Thermal management system and method for medical devices

Abstract

A medical device includes a housing, a power supply, a thermally conductive mounting clamp, a heat shield, and at least one fastener. The housing includes a handle. The power supply is disposed within the housing. The thermally conductive mounting clamp is attached to an outer surface of the housing. The heat shield is disposed within the housing adjacent to the power supply. The heat shield is disposed against at least one interior surface of the handle. The at least one fastener passes through at least one opening in the housing and is in thermally conductive contact with the thermally conductive mounting clamp. Heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply, through the heat shield, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 a housing comprising a handle;   a power supply disposed within the housing;   a thermally conductive mounting clamp attached to an outer surface of the housing;   a heat shield disposed within the housing adjacent to the power supply, the heat shield disposed against at least one interior surface of the handle; and   at least one fastener passing through at least one opening in the housing and in thermally conductive contact with the thermally conductive mounting clamp, wherein heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply, through the heat shield, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising an infusion pump supported by the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the heat shield is disposed apart from the power supply within the housing, and the heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply to the heat shield through at least one of convection or radiation and from the heat shield, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp through conduction. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the heat shield is curved. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the heat shield comprises a U-shape. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1  wherein the heat shield is disposed against multiple interior surfaces of the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising an electrically insulating, thermally conductive bracket disposed against the heat shield within the housing, wherein heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply, through the heat shield, through the electrically insulating, thermally conductive bracket, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 7  wherein the heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply to the heat shield through at least one of convection or radiation and from the heat shield, through the electrically insulating, thermally conductive bracket, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp through conduction. 
     
     
         9 . An infusion device for mounting to a pole comprising:
 a housing comprising a handle;   a thermally conductive mounting clamp attached to an outer surface of the housing and configured to attach to a pole;   an infusion pump disposed within the housing;   a power supply disposed within the housing;   a heat shield disposed within the housing adjacent to the power supply, the heat shield disposed against at least one interior surface of the handle; and   at least one fastener passing through at least one opening in the housing and in thermally conductive contact with the thermally conductive mounting clamp, wherein heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply, through the heat shield, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp.   
     
     
         10 . The infusion device of  claim 9  wherein the heat shield is disposed apart from the power supply within the housing, and the heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply to the heat shield through at least one of convection or radiation and from the heat shield, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp through conduction. 
     
     
         11 . The infusion device of  claim 9  wherein the heat shield is curved. 
     
     
         12 . The infusion device of  claim 9  wherein the heat shield comprises a U-shape. 
     
     
         13 . The infusion device of  claim 9  further comprising an electrically insulating, thermally conductive bracket disposed against the heat shield within the housing, wherein heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply, through the heat shield, through the electrically insulating, thermally conductive bracket, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp. 
     
     
         14 . The infusion device of  claim 13  wherein the heat generated by the power supply is configured to dissipate from the power supply to the heat shield through at least one of convection or radiation and from the heat shield, through the electrically insulating, thermally conductive bracket, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp through conduction. 
     
     
         15 . A method of dissipating heat in a medical device comprising:
 dissipating heat from a power supply within a housing, through a heat shield disposed within the housing adjacent to the power supply and against at least one interior surface of a handle of the housing, through at least one fastener passing through at least one opening in the housing and in thermally conductive contact with a thermally conductive mounting clamp, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the power supply powering an infusion pump supported by the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the heat generated by the power supply dissipating from the power supply to the heat shield through at least one of convection or radiation and from the heat shield, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp through conduction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the heat shield is disposed against multiple interior surfaces of the handle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the heat generated by the power supply dissipating from the power supply, through the heat shield, through an electrically insulating, thermally conductive bracket disposed against the heat shield within the housing, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the heat generated by the power supply dissipating from the power supply to the heat shield through at least one of convection or radiation and from the heat shield, through the electrically insulating, thermally conductive bracket, through the at least one fastener, and into the thermally conductive mounting clamp through conduction.