Apparatus for warming a medical device prior to use

A system comprising:

• an apparatus for warming at least a portion of a medical implement, the apparatus comprising:
• a medical implement engaging structure for engaging the portion of the medical implement to permit transfer of heat to the implement, the engaging structure being configured to form a pocket for receiving the medical implement, the engaging structure having a receiving condition and an operational condition, the receiving condition being characterized by the pocket being substantially open, the operational condition being characterized by the pocket being substantially closed, the implement engaging structure comprising:
• a pair of side portions configured to form the pocket, the side portions being movable with respect to each other, the side portions each having a receiving position corresponding to the receiving condition of the engaging structure, the side portions each having an operational position corresponding to the operational condition of the engaging structure, the receiving position of the side portions being characterized by the side portions being separated and moved away from each other, the operational position of the side portions being characterized by the side portions being moved toward each other and at least partially in contact with each other, each of the side portions comprising a side panel with an inner surface, the operational position of the side portions being further characterized by the inner surface of at least one of the side panels being configured to contact a said medical implement when the medical implement is positioned in the pocket;
• a heat source configured to warm a said medical implement positioned between the side portions in the pocket of the engaging structure;
• elements on the side portions to selectively maintain the side portions in the operational positions of the side portions;
• wherein the at least one side panel is formed of a flexible material such that the at least one side panel flexes with contact of the inner surface of the at least one side panel with a said medical implement when the medical implement is positioned in the pocket and the at least one side panel is in the operational position;
• and,
• wherein the heat source comprises an air heating assembly configured to provide heated air to heat a said medical implement in the medical implement engaging structure, the air heating assembly including a heated air generator configured to generate heated air and communicate the heated air to the interior of the pocket and a said medical implement positioned in the pocket when a said medical implement is positioned in the pocket.

A system comprising:

• an apparatus for warming at least a portion of a medical implement, the apparatus comprising:
• a medical implement engaging structure for engaging the portion of the medical implement to permit transfer of heat to the implement, the engaging structure being configured to form a pocket for receiving the medical implement, the engaging structure having a receiving condition and an operational condition, the receiving condition being characterized by the pocket being substantially open, the operational condition being characterized by the pocket being substantially closed, the implement engaging structure comprising:
• a pair of side portions configured to form the pocket, the side portions being movable with respect to each other, the side portions each having a receiving position corresponding to the receiving condition of the engaging structure, the side portions each having an operational position corresponding to the operational condition of the engaging structure, the receiving position of the side portions being characterized by the side portions being separated and moved away from each other, the operational position of the side portions being characterized by the side portions being moved toward each other and at least partially in contact with each other, each of the side portions comprising a side panel with an inner surface, the operational position of the side portions being further characterized by the inner surfaces of the side panels being configured to contact a said medical implement when the medical implement is positioned in the pocket;
• a heat source configured to warm a said medical implement positioned between the side portions in the pocket of the engaging structure, the heat source being associated with at least one of the side panels such that heat from the heat source is transferred to the at least one side panel and to a said medical implement positioned in the pocket and contacted by the at least one side panel, the heat source comprising a heating element on the at least one side panel of the medical implement engaging structure;
• an attraction element on at least one of the side portions to cause attraction between the side portions to maintain the side portions in the operational positions of the side portion;
• wherein each of the side panels is formed of a flexible material such that the side panels flex with contact of the inner surfaces of the side panels with a said medical implement when the medical implement is positioned in the pocket and the side panels are in the operational position.