1964 Volume 2 Issue 3 Pages 198-204
A new thermoelectric heat exchanger was made for the experimental study of hypothermia induced by blood cooling and warming in extracorporeal circuration. The heat exchanger are composed of ten KEP-3036 thermoelectric panels, each of which consists of 36 “p” and “n” type semiconductor thermo-junctions. Cooling or warming of blood depends on the direction of currents across the junctions and the temperature can be controlled continuously simply by varying or switching on and off the currents applied, and the organ is kept at a suitable temperature for operation thereby. The size of the heat exchanger is 370 mm×120 mm×58 mm, with the priming volume of 120 cc, and it is supplied by a 43 volts, 30 amps dc-source.
We have tested its cooling-warming and temperature-controlling ability using a dog, and it was confirmed that repetitions of mild hypothermia and the maintenance of esophageal temperature at a desired level during operation can be easily obtained. Hemodynamic and metabolic tests, esophageal, rectal and muscular temperature recordings and the determination of blood pH and oxygen saturation showed that the a animal was in a satisfactory condition.
We believe that our thermoelectric heat exchanger can be used for clinical hypothermic operation.
