USRE38462E1 - Thermal blanket - Google Patents

Abstract

A thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges and an undersurface. The covering includes a plurality of inflatable chambers that are inflated when a thermally-controlled inflating medium is introduced into the thermal blanket through an inlet at the foot end. When inflated, the thermal blanket self-erects into a structure and provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the erected structure through an aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable covering. The thermal blanket includes a first aspect in which the inflatable chambers in the covering are oriented for substantially longitudinal disposition over a portion of a patient's body extending from the pelvic area to the feet of the patient's body. This aspect may include a provision for securing the inflatable covering to the patient's body at the head end and an uninflatable foot drape at the foot end. In another aspect of the thermal blanket, the inflatable chambers are oriented for substantially transverse disposition over a portion of the patient's body extending across the arms and chest of the patient's body. This aspect may include an uninflatable portion at the foot end of the thermal blanket with provision for attaching to a patient's body and a head drape at the head end to drape over the patient's head.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07,550,757, filed Jul. 10, 1990, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07,227,189, filed Aug. 2, 1988, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07,104,682, filed Oct. 5, 1987, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to thermal blankets used in a medical setting to deliver a bath of a thermally-controlled medium to a patient.

The thermal blanket prior art is best expressed in our prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,188 entitled “AIRFLOW COVER FOR CONTROLLING BODY TEMPERATURE.” In our patent, a self-erecting, inflatable airflow cover is inflated by the introduction into the cover of a thermally-controlled inflating medium, such as warmed air. When inflated, the cover self-erects about a patient, thereby creating an ambient environment about the patient, the thermal characteristics of which are determined by the temperature of the inflating medium. Holes on the underside of our prior art airflow cover exhaust the thermally-controlled, inflating medium from inside the cover to the interior of the erected structure. Our airflow cover is intended for the treatment of hypothermia, as might occur postoperatively.

Evaluation of our airflow cover by skilled practitioners has resulted in general approbation: the opinion is that the airflow cover efficiently and effectively accomplishes its purpose of giving a thermally-controlled bath. We have realized, however, that, while our prior art airflow cover achieves its objective, certain improvements to it are necessary in order to realize additional clinical objectives and to enjoy further advantages in its use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We have improved the clinical usefulness of our self-erecting airflow cover by observing that controlling the contour of its inflatable portion at its head end to define a generally concave non-inflatable portion will permit a care giver to more easily observe a patent's head, face, neck and chest. Finally, we have observed that limited venting of the thermally controlled inflating medium from the edges of the cover results in more efficient, more uniform heating within the cover. We have also observed that it is good clinical practice to keep the area of the care site in the vicinity of the patient's head and face as clean as possible. Still further, we have observed that modification of the foot end of the self-erecting airflow cover to define a non-inflatable but erectable drape section retains heat from the inflating medium to warm the patient's feet and insulate the bare skin of the feet from excessive heat from the inlet hose. Finally, we have observed that our self-erecting airflow cover may be advantageously adapted to thermally control specific partial portions of the patient such as the legs and lower body or the arms and upper body, leaving other areas of the patient available for care and treatment. Moreover, an end portion of the cover may be adhesively attached to the patient to prevent the migration of air toward a care area. Finally, a protective sleeve may be slideably mounted on a connected heater tube adjacent the patient to prevent the heater tube from contacting the patient.

These observations have resulted in an improved thermal blanket and method therefor in which a self-erecting inflatable covering has a head end, a foot end, two edges, and an undersurface. An inflating inlet adjacent the foot (or head) end admits a thermally-controlled inflating medium into the covering. An aperture array on the undersurface of the covering exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the covering into the structure created when the covering self-erects upon inflation. The improvements to this basic structural complement include an uninflatable section at the head (or foot) end of the covering, exhaust port openings at the edges of the cover, an absorbent bib or adhesive strip attached to the covering at the head (or foot) end adjacent the uninflatable section, in uninflatable erectable drape section at the foot end of the covering, a heater tube protective cover and structural features that make the covering simple and economical to produce. In the case of an upper body covering, the positions of the inflating inlet and the uninflatable section are reversed from that of other coverings. In the case of an upper body covering, the inflating inlet is positioned at the head end of the covering while the uninflatable section is arranged at the foot end of the covering.

With these improvements, the thermal blankets, when inflated and erected over a patient, delivers the thermally-controlled inflating medium into the interior of the structure covering the patient, thereby thermally bathing the patient. The first improvement permits full viewing of the head and face of the patient from almost any aspect around the thermal blanket. The exhaust port openings increase the rate of circulation of the inflating medium within the blanket, thereby increasing the temperature within the structure and making the temperature distribution more uniform. The absorbent bib soaks up and retains liquid which might otherwise spread over the care site in the area of the patient's head or other body area. Such liquids can include the patient'own perspiration, blood, vomit, saliva, or liquids which are administered to the patient. The adhesive strip acts to seal the head (or foot) end of the inflated structure. The non-inflatable erectable drape section at the foot end of a covering encompassing the lower extremities retains heat around the patient's feet and insulates the bare skin of the legs and/or feet. The protective cover for the heater tube prevents an attached heater tube from contacting the patient.

From another aspect, the invention is a thermal blanket for covering and bathing a person in a thermally-controlled medium. The thermal blanket includes a flexible base sheet having a head end, a foot end, two edges, and a plurality of apertures opening between the first and second surface of the base sheet. An overlying material sheet is attached to the first surface of the base sheet by a plurality of discontinuous seams which form the material sheet into a plurality of substantially parallel, inflatable chambers. A continuous seam is provided between the material sheet and the base sheet at the head (or foot) end to form a non-inflatable viewing recess at the head (or foot) end. Exhaust port openings are provided through the material sheet to vent the medium from the chambers away from the base sheet. An absorbent bib is attached to the head (or foot) end in the vicinity of the viewing recess. In coverings encompassing the lower extremities, a continuous seam is provided between the material sheet and the base sheet at the foot end to form a non-inflatable, erectable drape section to cover the patient's legs and/or feet.

Therefore the invention accomplishes the important objective of providing a self-erecting, inflatable thermal blanket that permits a relatively unobstructed view of a care site when in use.

Another object is the efficient and uniform heating of the interior of the structure created when the blanket is inflated with a heat inflating medium.

A further objective is providing a covering for a patient's legs and/or feet that helps retain the heat inflating medium around the patient.

A still further objective is the provision of such a blanket with a means for maintaining the cleanliness of the care site.

A still further objective is to provide the ability to select coverings adapted for specific partial areas of the patient leaving other areas exposed for care and treatment.

The advantageous simplified structure of the thermal blanket make its production straight forward and economical.

These and other important objectives and advantages will become evident when the detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the below-summarized drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a thermal blanket constructed in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, with the blanket in use, with associated thermal apparatus indicated schematically;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the thermal blanket opened flat;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along3—3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged sectional view taken alongline4—4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial underside view of the thermal blanket;

FIG. 6 is a partial diagrammatic top plan view of a thermal blanket constructed in accordance with a second aspect of the invention, with a partially constructed foot drape;

FIG. 7 is a partial projected view of a fully constructed thermal blanket of FIG. 6 in use, with the patient's feet illustrated by hidden lines underlying the foot drape.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a partially constructed thermal blanket in accordance with a third aspect of the invention, for thermally covering the pelvic area and lower extremities of a patient;

FIG. 9 is a partial projected view of a fully constructed thermal blanket of FIG. 8 in use;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a thermal blanket constructed in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, for thermally covering the chest and upper extremities of a patient; and

FIG. 11 is a partial projected view of a fully constructed thermal blanket of FIG. 10 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

When used herein, the term “thermal blanket” is intended to be interchangeable with, but not necessarily limited by, the term “airflow cover” used in our U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,188, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. In this description, the term “thermal blanket” is meant to invoke a self-erecting, inflatable structure for delivering a thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the structure created when the thermal blanket is inflated. The purpose of the thermal blanket is to efficiently administer a uniformly thermally-controlled bath of the inflating medium to a patient within the erected structure.

Our invention is illustrated as we intend for it to be used in a first aspect without a foot drape in FIG.1. In FIG. 1, a self-erecting, inflatablethermal blanket10 has a head and12, afoot end14 and two lateral edges, one indicated by15. Aninflation inlet cuff16 is connected to a heater/blower assembly18 which provides a stream of heated air through a connectinghose20. When the heater/blower18 is operated, the stream of heated air flows through the inflatinghose20 into thethermal blanket10 through theinflation cuff16. When the blanket is inflated, it erects itself into a Quonset hut-like structure with a quiltedupper surface21. As described below, a pattern of apertures on the undersurface of the blanket (not shown in FIG. 1) convectively delivers the inflating heated air into the interior space enclosed by the erected thermal blanket.

The contour of the inflatable portion of thethermal blanket10 is varied at thehead end12 of the blanket to provide anon-inflated blanket recess22 in the quiltedupper surface21, which remains smooth and flat when the blanket is inflated and erected. Circulation of the heating air is accelerated through the thermal blanket by exhaust port openings in the upper surface, adjacent the lateral edges of the blanket. Two exhaust ports openings are indicated byreference numeral23. Further, abib24 made of an absorbent material is attached to thehead end12 of the thermal blanket in the vicinity of thenon-inflated recess22. In fact, as shown in FIG. 1, thebib24 includes asemi-circular tab25 that extends into therecess22.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the thermal blanket of the invention is inflated, erects itself into a bathing structure, and bathes a patient26 with the thermally-controlled air used to inflate the structure. While the patient is being thermally bathed, theuninflated recess22 permits observation of the patient's head, face, neck, and chest from almost any location with respect to thethermal blanket10. Thus, if the patient is placed on a gurney or a bed, the head of which is against a wall, a care giver such as a nurse, intern, resident, or doctor, can keep the patient's face under observation from thefoot end14 of thethermal blanket10. Respiration can be detected by the rise and fall of the bib and uninflated area, which rest directly on the patient's chest. Moreover, thebib24 will provide an absorbent sink for stray, unconfined liquids in the area of the patient's head or at thehead end12 of thethermal blanket10.

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofthermal blanket10 opened flat to show details of its structure. FIG. 2 illustrates the upper surface of the thermal blanket, that is the side that is visible in FIG.1. As seen, the upper surface consists of a parallel array of elongated tubes of which30 and32 are the lateralmost tubes,34 is the center tube, and thetubes38 are arrayed between one of the lateralmost tubes and the center tube. Each tube is separated from an adjacent tube by a discontinuous seam, one of which is indicated by40. Theseam40 separates thetube32 and its nearestadjacent neighbor38. Thediscontinuous seam40 is interrupted bypassageways42 communicating between the tubes. An interrupted seam separates every tube from one adjacent neighboring tube. The seams permit the thermal blanket, when inflated, to assume a tubular structure on the upper surface, while theports42 permit full circulation of the inflating medium throughout the array of tubes. The foot-end seam45 is continuous. The tubes are inflated through thecenter tube34 which transitions to aport36, through which theinflation cuff16 is inserted. The edge seams43 are discontinuous only at the exhaustport opening locations23. A seal can be made between theinflation port36 and theinflation cuff16 by any conventional means, for example, an o-ring, or even tape. When the inflating medium is introduced into thecenter tube34, it flows laterally from the center tube into all of other tubes through theports42. Near thehead end12, acontinuous seam40 defines the forward end of all of the tubes, with the seam assuming a bell-curve shape. On the head end side of theseam40, thethermal blanket10 is uninflatable. The bell-shapedseam40 thus defines theuninflatable area22 at the head end of thethermal blanket10, which is essentially coplanar with, or substantially parallel to, the underside of the blanket. As shown in FIG. 1, by virtue of its structural integration with the rest of thethermal blanket10, the non-inflated recess extends over the upper chest of the patient26 when the blanket is inflated. However, since therecess22 is uninflated, it provides a wide-angled viewing gap in the inflated contour of theupper surface21. The gap is filled by continuation of the underside of the blanket. It is also noted that the pattern of inflatable tubes can be replaced by other suitable patterns of communicating, inflatable chambers. The tubes are preferred since they impart strength and shape to the erected bathing structure; other inflatable structures are contemplated, however.

The absorbent bib has an indent44 cut into its outside edge, which permits the blanket to be drawn up to the chin of patient and which provides absorbency laterally up the neck of the patient. The absorbent bib can consist of any absorbent material such as a single- or multi-ply tissue paper which is used to make paper towels.

Construction details of thethermal blanket10 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 an4. Thethermal blanket10 is assembled from a base sheet consisting of anunderside layer50 formed from flexible material capable of bonding to alayer52 of heat-sealable plastic. For thelayers50 and52, we have used a stratum of absorbent tissue paper prelaminated with a layer of heat-sealable plastic. Materials of such construction is commercially available in production rolls and is used to make painters' drop cloths. The upper side of the thermal blanket consists of a sheet of plastic bonded to theplastic layer52 by an interruptible heat-sealing process to form the interrupted seams, one of which is indicated by54, and the inflatable tubes, one indicated by55. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the interruption of theseam54 forms apassageway56 betweenadjacent tubes55 and57.

The absorbent bib and tab are shown in FIG. 3 as asingle material layer60/58. Alternatively, they may be formed from separate material sheets cut to the outlines illustrated in FIG.2. The absorbent material forming the bib and tab can be bonded to the upper plastic layer by heat process or by gluing.

The inventors also contemplate deletion of the bib and tab. In this instance, the thermal blanket would still have the viewing recess, which would be defined by the continuous seam at the head end, and which would be filled with the forward portion of the base sheet.

Circulation of heated air through the blanket is enhanced by theexhaust port openings23, which open through the upper plastic sheet, which is heat sealed to the base of the blanket. Theopenings23 vent the heated inflating air out of theoutermost tubes30 and32, away from the underside of the blanket. Because air can circulate to, and through, the blanket edges, the inflating air in the outermost tubes is hotter than if the openings were absent. This results in hotter air being delivered through the underside apertures toward the edge of the blanket. We have measured the temperature distribution within the thermal blanket for inflating air which is heated to a medium temperature range and for inflating air which is heated to a high temperature range. The results are provided in Table I for a blanket consisting of13 tubes. Measurements of the temperature of air exhausted through underside apertures were made on the underside of each tube on one side of the blanket. The tubes are numbered1-6, with1 being the tube adjacent to the center tube, and tube6 being the outermost tube adjacent on lateral edge of the blanket. Test apertures were made in the bottom of the tube6 only for the purposes of this test. As is evident, the distribution of temperature within the erected thermal blanket is more uniform when the exhaust port openings are provided. Further, provision of the exhaust ports also increases the average temperature within the erected structure of the blanket. Clearly, the provision of exhaust port openings at the lateral edges of the blanket delivers results which one would not expect when considering the operation of our thermal blanket with no exhaust port openings.

In our first preferred embodiment, the exhaust port openings are slits in the edge seams of our blanket. These slits vary in length from 1¾ to 2 inches. Each edge seam is discontinuous approximately at each corner of the blanket so that inflating air is vented away form the underside of the erected blanket. This keeps the relatively “colder” air at the blanket edges form mixing with the relatively “hotter” air exhausted into the structure through the underside apertures. The result is a “flatter” temperature profile of air within the blanket than without the vents, which raises the average temperature within the erected structure and makes the temperature distribution in the structure more uniform. Resultantly, the clinical effect of the blanket is enhanced. Heating is better controlled, and more uniform, with greater comfort to the patient.

	TABLE I
	MEDIUM	HIGH
	TEMPERATURE	TEMPERATURE
	RANGE	RANGE

	WITHOUT	WITH 2″	WITHOUT	WITH 2″
	EXHAUST	EXHAUST	EXHAUST	EXHAUST
TUBE NO.	PORTS	PORTS	PORTS	PORTS

center (inlet)	113.3° F.	114.1° F.	121.3° F.	121.3° F.
tube
Tube #1	109.9°	112.3°	117.3°	117.7°
Tube #2	105.3°	109.8°	113.4°	115.0°
Tube #3	103.2°	107.1°	111.0°	113.3°
Tube #4	99.9°	104.3°	101.4°	108.6°
Tube #5	97.2°	100.0°	95.7°	104.4°
Tube #6	85.2°	95.8°	89.6°	99.4°
(outermost)
Average temp.	103.8°	106.7°	108.4°	112.5°
under cover

The thermal blanket of the invention is enabled to bathe a patient in the thermally-controlled inflating medium introduced into the upper side tubes by means of a plurality ofapertures62 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The apertures extend through the underside of the blanket, which includes thelayers50 and52. Theapertures62 are made in the footprints of the tubes of the blanket upper side according to a pattern which has been determined to deliver a very uniform thermal bath. In this regard, no apertures are provided through the underside into the lateralmost tubes30 and32, or into thecenter tube34. In addition, theapertures62 are provided through the underside to the apertured tubes in a density which varies inversely with the proximity of the tube to thecenter tube34. Thus, the hole density increases from thetube38a through thetube38d. Even with the exhaust port openings, the temperature of the inflating medium exhibits a drop from the center to the lateral most tubes. The varying density of theapertures62 tends to reduce this gradient further by forcing hotter air to the edges of the blanket. Thus, the thermal bath delivered to the patient is of a generally uniform temperature. The aperture density variation also equalizes the flow of inflating medium out of the apertures. As will be evident, the inflating pressure will be greatest at thecenter tube34 and will tend to diminish toward the lateral edges of the thermal blanket. Therefore, fewer apertures are required for the tubes near thecenter tube34 to deliver the same amount of air as the relatively greater number of apertures in the tubes at a greater distance from thecenter tube34.

The apertures comprise openings which can be of any appropriate shape. For example, we have produced blankets with elongated apertures, approximately ¼ inch in length.

Our invention is illustrated as we intend for it to be used in a second aspect including a foot drape in FIG.7. Thefoot end14 of thethermal blanket10 is modified to provide an uninflateddrape forming section70 formed by a rearward extension of thebase sheet50/52 and a noninflatable portion of the heat-sealable plastic bonded to the base sheet. Thedrape forming sheet70 hassides72 extending parallel to and rearwardly from the outside edge of the edge seams43, and arear edge74. Optionally, the drape-formingsheet70 further includes a pair of V-shapedcuts76 in the rear corners thereof. The V-shapedcuts76 are formed by convergingcuts78 and80, extending inwardly from one of thesides72 and therear edge74, respectively, to a point ofintersection82. As shown in FIG. 7, the drape-formingsection70 may be formed into afoot drape90 that includes a pair ofside portions92, arear portion94 and anupper portion96. Thedrape90 is so formed by joining theedges78 and80 of the V-shapedcuts76 to form a pair ofseams98. To form theseams98, the V-shaped cut edges78 and80 may be folded aboutrespective lines100 and102 that parallel theedges78 and80, as shown in FIG.6. The resulting respective foldedsurfaces104 and106 may then be fastened together by appropriate means such as heat sealing. Joining thesurfaces104 and106 forms acease108 and transforms the two dimensionaldrape forming section70 into the threedimensional drape90.

Theresultant drape90 is non-inflatable but erectable under the force of the heated medium circulating around the patient. Thedrape90 thus traps and retains heat around the patient's feet to warm the feet. As shown in FIG. 7, thedrape90 also insulates the bare skin of the feet from excessive conductive heat from the inflatinghose70 in the event the hose is oriented in a position wherein it might otherwise come in contract with the feet. Patient warming and comfort is this further enhanced.

Our invention is illustrated as we intend for it to be used in a third aspect as an inflatable lower body covering in FIGS. 8 and 9. This covering warms convectively by exhausting warm air onto a patient. The thermal covering in this case is similar in all respects to the covering shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, except that the covering may be shortened to cover only the pelvic area and lower extremities of the patient. Moreover, the head end of the covering may be modified to provide an openflat working area122 for the placement of instrumentation and to improve visualization of the care site, as shown in FIG.9. As in the case of the thermal coverings discussed above, the covering110 of FIGS. 8 and 9 includes ahead end112, afoot end114, a pair oflateral edges115, and aninflation inlet cuff116 to which may be connected through aheater tube20 to a heater/blower assembly such as theassembly18 shown in FIG.1. As shown in FIG. 9, the covering110 may be inflated to form a Quonset hut-like structure with a quiltedupper surface121. Like thethermal covering10, a pattern of apertures on the undersurface of theblanket110 convectively delivers the inflating heated air into the interior space enclosed by the erected thermal blanket.

Alternatively, the head end of the quiltedupper surface121 could extend directly from oneedge115 to theother edge115 without the provision of anon-inflated blanket recess122, as shown in FIG.8. Further, anadhesive strip124 made of an adhesive material may be attached to thehead end112 of the covering110 and extend between theedges115. Preferably, theadhesive strip124 is mounted with its adhesive side oriented toward the base sheet, which includes an underside layer150 formed from a flexible material capable of bonding the layer152 of heat sealable plastic. The layers150/152 are formed in the same manner as thelayers50/52 shown in FIG.3 and described above. Mounted to the underside of theadhesive strip124 is a backing strip125, which may be positioned partially between theadhesive strip124 and the layer152 to prevent inadvertent peel-off.

As shown in FIG. 9, theadhesive strip124 may be adhered above the patient's pelvic and groin area to prevent the migration of air from inside the covering110 to the care site. Moreover, the optionalnon-inflated recess122 may be large and well-defined in order to improve visualization of the operating field and provide sufficient working area for resting instruments or other items during the rendering of care to apatient126.

Like its counterpart covering10, the covering110 includes a parallel array of elongated tubes of which130 and132 are the lateralmost tubes,134 is the center tube, and thetubes138 are arrayed between one of the lateralmost tubes and the center tube. Thethermal covering110 further includes a non-inflated yet erectable foot drape for retaining a thermal medium around a patient's feet. As in the covering shown in FIG. 6, the covering110 is provided with a non-inflateddrape forming section170 extending rearwardly from thefoot end114. The covering170 includes a pair ofsides172 and arear edge174. Moreover, thedrape forming sheet170 includes a pair of V-shapedcuts176 in the rear corner thereof. As shown in FIG. 9, thedrape forming section170 may be formed into anerectable foot drape190 that includes a pair ofside portion192, arear portion194, and anupper portion196. As in the covering10, thedrape190 of the covering110 is formed by joining the edges of the V-shapedcuts176 to form a pair ofseams198.

As with the longer full-body thermal blanket of FIGS. 1 and 2, the covering110 may be provided without a foot drape as appropriate. In that case, it may be desirable to slideably mount aprotective sleeve200 over the connectinghose20 to prevent the hose from contacting the patient.

Advantageously, it will be observed that the lowerbody warming cover110 maintains a thermal medium around the pelvic and groin area and lower extremities of the patient, while at the same time exposing the patient's torso and head as may be necessary for the provision of medical care and treatment to those areas.

Alternatively, or in combination with the lower bodythermal covering110, an upper bodythermal covering210 could be provided as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The upper bodythermal covering210 is structurally and functionally similar in most respects to thethermal coverings10 and110 discussed above. Thus, thethermal covering210 includes a head end212, afoot end214, a pair oflateral edges215, and an inflation inlet cuff216 which may be connected through a connectinghose20 to an external heater/blower assembly such as theassembly18 shown in FIG.1. Thethermal covering210 further includes a quiltedupper surface221, which may have anon-inflated recess222 located at the foot end of the covering, as shown in FIG.11. Thus, with the upper torso and arms of the patient being thermally bathed, theuninflated recess222 permits observation of the patient's middle torso from almost any location with respect to thethermal covering210.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, the quiltedupper surface221 could extend across the entire expanse of the covering between theedges215 such that nouninflated recess222 is formed. It is preferable in most cases, however, to provide a recess223 in the quiltedupper surface221 and thefoot end214 of the covering210 to accommodate the curvature of the patient's torso, as shown in FIG.11.

There may be additionally provided anadhesive strip224 mounted to thefoot end214 of thecovering210. Preferably, theadhesive strip224 is mounted with the adhesive side facing the base sheet, which includes an underside layer250 formed from a flexible material capable of bonding to a layer252 of heat sealable plastic. The layers250/252 are formed in the same manner as thelayers50/52 shown in FIG.3 and described above. Mounted to the underside of theadhesive strip224 is a backing strip225, which may be positioned partially between theadhesive strip224 and the layer252 to prevent inadvertent peel-off. As shown in FIG. 11, theadhesive strip224 may be adhered to the patient's torso to prevent the migration of air toward the care site.

The covering210 further includes an array of elongated tubes of which230 and232 are the lateral most tubes,234 is the center tube and thetubes238 are arrayed between one of the lateral most rubes and center tube. In addition, thethermal covering210 includes acutout area240 centrally positioned at the head end212 of the covering. Thecutout240 is formed by truncating thelateralmost tube230 and anadjacent tube238. Therecess240 permits observation of the patient's head and neck from almost any location with respect to thethermal blanket210. It also assists in the thermally covering the patient's shoulders and arms without covering the patient's face. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the bottom layer250/252 of the covering210 may extend slightly beyondlateral edges215 or the head end212, or it may be coextensive therewith.

As shown in FIG. 11, thethermal covering210 is positioned over the patient's upper torso and arms so as to thermally control those areas while leaving the patient's lower torso exposed for the provision of care. As indicated, thethermal covering210 may be used alone or in combination with thethermal covering110 depending on the location of the care site. Thus, various selected portions of the patient may be selectively warmed with the illustrated thermal coverings while care and treatment may be rendered to other areas. In addition, aplastic head drape260 may be adhesively mounted to the covering210 over the patient's chest, and adjacent thehead end230. Theplastic head drape260 is placed over the patient's head and one or more vents270 may be provided to direct warmed air to the head area.

In a preferred method of operation, one or both of thecoverings110 and210 may be selectively employed on a patient to warm selected portions of the patient while permitting other portions to remain exposed for treatment. In utilizing thecoverings110 and210, either alone or in combination, the covering110 or210 is first placed over the patient. The adhesive backing125 or225 is removed from theadhesive strip124 or224 and the adhesive strip is adhered to the patient to prevent the migration of air toward the care site. Thehose20 is then attached to the covering, an appropriate temperature is selected on theheater unit18 and theunit18 is activated. For the covering110, theprotective heater tube200 cover may also be used when the cover does not include a foot drape. For the covering210, thehead drape260 may be adhered to thequilted portion221 over the patient's chest and draped over the patient's head. As a final measure, a conventional blanket may be placed over the covering110 or210. During operation, the patient's temperature should be monitored regularly and the air temperature setting of theheater unit18 adjusted accordingly.

Many modifications and variations of our invention will be evident to those skilled in the art. For example, thermal coverings for additional selected patient areas could be implemented depending on the location of the care site and the need for thermally maintaining other areas. It is understood that such variations may deviate from specific teachings of this description without departing from the essence of the invention, which is expressed in the following claims.

Claims (9)

We claim:

1. In a self-erecting inflatable thermal blanket for covering and bathing a portion of a patient's body in a thermally-controlled inflating medium, the improvement comprising:

a flexible base sheet having a head end, a foot end, two edges, and a plurality of apertures;

an overlaying flexible material sheet attached to a first surface of said base sheet by a plurality of discontinuous seams which form said overlaying material sheet into a plurality of communicating inflatable chambers, said apertures opening through said base sheet into said chambers;

said inflatable chambers in said covering for substantially longitudinal disposition over a portion of a patient's body extending substantially from the pelvic area of said patient's body to the feet of said patient's body;

a continuous seam between said overlaying material sheet and said base sheet near said head end which closes ends of said inflatable chamber; and

a non-inflatable section of said thermal blanket extending substantially between said continuous seam and said head end and including an end portion of said flexible base sheet.

2. The improvement ofclaim 1 further including a non-inflatable extension of said thermal blanket for covering said feet.

3. The improvement ofclaim 1 further including an attachment means at said head end for adhering said head end to said pelvic area and preventing migration of air from under said thermal blanket toward a care site.

4. In a self-erecting, inflatable thermal blanket for covering and bathing a portion of a patient's body in a thermally-controlled inflating medium, the improvement comprising:

a flexible base sheet having a head end, a foot end, two edges, and a plurality of apertures;

an overlaying flexible material sheet attached to a first surface of said base sheet by a plurality of discontinuous seams which form said overlaying material sheet into a plurality of communicating, inflatable chambers, said apertures opening through said base sheet into said chambers;

said inflatable chambers for substantially transverse disposition over a portion of said patient's body and extending substantially across the arms and chest of said patient's body;

a continuous seam between said overlaying material sheet and said base sheet near said head end which closes ends of said inflatable chambers; and

a non-inflatable section of said thermal blanket extending substantially between said continuous seam and said head end and including an end portion of said flexible base sheet;

and

a head drape at said head end to drape over a patient's head.

5. The improvement ofclaim 4 further including a flat uninflatable section of said thermal blanket at said foot end extending over said chest.

6. The improvement ofclaim 4 further including an attachment means at said foot end for adhering said foot end to said chest and preventing migration of air from under said thermal blanket toward a care site.

7. The improvement ofclaim 4 further including a head drape at said head end to drape over a patient's head.

8. An A self-erectinginflatable thermal blanket for convectively controlling the temperature of a portion of a patient's body, comprising:

a self-erectingan inflatable cover with an undersurface and a plurality of substantially elongate, inflatable chambers for substantially transverse disposition over a portion of a patient's body and extending substantially across the arms and chest of said patient's body;

an inflating inlet for admitting a thermally-controlled inflating medium into said chambers for erection of said inflatable covering;

an array of apertures in said undersurface for exhausting a thermally-controlled inflating medium from said chambers through said undersurface to a space between said undersurface and said patient's body;

a first recess in said inflatable chambers extending across and closing off first inflatable chambers adjacent a first peripheral margin of said inflatable covering;

a second recess in said inflatable chambers extending across and closing off second inflatable chambers adjacent a second peripheral margin of said inflatable covering opposite said first peripheral margin;

the second recess for accommodating the curvature of said patient's torso; and

attachment means at said second recess for adhering said inflatable covering to said chest and preventing migration of air from underneath said thermal blanket toward a care site;

and

a head drape at said first peripheral margin.

9. An A self-erecting inflatable thermal blanket for convectively controlling the temperature of a portion of a patient's body, comprising:

a self-erectingan inflatable cover with an undersurface and a plurality of substantially elongate, inflatable chambers for substantially transverse disposition over a portion of a patient's body and extending substantially across the arms and chest of said patient's body;

an inflating inlet for admitting a thermally-controlled inflating medium into said chambers for erection of said inflatable covering;

an array of apertures in said undersurface for exhausting a thermally-controlled inflating medium from said chambers through said undersurface to a space between said undersurface and said patient's body;

a first recess in said inflatable chambers extending across and closing off first inflatable chambers adjacent a first peripheral margin of said inflatable covering;

a second recess in said inflatable chambers extending across and closing off second inflatable chambers adjacent a second peripheral margin of said inflatable covering opposite said first peripheral margin;

the second recess for accommodating the curvature of said patient's torso; and

a head drape at said first recess to drape over a patient's head.

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