1. A micro thermoelectric device, comprising:
a first substrate, having a first major surface and a plurality of first grooves defined in said first major surface, each of the first grooves including a first interior sidewall and a first bottom surface;
a first continuous metal conductive wire layer, disposed on said first major surface and covering at least the first interior sidewall and the first bottom surface of each of said first grooves and at least a portion of the major surface between the first grooves;
a second substrate, having a second major surface corresponding to said first major surface, the second major surface defining a plurality of second grooves, each of which corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of first grooves;
a second continuous metal conductive wire layer, disposed on said second major surface and covering each of said second grooves;
a plurality of adhesive layers, individually disposed in said first grooves and said second grooves;
a plurality of thermoelectric materials, each of which is disposed within a respective, corresponding pair of said first grooves and said second grooves.
2. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein said first grooves and said second grooves are in a cubic shape.
3. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein said thermoelectric material is in a cubic shape.
4. A micro thermoelectric device, comprising:
a first substrate, having a first major surface and a plurality of first grooves defined in said first major surface, each of the first grooves including a first singular continuous interior surface;
a first continuous metal conductive wire layer, disposed on said first major surface and covering at least a portion of the first singular continuous interior surface of each of said first grooves and at least a portion of the major surface between the first grooves;
a second substrate, having a second major surface corresponding to said first major surface, the second major surface defining a plurality of second grooves, each of which corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of first grooves;
a second continuous metal conductive wire layer, disposed on said second major surface and covering each of said second grooves;
a plurality of adhesive layers, individually disposed in said first grooves and said second grooves;
a plurality of thermoelectric materials, each of which is disposed within a respective, corresponding pair of said first grooves and said second grooves,
wherein at least a pair of said first grooves and respective said second grooves are in a semi-spherical shape.
5. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 4, wherein said thermoelectric material is in a spherical shape.
6. A micro thermoelectric device, comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of said first and second substrate comprising a major surface and a plurality of grooves defined in the major surface, at least one of the plurality of grooves including an interior sidewall and a bottom surface;
a first continuous conductive wire layer, disposed on the surface of said first substrate and second substrate, and covering at least the interior sidewall and the bottom surface of the groove and at least a portion of the major surface between the adjacent grooves;
a plurality of adhesive layers, individually disposed in each of said grooves;
a plurality of thermoelectric materials disposed within said grooves.
7. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 6, wherein said grooves are in a cubic shape.
8. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 6, wherein said thermoelectric material is in a cubic shape.
9. A micro thermoelectric device, comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of said first and second substrate comprising a major surface and a plurality of grooves defined in the major surface, at least one of the plurality of grooves including a singular continuous interior surface;
a metal continuous conductive wire layer, disposed on surfaces of said first substrate and second substrate, and covering at least a portion of the singular continuous interior surface of the groove and at least a portion of the major surface between the adjacent grooves;
a plurality of adhesive layers, individually disposed in each of said grooves;
a plurality of thermoelectric materials disposed within said grooves.
10. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 9, wherein said thermoelectric material is in a spherical shape.
11. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 1, wherein each of the second grooves includes a second interior sidewall and a second bottom surface, and the second continuous metal conductive wire layer is disposed on said second major surface and covers at least the second interior sidewall and the second bottom surface of each of the second grooves and at least a portion of the major surface between the second grooves.
12. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 4, wherein each of the second grooves includes a second continuous interior surface, the second continuous metal conductive wire layer covers at least the second continuous interior surface of each of said second grooves and at least a portion of the major surface between the second grooves.
13. The micro thermoelectric device of claim 9, wherein at least a pair of said first grooves and respective said second grooves are in a semi-spherical shape.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of detecting a lass of integrity in a blood circuit supplying blood to a patient, comprising the steps of: delivering blood to a patient through a circuit during a first time; said step of delivering including applying a positive gauge pressure to said circuit; applying a negative pressure to said blood circuit during a second time; detecting a presence of air in said blood circuit during at least a portion of said second time; or after said second time, such that air infiltrating said blood circuit during said second time as a result of said negative pressure and a presence of a leak is detected.
2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising waiting for the passage of a predetermined volume of blood into said patient prior to applying said negative pressure.
3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying a negative pressure includes reversing a direction of flow of blood in said blood circuit.
4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of applying a negative pressure includes switching a valve to cause blood to flow in a reverse direction through said blood circuit.
5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of applying a negative pressure includes changing a volume of a portion of said blood circuit.
6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of detecting includes detecting air bubbles in blood.
7. A method as in claim 1, wherein: said step of applying includes reversing a direction of flow of blood in said blood circuit; said step of detecting includes detecting air with an air sensor located to detect air at a specified position in said blood circuit; and a duration of said second time is at least long enough to insure that blood will ultimately flow from a terminus of said blood circuit to said specified position, whereby leakage of blood in said blood circuit at least between said specified position and said terminus is assured.
8. A method of detecting leaks in a blood line supplying fluid to a patient, comprising: reversing flow in a blood circuit configured to return blood to a patient such that a negative pressure is generated in said blood circuit; positioning an air sensor with respect to said blood circuit to detect air drawn into said blood circuit in the event of a loss of integrity in said blood circuit; said reversing step being such that said negative pressure is of a magnitude and duration such that blood at a remote end of said blood circuit connected to said patient is drawn to point where it is detectable by said air sensor.
9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said mechanism includes a four-way valve.
10. A method as in claim 8, wherein said mechanism includes a controller configured to reverse said flow iteratively after successive displacements of a predetermined volume of blood.
11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said predetermined volume corresponds to no more than a maximum tolerable volume of blood that can be lost without injury to a patient.
12. A method as in claim 8, wherein said mechanism connects said blood circuit with a therapeutic process to which blood circulated trough said blood circuit is subjected.
13. A method of detecting a leak in a fluid circuit supplying fluid to a patient, comprising the steps of: delivering fluid to a patient through a circuit during a first time; applying a negative pressure to said blood circuit during a second time; detecting a presence of air in said fluid circuit during at least a portion of said second time or after said second time such that air infiltrating said fluid circuit during said second time as a result of said negative pressure is detected.
14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising waiting for the passage of a predetermined volume of fluid into said patient prior to applying said negative pressure.
15. A method as in claim 13, wherein step of applying a negative pressure includes reversing a direction of flow of fluid in said fluid circuit.
16. A method as in claim 13, wherein said step of applying a negative pressure includes switching a valve to cause fluid to flow in a reverse direction through said fluid circuit.
17. A method as in claim 13, wherein said step of applying a negative pressure includes changing a volume of a portion of said fluid circuit.
18. A method as in claim 13, wherein said step of detecting includes detecting air bubbles in fluid.
19. A method as in claim 13, wherein: said step of applying includes reversing a direction of flow of fluid in said fluid circuit; said step of detecting includes detecting air with an air sensor located to detect air at a specified position in said fluid circuit; and a duration of said second time is at least long as required to cause said fluid to flow from a terminus of said fluid circuit to said specified position.
20. A method of detecting a leak in a fluid infusion or treatment system, comprising: providing a source of fluid to be pumped into a patient; drawing from said source and conveying said fluid from said source to said patient during a first time; automatically regularly generating a negative pressure such that said fluid is drawn in a reverse direction away from said patient creating a reverse flow of said fluid.
21. A method as in claim 20, further comprising the step of sensing for a presence of air in said reverse flow.
22. A method as in claim 20, wherein said fluid is blood.
23. A method as in claim 20 further comprising the step of one of generating an alarm signal and halting a flow of said fluid responsively to a result of said step of sensing.
24. A method as in claim 23, wherein said fluid is blood.
25. A method as in claim 20, wherein said step of automatically generating includes transposing fluid lines such as to generate said reverse flow.
26. A method as in claim 25, wherein said fluid is blood.
27. A device as in claim 20, wherein said source of fluid is said patient’s blood supply and said reverse flow is such that blood is drawn from said patient.
28. A method as in claim 20, wherein each instance of said reverse flow results in a displacement of said fluid such that air infiltrating a supply access to said patient is transported to a point of detectability by a nearest air sensor to said patient.
29. A method as in claim 28, wherein said fluid is blood.
30. A method as in claim 20, wherein said negative pressure is generated with such regularity that no more than a predetermined volume of said fluid is conveyed to said patient before said negative pressure is again generated.
31. A method as in claim 30, wherein said fluid is blood.
32. A method of detecting a loss of integrity in a liquid circuit, comprising the steps of: conveying liquid through a circuit during a first time; said step of conveying including applying a positive gauge pressure to said circuit; regularly applying a negative pressure to said circuit during second times; detecting a presence of air in said liquid circuit during at least a portion of said a second time, or after said second time, such that air infiltrating said circuit during said second time, as a result of said negative pressure and a presence of a leak, is detected.
33. A method as in claim 32, further comprising waiting for the passage of a predetermined volume of liquid through said circuit prior to applying said negative pressure.
34. A method as in claim 32, wherein the step of applying a negative pressure includes reversing a direction of flow of liquid in said circuit.
35. A method as in claim 32, wherein said step of applying a negative pressure includes switching a valve to cause liquid to flow in a reverse direction through said circuit.
36. A method as in claim 32, wherein said step of applying a negative pressure includes changing a volume of a portion of said circuit.
37. A method as in claim 32, wherein said step of detecting includes detecting air bubbles.
38. A method as in claim 32, wherein said step of detecting includes detecting air bubbles with an ultrasonic sensor.
39. A method as in claim 32, wherein: said step of applying includes reversing a direction of flow of liquid in said circuit; said step of detecting includes detecting air with an air sensor located to detect air at a specified position in said circuit; and a duration of said a second time is at least long enough to cause liquid to flow from a terminus of said circuit to said specified position, whereby leakage of liquid from any point in said circuit between said specified position and said terminus is assured.
40. A method of detecting leaks in a fluid infusion or treatment system, comprising: providing a support for a fluid circuit, separate from a support of an infusion or blood treatment device, and configured to convey fluid between a source and an outlet for connection to a patient; controlling pressure of a fluid in an outlet portion of said fluid circuit to generate a negative pressure in said outlet portion automatically and repeatedly during the course of a treatment of said patient such that a predefined volume of fluid is displaced in a reverse direction; further controlling said actuator such that, at other times, a positive pressure is permitted in said outlet portion; detecting air infiltrating said outlet portion; locating an air sensor in said source fluid circuit; said step of controlling being such that a predefined volume of fluid is displaced such that air infiltrating at a terminus of said outlet portion reaches a point of detectability by said air sensor.
41. A method as in claim 40, wherein said actuator is configured to control a four-way valve portion of said fluid circuit such that said step of controlling includes controlling said four-way valve.
42. A method as in claim 41, wherein said fluid is blood.
43. A method as in claim 40, wherein said step of controlling includes actuating a four way valve portion of said fluid circuit and said step of controlling is effective to change a direction of flow in said portion of said fluid circuit and at least another portion of said fluid circuit such tat a continuous reverse flow between said patient and said outlet portion is generated when said negative pressure is generated.
44. A method as in claim 40, wherein said fluid is blood.
45. A method as in claim 44, wherein: said source includes an air sensor and a source fluid circuit leading to said air sensor, said source fluid circuit being one of connected and connectable to said source; said step of controlling being such that said predefined volume of fluid insures that air infiltrating at said terminus of said outlet portion reaches a point of detectablility by said air sensor.
46. A method of detecting leaks in a fluid infusion or treatment system, comprising: providing a support for a fluid circuit, separate from a support of an infusion or blood treatment device, and configured to convey fluid between a source and an outlet for connection to a patient; controlling pressure of a fluid in an outlet portion of said fluid circuit to generate a negative pressure in said outlet portion automatically and repeatedly during the course of a treatment of said patient such that a predefined reverse volume of fluid is displaced in a reverse direction; further controlling said actuator such that, at other times, a positive pressure is permitted in said outlet portion; detecting air infiltrating said outlet portion; locating an air sensor in said source fluid circuit; said step of controlling being such that said negative pressure in said outlet portion is generated wit such regularity that no more than a predefined forward volume of said fluid is conveyed through said outlet portion before said negative pressure is again generated.
47. A method as in claim 46, wherein said predefined forward volume corresponds to a volume effective to place a patient in danger from blood loss.
48. A method as in claim 46, wherein said fluid is blood.
49. A method as in claim 46, further comprising halting a flow of fluid and sound an alarm responsively to a signal from said air sensor.
50. A method of detecting leaks in a blood processing system, comprising: controlling the flow of blood in access blood circuit connected to a patient to remove blood from, and deliver blood to, said patient and a process blood circuit including a treatment component for treating blood circulated through said process blood circuit, reversing a flow direction of blood through said process and access blood circuits periodically to draw air into any leaks in said access blood circuit and such that air entering at any portion of said access blood circuit is moved to said air detector, whereby a leak in said access blood circuit may be detected; wherein said step of controlling is such tat a volume of blood at least as great as a volume of said access blood circuit between said air detector and a remote terminus of said access blood circuit is conveyed.
51. A method in claim 50, wherein said step of controlling is such as to reverse said flow at a frequency such that no more than a minimum safe quantity of blood is lost due to a lea before said leak is detected.
52. A method of detecting leaks in a patient infusion process, comprising: flowing an infusible fluid into a patient and periodically reversing a flow to test the infusion line for leakage; detecting air in an infusion line leading to a patient; halting a flow of infusate if air is detected; and reversing the flow and detecting air regularly and periodically to draw air into any leaks in line; wherein said step of reversing includes transporting a volume of fluid of a magnitude that is at least as great is required to cause air to be detected by said air detector.
53. A method of detecting leaks in a blood processing system, comprising the steps of: attaching a flow reversing device to a portion of a blood circuit that is connectable to a patient between a blood treatment machine and patient access; controlling said flow reversing device such tat it regularly reverses flow from a normal treatment direction; detecting for the present of air in said portion of a blood circuit; transporting a volume of blood of a magnitude such that infiltration of air is detected by an air detector; reversing the flow sufficiently frequently to ensure that no more than a predetermined volume of blood is conveyed in normal treatment direction before said flow is again reversed, said predetermined volume being one that is not greater than a volume of blood that can be lost without risk to the life of a patient.