IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,790,304
Granted Patent B2
US 8,790,304 · App. 13/602,790 · Granted Jul 29, 2014

Tubing set to interconnect heating/cooling system and indwelling heat exchange catheter

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,790,304
App. No.
13/602,790
Granted
Jul 29, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cooling system for an indwelling heat exchange catheter includes a heat exchange bath that is configured to receive a conduit that carries saline to and from the catheter. A heating/cooling fluid is in the bath and exchanges heat with the saline. The heating/cooling fluid flows through a heat exchanger that includes a refrigerant and two variable speed DC compressor for removing heat from the refrigerant. A gear pump circulates the working fluid to and from the catheter and is removably engaged with a pump support platform.

Claims (17)

1. A heat exchange system for an indwelling closed loop heat exchange catheter, comprising:

a conduit configured to carry working fluid to and from the catheter; and

a flow detector in communication with the conduit for detecting when working fluid is flowing through the conduit, wherein the flow detector comprises:

a clear housing; and

a paddle wheel rotatably disposed therein.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising at least three infrared transmitter/receiver light emitting diode pairs, each infrared transmitter/receiver light emitting diode pair establishing a signal path through the housing.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the infrared transmitter/receiver light emitting diode pairs outputs a signal representing motion of the paddle wheel.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the peddle wheel comprises: at least three paddles.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the three paddles are arranged such that one of the signal paths established by the infrared transmitter/receiver light emitting diode pairs is always unblocked by the paddles.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the infrared transmitter/receiver light emitting diode pairs are arranged relative to the paddle wheel such that one of the signal paths established by the infrared transmitter/receiver light emitting diode pairs is always unblocked by the paddle wheel.

7. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a processor connected to the infrared transmitter/receiver light emitting diode pairs, the processor including a program for detecting when fluid is flowing through the flow detector based on signals from the infrared transmitter/receiver light emitting diode pairs.

8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the paddles are positioned around a hub one hundred and twenty degrees (120°) from each other.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes a coil.

10. The system of claim 1 , comprising a plastic saline housing in fluid communication with the conduit, the plastic saline housing not being an IV bag.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plastic saline housing is part of a saline level detector.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the conduit includes a coil.