Stryker Corporation
Thermal control system

Abstract:

A thermal control unit for delivering temperature-controlled fluid to one or more patient pads that are in contact with a patient is disclosed. The thermal control unit includes a fluid circuit with an inlet and outlet, a heat exchanger, a pump, and a controller. A fluid quality monitor is included in some embodiments to monitor a cleanliness of the circulating fluid and issue an alert if the cleanliness falls below a threshold. A valve may be included that is controlled by the controller based upon a measurement of the cleanliness of the circulating fluid and/or the passage of a predetermined amount of time. A second valve may also be included in some embodiments that selectively diverts fluid to an additional filter. The additional filter is used to determine if a cleaning action taken with respect to the circulating fluid was effective or not.