Abstract: The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of monolithic shell and mid-plate segments, each segment comprising a shell portion and a mid-plate portion permanently joined or integrally formed as a single piece. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of clearance holes extending through the mid-plate portion of each segment and a plurality of microtubes extending through the clearance holes of the segments. The heat exchanger further comprises two tubesheets, wherein the microtubes and segments are joined to the tubesheets at both ends of the heat exchanger. The monolithic construction of each segment eliminates gaps between the shell and mid-plate portions that can cause flow maldistribution in conventional heat exchanger designs. The segments are assembled by stacking and joining adjacent segments together, with the microtubes passing through aligned clearance holes to create continuous fluid passages through the assembled heat exchanger structure.

Abstract: Penetrative access devices for assisting users in performing any one or more of various medical procedures that require inserting a needle into a patient, such as for vascular access, pneumothorax decompression, catheterization, abscess draining, etc. In some embodiments, a penetrative access device of this disclosure is a handheld device that is fully self-contained in that it contains all of the hardware and software needed to perform the penetrative access. In some embodiments, a penetrative access device of this disclosure is a handheld device that cooperates, within a penetrative access system, with one or more devices external to the penetrative access device in providing the requisite penetrative access features. Various related methods are also disclosed, including methods of using a penetrative access device/system of the disclosure, methods of performing access operations, and methods of contactlessly calibrating needle-tip location for accurate needle-tip guidance.

Abstract: Penetrative access devices for assisting users in performing any one or more of various medical procedures that require inserting a needle into a patient, such as for vascular access, pneumothorax decompression, catheterization, abscess draining, etc. In some embodiments, a penetrative access device of this disclosure is a handheld device that is fully self-contained in that it contains all of the hardware and software needed to perform the penetrative access. In some embodiments, a penetrative access device of this disclosure is a handheld device that cooperates, within a penetrative access system, with one or more devices external to the penetrative access device in providing the requisite penetrative access features. Various related methods are also disclosed, including methods of using a penetrative access device/system of the disclosure, methods of performing access operations, and methods of contactlessly calibrating needle-tip location for accurate needle-tip guidance.