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: A forced air warming blanket for providing conditioned gas to a patient and a method of using and manufacturing the same. The forced air warming blanket comprises a first blanket portion which comprises a generally U-shaped inflatable region, at least part of the external surface of the inflatable region being air permeable, as well as an inlet port for receiving temperature conditioned gas. An inner blanket portion is provided within the generally U-shaped inflatable region of the first blanket portion. The inner blanket portion is at least partially (or wholly) detachable from the first blanket portion. The inner blanket portion may also have an inflatable region. An outer blanket portion may be provided.

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 heater unit (1600) for conductively heating a removable heat exchanger unit (1602) via a heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger unit, the heater unit comprising: a body portion (1610) for receiving the heat exchanger unit (1602); a flexible heating element (1604) which, in use, makes thermal contact with the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger unit; a compressible portion (1606) disposed on the distal side of the flexible heating element (1604) relative to the heat exchanger unit (1602) when received; and a biasing arrangement (1608) operable, in use, to distribute a transverse compression force across the arrangement formed from the compressible portion (1606), the heating element (1604) and the heat exchanger unit (1602), whereby the compression force causes the heating element (1604) to be urged towards the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger unit (1602) and the compressible portion, in conjunction with the compression force, causes the heating element (1604) to co

Abstract: The invention provides a forced air warmer comprising: a chamber having an outlet port; an air heater arranged to heat air within the chamber; an air propagator arranged to propagate heated air from the chamber along a heated air flow path passing through the port; and a temperature sensor provided in the heated air flow path to measure the temperature of heated air propagated along the heated air flow path. The forced air warmer further comprises an air flow conditioner in the heated air flow path downstream of the temperature sensor, the air flow conditioner being arranged to condition air flow at the temperature sensor so as to improve the reliability of temperature measurements made by the temperature sensor. The forced air warmer may be used to supply heated air to an air warming blanket for regulating the temperature of a patient.

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: The invention provides a forced air warmer comprising: a chamber having an outlet port; an air heater arranged to heat air within the chamber; an air propagator arranged to propagate heated air from the chamber along a heated air flow path passing through the port; and a temperature sensor provided in the heated air flow path to measure the temperature of heated air propagated along the heated air flow path. The forced air warmer further comprises an air flow conditioner in the heated air flow path downstream of the temperature sensor, the air flow conditioner being arranged to condition air flow at the temperature sensor so as to improve the reliability of temperature measurements made by the temperature sensor. The forced air warmer may be used to supply heated air to an air warming blanket for regulating the temperature of a patient.

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 disposable that is suitable for application in a device for heating a physiological fluid, in particular blood, comprising a conduit for conducting fluid, which conduit comprises conduit sections that are arranged next to each other and bends that connect the conduit section, wherein at least one of the bends comprises a first turbulence-inducing obstruction.

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.