Inline heat exchanger and cardioplegia system

A heat exchanger for heating or cooling blood and/or cardioplegia solution, the heat exchanger comprising

• a flexible-resilient inner tube defining an inner flow path for a first fluid comprising one of (a) blood and/or cardioplegia solution, and (b) heat exchanging fluid;
• and
• a flexible-resilient outer tube surrounding the inner tube and having fluid inlet and outlet ports so as to define an outer flow path between the inner and outer tubes for a second fluid comprising the other of (a) blood and/or cardioplegia solution, and (b) heat exchanging fluid, the outer tube being sealingly connected to the inner tube adjacent opposite ends of the outer flow path;
• the inner tube defining a barrier between the first and second fluids while permitting heat transfer between the first and second fluids;
• and
• the inner and outer tubes each being formed of polymeric material that allows the entire heat exchanger to be flexed.

A cardioplegia administration set for administering cardioplegia to a patient's heart during cardiopulmonary surgery, the set comprising:

• a flexible-resilient fluid supply tube having a lumen and upstream and downstream ends for supplying cardioplegia and/or blood to a patient's heart;
• and
• a catheter connected to the downstream end of the fluid supply tube and having a lumen in fluid communication with the lumen of the fluid supply tube, the catheter being adapted to be inserted into the patient to supply cardioplegia to the patient's heart;
• the fluid supply tube including an inline heat exchanger for heating or cooling blood and/or cardioplegia solution passing through the fluid supply tube, the heat exchanger comprising a flexible-resilient inner tube defining an inner flow path for a first fluid comprising one of (a) the blood and/or cardioplegia solution, and (b) heat exchanging fluid;
• and a flexible-resilient outer tube surrounding the inner tube and having fluid inlet and outlet ports so as to define an outer flow path between the inner and outer tubes for a second fluid comprising the other of (a) the blood and/or cardioplegia solution, and (b) the heat exchanging fluid, the outer tube being sealingly connected to the inner tube adjacent opposite ends of the outer flow path, the inner tube defining a barrier between the first and second fluids while permitting heat transfer between the first and second fluids, one of the inner and outer fluid flow paths constituting a portion of the lumen of the fluid supply tube, the inner and outer tubes each being formed of polymeric material that allows the entire heat exchanger to be flexed.

A cardioplegia administration set for administering cardioplegia to a patient's heart during cardiopulmonary surgery, the set comprising:

• a flexible-resilient fluid supply tube having a lumen and upstream and downstream ends for supplying cardioplegia and/or blood to a patient's heart;
• and
• a catheter connected to the downstream end of the fluid supply tube and having a lumen in fluid communication with the lumen of the fluid supply tube, the catheter being adapted to be inserted into the patient to supply cardioplegia to the patient's heart;
• the fluid supply tube including an inline heat exchanger for heating or cooling blood and/or cardioplegia solution passing through the fluid supply tube, the heat exchanger comprising a flexible-resilient inner tube defining an inner flow path for a first fluid comprising one of (a) the blood and/or cardioplegia solution, and (b) heat exchanging fluid;
• and a flexible-resilient outer tube surrounding the inner tube and having fluid inlet and outlet ports so as to define an outer flow path between the inner and outer tubes for a second fluid comprising the other of (a) the blood and/or cardioplegia solution, and (b) the heat exchanging fluid, the outer tube being sealingly connected to the inner tube adjacent opposite ends of the outer flow path, the inner tube defining a barrier between the first and second fluids while permitting heat transfer between the first and second fluids, one of the inner and outer fluid flow paths constituting a portion of the lumen of the fluid supply tube;
• the inner and outer tubes each being formed of polymeric material that allows the entire heat exchanger to be flexed, the opposite ends of the outer flow path being separated longitudinally along the heat exchanger by at least 1.8 meters.

A heat exchanger for heating or cooling medical fluid for administration to a patient, the heat exchanger comprising

• a flexible-resilient inner tube defining an inner flow path for a first fluid comprising one of (a) the medical solution, and (b) heat exchanging fluid, the inner tube having a cross-sectional configuration selected from a group consisting of generally flattened, oval and rectangular cross sections;
• and
• a flexible-resilient outer tube surrounding the inner tube and having fluid inlet and outlet ports so as to define an outer flow path between the inner and outer tubes for a second fluid comprising the other of (a) the medical solution, and (b) heat exchanging fluid, the outer tube being sealingly connected to the inner tube adjacent opposite ends of the outer flow path;
• the inner tube defining a barrier between the first and second fluids while permitting heat transfer between the first and second fluids;
• the inner and outer tubes each being formed of polymeric material that allows the entire heat exchanger to be flexed.