Personal warming systems and apparatuses for use in hospitals and other settings, and associated methods of manufacture and use

A personal warming device usable to warm a patient undergoing an x-ray examination in an x-ray field, the personal warming device comprising:

• a heating element configured to generate heat to warm the patient
• a first foam pad disposed adjacent to a first sufface of the heating element;
• a second foam pad disposed adjacent to a second surface of the heating element opposite the first surface of the heating element;
• a carbon fiber sleeve positioned between the first and second foam pads and at least partially enclosing the heating element;
• and
• a temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the heating element and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the heating element, wherein the temperature sensing device is at least generally transparent to x-rays.

A personal warming device usable to warm a patient undergoing an x-ray examination in an x-ray field, the personal warming device comprising:

• a patient support portion configured to support at least a portion of the patient in the x-ray field;
• a heating element positioned at least proximate to the patient support portion, the heating element configured to generate heat to warm the patient when the patient is positioned at least partially on the patient support portion;
• a first radiolucent temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the heating element and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the heating element, wherein the first radiolucent temperature sensing device is operatively connected to the heating element via a first temperature control circuit, wherein the first temperature control circuit is configured to shut off power to the heating element if the temperature of the heating element exceeds a first threshold temperature as sensed by the first radiolucent temperature sensing device;
• and
• a second radiolucent temperature sensing device operatively connected to the heating element via a second temperature control circuit, wherein the second temperature control circuit is configured to shut off power to the heating element if the temperature of the heating element exceeds a second threshold temperature as sensed by the second radiolucent temperature sensing device.

A personal warming device comprising:

• a patient support portion configured to support at leat part of person;
• a heating element positioned at least proximate to the patient support portion, the heating element configured to generate heat to warm the person when the person is positioned at least partially on the patient support portion;
• an optical temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the heating element and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the heating element, wherein the optical temperature sensing device is at least generally transparent to x-rays, and;
• at least one fiber optic cable operatively coupled to the optical temperature sensing device to transmit temperature information from the optical temperature sensing device.