Patent ID: 8662154

Claim:
A heat exchanger comprising a first end, a second opposing end, and an internal heat exchange zone therebetween defined by a first and second plurality of overlapping fins, wherein each fm has a ratio of height to width of at least 1:2, whereby fluid enters the first end at a lower aspect of the heat exchanger via an inlet port, flows across the width of each succeeding fin through the internal heat exchange zone, and flows out the second opposing end at an upper aspect of the heat exchanger via an outlet port, and whereby a fluid flow path created by the internal heat exchange zone forms a ribbon of fluid flow having a plurality of linear flow segments caused at least in part by the overlapping fins, wherein the ribbon of fluid flow has a width greater than a length of the plurality of linear flow segments, wherein a substantially uniform and even horizontal flow path is created within each linear flow segment across the height of each fin, wherein the heat exchanger is designed to be oriented when in operation such that the lower aspect, where the inlet port is located, and the upper aspect, where the outlet port is located, are oriented with the fins vertically stacked therebetween forcing the fluid to flow in an upward direction through the heat exchanger and against gravitational forces, and wherein the heat exchanger is configured for warming blood as the fluid through a temperature increase of 17° C. at flow rates ranging from 10 ml/hr up to at least 1,000 ml/min for infusion into a patient.