# US 11,992,592 B2 · Modular warming system for dialysis fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,592 B2 - Document ID: US11992592B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/519,406 - Filed: 2019-07-23 - Published: 2021-01-28 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-23 - Assignees: Enthermics Medical Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Enthermics Medical Systems - Inventors: William J. Hansen; John Matthew Rotterman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992592B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/287: {Dialysates therefor} - A61M 1/166: {Heating (for sterilisation A61M1/1686)} - A61M 1/28: Peritoneal dialysis {; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation} - A61J 1/18: Arrangements for indicating condition of container contents, e.g. sterile condition - A61M 5/445: {the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags} - A61M 2205/14: Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/36: related to heating or cooling - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/584: having a color code - A61M 2205/587: Lighting arrangements - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE ## Abstract An extremely lightweight and compact heating system greatly increasing patient mobility is provided. The use of a flat plate can be used to greatly decrease package size and weight while providing comparable heat transfer by exploiting the ability of the dialysis bags to conform to this surface and through the greater heating area possible with the flat plate design. A short rim around the plate provides centering and protecting against minor leakage without substantially increasing package height. Protection against leakage is buttressed by sealing the rim to the plate and the use of 12 V only within the heating unit. The result is a lightweight warming device with a short that can be easily transported by the patient greatly improving patient lifestyle and freedom. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A warming module for infusible liquids comprising: an upwardly exposed planar metal warming plate sized to receive a flexible polymer bag holding the infusible liquid; a polymer housing supporting the warming plate and providing an upwardly extending peripheral rim presenting a sealed continuous surface between the housing and the warming plate wherein the rim is continuous around a periphery of the warming plate and has a height less than 2 cm and an angle of less than 45 degrees with respect to the warming plate; a heater element attached to the warming plate to conduct heat through the warming plate and bag into the contained infusible liquid when the bag is held on the warming plate; and at least one light indicator comprising a light diffuser indicating a warming state of the flexible polymer bag holding the infusible liquid wherein the at least one light indicator is positioned to at least partially underlie and directly contact the flexible polymer bag to direct light into the flexible polymer bag; wherein the flexible polymer bag extends above the rim permitting the warming state of the flexible polymer bag to be seen at a horizontal line of sight above the rim. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The warming module of claim 1 wherein the heater element is attached to cover at least 90% of the warming plate area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The warming module of claim 1 wherein the heater element includes heater control circuitry and a remote wall adapter providing a voltage less than or equal to 12 V to the heater and heater control circuitry from the remote wall adapter through an adapter cord. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The warming module of claim 1 wherein the warming module is less than five pounds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The warming module of claim 1 wherein the rim includes at least one proximity sensor detecting the presence of the bag on the plate to control the heater. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The warming module of claim 5 wherein the at least one proximity sensor includes at least two proximity sensors that are displaced laterally from each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The warming module of claim 6 wherein the at least two proximity sensors are displaced apart by at least 10 cm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The warming module of claim 5 wherein the at least one proximity sensor is an infrared sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The warming module of claim 1 wherein the at least one light indicator is supported by an inner surface of the rim. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The warming module of claim 9 wherein the at least one light indicator is at least one light emitting diode bulb positioned beneath a light diffuser. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The warming module of claim 10 wherein the at least one light emitting diode bulb and light diffuser are arranged around a perimeter of the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The warming module of claim 11 wherein the at least one light emitting diode bulb and light diffuser are arranged on the upwardly extending peripheral rim. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The warming module of claim 9 wherein the at least one light indicator presents a warming state indicating that the bag is warming and is not at a predetermined temperature or is warmed to a predetermined temperature by means of a first color indicating that the bag is warming and a second color indicating that the bag is warmed to the predetermined temperature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The warming module of claim 9 wherein the at least one light indicator presents a warming state indicating that the bag is warming and is not at a predetermined temperature or is warmed to a predetermined temperature by means of changing an intensity of the light. ### Claim 15 A warming system for infusible liquids comprising: at least two warming modules arranged in a stacked configuration along an axis extending along a height of each warming module, each warming module having an upwardly exposed planar metal warming plate sized to receive a flexible polymer bag holding the infusible liquid; a polymer housing supporting the warming plate and providing an upwardly extending peripheral rim presenting a sealed continuous surface between the housing and the warming plate wherein the rim is continuous around a periphery of the warming plate and has a height less than 2 cm and an angle of less than 45 degrees with respect to the warming plate; a heater element attached to the warming plate to conduct heat through the warming plate and bag into the contained infusible liquid when the bag is held on the warming plate; at least one light indicator comprising a light diffuser indicating a warming state of the flexible polymer bag holding the infusible liquid wherein the at least one light indicator is positioned to at least partially underlie and directly contact the flexible polymer bag to direct light into the flexible polymer bag; wherein the flexible polymer bag extends above the rim permitting the warming state of the flexible polymer bag to be seen at a horizontal line of sight above the rim. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The warming system of claim 15 further including a mounting bracket having a first plate configured to be attached to the housing and a second plate extending perpendicular to the first plate and configured to be attached to a support element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The warming system of claim 15 wherein a spacing between the at least two warming modules is less than 15 cm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The warming system of claim 15 wherein a spacing between the at least two warming modules is less than two times a height of the bag when reposed on the warming plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The warming system of claim 15 wherein the at least one light indicator is supported by an inner surface of the rim. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The warming system of claim 15 wherein the at least one light indicator is at least one light emitting diode bulb positioned beneath a light diffuser.