Method and apparatus for regulating body temperature

A method of maintaining patient body temperature, comprising the steps of:

• a) surrounding a portion of the patient's head with heated vapor of dew point temperature less than 47.degree. C. and greater than 30.degree. C., said vapor being held around the patient's head by an enclosure, the portion of the patient's head surrounded with heated vapor being exclusive of the patient's mouth and nostrils;
• b) monitoring the patient's temperature;
• and
• c) adjusting the vapor supply quantity or dew point temperature around the patient's head in response to the monitored temperature to reduce heat transfer to the patient as desired patient temperature is obtained.

A method of maintaining patient body temperature comprising the steps of:

• surrounding a portion of the patient's head with a temperature control fluid of heated vapor, said vapor being held around the patient's head by an enclosure, the portion of the patient's head surrounded with heated vapor being exclusive of the patient's mouth and nostrils;
• monitoring the patient's tympanic temperature;
• and
• adjusting the temperature control fluid in response to the monitored temperature to reduce heat transfer to the patient as a desired patient temperature is obtained.

A method of quickly and safely raising a patient's body temperature, comprising the steps of:

• a) enclosing a portion of the patient's head with an enclosure which does not enclose the patient's mouth or nostrils so that the portion of the patient's head is isolated from an external environment;
• b) generating heated vapor having a dew point temperature less than 47.degree. C. and greater than tympanic temperature of the patient;
• c) inputting the heated vapor to the enclosure so that the heated vapor condenses on the portion of the patient's body that is isolated and raises the patient's body temperature;
• and
• d) monitoring the patient's temperature and controlling the heated vapor to maintain a desired patient temperature.

A method of quickly and safely raising a patient's body temperature, comprising the steps of:

• a) enclosing a portion of the patient's head with an enclosure which does not enclose the patient's mouth or nostrils so that the portion of the patient's head is isolated from an external environment;
• b) generating heated vapor having a dew point temperature less than 47.degree. C. and greater than tympanic temperature of the patient;
• c) inputting the heated vapor to the enclosure so that the heated vapor condenses on the portion of the patient's body that is located and raises the patient's body temperature;
• and
• d) collecting condensate in absorbent material retained external to the patient at the patient's head.

A method of raising a patient's body temperature comprising the steps of:

• enclosing a portion of the patient's body with an enclosure which does not enclose the patient's mouth or nostrils so that the portion of the patient's body is isolated from an external environment;
• generating heated vapor having a dew point temperature less than 47.degree. C. and greater than tympanic temperature of the patient;
• inputting the heated vapor to the enclosure so that the heated vapor condenses on the portion of the patient's body that is isolated and raises the patient's body temperature;
• and
• monitoring the patient's temperature and controlling the heated vapor mixture to reduce heat transfer to the patient as a desired patient temperature is obtained.