US 2014/0196607 A1 · HEAT EXCHANGE IN FLUID DEGASSING

Abstract

In one variation, a temperature-maintenance device includes a heater (1016) and is placeable in a circulation loop of an ultrasound transducer coupling bolus (1076), for degassing circulating liquid of the loop and for operating the heater for performing temperature control of the liquid. A temperature setpoint, such as a normal body temperature, for the liquid at the bolus may be entered. A device, either open- or closed-looped with respect to fluid flow, may include, in some variations, a degassing chamber, a water trap (1012), and an intervening cooler, all vacuumized by a vacuum pump (1024). The chamber may be configured and aligned for letting condensation automatically drain out. The water trap may be emptied, automatically and without the need for user intervention, by a motorized trap emptier and/or be emptiable by the user.

Claims18

Dependent claims

The device of claim 13, further comprising a temperature-maintenance device, wherein the temperature-maintenance device comprises a heater configured for placement in the circulation loop, wherein the circulation loop includes an ultrasound transducer coupling bolus, and wherein an operation of said heater is configured for performing temperature control of said fluid.

A device for degassing a fluid in a circulation loop, comprising:

a degassing chamber having an inlet and an outlet coupled inline with the circulation loop, wherein a vacuum created within the degassing chamber draws out dissolved gas and water vapor from the fluid circulating in the circulation loop, the degassing chamber further having an opening in the degassing chamber, wherein the degassing chamber is configured and aligned to allow, during degassing, gas and water vapor drawn out from the fluid, and condensation formed from a portion of the water vapor drawn out from the fluid, to flow out of the degassing chamber via the opening as a result of gravitational pull;
a water trap coupled to the opening in the degassing chamber;
and
an intervening cooler coupled in-between the opening in the degassing chamber and the water trap, wherein the intervening cooler comprises a heat exchanger configured to condense a remaining portion of the water vapor drawn out from the fluid into liquid,
said degassing chamber, said water trap and said intervening cooler all being maintained under vacuum, wherein the degassing chamber is maintained under vacuum from outside the degassing chamber through the opening via the intervening cooler, the intervening cooler being indirectly coupled to a vacuum pump through the water trap, and the water trap being directly coupled to the vacuum pump, wherein the condensation and liquid accumulate in the water trap.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/239,289Filed 4 Sep 2012

Priority

6 Sep 2011

Published

17 Jul 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B01D 19/0036
Degasification of liquids: flash degasification
A61B 8/4281
Involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue: characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the…
A61B 8/546
Control of the diagnostic device: involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
A61B 17/2251
For extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves: characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g.…

Heat exchange in fluid degassing

Life of this patent

Heat exchange in fluid degassing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18