1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to warming fluids, and in particular, to warming IV fluid solution bags for use in the medical field. The present invention uses a safe and unique apparatus to heat and store a plurality of IV bags at the locations where they are to be used.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The availability of a reliable and convenient source of warm (105.degree. F./40.degree. C.) intravenous fluid solution is important in medical applications and more particularly in an operating environment where large quantities of IV fluids may be necessary.
Systems found in the prior art often require depletion of the self-contained sterilized IV fluid bag/container to heat the fluid. Removal of the fluid introduces unnecessary risk (i.e., contamination) and fails to provide for a regulated supply which is simple to use and is a convenient source of warmed IV fluid solutions. These prior art systems often require large and complex devices requiring a circulation unit to withdraw the fluid from a bag or other storage container. The removed fluids are then distributed across or through a variety of heating sources and returned to a separate container. Examples of such prior art systems may be found in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. to Rosner (4,678,460), Ogawa (4,293,762), Le Boeuf (4,309,592), Kurucz (4,844,074), van Leerdam (4,906,816) and Jewett (4,464,563). Each of the above cited patents show systems where removing the fluid is essential for proper heating.
Prior art references directed to heating a fluid without removal of the fluid are detailed below. Each of the references fail to provide for a configuration similar to that of the present invention.
The U.S. Pat. No. to White (4,936,336) is an apparatus and method for the warming of intravenous equipment consisting of an insulated wrap material having a removable and reusable heat pack. This reference fails to provide for a regulated source of heat integrated within a cabinet structure. To provide for a reliable heating source requires strict attention to temperature changes and distribution thereof. The heating source of White is a heat pack which does not maintain a specified thermal transfer ratio throughout the heating cycle and must be reheated and replaced each time heating is to take place. White is also limited to, at the most, two intravenous bags and has no provisions for adding additional bags. This becomes a problem in the operating room environment where a large quantity of heated bags are needed.
The U.S. Pat. Nos. to Nicholas Marchiani Chatelain et al. (4,874,033) and Auerbach (4,801,777) are directed to methods and apparatuses for heating blood products. Both of these references require the submerging of a blood bag in water which is then heated by some means. Applicant's invention is not directed to heating blood products and further requires no source of water to operate. The requirement of providing a water source limits these devices to locations to where an immediate source of water is available. Applicant's instant invention can be used anywhere. The invention also is more convenient as no fluids other than the fluid to be heated are introduced into the system.
The U.S. Pat. No. to Coffey (4,657,004) is a mobile livestock intensive care unit having a temperature controlled fluid/medicine chamber. This reference fails to provide for applicant's specific heating cabinet structure and associated electronics.