IV fluid warmer

Claim 2

A disposable pouch for use in heating a flowing volume of fluid which comprises: an inlet; an outlet; a top portion; a bottom portion which together with said top portion forms an enclosed space having a first side and a second side; a plurality of unevenly spaced ribs extending between said top portion and said bottom portion, each said rib having a first end and a second end, said first ends being spaced from the first side of said enclosed space to form an entrance manifold area and the second ends all being spaced from the second side of said enclosed space to form an exit manifold area, the distance between adjacent pairs of first ends of said rib increasing from said inlet end to said outlet end so as to obtain even flow throughout said space, the space between said ribs together with said manifold area forming a flow path between said inlet and said outlet; and a one way valve in said flow path.

Claim 3

A disposable pouch as defined in claim 1 in which the plurality of ribs are spaced from each other in a pattern to provide a substantially even flow rate for each unit of space between the said ribs.

Claim 4

A disposable pouch as defined in claim 1 in which the plurality of ribs are spaced in order to create increased fluid surface area and specific fluid circulation in order to allow warming.

Claim 5

A disposable pouch as defined in claim 1 in which said top portion has a plurality of heat reflective zones with visual zones dispersed between such heat reflective zones such that one can visually observe the fluid throughout the pouch.

Claim 6

A heating assembly for a disposable pouch having an inlet, an outlet, a width and a length which comprises: a rectangular-like box having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a bottom and a top, said first end having an opening wider than said pouch width and the second end having an opening narrower than the pouch width; said top of said box having therein a narrow member along each side thereof leaving open space therebetween and containment springs mounted in each narrow member; a heat dissipation panel supported between said sides and said ends at a position at about the level of the said first opening and said second opening; a heater element positioned below said heat dissipation panel; and means to control said heater.

Claim 7

A heating assembly for a disposable pouch having an inlet, an outlet, a width and a length which comprises: a rectangular-like box having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a bottom and a top, said first end having an opening wider than said pouch width and the second end having an opening narrower than the pouch width; said top of said box having therein a narrow member along each side thereof leaving open space therebetween and containment springs mounted in each narrow member; a heat dissipation panel supported between said sides and said ends at a position at about the level of the said first opening and said second opening; a heater element positioned below said heat dissipation panel; and means to control said heater.

Claim 8

A disposable pouch and heating assembly for use in heating a flowing volume of fluid which comprises: a pouch inlet; a pouch outlet; a pouch top portion; a pouch bottom portion which together with said top portion forms an enclosed space having a pouch width and having a first side and a second side and a first end and a second end; a plurality of unevenly spaced pouch ribs, each said rib having a first end and second end, said first ends being spaced from the first side of said enclosed space to form an entrance manifold area and the second ends being spaced from the second side of said enclosed space to form an exit manifold area, the distance between adjacent pair of first ends of said ribs increasing from said pouch inlet end to said pouch outlet end so as to obtain an even flow throughout said space, the space between said ribs together with said manifold areas forming a flow path between said pouch inlet and said pouch outlet; a rectangular like box having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a bottom and a top, said first end having an opening wider than said pouch width and a second end having an opening narrower than the pouch width; said top of said box having a narrow member along each side thereof leaving an open space therebetween; containment springs mounted in each said narrow member; a heat dissipation panel supported between said sides of said box and at a position about the level of the said first opening and said second opening; a heater element positioned below said heat dissipation panel and means to control said heater.

Claim 9

A disposable pouch and heating assembly for use in heating a flowing volume of fluid which comprises: a pouch inlet; a pouch outlet; a pouch top portion; a pouch bottom portion which together with said top portion forms an enclosed space having a pouch width and having a first side and a second side and a first end and a second end; a plurality of unevenly spaced pouch ribs, each said rib having a first end and second end, said first ends being spaced from the first side of said enclosed space to form an entrance manifold area and the second ends being spaced from the second side of said enclosed space to form an exit manifold area, the distance between adjacent pair of first ends of said ribs increasing from said pouch inlet end to said pouch outlet end so as to obtain an even flow throughout said space, the space between said ribs together with said manifold areas forming a flow path between said pouch inlet and said pouch outlet; a rectangular like box having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a bottom and a top, said first end having an opening wider than said pouch width and a second end having an opening narrower than the pouch width; said top of said box having a narrow member along each side thereof leaving an open space therebetween; containment springs mounted in each said narrow member; a heat dissipation panel supported between said sides of said box and at a position about the level of the said first opening and said second opening; a heater element positioned below said heat dissipation panel and means to control said heater.

Claim 10

A disposable pouch as defined in claim 6 in which said bottom portion is made of stainless steel.

Claim 11

A disposable pouch for use in heating a flowing volume of fluid which comprises: an inlet; an outlet; a top portion; a bottom portion, which together with said top portion forms an enclosed space having a first side and a second side, said bottom portion having a first diverter wall extending from the inlet to about midway of the bottom portion between the inlet and the outlet and forming a flow channel; an exit flow channel extending from near said outlet to said inlet portion; a first set of unevenly spaced ribs extending between said top portion and said bottom portion, each rib of said first set having a first end and a second end, said first ends being spaced from the diverter wall to form a portion of an entrance manifold and the second ends being spaced from said flow channel to form part of an exit manifold area, the distance between adjacent pairs of said first ends of said first ribs at said first set increasing from said middle portion to the outlet end so as to obtain even flow through said spaces; a second set of unevenly spaced ribs extending between said top portion of said ribs and said bottom portion, each said rib of said second set having a first end and a second end, said first end being spaced from a first side of said enclosed space to form a part of the entrance manifold area and the second ends all being spaced from the second side of the enclosed space to form a part of an exit manifold area, the distance between adjacent pairs at first ends of said ribs increasing from said center portion to the outlet end so as to obtain even flow throughout such space.

Claim 12

A disposable pouch for use in heating a flowing volume of fluid which comprises: an inlet; an outlet; a top portion; a bottom portion, which together with said top portion forms an enclosed space having a first side and a second side, said bottom portion having a first diverter wall extending from the inlet to about midway of the bottom portion between the inlet and the outlet and forming a flow channel; an exit flow channel extending from near said outlet to said inlet portion; a first set of unevenly spaced ribs extending between said top portion and said bottom portion, each rib of said first set having a first end and a second end, said first ends being spaced from the diverter wall to form a portion of an entrance manifold and the second ends being spaced from said flow channel to form part of an exit manifold area, the distance between adjacent pairs of said first ends of said first ribs at said first set increasing from said middle portion to the outlet end so as to obtain even flow through said spaces; a second set of unevenly spaced ribs extending between said top portion of said ribs and said bottom portion, each said rib of said second set having a first end and a second end, said first end being spaced from a first side of said enclosed space to form a part of the entrance manifold area and the second ends all being spaced from the second side of the enclosed space to form a part of an exit manifold area, the distance between adjacent pairs at first ends of said ribs increasing from said center portion to the outlet end so as to obtain even flow throughout such space.