K.V. Ryazanov1, A.S. Suchilin2, V.A. Chicherin3, V.V. Nedosekin4, I.A. Druchevskiy5, A.D. Onufrievich6, I.A. Sidorov7, N.A. Vetrova8
1,2,3,4,5,7,8 Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU) (Moscow, Russia)
6 N.N. Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital (Moscow, Russia)
1 gr1bomant@yandex.ru
Fresh frozen plasma and other cryopreserved blood components must be brought to a near-physiological temperature (+37 °C) before transfusion without local or general overheating. The conventional water bath method does not guarantee temperature accuracy inside the container and is associated with a risk of contamination by waterborne pathogens. Dry heating technology, in which heat is transferred to the container without direct contact between the product and water as a heat carrier, represents an alternative. This article reviews and systematises commercially available dry heating devices together with the associated temperature control systems and biocompatibility requirements. Two functional groups are considered: batch (container-type) thawing devices and in-line fluid warmers; their heating principle, technical parameters, country of manufacture and approximate cost are presented. Two temperature control architectures are analysed: direct multilevel control (an infrared product sensor combined with a contact plate sensor) and indirect duplicated control (heat carrier monitoring with a backup mechanical thermostat). Particular attention is paid to the biocompatibility of two contact interfaces: heat transfer surface to container, and container wall to blood component. The key risk factors are shown to be migration of the plasticiser di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, which intensifies upon heating, and aluminium leaching from direct-contact heating elements, confirmed by FDA Class I recalls. Temperature thresholds of thermal damage to erythrocytes are summarised. Promising directions are considered: dielectric (microwave) heating, adaptive thermal chambers and integration of equipment into the digital infrastructure of a blood bank.
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