Intravenous fluid warming unit
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsJeffrey P. Warner, Stephen D. Knecht
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel intravenous (“IV”) warming unit warms and keeps warm intravenous fluid bags for use at remote sites under arctic conditions. The IV fluid warming unit is made of fabric cut and sewn to form a suitcase-like folding receptacle, or satchel. The satchel has four inside pockets along one inside surface and overlapping webbing on the other inside surface. Chemical heating pads are activated and placed inside the pockets and IV fluid bags placed under the webbing. When the satchel is closed, the chemical heating pads warm and keep warm the IV fluid bags. In use, the satchel is placed on top of the chest of a patient so that the satchel warms the patient from the outside while the warmed IV fluid warms the patient from the inside.
Claims4
A warmer for intravenous fluids, comprising a flexible satchel, including:
- (a) first and second generally rectangular sides, the sides connected along a mutual edge to form a folding seam for closing the two sides.-together-, the two sides and the satchel having corresponding insides and outsides;
- (b) hook and fabric reclosable fastening strips along at least a portion of the inside of the edges of the first and second sides for securing the satchel when closed;
- (c) four pockets sewn onto the inside of the first side for holding four chemical heating pads;
- and,
- (d) web straps over the inside of the second side for holding in place four intravenous fluid bags.
A warmer for intravenous fluids, comprising a flexible satchel, including:
- (a) first and second sides, the sides connected along a portion of their edges to form a folding seam for closing the two sides together, the two sides and the satchel having corresponding insides and outsides;
- (b) reclosable fastening strips along at least a portion of the inside of the edges of the first and second sides for securing the satchel when closed;
- (c) a first holder attached to the inside of the first side for holding at least one self-powered heating unit;
- and,
- (d) a second holder attached to the inside of the second side for holding in place at least one intravenous fluid bag.
A method for warming intravenous fluids, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a flexible satchel, the flexible satchel including:
- (i) first and second generally rectangular sides, the sides connected along a mutual edge to form a folding seam for closing the two sides together, the two sides and the satchel having corresponding insides and outsides;
- (ii) reclosable fastening strips along at least a portion of the inside of the edges of the first and second sides for securing the satchel when closed;
- (iii) pockets sewn onto the inside of the first side for holding one or more chemical heating pads;
- and,
- (iv) web straps over the inside of the second side for holding in place one or more intravenous fluid bags;
- (b) placing at least one activated chemical heating unit inside the pockets;
- (c) placing at least one intravenous fluid bag under the web straps;
- and,
- (d) closing the first and second sides together to bring any chemical heating units into thermal contact with the intravenous fluid bags.
A method for warming intravenous fluids, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a flexible satchel, the flexible satchel including:
- (i) first and second sides, the sides connected along a portion of their edges to form a folding seam for closing the two sides together, the two sides and the satchel having corresponding insides and outsides;
- (ii) reclosable fastening strips along at least a portion of the inside of the edges of the first and second sides for securing the satchel when closed;
- (iii) a first holder attached to the inside of the first side for holding at least one self-powered heating unit;
- and,
- (iv) a second holder attached to the inside of the second side for holding in place at least one intravenous fluid bag;
- (b) placing at least one self-powered heating unit inside the first holder;
- (c) placing at least one intravenous fluid bag inside the second holder;
- and,
- (d) closing the first and second sides together to bring any self-powered heating units into thermal contact with any intravenous fluid bags.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.