Patient warming system

A surgical warming blanket arranged for use during surgery on a patient and comprising at least two layers capable of forming a hollow air space between the two layers for receiving warmed air from a heating unit, the two layers and air space being arranged in operation to form a substantially tubular arrangement at least partially surrounding a patient receiving space, whereby when warm air is passed into the air space the warm air is delivered to the patient receiving space via the blanket, to maintain warm air within the patient receiving space, the patient receiving space receiving the patient's body and allowing access to the patient's body for surgery without disturbing the blanket.

A heating unit for a patient warming system, the heating unit including a delivery port for delivering warmed air to a patient warming blanket, and a feedback means for determining whether a patient warming blanket is attached and responsive to a determination that the patient warming blanket is not attached, to disable delivery of warmed air via the port.

A method of warming a patient during surgery, comprising the steps of receiving the patient within a patient receiving space within which the patient's body is accessible for surgery, and passing warmed air into a patient receiving space to keep the patient warm.