# US 2014/0196607 A1 · Heat exchange in fluid degassing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196607 A1 - Document ID: US20140196607A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/239,289 - Filed: 2012-09-04 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-06 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Ralf Seip; Evgeniy Leyvi; Jose Manuel Inocencio Azevedo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196607A1 ## CPC - B01D 19/0036: {Flash degasification (the other groups take precedence)} - A61B 8/4281: {characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue} - A61B 8/546: {involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature} - A61B 17/2251: {characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (depends on 13) 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for setting a fixed operating temperature, and wherein said performing temperature control is further for maintaining said liquid at said fixed operating temperature at said ultrasound transducer coupling bolus. ### Claim at position 3 3-5. (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said degassing chamber, starting from said ultrasound transducer coupling bolus, flow-wise precedes said heater in said circulation loop. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said water trap is further configured to compensate for increased evaporation caused by performing temperature control to heat said fluid. ### Claim at position 6 8-11. (canceled) ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a replaceable filter at said inlet of said degassing chamber. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, further comprising a heater coupled inline with the circulation loop of said fluid, wherein an operation of said heater is configured for performing temperature control of said fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, further wherein said fluid in the circulation loop provides an ultrasound transducer coupling bolus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, further wherein the ultrasound transducer bolus serves as a supporting platform for a subject undergoing ultrasound exposure via said ultrasound transducer bolus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, further comprising a circulation pump for circulating the fluid in the circulation loop. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, further comprising a heating element coupled inline with the circulation loop for temperature control of said fluid; and a sensor disposed on said heating element, wherein a control of said heating element is based on feedback from said sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein said water trap is configured for separating out liquid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, further comprising a motorized assembly configured for, automatically and without need for user intervention, emptying said water trap of accumulated condensation and liquid. ### Claim at position 16 21-22. (canceled) ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein said fluid comprises a liquid, and further wherein said chamber is configured for degassing said liquid for use as an ultrasound coupling medium. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer readable medium embodied with instructions executable by a processor for performing a plurality of acts for a device for degassing a fluid in a circulation loop according to claim 13, the device including a temperature-maintenance device that comprises a heater, said device further being configured for placement in a circulation loop of an ultrasound transducer coupling bolus, for degassing circulating liquid of said loop and for operating said heater for performing temperature control of said liquid, said plurality comprising the act of: receiving, via a user control, a setting for said temperature control of said liquid of said loop.