheating, and accurately detects fluid levels, reducing contamination risks and system size while maintaining high heating efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
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, so that the secondary inductors provide heat to a fluid that is in direct contact with the secondary inductors.
Implementation Method 2
Some dual flow path fluid warmers (e.g., the Belmont® Rapid Infuser, the Belmont® Hyperthermia Pump) utilize inductive or electro-magnetic heating techniques
Implementation Method 3
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, since ultrasound waves travel faster through fluids than air
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").