Device for adjusting the temperature of a physiological fluid
The invention relates to a device for adjusting the temperature of a physiological fluid. The inventive device includes: a casing ( 1 ), a first heat energy generating unit ( 2 ), a heat energy receiving unit ( 3 ) through which the fluid flows along a passage from a fluid inlet ( 3 a ) to a fluid outlet ( 3 b ) and which consists of a flat body ( 3 d ) having a first large surface ( 3 e ) which is made from a heat conductor material, and a control unit ( 4 ) for controlling at least the first generating unit ( 2 ). According to the invention, the first generating unit ( 2 ) includes first units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) and at least one first contact plate ( 6 ) which is made from a heat conductor material and which is placed in contact with a first side ( 5 b , 8 b ) of the units of Peltier cells ( 5 ). In addition, the receiving unit ( 3 ) is removably installed in the first generating unit ( 2 ) such that it is in contact with the first contact plate ( 6 ).
1. A device for adjusting the temperature of a physiological fluid, comprising
a casing ( 1 ),
a first heat energy generating unit ( 2 ),
a heat energy receiving unit ( 3 ) inside which the fluid flows along a passage from a fluid inlet ( 3 a ) to a fluid outlet ( 3 b ) and which comprises a flat body ( 3 d ) having at least one first large surface ( 3 e ) made of a heat conductor material,
a control unit ( 4 ) for controlling at least said first heat energy generating unit ( 2 ) and which includes a microprocessor ( 4 a );
characterized in that
the first heat energy generating unit ( 2 ) includes a plurality of first units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) and at least one first contact plate ( 6 ) which is made of a heat conductor material and which is placed in contact with a second side ( 5 b ) of the units of Peltier cells ( 5 ),
the receiving unit ( 3 ) is removably installed in the first generating unit ( 2 ) such that it is in contact with the first contact plate ( 6 ),
the casing ( 1 ) comprises an access hatch ( 10 ) to the interior of the casing ( 1 ), facing said first heat energy generating unit ( 2 ), and a space ( 11 ) defined between said hatch ( 10 ) and said first generating unit ( 2 ) in which the removable receiving unit ( 3 ) is housed,
the fluid inlet ( 3 a ) of the receiving unit ( 3 ) includes a first hollow connector ( 12 a ),
the fluid outlet ( 3 b ) of the receiving unit ( 3 ) includes a second hollow connector ( 12 b ),
said first and said second hollow connector ( 12 a , 12 b ) projecting from the surface of the receiving unit ( 3 ) opposite to said first large surface ( 3 e ),
the hatch ( 10 ) presenting a first passage hole ( 13 a ) for the first connector ( 12 a ) and a second passage hole ( 13 b ) for the second connector ( 12 b ).
2. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises a second heat energy generating unit ( 7 ) containing a plurality of second units of Peltier cells ( 8 ); at least one second contact plate ( 9 ) made of a heat conductor material placed in contact with a second side ( 8 b ) of the units of Peltier cells ( 8 ),
said control unit ( 4 ) also controlling said second generating unit ( 7 ), the receiving unit ( 3 ) comprising a second large surface ( 3 f ) made of a heat conductor material, opposite to the first large surface ( 3 e ), and being arranged in contact with the first and second contact plate ( 6 , 9 ), the receiving unit ( 3 ) being removably installed between the first ( 2 ) and second heat energy generating unit ( 7 ).
3. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one first temperature sensor ( 17 ) which detects the temperature in said first contact plate and which is connected to the control unit ( 4 ), and in that a microprocessor ( 4 b ) is programmed to supply electrical energy to said first units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) depending on the difference between a pre-established nominal temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor ( 17 ).
4. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that it comprises at least one first temperature sensor ( 17 ) which detects the temperature in said first contact plate and which is connected to the control unit ( 4 ), and in that a microprocessor ( 4 b ) is programmed to supply electrical energy to said first units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) depending on the difference between a pre-established nominal temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor ( 17 ).
5. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that it comprises at least one second temperature sensor ( 17 ) which detects the temperature in said second contact plate and which is connected to the control unit ( 4 ), and in that a microprocessor ( 4 b ) is programmed to supply electrical energy to said second units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) depending on the difference between a pre-established nominal temperature and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor ( 17 ).
6. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the microprocessor ( 4 b ) is programmed to control the polarity of the electric current supplied to the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ) in order to heat up or cool down the second side ( 5 b , 8 b ) of the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ).
7. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that the microprocessor ( 4 b ) is programmed to control the polarity of the electric current supplied to the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ) in order to heat up or cool down the second side ( 5 b , 8 b ) of the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ).
8. A device according to claim 3 , characterized in that the microprocessor ( 4 b ) is programmed to control the polarity of the electric current supplied to the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ) in order to heat up or cool down the second side ( 5 b , 8 b ) of the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ).
9. A device according to claim 4 , characterized in that the microprocessor ( 4 b ) is programmed to control the polarity of the electric current supplied to the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ) in order to heat up or cool down the second side ( 5 b , 8 b ) of the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ).
10. A device according to claim 5 , characterized in that the microprocessor ( 4 b ) is programmed to control the polarity of the electric current supplied to the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ) in order to heat up or cool down the second side ( 5 b , 8 b ) of the units of Peltier cells ( 5 , 8 ).
11. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the first heat energy generating unit ( 2 ) is a heating unit,
the second side ( 5 b ) of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) that is in contact with the first contact plate ( 6 ) is the hot side of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ).
12. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that
the first heat energy generating unit ( 2 ) is a heating unit,
the second side ( 5 b ) of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) that is in contact with the first contact plate ( 6 ) is the hot side of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ).
13. A device according to claim 3 , characterized in that
the first heat energy generating unit ( 2 ) is a heating unit,
the second side ( 5 b ) of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) that is in contact with the first contact plate ( 6 ) is the hot side of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ).
14. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the first heat energy generating unit ( 2 )) is a cooling unit,
the second side ( 5 b ) of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) that is in contact with the first contact plate ( 6 ) is the cold side of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ).
15. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that
the first heat energy generating unit ( 2 )) is a cooling unit,
the second side ( 5 b ) of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) that is in contact with the first contact plate ( 6 ) is the cold side of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ).
16. A device according to claim 4 , characterized in that
the first heat energy generating unit ( 2 )) is a cooling unit,
the second side ( 5 b ) of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ) that is in contact with the first contact plate ( 6 ) is the cold side of the first plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 5 ).
17. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that
the second heat energy generating unit ( 7 ) is a heating unit,
the second side ( 8 b ) of the second plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 8 ) that is in contact with the second contact plate ( 9 ) is the hot side of the second plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 8 ).
18. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the second heat energy generating unit ( 7 ) is a cooling unit,
the second side ( 8 b ) of the second plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 8 ) that is in contact with the second contact plate ( 9 ) is the cold side of the second plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 8 ).
19. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that
the second heat energy generating unit ( 7 ) is a cooling unit,
the second side ( 8 b ) of the second plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 8 ) that is in contact with the second contact plate ( 9 ) is the cold side of the second plurality of units of Peltier cells ( 8 ).
20. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the passage ( 3 c ) of the receiving unit ( 3 ) comprises a coil between the inlet ( 3 a ) and the outlet of the fluid ( 3 b ).
21. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that the passage ( 3 c ) of the receiving unit ( 3 ) comprises a coil between the inlet ( 3 a ) and the outlet of the fluid ( 3 b ).
22. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the casing ( 1 ) comprises a flat compartment ( 14 ) for housing the receiving unit ( 3 ), said compartment ( 14 ) including an access opening ( 14 a ) for the insertion of the receiving unit ( 3 ) and at least one wall of said compartment ( 3 ) consisting of said first contact plate ( 6 ); and
the fluid inlet and outlet ( 3 a , 3 b ) of the receiving unit ( 3 ) are arranged on the same side of the receiving unit ( 3 ), in such a way that, when the receiving unit ( 3 ) is inserted in said compartment ( 14 ), the fluid inlet and outlet ( 3 a , 3 b ) are accessible via said access mouth ( 14 a ).
23. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that
the casing ( 1 ) comprises a flat compartment ( 14 ) defined between said first ( 6 ) and said second contact plate ( 9 ) for housing the receiving unit ( 3 ), said compartment ( 14 ) including an access opening ( 14 a ) for the insertion of the receiving unit ( 3 ); and
the fluid inlet and outlet ( 3 a , 3 b ) of the receiving unit ( 3 ) are arranged on the same side of the receiving unit ( 3 ), in such a way that, when the receiving unit ( 3 ) is inserted in the compartment ( 14 ), the fluid inlet and outlet ( 3 a , 3 b ) are accessible via said access opening ( 14 a ).