Method and apparatus for inflating a warming blanket
AssigneeNellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
InventorMichael Vardanega
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A warming blanket is provided that includes a first sheet and a second sheet sealed at least along a common edge. An air inlet is provided on the warming blanket where the first sheet and the second sheet are not sealed. An inlet opening device is attached to the inlet opening. The inlet opening device separates the first sheet from the second sheet at the inlet opening in the absence of an opposing force. Methods of forming and using the warming blanket are also provided.
Claims23
A warming blanket, comprising:
- a first sheet and a second sheet sealed at least along a common edge such that the first sheet and the second sheet define an internal volume when separated;
- an air inlet region defined by a cutout of the first sheet and the second sheet, wherein the air inlet region is generally sealed along the edges of the first sheet and the second sheet except along an inlet opening;
- and
- an inlet opening device attached to the inlet opening, wherein the inlet opening device separates the first sheet from the second sheet at the inlet opening in the absence of an opposing force.
A method of forming a warming blanket, comprising:
- sealing a first sheet and a second sheet at least along a common edge;
- sealing the edges of an air inlet region defined by a cutout of the first sheet and second sheet except along an inlet opening of the air inlet region;
- and
- attaching an inlet opening device to the inlet opening such that the inlet opening device separates the first sheet from the second sheet at the inlet opening in the absence of an opposing force.
A method of connecting a warming blanket, comprising:
- removing a constraining force from about an inlet opening of a warming blanket such that an inlet opening device attached to the inlet opening separates a first sheet from a second sheet at the inlet opening.
A warming assembly, comprising:
- a warming blanket, comprising an inlet opening device attached to an inlet opening, wherein the inlet opening device separates a first sheet from a second sheet of the warming blanket at the inlet opening;
- a heated air blower;
- and
- a hose configured to connect the heated air blower and the inlet opening.
An inlet opening device, comprising:
- a substrate configured to be attached to a first sheet and a second sheet of an inlet opening of a warming blanket;
- and
- a tensioning member attached to the substrate such that the tensioning member deforms the substrate in the absence of an opposing force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.