Abstract: A pneumatic tourniquet has a constricting device that comprises a rocker, such that when the rocker is angularly displaced by contact with a wounded limb, a clamping force is applied by a rocker surface and a clamping edge onto a sealing element to prevent flow of the pressurized gas from an interposed inflated strap to a free end, causing the strap free end to be considerably thinner than the main strap section. In one embodiment, a gas flow control assembly comprises a casing containing a force transmitting element and a gas cartridge; and a pivotable activation handle, wherein, upon pivoted displacement of the activation handle, pressurized gas is caused to be discharged from the gas cartridge and flow to an interior of the strap. In other embodiments, the pneumatic tourniquet comprises one or more of a flow control unit, a manual pressure release initiator, and a puncture mitigating connection section.

Abstract: An insulating material and a method using that material for preventing perioperative hypothermia in hospital patients. Hospital blankets, hospital gowns and thermal wraps are made with the insulating material, which comprises in one embodiment an inner layer and an outer layer of a nonwoven material and a middle layer of a polymer laminate material. The nonwoven material is a bicomponent coextruded spunbond nonwoven polypropylene and polyethylene textile and the polymer laminate material comprises polyethylene and metallised polyethylene terephthalate. The nonwoven material is arranged with an elastic such that the insulating material can change between a first configuration wherein the elastic is stretched such that the primary material lies adjacent to it, and a second configuration wherein the elastic is relaxed such that the primary material is bowed with respect to it, forming at least one cavity for entrapping air.

Abstract: An insulating material and a method using that material for preventing perioperative hypothermia in hospital patients. Hospital blankets, hospital gowns and thermal wraps are made with the insulating material, which comprises in one embodiment an inner layer and an outer layer of a nonwoven material and a middle layer of a polymer laminate material. The nonwoven material is a bicomponent coextruded spunbond nonwoven polypropylene and polyethylene textile and the polymer laminate material comprises polyethylene and metallised polyethylene terephthalate. The nonwoven material is arranged with an elastic such that the insulating material can change between a first configuration wherein the elastic is stretched such that the primary material lies adjacent to it, and a second configuration wherein the elastic is relaxed such that the primary material is bowed with respect to it, forming at least one cavity for entrapping air.