Abstract: A hospital bed may include a support structure, a controller, a pressure source coupled to the controller, and a hospital bed mattress carried by the support structure and having first and second ends, and first and second sides extending between the first and second ends. The hospital bed mattress may include bladders coupled to the pressure source. The bladders extend between the first and second ends and between the first and second sides and configured to provide pressure differential. The controller may be configured to pseudo-randomly adjust an internal pressure of each of the bladders.

Abstract: A pillow may include a pillowcase having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, and first and second opposing sides extending between the first end and the second end. The pillowcase also may include first and second end chambers respectively adjacent the first and second ends, a medial chamber between the first and second end chambers, and baffles extending between the first and second opposing sides and defining the first and second end chambers and the medial chamber. The pillow also may include a pillow insert within one of the first and second end chambers, and the medial chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heating device which is adapted to be used to warm medical solutions contained within medical devices such as an intravenous bag, intravenous tube or respiratory circuit. The heating device includes an elongated flexible material tube having an interior medical solution channel and a pair of heat channels. The heat channels are filled or coated with a flexible, electrically conductive substance, which forms an electrical resistor. The conductive substance is electrically coupled to an electric power source controller. Electric current passing through the conductive substance creates heat which is transferred from the heat channels to the medical solution contained within the interior medical solution channel.

Abstract: A pillow may include a pillowcase having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, and first and second opposing sides extending between the first end and the second end. The pillowcase also may include first and second end chambers respectively adjacent the first and second ends, a medial chamber between the first and second end chambers, and baffles extending between the first and second opposing sides and defining the first and second end chambers and the medial chamber. The pillow also may include a pillow insert within one of the first and second end chambers, and the medial chamber.

Abstract: A hospital bed may include a support structure, a controller, a pressure source coupled to the controller, and a hospital bed mattress carried by the support structure and having first and second ends, and first and second sides extending between the first and second ends. The hospital bed mattress may include bladders coupled to the pressure source. The bladders extend between the first and second ends and between the first and second sides and configured to provide pressure differential. The controller may be configured to pseudo-randomly adjust an internal pressure of each of the bladders.

Abstract: A warming blanket (8) has a metalized fabric exterior layer and a heating element formed from a random fiber carbon veil material (52). A conductive ink layer (56) is deposited onto opposite side edges of the carbon veil material as side rails. Lower conductive strips (58) are attached onto a bottom edge of the carbon veil material. Each lower conductive strip is electrically coupled to a side rail. The lower conductive strips have connecting ends (60) which are spaced from each other so as to accept a connection circuit board. Side conductive strips (62) are coupled to the conductive ink side rails. Electrical current controlled by the connection circuit board is passed through the carbon veil material to create heat.

Abstract: A medical gown (10) includes a front side (11) joined to a back side (12) along a top seam (23) having a front side (24) and a back side (25) which are releasably joined together. The top seam front side includes an elongated strip of very small hook type fasteners (28). The top seam back side includes a pair of outer high strength loop type fasteners (31) (high bonding strength) spaced apart to allow the exposure of the exterior surface (20) of the gown back side which forms small loops that are considered an area of low strength loop type fasteners (34) (low bonding strength). The mating of the high strength loop type fasteners with the hook type fasteners provides a higher degree of separation resistance compared to that between the low strength loop type fasteners and the hook type fasteners.

Abstract: A medical face shield (10) is disclosed having a flexible front plate or shield (11), a foam forehead pad (21), and a flexible, stretchable headband (22). The front shield has a viewing window (25) which is positioned to be directly in front of a person's eyes wearing the face shield. The viewing window is surrounded by a translucent, peripheral margin, frame, or window surrounding portion (27) which provides an anti-glare characteristic or capability to the margin.

Abstract: An examination gown (10) has a front side (11) of a metalized fabric material and a back side (12) made of a material which includes small fibers. The back side has a back seam which includes a top side (24) and a bottom side which are releasably joined together. The seam top side includes a pair of high strength loop type fasteners (31) spaced apart to allow the exposure of the interior surface of the seam top side therebetween which forms a low strength loop type fasteners. The back seam bottom side (25) includes a strip of hook type fasteners (36). The mating of the high strength loop type fasteners with the hook type fasteners provides a high degree of separation resistance compared to that of the low strength loop type fasteners. The front side has a laterally extending front seam (41) similar in construction to the back seam.

Abstract: A medical gown (10) includes a front side (11) joined to a back side (12) along a top seam (23) having a front side (24) and a back side (25) which are releasably joined together. The top seam front side includes an elongated strip of very small hook type fasteners (28). The top seam back side includes a pair of outer high strength loop type fasteners (31) (high bonding strength) spaced apart to allow the exposure of the exterior surface (20) of the gown back side which forms small loops that are considered an area of low strength loop type fasteners (34) (low bonding strength). The mating of the high strength loop type fasteners with the hook type fasteners provides a higher degree of separation resistance compared to that between the low strength loop type fasteners and the hook type fasteners.

Abstract: An examination gown (10) has a front side (11) of a metalized fabric material and a back side (12) made of a material which includes small fibers. The back side has a back seam which includes a top side (24) and a bottom side which are releasably joined together. The seam top side includes a pair of high strength loop type fasteners (31) spaced apart to allow the exposure of the interior surface of the seam top side therebetween which forms a low strength loop type fasteners. The back seam bottom side (25) includes a strip of hook type fasteners (36). The mating of the high strength loop type fasteners with the hook type fasteners provides a high degree of separation resistance compared to that of the low strength loop type fasteners. The front side has a laterally extending front seam (41) similar in construction to the back seam.

Abstract: A vasodilation sleeve (10) is disclosed having a tubular middle section (11) having on opening (12) at each end to which a stretchable cuff (13). The tubular middle section (11) is made of a soft, flexible heat reflective material which retains a patient's body heat. The sleeve (10) is placed upon a patient's limb over the site of a vascular puncture. The patient's body heat is trapped within the sleeve (10) causing a warming of the skin, the heat reflective material aids in quickly warming the limb which causes the underlying veins to dilate.

Abstract: A metalized fabric (10) is disclosed a first layer (15) of clear thermoplastic material, a second layer (16) of vaporized aluminum material (metalized layer), a third layer (17) of thermoplastic material, and a fourth layer (18) of lofted billow spunbond thermoplastic material. The four layers are sealed together in a pattern that forms a series, matrix or field of large pillowed areas or regions (20) surrounded at four sides by smaller pillowed regions (21). The seals (23) are non-continuous or fragmented, as they are formed by several unjoined segments (24) which provide a less stiff feel to the metalized fabric.

Abstract: A foldable pillow (10) is disclosed having a pillow base (11) and a flexible strap (12) coupled to and spanning the pillow base. The pillow base is generally rectangular in shape having a top surface layer (14) and a bottom surface layer (15) which form an outer covering. The pillow strap is coupled to the pillow base closer to one end side (18) than the other end side. In use, the pillow may be folded and maintained in a folded configuration by tucking one end of the pillow below the strap.

Abstract: A support surface (10) is disclosed which includes a foam perimeter (18), a truncated-triangular shaped core (19), a foam topper (21), and a coverlet (22). The foam perimeter includes an interior well (25) defined by a floor (26), a top surface (27), and at least two diverging side walls (28). The core is comprised of a plurality of trapezoidal-shaped, inflatable air cells (31). Each air cell has a bottom wall (32), a top wall (33), two side walls (34), and two end walls (35). The ends walls diverge from each other as they extend from the bottom wall to the top wall so that each air cell has a generally trapezoidal shape along its lateral length.