Inline RF Warmer Using RF Technology

Hypothermia is a common condition encountered in a variety of clinical settings including trauma, critical care, peri/post-operative care and during administration of renal replacement therapy. The causes of hypothermia are vast and include critical illness, induction of anesthesia or iatrogenic administration of sub-body temperature fluids (i.e. fluids or blood products). Effective prevention and treatment of hypothermia is of vital importance given that its presence is associated with poor clinical outcomes including increased mortality. Of the available therapies, methods which increase core body temperature [warm intravenous (IV) fluids], are more effective than external methods (heating blankets). Hence, warming of fluids being administered is a well-accepted and commonly used technique for prevention and treatment of hypothermia. Currently available techniques used to warm medical fluids rely on simple heat-exchange methodologies (convection, induction) which are outdated and have numerous shortcomings. The devices commonly used can be divided into two groups:1) devices which accommodate large fluid volumes at fast rates. These are large, lack portability, consume greater energy, and require extensive set-up. 2) More portable devices which are slower and not suitable for large volume resuscitation. In both groups, the need for disposables which disrupt the native delivery system increases cost and risk of contamination leading to major patient safety issues. Moreover, the set-up process for both groups can be complicated and cumbersome. The proposed research aims to develop an innovative technology to safely warm medical fluids in a real-time inline fashion using radiofrequency (RF) energy. RF (microwave) is more energy efficient and allows for several important advantages including increased portability. Furthermore, in the proposed technology the issue of hotspots, which previously limited the use of this technique, is mitigated via a novel and innovative design thereby allowing for RF energy to be directly applied to the traversing fluid in the delivery tubing. This mode of transfer of energy circumvents the need for disposables, lowering costs, reducing risk of contamination and improving ease-of-use. The proposed project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of design and development of a RF fluid warmer apparatus which avoids hotspot generation by a team of RF engineers using design/quality control processes. This will be done in consultation with clinicians in various specialties who routinely treat hypothermia and specialist in the regulatory aspects of medical device development. Given that hypothermia is a serious and common complication in a variety of medical settings, the potential utility for such a technology is vast and can include emergency response teams, military medical systems, hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and dialysis providers. In addition, the ability to warm medical fluids safely and effectively in an easy to operate manner with improved patient safety can enhance more widespread use of this technology thereby increasing its market share. Finally, once developed this technology can be adapted for use in various other areas affected by hypothermia (i.e. plasmaphoresis, cardiopulmonary bypass).Hypothermia is a serious and common condition encountered in a variety of clinical settings whose timely and effective treatment is of vital importance and can be lifesaving. The overall objective of this project is to develop a portable, energy-efficient, easy-to-use device which utilizes microwave energy to warm intravenous fluids in a inline fashion avoiding costly disposables that increase the risk of contamination. Development of a device with such favorable features, can significantly improve physician/patient access to this crucial therapy, allow for more widespread use of this technology, and significantly improve patient outcomes including survival.