Patent ID: 6236809
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An intravenous fluid heater dimensioned so as to be wearable by a patient adjacent a fluid infusion situs of said patient, said heater comprising:a. a heat exchanger defining a flow path through said heater for fluid to be infused to said patient via said situs;b. at least one controllable heating element for heating the fluid in the flow path by heat conduction thereto through said heat exchanger; andc. a controller for controlling, based upon at least one temperature of the fluid in the flow path, heating of the fluid in the flow path by the heating element, said heating causing the fluid in the flow path to be substantially uniformly heated to a desired infusion temperature prior to exiting said heater;wherein said heating element comprises at least one metal plate for contacting said heat exchanger and an electrical resistance heater controlled by said controller for controllably heating said plate via heat conduction thereto, said electrical resistance heater comprises a printed circuit board etched metal layer ;said heating element also comprises a thermally conductive, electrically insulating layer between said etched metal layer and said plate, and said controller and said metal layer are comprised in a single circuit board.