Abstract: The invention provides fluid warming apparatus comprising: a fan; a heater, the fan and the heater being configured to generate a heated fluid flow having a principle flow direction and an inhomogeneous temperature distribution in a distribution direction perpendicular to the said principle flow direction; and a plurality of temperature sensors offset from each other in the said distribution direction, wherein at least two of the temperature sensors are configured to measure temperatures of respective portions of the heated fluid flow having different temperatures.

Abstract: The invention provides a temperature-regulation apparatus with a segmented metal-containing layer. The metal-containing layer has an electrically insulating coating and a plurality of mutually electrically insulated planar metal segments to increase insulation by reducing thermal emissivity whilst minimizing the hazards of an electrically conductive layer. The temperature-regulation apparatus may comprise a blanket which may be used to actively supply temperature regulated air for regulating the temperature of a subject, in which case it includes at least one port, or it may be used to passively maintain the temperature of a subject, or it may comprise a temperature-regulation garment.

Abstract: A thermal therapy garment that covers at least the lower extremities of a patient. The garment has an air impermeable outer layer and an air permeable inner layer. An inflatable air chamber is defined between the inner and outer layers. An inlet port connects to the chamber to allow inflation with conditioned air, which is exhausted through the inner layer over a selected region of the patient's lower body. A gown has a length sufficient to overlap a waist portion of the garment, The gown has an opening that coincides with the inlet port, thereby allowing a hose to pass through the gown and connect to the inlet port. In one embodiment, the gown has sleeves and/or a posterior portion that are heat reflective whereby the extremities are warmed to minimize the core to peripheral temperature gradient.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fluid warming system (300) for warming intravenous fluid, comprising: a heater unit (304), including a heating element (314) and at least one temperature sensor; a heat exchanger unit (302), removably attachable to the heater unit (304), which includes an inlet (306) and an outlet (308) through which the fluid can pass, and a controller (316), programmed: to receive at least one temperature measurement (TCI, TCO) from said at least one temperature sensor in the heater unit (304); to compute a fluid flow rate (q), corresponding to the rate of flow of fluid from the inlet (306) to the outlet (308) of the heat exchanger unit (302), in dependence on the amount of electrical power (PH) supplied to the heating element and said at least one temperature measurement (TCI, TCO); and to control the electrical power (PH) supplied to the heating element in dependence on the computed fluid flow rate (q).

Abstract: A device for warming a human body. The device is a gown (100, 1500) that has a thorax portion (110, 1502) and a leg portion (112, 1504). One embodiment prevents redistribution hypothermia with a distributor (206) attached to the inside of the leg portion (112). The sleeves (108), leg portion (112), and posterior of the gown (100) are heat reflective. The anterior of the thorax portion (110) of the gown is non-reflective. The distributor (206) inflates when heated air is supplied and exhausts air into the gown (100). Temperature is maintained at a desired level for the extremities, while preventing the thorax area from being elevated to an uncomfortable level. Another embodiment is a perioperative warming device. The device is a gown (1500) that has a thorax portion (1502) and a leg portion (1504). Each portion has an independent air chamber and inlet. The two portions are releasably connected. The sleeves (1508), leg portion (1504), and anterior of the gown (1500) are heat reflective.

Abstract: A device for warming a human body. The device is a gown that has a body with a thorax portion and a leg portion. One embodiment prevents redistribution hypothermia with a distributor attached to the inside of the leg portion. The sleeves, leg portion, and posterior of the gown are heat reflective. The anterior of the thorax portion of the gown is non-reflective. The distributor inflates when heated air is supplied. The distributor exhausts air into the gown. Temperature is maintained at a desired level for the extremities, while preventing the thorax area from being elevated to an uncomfortable level. Another embodiment is a perioperative warming device. The device is a gown that has a thorax portion and a leg portion. Each portion has an independent air chamber and inlet. The two portions are releasably connected. The sleeves, leg portion, and anterior of the gown are heat reflective.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fluid warming system (300) for warming intravenous fluid, comprising: a heater unit (304), including a heating element (314) and at least one temperature sensor; a heat exchanger unit (302), removably attachable to the heater unit (304), which includes an inlet (306) and an outlet (308) through which the fluid can pass, and a controller (316), programmed: to receive at least one temperature measurement (TCI, TCO) from said at least one temperature sensor in the heater unit (304); to compute a fluid flow rate (q), corresponding to the rate of flow of fluid from the inlet (306) to the outlet (308) of the heat exchanger unit (302), in dependence on the amount of electrical power (PH) supplied to the heating element and said at least one temperature measurement (TCI, TCO); and to control the electrical power (PH) supplied to the heating element in dependence on the computed fluid flow rate (q).

Abstract: The invention provides a method of selecting one or more patient temperature regulation tools is provided. The method comprises: providing a database storing one or more properties of each of a plurality of temperature regulation tools; selecting one or more patient temperature regulation tools from the database; calculating an estimated patient heat balance taking into account one or more of the one or more properties of the selected patient temperature regulation tool(s); providing an indication of the estimated patient heat balance; and providing a visual aid illustrating the one or more selected patient temperature regulation tools regulating the temperature of a patient. The method may be used for selecting one or more patient temperature tools for a patient who is to undergo a medical procedure. Additionally or alternatively, the method may be use as an e-learning tool.

Abstract: A device for warming a human body. The device is a gown (100, 1500) that has a thorax portion (110, 1502) and a leg portion (112, 1504). One embodiment prevents redistribution hypothermia with a distributor (206) attached to the inside of the leg portion (112). The sleeves (108), leg portion (112), and posterior of the gown (100) are heat reflective. The anterior of the thorax portion (110) of the gown is non-reflective. The distributor (206) inflates when heated air is supplied and exhausts air into the gown (100). Temperature is maintained at a desired level for the extremities, while preventing the thorax area from being elevated to an uncomfortable level. Another embodiment is a perioperative warming device. The device is a gown (1500) that has a thorax portion (1502) and a leg portion (1504). Each portion has an independent air chamber and inlet. The two portions are releasably connected. The sleeves (1508), leg portion (1504), and anterior of the gown (1500) are heat reflective.

Abstract: A device for warming a human body. The device is a gown that has a body with a thorax portion and a leg portion. One embodiment prevents redistribution hypothermia with a distributor attached to the inside of the leg portion. The sleeves, leg portion, and posterior of the gown are heat reflective. The anterior of the thorax portion of the gown is non-reflective. The distributor inflates when heated air is supplied. The distributor exhausts air into the gown. Temperature is maintained at a desired level for the extremities, while preventing the thorax area from being elevated to an uncomfortable level. Another embodiment is a perioperative warming device. The device is a gown that has a thorax portion and a leg portion. Each portion has an independent air chamber and inlet. The two portions are releasably connected. The sleeves, leg portion, and anterior of the gown are heat reflective.

Abstract: A thermal therapy garment that covers at least the lower extremities of a patient. The garment has an air impermeable outer layer and an air permeable inner layer. An inflatable air chamber is defined between the inner and outer layers. An inlet port connects to the chamber to allow inflation with conditioned air, which is exhausted through the inner layer over a selected region of the patient's lower body. A gown has a length sufficient to overlap a waist portion of the garment, The gown has an opening that coincides with the inlet port, thereby allowing a hose to pass through the gown and connect to the inlet port. In one embodiment, the gown has sleeves and/or a posterior portion that are heat reflective whereby the extremities are warmed to minimize the core to peripheral temperature gradient.