Heater for surgical viewing instruments

A system for warming an endoscope, laparoscope, or other such instrument to minimize fogging, comprising:

• a flexible pad having a seal periphery and filled with a sodium acetate solution;
• the flexible pad defining a plane in an unfolded state with a length and a width dimensioned to wrap around the instrument;
• an activation disc disposed in the sodium acetate solution causing the solution to generate heat through an exothermic reaction initiated through manual manipulation of the disc;
• wherein the disc is disposed in a flexible peripheral tab in fluid communication with the sodium acetate solution;
• the system further including a thermally insulated housing having an open condition to receive the pad in a folded or rolled condition, and a closed condition to contain the pad within the thermally insulated housing;
• and
• wherein the housing includes a slit or narrow, elongated opening enabling the tab and activation disc to extend therethrough, such that the tab and activation disc are outside the housing for activation when the housing is in the closed condition.