Method and apparatus for disinfection of a temperature control device for human body temperature control during extracorporeal circulation

1. A method for disinfection of a temperature control device for human body temperature control during extracorporeal circulation, the method comprising:

conducting temperature control by use of a heat exchanger and a temperature control liquid circulating through the heat exchanger and the temperature control device; and

adding a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid upstream of the temperature control device during operation of the temperature control device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid includes passing the temperature control liquid through a container having a predetermined amount of disinfectant at a predetermined concentration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid includes passing a first portion of the temperature control liquid through a first container and passing a second portion of the temperature control liquid through a second container.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid includes injecting the disinfectant into the temperature control liquid that is passing through a container to obtain a predetermined concentration of the disinfectant in the temperature control liquid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid includes controlling, by a computer, the addition of the disinfectant to the temperature control liquid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid includes using at least one electronically controlled liquid valve.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disinfectant comprises at least one of sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and citric acid.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control liquid includes water, the disinfectant, and unavoidable contaminants.

9. A method for disinfection of a temperature control device for human body temperature control during extracorporeal circulation, the method comprising:

circulating a temperature control liquid through a heat exchanger and the temperature control device to control temperature of the temperature control liquid;

passing the temperature control liquid through at least one container during operation of the temperature control device for human body temperature control; and

adding a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid upstream of the temperature control device during operation of the temperature control device for human body temperature control.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein passing the temperature control liquid through at least one container includes passing the temperature control liquid through a disinfectant container having a predetermined amount of disinfectant at a predetermined concentration.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein passing the temperature control liquid through at least one container includes passing a first portion of the temperature control liquid through a first container having a predetermined amount of a first disinfectant at a predetermined concentration and passing a second portion of the temperature control liquid through a second container having a predetermined amount of a second disinfectant at a predetermined concentration.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein adding a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid includes injecting the disinfectant into the temperature control liquid that is passing through the at least one container to obtain a predetermined concentration of the disinfectant in the temperature control liquid.

13. A heat exchanging system for human body temperature control during extracorporeal circulation, comprising:

a temperature control device configured for heating or cooling a temperature control liquid to be circulated through a temperature control liquid side of a heat exchanger for conducting the human body temperature control; and

a disinfecting device connected to the temperature control device, the disinfecting device configured to selectively add a disinfectant to the temperature control liquid during operation of the temperature control device for human body temperature control.

14. The heat exchanging system of claim 13 , comprising a disinfectant container having a predetermined amount of disinfectant at a predetermined concentration, wherein the disinfecting device is configured to pass the temperature control liquid through the disinfectant container.

15. The heat exchanging system of claim 13 , comprising a container configured to have disinfectant added to the container to provide a predetermined concentration of the disinfectant in the temperature control liquid that is passing through the container.

16. The heat exchanging system of claim 13 , wherein the disinfecting device is connected to the temperature control device on an upstream side of the temperature control device.

17. The heat exchanging system of claim 13 , wherein the disinfecting device comprises at least one of a control display by which a user can control settings of a disinfection procedure conducted by the disinfecting device, and a remote control terminal by which a user can remotely control settings of a disinfection procedure conducted by the disinfecting device.

18. The heat exchanging system of claim 13 , wherein the disinfecting device comprises a computer controlling the addition of the disinfectant to the temperature control liquid.

19. The heat exchanging system of claim 13 , further comprising at least one electronically controlled liquid valve configured for adding the disinfectant to the temperature control liquid.

20. The heat exchanging system of claim 13 , wherein the temperature control liquid includes water, disinfectant, and unavoidable contaminants.