Air blanket
OwnerFeraidoon Iraniinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable air blanket of the type adapted to treat hypothermia and the like is disclosed. The blanket comprises an air barrier layer, substantially impervious to airflow, and an underlying heat transfer layer adapted to permit penetration and diffusion of air therethrough. The barrier layer and heat transfer layer are joined together to form an envelope or chamber adapted for reception of warm air. The heat transfer layer may comprise a laminate-like non-woven web structure with outer layers thereof including a bonding material disposed in a reticular pattern thereon. Air from the envelope or chamber penetrates and uniformly diffuses through the heat transfer layer to gently impinge upon the treated patient.
Claims26
A blanket for positioning over a patient to supply temperature adjusted air to said patient, said blanket comprising:
- an upper layer formed of an air impermeable material;
- a lower air permeable layer formed of a non-woven, fibrous material substantially free of discrete openings wherein temperature adjusted air may readily diffuse through said lower layer;
- a peripheral connection extending around and joining said upper layer and said lower layer to define an air chamber;
- an inlet port for supplying said temperature adjusted air to said air chamber;
- and
- wherein said upper layer defines partitions located in said air chamber to increase turbulence and mixing of said temperature adjusted air flowing through said air chamber where said temperature adjusted air will have a substantially uniform temperature distribution throughout said air chamber.
A blanket for positioning over a patient to supply temperature adjusted air to said patient, said blanket comprising:
- an upper layer formed of an air impermeable material;
- a lower layer formed of an air permeable material wherein temperature adjusted air may readily diffuse through said air permeable material;
- a peripheral connection extending around and joining said upper layer and said lower layer to define an air chamber
- an inlet port for supplying said temperature adjusted air to said air chamber;
- said upper layer including folds defining partitions located in said air chamber;
- and
- wherein said blanket includes opposing proximal and distal ends and side portions extending between said ends, and a longitudinal axis is defined extending between said ends generally centrally between said side portions wherein said folds extend across said upper layer diagonally relative to said longitudinal axis to increase turbulence and mixing of said temperature adjusted air flowing through said air chamber whereby said temperature adjusted air will have a substantially uniform temperature distribution throughout said air chamber.
A blanket for positioning over a patient for supplying temperature adjusted air to said patient, said blanket comprising:
- an upper layer formed of an air impermeable material;
- a lower layer formed of a substantially uniformly porous air permeable material wherein temperature adjusted air may readily diffuse through said air permeable material;
- a peripheral connection extending around and joining said upper layer and said lower layer to define an air chamber;
- opposing proximal and distal ends and side portions extending between said ends;
- an inlet port located at said proximal end for supplying said temperature adjusted air to said air chamber;
- a longitudinal axis defined by said upper and lower layers extending from said proximal end to said distal end generally centrally between said side portions;
- a plurality of distinct connection points between said upper and lower layers arranged substantially in rows extending laterally of said longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein said connection points in adjacent rows are staggered relative to each other in a lateral direction to thereby define angled airflow paths through said air chamber such that a substantially uniform temperature distribution for said temperature adjusted air will be obtained throughout said air chamber.
In a blanket for diffusing temperature-adjusted air to a patient over which said blanket is positioned, including an upper, air impermeable layer, a lower, air permeable layer through which temperature-adjusted air may be diffused, means forming a peripheral connection between said upper and lower layers and defining an air chamber, and means for supplying temperature-adjusted air to said air chamber, the improvement comprising:
- said lower layer being formed of a non-woven, fibrous material substantially free of discrete openings.
In a blanket for diffusing temperature-adjusted air to a patient over which said blanket is positioned, including an upper, air impermeable layer, a lower, air permeable layer through which temperature-adjusted air may be diffused, means forming a peripheral connection between said upper and lower layers and defining an air chamber, and means for supplying temperature-adjusted air to said air chamber, the improvement comprising:
- said lower layer being formed of three laminate-like regions defining a non-woven fibrous material substantially free of discrete openings and including:
- a soft central core of non-woven fibrous material;
- and
- bonding material applied to opposite surfaces of said soft central core in a reticular pattern occupying between about 15-60 percent of the surface area of said soft central core;
- and
- means for generating turbulence within said air chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.