US Patent 7232457 Fluid warming cassette with a tensioning rod

A fluid warming cassette for use in a fluid warming system includes a first sheet and second sheet joined with a flexed tensioning rod to form a fluid container with a periphery in which the flexed tensioning rod is disposed to tension the fluid container. The fluid container includes a fluid channel with inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the fluid channel. Preferably, the rod is flexed into an open-ended shape such as a “U” shape. So flexed, the rod tensions the fluid container, adding structural stability to the fluid warming cassette.