Abstract: A thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges and an undersurface. The covering is inflated through an inlet at the foot end by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the covering exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the covering. Exhaust port openings are provided that the edges of the covering to vent the inflating medium, which enhances circulation of the thermally-controlled medium through the cover. An uninflatable section is provided at the head end, together with an absorbent bib attached to the covering, adjacent the uninflatable section. An uninflatable section may also be provided at the foot end having a pair of seams to form an erectable drape section. When inflated, the thermal blanket self-erects and provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the erected structure.

Abstract: One or more portions of an inflatable thermal blanket that is sized sufficiently to fully cover a patient are gathered and maintained in a non-inflated condition by a closure such that a thermally-controlled inflating medium admitted into the blanket is prevented from being admitted into the gathered portion(s), thereby leaving a primary part of the patient covered and exposing a part of the patient for medical attention. Thereafter the closure can be released to permit the inflating medium to be admitted into the gathered portion such that the gathered portion self-erects and assumes an inflated condition. The released thermal blanket covers the entire patient and bathes the patient in the inflating medium. The closure can be provided as an elongated tape strip with a central perforation that can be separated.

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.

Abstract: A convective thermal blanket is provided which warms or cools a patient's head and body areas by convection. The blanket includes a covering which has top and bottom layers of material, the covering being sealed along its periphery so as to form a plenum chamber. The head end of the covering has a recess for receiving a patient's head. The recess forms the head end of the covering into a pair of flaps, each flap being adapted to extend along a respective side of the patient's head and the covering below the recess being adapted to cover the patient's chest or body area. The recess also forms the plenum chamber into a main plenum chamber for the chest area and a pair of secondary plenum chambers, each secondary plenum chamber being in a respective flap for the head area. The covering has an inlet opening for receiving a gaseous medium for inflating the main plenum chamber and the secondary plenum chambers.

Abstract: A thermal blanket of the Augustine type includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges and an undersurface. The covering is inflated through an inlet by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the covering exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the covering. Exhaust port openings are provided at the edges of the covering to vent the inflating medium, which enhances circulation of the thermally-controlled medium through the cover toward the periphery of the thermal blanket. A pair of uninflatable drape sections are provided at the head end for covering the chest area and enabling viewing thereof. When inflated, the thermal blanket self-erects and provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the erected structure. When the structure covers a patient, the uninflatable transparent section at the head end provides a relatively unobstructed view of the sides of the patient's chest and upper torso.

Abstract: A thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges and an undersurface. The covering is inflated through an inlet at the foot end by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the covering exhausts the thermally-controlled inflating medium from the covering. Exhaust port openings are provided at the edges of the covering to vent the inflating medium, which enhances circulation of the thermally-controlled medium through the cover. An uninflatable section is provided at the head end, together with an absorbent bib attached to the covering, adjacent the uninflatable section. When inflated, the thermal blanket self-erects and provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the erected structure.

Abstract: A thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges and an undersurface. The covering is inflated through an inlet at the foot end by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the covering exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the covering. Exhaust port openings are provided at the edges of the covering to vent the inflating medium, which enhances circulation of the thermally-controlled medium through the cover. An uninflatable section is provided at the head end, together with an absorbent bib attached to the covering, adjacent the uninflatable section. An uninflatable section may also be provided at the foot end having a pair of seams to form an erectable drape section.

Abstract: An inflatable chamber which is formable into a generally U-shaped structure includes an air inlet for receiving a thermally-controlled inflating medium and a plurality of holes in a side portion. When the medium is received in the chamber, it is expelled through the holes and bathes a patient to effect hypothermia treatment. In addition, the apparatus may include selectively positionable non-inflatable coverings for selectively warming pediatric patient body portions while leaving other portions exposed to untreated ambient air.

Abstract: An endotracheal stylet guide includes an elongate, arcuate section, and a substantially J-shaped tracheal-seeking section on the distal end of the arcuate section. The stylet guide is inserted, distal end first, into an endotracheal tube. The tube is positioned in the throat such that the J-shaped, tracheal-seeking section is adjacent the epiglottis, opposing the opening to the larynx. The stylet guide is advanced in the endotracheal tube, and the J-shaped section enters and tracks down the trachea. The endotracheal tube is then advanced on the stylet guide, into the trachea. The stylet guide is removed and intubation then proceeds conventionally.

Abstract: A tracheal intubation guide having a tubular member with a curved forward end shaped to follow the curvature of the back of the tongue and throat of a patient, and a rear end for projecting out through the mouth of the patient, and an anterior guide surface extending along at least part of the length of the member to its forward end for guiding the member into the throat into a position opposite the opening into the larynx. The tubular member has a through bore for holding an endotracheal tube, and the guide surface has a forward edge of concave shape for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament when the member is accurately positioned. Correct positioning can be detected by external palpation of the neck.

Abstract: A thermal blanket of the Augustine type includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges and an undersurface. The covering is inflated through an inlet by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the covering exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the covering. Exhaust port openings are provided at the edges of the covering to vent the inflating medium, which enhances circulation of the thermally-controlled medium through the cover toward the periphery of the thermal blanket. A pair of uninflatable drape sections are provided at the head end for covering the chest area and enabling viewing thereof. When inflated, the thermal blanket self-erects and provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the erected structure. When the structure covers a patient, the uninflatable transparent section at the head end provides a relatively unobstructed view of the sides of the patient's chest and upper torso.

Abstract: IV fluid is warmed while being intravenously-administered to a patient through an IV tube by positioning a portion of the tube at a warming location and flowing a heated gas past the warming location to heat the tube, which thereby heats the IV fluids flowing in the tube.

Abstract: A tube support for facilitating bedside attachment of a life support tube or duct includes a base member configured to rest on a surface, a tube support member having a tube support shoulder at one end thereof and a pivotal attachment extending between the base member and the tube support member for pivotally connecting the base and tube support members.

Abstract: A tracheal intubation guide comprises a tubular member having a curved forward end shaped to follow the curvature of the back of the tongue and throat of a patient, and a rear end for projecting out through the mouth of the patient, and an anterior guide surface extending along at least part of the length of the member to its forward end for guiding the member into the throat into a position opposite the opening into the larynx. The tubular member has a through bore for holding an endotracheal tube, and the guide surface has a forward edge of concave shape for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament when the member is accurately positioned. Correct positioning can be detected by external palpation of the neck.