Patent ID: 7090658

Claim:
A temperature sensing device for measuring temperature of a sterile medical solution comprising: a medical solution container containing a sterile medical solution; a fluid line coupled to said medical solution container to receive said sterile medical solution; a fitting disposed at a selected location along said fluid line and including: first and second open ends each securable to selected portions of said fluid line; a passage disposed within said fining and extending between said first and second open ends to permit said sterile medical solution flowing within said fluid line to flow through said fitting; a connection port disposed on an exterior surface of said fitting and including an open proximal end and an open distal end, wherein said distal end is in fluid communication with said passage; and a metallic receptacle including an open proximal end and a closed distal end to directly contact and conduct thermal energy from said sterile medical solution flowing within said passage, wherein a substantial majority of said receptacle is fixedly disposed within said connection port and external of said passage to form a fluid tight seal to maintain said sterile medical solution within said passage, and said closed distal end of said receptacle extends slightly beyond the distal end of said connection port and contacts fluid flowing within said passage; and a temperature sensor removably received within said receptacle open proximal end to measure temperature of said sterile medical solution flowing through said fitting and to generate an electrical temperature signal indicating said measured solution temperature to facilitate maintenance of a desired temperature for said medical solution; wherein at least one portion of said passage located proximally of said receptacle includes the same transverse cross-sectional dimensions as at least one other passage portion located distally of said receptacle.