Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A system for warming blood or other liquids to body temperature for infusion into a patient. The system includes a blood warmer apparatus having a pair of closely spaced apart heat transfer plates, each of which forms one face of a housing containing flat vapor condensation heating units. A flat disposable heat exchanging blood warming envelope is held clamped between the heat transfer plates. The envelope is provided with an air escape vent covered by a hydrophobic filter eliminating the need for a vent separate check valve. An air heating unit in one of the apparatus housings includes a cool air inlet, heat transfer fins on the walls of the vapor condensation heater unit, a fan and guides for conducting air past those fins and a warmed air outlet. An external elongated insulated air hose is connected at one end to the warmed air outlet and extends to the patient. The blood flow line from the outlet of the heat exchanging envelope is positioned within the warmed air hose to maintain the physiologic temperature of the blood.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim