Inflatable thermal blanket with provision for being secured during use
AssigneeAugustine Medical, Inc.
InventorsThomas P. Anderson, Mark F. Brier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable thermal blanket for thermal blanket and bathing a patient in a thermally-controlled inflating medium includes an inflatable thermal blanket with selectively activated ties to secure the thermal blanket to itself or hospital equipment. The inflatable thermal blanket has an outer edge and one or more substantially flat flexible flaps along the outer edge. Selected portions of the flaps include boundaries, such as perforations, defining corresponding ties. Selected ones of the ties are activated by detaching them along their respective boundaries. Then, the ties are attached to hospital equipment, or opposing ties may be attached to each other.
Claims36
An inflatable apparatus for covering and bathing a patient in a thermally-controlled inflating medium, comprising:
- an inflatable apparatus, including:
- a flexible base sheet including a plurality of exhaust ports;
- and
- a flexible overlaying sheet attached to the base sheet to define multiple inflatable chambers between the base sheet and the overlaying sheet;
- said inflatable apparatus having a periphery and at least one substantially flat flexible non-inflatable flap along the periphery, a portion of said at least one flap including a boundary defining a corresponding tie for being separated from the flap by detachment along the boundary;
- and
- an inflating inlet in air communication with the inflatable chambers.
An inflatable apparatus for covering and bathing a patient in a thermally-controlled inflating medium, comprising:
- an inflatable apparatus, including:
- a flexible base sheet with a plurality of exhaust ports;
- and
- a flexible overlaying sheet attached to the base sheet at multiple attachment points defining multiple inflatable chambers between the base sheet and the overlaying sheet;
- said inflatable apparatus having a periphery with opposing uninflatable flaps and opposing ends;
- multiple ties disposed at separate positions in the uninflatable flaps to secure the apparatus in place;
- and
- an inflating inlet in communication with the inflatable chambers.
A method of operating an inflatable apparatus to cover and bathe a patient in a thermally-controlled inflating medium, wherein the inflatable apparatus comprises multiple interconnected inflatable chambers, a periphery and flexible uninflatable flaps along the periphery, wherein selected portions of said flaps include boundaries defining corresponding ties, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing the inflatable apparatus over a patient;
- freeing a pair of opposing ties by detaching the ties from the uninflatable flaps along respective boundaries, the ties remaining attached to the inflatable apparatus at respective tie ends;
- coupling the pair of opposing ties together;
- and
- directing a stream of inflating medium into the inflatable chambers to inflate the apparatus.
A method of operating an inflatable apparatus to cover and bathe a patient in a thermally-controlled inflating medium, wherein the apparatus includes multiple interconnected inflatable chambers and a periphery, wherein the apparatus further includes opposing uninflatable flaps at said periphery which include boundaries defining corresponding ties, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing the inflatable apparatus over a patient;
- freeing a tie from within an uninflatable flap by detaching the tie along a boundary thereof, the tie remaining attached to the inflatable apparatus at a tie end in the uninflatable flap;
- securing the tie to a fixed object separate from the apparatus;
- and
- directing a stream of inflating medium into the inflatable chambers to inflate the apparatus.
A method of operating an inflatable apparatus to cover and bathe a patient in a thermally-controlled inflating medium, wherein the apparatus comprises multiple interconnected inflatable chambers to receive the inflating air and expel the air through a plurality of exhaust ports defined in a common surface of the chambers, said apparatus having a pair of opposing outer uninflatable flaps each including multiple ties, said method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a patient upon a cruciate operating table with each of the patient's arms extended laterally;
- placing the inflatable apparatus over a patient's upper body in a transverse position such that the apparatus extends from one arm, across the upper body, and across the other arm;
- securing the apparatus in place around a first arm by connecting ties of opposing uninflatable flaps to form a loop about said first arm;
- securing the apparatus in place around a second arm by connecting opposing ties to form a loop about said second arm;
- and
- directing a stream of inflating medium into the inflatable chambers to inflate the apparatus and bathe the patient in the thermally-treated inflating air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.