Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
Apparatus for chilling and dispensing fluid stored in a receptacle unit having an inlet and an outlet and maintaining the fluid at a temperature of a predetermined value, said apparatus comprising a cabinet having an internal chilling compartment, chilling means disposed in said chilling compartment and having a heat transfer surface for absorbing ambient heat, said heat transfer surface and the outer surface of said receptacle unit corresponding at least partially in shape so that said receptacle unit can be disposed in said chilling compartment with said outer surface in direct engagement with said heat transfer surface to enable conduction of heat from said fluid to said chilling means, and dispensing means for discharging chilled fluid from said receptacle unit at a location outside of said chilling compartment, said dispensing means comprising a fluid passageway loop connected to said inlet and said outlet, a portion of said passageway loop being located outside of said chilling compartment, means for circulating said fluid from said outlet through said passageway loop and back to said receptacle unit through said inlet so that said portion of the passageway loop outside of said chilling compartment contains fluid having a temperature value substantially equal to said predetermined valve, and discharge means connected to said portion of said passageway loop selectively operable to discharge chilled fluid from said passageway loop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
Apparatus for chilling and dispensing fluid stored in a receptacle unit having an inlet and an outlet and maintaining the fluid at a temperature of a predetermined value, said apparatus comprising a cabinet having an internal chilling compartment, chilling means disposed in said chilling compartment and having a heat transfer surface for absorbing ambient heat, said heat transfer surface and the outer surface of said receptacle unit corresponding at least partially in shape so that said receptacle unit can be disposed in said chilling compartment with said outer surface in direct engagement with said heat transfer surface to enable conduction of heat from said fluid to said chilling means, and dispensing means for discharging chilled fluid from said receptacle unit at a location outside of said chilling compartment, said dispensing means comprising a fluid passageway loop connected to said inlet and said outlet, a portion of said passageway loop being located outside of said chilling compartment, means for circulating said fluid from said outlet through said passageway loop and back to said receptacle unit through said inlet so that said portion of the passageway loop outside of said chilling compartment contains fluid having a temperature value substantially equal to said predetermined valve, and discharge means connected to said portion of said passageway loop selectively operable to discharge chilled fluid from said passageway loop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chilling means comprises a tubular sleeve member formed of material having a high heat conductivity quality.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said tubular sleeve member includes open ends and a channel extending longitudinally of said sleeve member between said open ends, said sleeve member substantially surrounding said receptacle so that said heat transfer surface engages a substantial portion of the outer surface of said receptacle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said fluid receptacle comprises a bag formed of fluid impervious flexible material, said sleeve member having inwardly and downwardly tapered walls adjacent one end thereof forming a reduced neck portion, said sleeve member being located in an upright position in said compartment with said one end forming the lower end of said sleeve member to support said bag upright in said chilling zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said chilling means includes passageway means for conveying a cooling medium in said chilling compartment, said sleeve member being secured to said passageway means to provide for conduction of heat from said bag to said cooling medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cabinet includes a first access opening, a door formed of transparent material movably mounted on said cabinet between an open position and a closed position overlying said first opening, said transparent door enabling said compartment to be viewed from the outside of said cabinet enabling visual monitoring of the contents of said receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said cabinet includes a second access opening, an auxiliary door movably mounted on said cabinet for movement between open and closed positions over said second opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second opening is disposed below said first opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for delivering chilled intravenous fluid to a patient comprising a refrigerator cabinet having an internal chilling zone, chilling means disposed in said chilling zone and having a heat transfer surface for absorbing ambient heat, receptable means in which said fluid is contained and which has inlet and outlet ports, a fluid passageway loop connected to said inlet and outlet ports, a fluid passageway loop connected to said inlet and outlet ports, a portion of said passageway loop being located outside of said chilling zone, pump means for circulating said fluid from said receptacle means through said passageway loop and back to said receptacle means to insure that the fluid in said outside portion of said loop is chilled, a discharge conduit connected to said outside portion of said loop at a junction between said inlet and outlet ports, flow restrictor means in said passageway loop and on said discharge conduit operable in a discharge mode to close said passageway loop at a location downstream of said junction and to open said discharge conduit to enable delivery of said chilled fluid through said discharge conduit to the patient and operable in a recirculation mode to open said passageway loop and close said discharge conduit to enable recirculation of said fluid through said passageway loop and to said receptacle means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for delivering chilled intravenous fluid to a patient comprising a refrigerator cabinet having an internal chilling zone, chilling means disposed in said chilling zone and having a heat transfer surface for absorbing ambient heat, receptable means in which said fluid is contained and which has inlet and outlet ports, a fluid passageway loop connected to said inlet and outlet ports, a fluid passageway loop connected to said inlet and outlet ports, a portion of said passageway loop being located outside of said chilling zone, pump means for circulating said fluid from said receptacle means through said passageway loop and back to said receptacle means to insure that the fluid in said outside portion of said loop is chilled, a discharge conduit connected to said outside portion of said loop at a junction between said inlet and outlet ports, flow restrictor means in said passageway loop and on said discharge conduit operable in a discharge mode to close said passageway loop at a location downstream of said junction and to open said discharge conduit to enable delivery of said chilled fluid through said discharge conduit to the patient and operable in a recirculation mode to open said passageway loop and close said discharge conduit to enable recirculation of said fluid through said passageway loop and to said receptacle means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said receptacle conforms in shape to the shape of said heat transfer surface so that said receptacle is disposed in surface to surface contact with said heat transfer surface enabling the conduction of heat from said fluid to said chilling means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cooling coil means terminates at positions adjacent to said longitudinal opening so that access to said sleeve member can be gained through said opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said chilling means comprises a tubular sleeve member having open ends, said receptacle being substantially surrounded by said sleeve member so that a substantial portion of the outer surface of said receptacle is in direct contact with said sleeve member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said chilling means includes cooling coil means associated with said sleeve member to form a serpentine configuration in which said coil means substantially surrounds said sleeve member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sleeve member includes means for supporting said receptacle in an upright position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said support means comprises downwardly and inwardly inclined inner walls on said sleeve member adjacent the lower end thereof, said sleeve member being positioned upright so that said inclined inner walls support said receptacle in said upright position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said sleeve member has a longitudinal opening formed therein extending between the ends thereof enabling the positioning of said receptacle in said sleeve member with said passageway loop connected to said outlet and inlet ports.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
Heat transfer apparatus for conducting heat to or away from a fluid containing receptacle formed of flexible wall portions, said heat transfer apparatus comprising a tubular sleeve member having open upper and lower ends and being formed of material having a high heat conductivity quality, means forming a reduced neck portion adjacent the lower end of said sleeve member for supporting said receptacle in an upright position, and means forming an opening in said sleeve member intersecting said upper and lower ends thereof, said opening being larger at said upper end of said sleeve than at said lower end to facilitate the insertion of said flexible receptacle into said sleeve member, said sleeve member having a heat transfer surface configured to surround at least partially and to engage directly said fluid containing receptacle thereby to facilitate the transfer of heat to or away from the fluid in the receptacle by conduction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
Heat transfer apparatus for conducting heat to or away from a fluid containing receptacle formed of flexible wall portions, said heat transfer apparatus comprising a tubular sleeve member having open upper and lower ends and being formed of material having a high heat conductivity quality, means forming a reduced neck portion adjacent the lower end of said sleeve member for supporting said receptacle in an upright position, and means forming an opening in said sleeve member intersecting said upper and lower ends thereof, said opening being larger at said upper end of said sleeve than at said lower end to facilitate the insertion of said flexible receptacle into said sleeve member, said sleeve member having a heat transfer surface configured to surround at least partially and to engage directly said fluid containing receptacle thereby to facilitate the transfer of heat to or away from the fluid in the receptacle by conduction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
Heat transfer apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said sleeve member includes passageway means through which a heat transfer medium is conveyed to extract heat from or supply heat to said sleeve member.