Abstract: A patient temperature control system (10) uses variable temperature gradient warming/cooling in combination with a warming/cooling device (16), such as a blanket, to increase efficiency in driving a patient's temperature to a desired setpoint, with reduced occurrence of and magnitude of overshoot conditions. In operation, the controller (26) of the system (10) senses the temperature of a patient (12) via a sensor (31), for comparison to a temperature of the circulating water, sensed via sensor (30). If the patient temperature is not sufficiently close to a setpoint temperature, the system (10) is operable to warm/cool the circulating water to a temperature which differs from the patient's temperature by a temperature gradient of 10 ° C., or some other preselected initial temperature gradient.

Abstract: A fluid disinfection unit [40] is incorporated into a patient warming/cooling system [10], to reduce the risk of bacteria buildup in the warming/cooling fluid, which is typically water. More particularly, a mobile housing [17] contains the operable components for circulating warming/cooling fluid to a patient [12], including a pump [23], a heating/cooling source [24], a reservoir [22], a controller [26] and a control panel [32] to assist a user in operating the components. The reservoir [22] has upper [22a] and lower [22b] sections, for replenishing water and circulating water, respectively. A UV source [40] is mounted so as to extend through both reservoir sections [22a, 22b], to simultaneously emit UV light into both sections during circulation of the warming/cooling fluid, thereby to disinfect the water contained therein. The UV source [40] includes a bulb [42] protected within a transparent cover [44] that is completely transparent, and has been treated so as to be shatterproof.

Abstract: A fluid disinfection unit [40] is incorporated into a patient warming/cooling system [10], to reduce the risk of bacteria buildup in the warming/cooling fluid, which is typically water. More particularly, a mobile housing [17] contains the operable components for circulating warming/cooling fluid to a patient [12], including a pump [23], a heating/cooling source [24], a reservoir [22], a controller [26] and a control panel [32] to assist a user in operating the components. The reservoir [22] has upper [22a] and lower [22b] sections, for replenishing water and circulating water, respectively. A UV source [40] is mounted so as to extend through both reservoir sections [22a, 22b], to simultaneously emit UV light into both sections during circulation of the warming/cooling fluid, thereby to disinfect the water contained therein. The UV source [40] includes a bulb [42] protected within a transparent cover [44] that is completely transparent, and has been treated so as to be shatterproof.

Abstract: A patient temperature control system (10) uses variable temperature gradient warming/cooling in combination with a warming/cooling device (16), such as a blanket, to increase efficiency in driving a patient's temperature to a desired setpoint, with reduced occurrence of and magnitude of overshoot conditions. In operation, the controller (26) of the system (10) senses the temperature of a patient (12) via a sensor (31), for comparison to a temperature of the circulating water, sensed via sensor (30). If the patient temperature is not sufficiently close to a setpoint temperature, the system (10) is operable to warm/cool the circulating water to a temperature which differs from the patient's temperature by a temperature gradient of 10° C., or some other preselected initial temperature gradient.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a singular scroll compressor, a condenser and a compressor. The system is charged with R410A refrigerant. The system finds particular use in an environment testing and conditioning apparatus having means to deliver conditioned air efficiently to a test chamber. The apparatus comprises the test chamber and an air plenum chamber.

Abstract: A multiple wavelength laser system includes an active laser gain medium comprising metal vapor which, when excited, produces laser radiation at a plurality of wavelengths. A plurality of medically useable wavelengths are coaxially transmitted from the laser system for simultaneous use in a medical procedure. One of the wavelengths produced is closely matched to a light absorption peak of either water or Hemoglobin, and another wavelength is matched to the other of these light absorption peaks or a targeted photosensitive agent or chemical. The disclosed laser system can also include a laser gain medium comprising a plurality of metal vapors to produce the plurality of wavelengths desired. In preferred embodiments, the metal vapors can include barium, thulium, and/or samarium. A laser conversion device such as an OPO crystal may also be included to convert a portion of the radiation to one or more additional medically useable wavelengths.

Abstract: The cold therapy unit of this invention includes a small portable ice chest and an electronic control unit to provide a unit which is safe to use right after surgery and has a portion which may be taken home by the patient. The combined unit provides the safety and accuracy of an institutional unit and the practicality and affordability of a portable take home unit. The cold therapy device includes an electronic control unit similar to the current institutional units in that it includes a thermoelectric module along with its associated electronic controls and a pump. The electronic control unit includes couplings to connect hoses leading to the patient and the cooling pad. Further, the portable ice chest having a lid fitted with an electric fluid pump which includes quick connect couplings allowing the ice chest to be placed in fluid communication with the electronic control unit. Finally, the fluid pump is electrically connected to the electronic control unit.

Abstract: A hyper-hypothermia disposable blanket for use by medical personnel warms or cools a patient by a stratum of temperature controlled and filtered air. The blanket comprises a bottom layer of air pervious non-woven material and a top layer of air impervious material. The top layer is sealed at its edges to the bottom layer to form a chamber therebetween. A set of longitudinal seals within the chamber is used to create air flow channels and a manifold. A receptacle opening is also provided in the top layer near a foot end to detachably receive an air hose such that temperature controlled air passes into the manifold and is then directed to flow primarily through outermost air flow channels and eventually into an innermost air flow channel. The air flow creates a build up of pressurized air in the chamber which ultimately causes a stratum of air having a substantially uniform temperature to flow through the bottom layer of the blanket and onto the patient.

Abstract: A convective hyperthermia article is disclosed. The article has a generally U-shaped hollow body with two legs and a cross piece connecting the legs. The article is dimensioned to lie adjacent a patient's body and extend a substantial length thereof. A set of air holes is spaced on at least the underside of the article. The article also has a receptacle opening to detachably receive an air hose from a heat source. Heated air is received in the interior of the hyperthermia article and directed through the air holes onto the patient's body. The article is economically produced so as to be disposable.

Abstract: A configured pad for use on a body part of a patient to provide cooling is dimensioned to conform to multi-shapes for enhanced versatility in use. The configured pad is a substantially flattened member having a main section with generally oblong-shaped branches extending forwardly on each side and a generally circular-shaped branch extending forwardly from the main section. A cooling zone portion of the pad has an internal flow channel which extends from a lower center half area of the main section along divided halves of the first generally oblong-shaped branch, generally circular-shaped center branch and the second generally oblong-shaped branch to a second lower center half area of the main section. The configured pad has an inlet port tube and an outlet port tube positioned in the lower center area of the cooling zone portion of substantially flattened member for the flow of cooling water through the internal flow channel.

Abstract: There is provided a conversion system for use with commercially available laser devices for medical applications where laser light at a predetermined wavelength is converted for simultaneous coaxial application of laser light at a plurality of predetermined medically useable wavelengths. The conversion system includes focusing structure for focusing laser radiation at predetermined pump wavelength into a conversion medium. The conversion medium is prepared for efficient conversion of a portion of the radiation at the input pump wavelength to a signal wavelength, wherein, in one preferred application, either the pump or signal wavelength is in a range of between about 2.7 and about 3.25 microns. The system further includes structure for coaxially transmitting laser radiation at the resulting plurality of wavelengths from the conversion system for simultaneous use.