Patents by Inventor Alan Stec

Alan Stec has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9969127
    Abstract: A convective blanket may be converted from an underbody blanket to a combination over body and underbody blanket by having an openable seal positioned substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the blanket away from the head area of the blanket. The seal may be preformed with a line of weakness so that it may readily be separated to form an opening for the head of the patient. The upper portion and the main portion of the blanket may be folded relatively towards each other to cover opposite sides of the patient. Elongate openings are provided in the main portion of the blanket to allow the arms of the patient to extend through the blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Ellingboe, Kristin Finberg, Alan Stec, Bryan Stoddard, Chris Zander
  • Patent number: 9393150
    Abstract: A combination underbody and overbody blanket has first and second portions sandwiching a middle portion. The first portion may be shorter than the second portion. At least one air inlet is provided at the middle portion to allow air to be input into the blanket. The blanket is configured in the shape of a poncho, with the first portion covering the front torso of the patient and the second portion covering the back of the patient. A tearable seal is provided at the first portion that allows the first portion to be separated into two halves to expose the front upper torso of the patient and/or to facilitate the placement of the middle portion about the neck and onto the shoulders of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SMITH MEDICAL ASD, INC.
    Inventors: Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20140257442
    Abstract: A convective blanket may be converted from an underbody blanket to a combination over body and underbody blanket by having an openable seal positioned substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the blanket away from the head area of the blanket. The seal may be preformed with a line of weakness so that it may readily be separated to form an opening for the head of the patient. The upper portion and the main portion of the blanket may be folded relatively towards each other to cover opposite sides of the patient. Elongate openings are provided in the main portion of the blanket to allow the arms of the patient to extend through the blanket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SMITHS MEDICAL ASD, INC.
    Inventors: Jay Ellingboe, Kristin Finberg, Alan Stec, Bryan Stoddard, Chris Zander
  • Patent number: 8778119
    Abstract: A convective underbody blanket has a head portion and a body portion. Provided at the head portion is a non-inflatable head area surrounded by a channel that has arranged thereat at least one row of air apertures that are oriented toward the non-inflatable head area when the channel is inflated. At the body portion there is provided a non-inflatable body area. Along each longitudinal side of the body area there is at least one longitudinal channel. Each of the longitudinal channels is in fluid communication with the channel that surrounds the non-inflatable head area. The longitudinal channels that sandwich the non-inflatable body area extend substantially along the length of the non-inflatable body area and are in fluid communication with each other by way of a cross channel formed at the foot end of the blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel Starr, Joseph Pierre, Daniel Reardon, Alan Stec
  • Patent number: 8608788
    Abstract: A convective underbody blanket has a head portion and a body portion. Provided at the head portion is a non-inflatable head area surrounded by a channel that has arranged thereat at least one row of air apertures that are oriented toward the non-inflatable head area when the channel is inflated. At the body portion there is provided a non-inflatable body area. Along each longitudinal side of the body area there is at least one longitudinal channel. Each of the longitudinal channels is in fluid communication with the channel that surrounds the non-inflatable head area. The longitudinal channels that sandwich the non-inflatable body area extend substantially along the length of the non-inflatable body area and are in fluid communication with each other by way of a cross channel formed at the foot end of the blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel Starr, Joseph Pierre, Daniel Reardon, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20130042970
    Abstract: A convective underbody blanket has a head portion and a body portion. Provided at the head portion is a non-inflatable head area surrounded by a channel that has arranged thereat at least one row of air apertures that are oriented toward the non-inflatable head area when the channel is inflated. At the body portion there is provided a non-inflatable body area. Along each longitudinal side of the body area there is at least one longitudinal channel. Each of the longitudinal channels is in fluid communication with the channel that surrounds the non-inflatable head area. The longitudinal channels that sandwich the non-inflatable body area extend substantially along the length of the non-inflatable body area and are in fluid communication with each other by way of a cross channel formed at the foot end of the blanket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: SMITHS MEDICAL ASD, INC.
    Inventors: Rachel Starr, Joseph Pierre, Daniel Reardon, Alan Stec
  • Patent number: 8308785
    Abstract: A convective warming blanket has a head portion and a plurality of peripheral sections extending orthogonally from each side of a central section that extends uninterrupted from a proximal end below the head portion to a distal foot end of the blanket. Each peripheral section is separable from its adjacent peripheral section by a frangible or tearable common seal. At least one through passage connects each peripheral section to the central section, so that the peripheral sections are inflated when heated air is input to the blanket. The multiple peripheral sections each are movable relative to the central section, so that different body parts of the patient may be selectively accessed. The head portion of the blanket is formed by two tubular sections that extend from the proximal portion of the blanket to encircle the head of the patient, when the blanket is placed over the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre, Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20120253435
    Abstract: A combination underbody and overbody blanket has first and second portions sandwiching a middle portion. The first portion may be shorter than the second portion. At least one air inlet is provided at the middle portion to allow air to be input into the blanket. The blanket is configured in the shape of a poncho, with the first portion covering the front torso of the patient and the second portion covering the back of the patient. A tearable seal is provided at the first portion that allows the first portion to be separated into two halves to expose the front upper torso of the patient and/or to facilitate the placement of the middle portion about the neck and onto the shoulders of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre, Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Patent number: 8197525
    Abstract: A full body blanket has a central bonded strip that extends from a distal end of an upper portion of the blanket to the foot end of the blanket to divide the main body of the blanket into two longitudinal portions. A discontinuous slit or tearable line is provided along the length of the strip to enable the longitudinal portions to be separable from each other by a user applying a force along the tearable strip. The strip may be torn anywhere along its entire length so that the longitudinal portion to be removed from the patient may be folded back anywhere along the length of the strip to selectively expose particular body parts of the patient. The blanket is inflated by heated air, and the heated air is circulated by channels that extend longitudinally along each of the longitudinal portions. Rows of apertures provided along the channels at the layer of the blanket that makes contact with the patient output the heated air to warm the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre, Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Patent number: 8172890
    Abstract: A combination underbody and overbody blanket has first and second portions sandwiching a middle portion. The first portion may be shorter than the second portion. An opening is provided at the middle portion, or at a location that overlaps the middle and first portions. The opening has a dimension sufficiently large to enable the head of a patient to pass through. At least one air inlet is provided at the middle portion to allow air to be input into the blanket. The blanket is configured in the shape of a poncho, with the first portion covering the front torso of the patient and the second portion covering the back of the patient. A tearable seal is provided at the first portion that allows the first portion to be separated into two halves to expose the front upper torso of the patient and/or to facilitate the placement of the middle portion about the neck and onto the shoulders of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre, Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20100211141
    Abstract: A convective warming blanket has a head portion and a plurality of peripheral sections extending orthogonally from each side of a central section that extends uninterrupted from a proximal end below the head portion to a distal foot end of the blanket. Each peripheral section is separable from its adjacent peripheral section by a frangible or tearable common seal. At least one through passage connects each peripheral section to the central section, so that the peripheral sections are inflated when heated air is input to the blanket. The multiple peripheral sections each are movable relative to the central section, so that different body parts of the patient may be selectively accessed. The head portion of the blanket is formed by two tubular sections that extend from the proximal portion of the blanket to encircle the head of the patient, when the blanket is placed over the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre, Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20100211139
    Abstract: A combination underbody and overbody blanket has first and second portions sandwiching a middle portion. The first portion may be shorter than the second portion. An opening is provided at the middle portion, or at a location that overlaps the middle and first portions. The opening has a dimension sufficiently large to enable the head of a patient to pass through. At least one air inlet is provided at the middle portion to allow air to be input into the blanket. The blanket is configured in the shape of a poncho, with the first portion covering the front torso of the patient and the second portion covering the back of the patient. A tearable seal is provided at the first portion that allows the first portion to be separated into two halves to expose the front upper torso of the patient and/or to facilitate the placement of the middle portion about the neck and onto the shoulders of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre, Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20100211138
    Abstract: A full body blanket has a central bonded strip that extends from a distal end of an upper portion of the blanket to the foot end of the blanket to divide the main body of the blanket into two longitudinal portions. A discontinuous slit or tearable line is provided along the length of the strip to enable the longitudinal portions to be separable from each other by a user applying a force along the tearable strip. The strip may be torn anywhere along its entire length so that the longitudinal portion to be removed from the patient may be folded back anywhere along the length of the strip to selectively expose particular body parts of the patient. The blanket is inflated by heated air, and the heated air is circulated by channels that extend longitudinally along each of the longitudinal portions. Rows of apertures provided along the channels at the layer of the blanket that makes contact with the patient output the heated air to warm the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre, Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20100198320
    Abstract: A convective warming blanket is configured to have an upper body portion and two leg portions that extend from a distal end of the upper body portion. The leg portions are separated by a space sufficient to expose a lateral side of a patient covered by the blanket. A flap separable from the leg portion that extends from the mid-section of the upper body portion may be used to securely wrap around the extended arms of the patient, who is lying on his side. Adhesive tapes are provided on the outside edges of the leg portions to secure the blanket to the surface onto which the patient lies. Apertures are appropriately formed at the sheet that comes into contact with the patient at the upper body portion and along the respective inner side edges of the leg portions so that both the upper body and the exposed lower body of the patient are warmed by heated air. The blanket is designed to have mirror image versions usable for exposing the lateral left side or the lateral right side of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre, Rachel Starr, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20100057170
    Abstract: The inventive blanket is an inflatable underbody convective thermal blanket whereon the head and the upper body of a patient may lie. The blanket is in the shape of a cross with a truncated lower vertical portion and an upper head portion onto which the head of the patient lies. The blanket has two horizontal arm portions that extend from the main body portion of the blanket and onto which the arms of the patient may be positioned. At each of the arm portions there is a flap that may be used to cover the arm of the patient. An inlet port is provided in an upper corner at the head portion of the blanket. The heated air input to the blanket is directed by a plurality of sealed strips to flow in respective desired directions around the arm portions and the lower truncated body portion of the blanket. Sets of apertures are provided along an inner sealed periphery that defines a T-shaped uninflated area onto which the torso of the patient lies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: John Robinson, Alan Stec
  • Publication number: 20090248120
    Abstract: A convective underbody blanket has a head portion and a body portion. Provided at the head portion is a non-inflatable head area surrounded by a channel that has arranged thereat at least one row of air apertures that are oriented toward the non-inflatable head area when the channel is inflated. At the body portion there is provided a non-inflatable body area. Along each longitudinal side of the body area there is at least one longitudinal channel. Each of the longitudinal channels is in fluid communication with the channel that surrounds the non-inflatable head area. The longitudinal channels that sandwich the non-inflatable body area extend substantially along the length of the non-inflatable body area and are in fluid communication with each other by way of a cross channel formed at the foot end of the blanket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel Starr, Joseph Pierre, Daniel Reardon, Alan Stec