Heat exchange systems, devices and methods

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to heat-exchanger systems that can be used to heat or cool a fluid such as blood. Pod pumps that provide low shear and low turbulence may be used in such systems, particularly for systems that pump blood. A certain heat-exchanger system used to heat blood or other fluids may be used to provide whole-body hyperthermic treatments or regional hyperthermic chemotherapy treatments. A disposable unit may be used to separate the fluid path from the fluid control systems. The disposable unit typically includes a heat-exchanger component that is received by a corresponding heat exchanger in a base unit. Fluid pumped through the heat-exchanger component is heated by the heat exchanger.

主权项

1. A method for using a controller to control a fluidly actuated pumping cassette, the method comprising:
opening an inlet valve on the cassette to fluidly connect a source of the liquid with at least one reciprocating positive-displacement pump on the cassette, each pump comprising:
a curved rigid chamber wall;a flexible membrane attached to the rigid chamber wall, the flexible membrane and rigid chamber wall defining a pumping chamber;a rigid limit structure for limiting movement of the membrane and limiting the maximum volume of the pumping chamber, the flexible membrane and the rigid limit structure defining an actuation chamber connected via a fluidic control port in the rigid limit structure to a fluid source under positive or negative pressure; anda pressure transducer configured to measure a pressure in the pumping chamber or the actuation chamber to provide pressure information to the controller; introducing a quantity of the liquid into the pumping chamber through the inlet valve; closing the inlet valve and fluidly isolating the pumping chamber; applying a known pressure to the actuation chamber; measuring a rate of pressure change in the pumping chamber or the actuation chamber; comparing the measured rate of pressure change with the controller to a pre-determined range of values; and determining that air is present in the pumping chamber if the measured rate of pressure change differs from the pre-determined range of values.