Portable fluid administration container with integral heat exchanger

Abstract

The present invention is addressed to providing an infusion administration container which is effective in establishing about a normothermic temperature of a physiologic solution for its infusion into an animal, such as a human medical patient. The infusion administration container comprises an upper flexible bladder adapted to contain at least one first chemical agent and a first lower flexible bladder adapted to contain at least one second chemical agent. These first and second chemical agent(s), when combined, result in an exothermic reaction. A passageway interconnects the upper bladder and first lower bladder with manually openable closure means disposed within the passageway to separate the chemical agents until the closure means is opened. A second lower flexible bladder, adapted to contain an administrable physiologic fluid, is disposed in heat-exchange relationship with the first lower bladder. The passageway is dimensioned such that when the closure means is opened, the first chemical agent(s) flows into the first lower flexible bladder at a rate sufficient so the resulting exothermic reaction generates sufficient heat to maintain the physiologic fluid within a normothermic temperature range for its infusion into the desired patient. The present invention also includes a method of maintaining a physiologic fluid within a normothermic temperature range for its infusion into a desired patient.