PORTABLE, LIGHT-WEIGHT FLUID WARMING APPARATUS
Market: During trauma rescue operations, it may take a significant amount of time to transport the injured to a hospital for treatment. During this time, the injured often lose body heat and suffer from hypothermia. A 1999 study in AANA indicated that a 1.5 °C decrease in a patient’s body temperature could result in additional hospitalization costs between $2,500 and $7,000 per individual. In another study, mortality doubled for trauma patients whose core temperature dropped to 34oC, and survival after trauma is very rare when the core temperature falls below 32oC. This effect is even more pronounced for more severely injured patients. Additionally, in many medical practices, it is necessary or desirable to heat a fluid before it is administered to a patient. Fluids such as whole blood, packed cells, and physiological solutions are frequently stored cold and need to be quickly administered. However, rapid transfusion of cold fluids may also contribute to hypothermia. Being able to warm patients and warm fluids for infusion to patients near the site of trauma as quickly as possible can substantially increase the care of trauma patients.
Current Problems: There are several means for treating or preventing hypothermia including warming blankets and direct intravenous fluid warming apparatuses. These systems use either rapidly flowing hot liquid or electric heating elements as the source of thermal energy. Limitations of present systems include complex equipment requiring access to electrical power for operation, as well as large, heavy-weight equipment that is not easily transported.
The Technology: Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have created an apparatus that overcomes the limitations of fluid warming devices currently marketed. Competitive advantages include: portability – it is light and compact as compared to products currently on the market; and it is wireless– the device is not dependent upon electrical energy, bulky batteries, or an open flame as a heat source. The primary method for heat generation relies upon precisely controlled catalytic combustion. In short, the device can deliver temperature management to patients anywhere and much sooner after injury. There are additional features further expanding the applications and versatility of the device; to find out more under confidentiality, please contact the Office of Technology Management.
NON-CONFIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
The preceding is intended to be a non-confidential summary of a novel technology created at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
UTHSCH Ref. No. 2004-0010
Inventors: Drs. Cox and Gill
Patent Status: United States Issued Patent No. 7,261,557
License Available: world-wide; exclusive or non-exclusive
To obtain further information about this technology, please contact:
Office of Technology Management, 7000 Fannin, Suite 720, Houston, TX 77030
Phone: (713) 500-3369 Fax: (713) 500-0331
Email: uthsch-otm@uth.tmc.edu
