Method and apparatus for warming intravenous fluids
A system and method for warming a fluid for intravenous administration is presented. The system includes an enclosure, a frangible bladder disposed at least partially within the enclosure, and a first reactant of an exothermic reaction disposed within the frangible bladder. The apparatus includes a second reactant of the exothermic reaction disposed within the enclosure and external to the frangible bladder, and a channel at least partially enclosed by the enclosure. The frangible bladder is configured to be ruptured to mix at least a portion of the first reactant and the second reactant to initiate the exothermic reaction, thereby warming at least a portion of the channel.
1. An apparatus for warming a fluid for intravenous administration, comprising:
an enclosure;
a frangible bladder disposed at least partially within the enclosure;
a first reactant of an exothermic reaction disposed within the frangible bladder;
a second reactant of the exothermic reaction disposed within the enclosure and external to the frangible bladder;
a channel at least partially enclosed by the enclosure, wherein the frangible bladder is configured to be ruptured to mix at least a portion of the first reactant and the second reactant to initiate the exothermic reaction, thereby warming at least a portion of the channel;
an input configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source and deliver the fluid to the channel to be exposed to the at least a portion of the channel warmed by the exothermic reaction; and
an output configured to receive the fluid from the channel after being exposed to the at least a portion of the channel warmed by the exothermic reaction and to be coupled to an intravenous administration system to deliver the fluid for intravenous administration.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a connector coupled to the output to couple the output to an intravenous administration tube.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a thermal sensor connected to at least one of the enclosure and the channel and being configured to detect a temperature of at least one of the enclosure and a portion of the channel.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the thermal sensor comprises a temperature-sensitive color-changing film.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second reactants comprises magnesium.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second reactants comprises iron.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second reactants comprises a phase-change material.
8. An apparatus for warming a fluid, comprising:
a housing having an opening;
a reactor sized to fit within the opening of the housing, the reactor including:
a frangible bladder configured to contain a first reactant of an exothermic reaction, and
a channel at least partially enclosed by the reactor, wherein the frangible bladder is configured to be ruptured to initiate the exothermic reaction, thereby warming at least a portion of the channel.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a connector coupled to the channel, the connector being configured to couple to an intravenous tube.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a thermal sensor connected to at least one of the reactor and the channel and being configured to detect a temperature of at least one of the reactor and a portion of the channel; and
a controller disposed within the housing and connected to the thermal sensor, the controller being configured to receive an indication of a temperature of at least one of the reactor and a portion of the channel from the thermal sensor.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of a fluid flow rate and a temperature of the exothermic reaction based at least partially on the temperature.
12. A method of warming a fluid, comprising:
providing an enclosure, the enclosure including:
a frangible bladder disposed at least partially within the enclosure,
a reactant of an exothermic reaction disposed within the frangible bladder, and
a channel at least partially enclosed by the enclosure;
rupturing the frangible bladder to initiate the exothermic reaction; and
after rupturing the frangible bladder, flowing a fluid through the channel to cause the fluid to be warmed by the exothermic reaction.
13. The method of claim 12 , including connecting a length of intravenous tubing to the channel.
14. The method of claim 12 , including using a thermal sensor connected to at least one of the enclosure and the channel to detect a temperature of at least one of the enclosure and a portion of the channel.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the thermal sensor comprises a temperature-sensitive color-changing film.
16. The method of claim 12 , including using a thermal sensor to control a flow-rate of the fluid through the channel.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the reactant comprises magnesium.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the reactant comprises iron.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the reactant comprises a phase-change material.
20. An apparatus for warming a fluid, comprising:
an enclosure;
a frangible bladder disposed at least partially within the enclosure;
a first reactant of an exothermic reaction disposed within the frangible bladder;
a second reactant of the exothermic reaction disposed within the enclosure and external to the frangible bladder; and
a channel at least partially enclosed by the enclosure, wherein the frangible bladder is configured to be ruptured to mix at least a portion of the first reactant and the second reactant to initiate the exothermic reaction, thereby warming at least a portion of the channel.