Abstract: A bubble trap for separating and collecting air and bubbles from a high flow rate stream of infusate includes multiple flow chambers to collect air, a sensor support mounted to one of the chambers, an air vent disposed in one of the chambers, and a valve in fluid communication with the chambers to control the flow of infusate therethrough.

Abstract: An electric heating blanket including a flexible sheet-like heating element and a shell. The shell covers the heating blanket an includes two sheets of flexible material welded together.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for conveniently and removably sealing inlet ports within an inflatable thermal blanket. In accordance with the present invention a generally planar sheet of material having a plurality of resilient side extensions extending from a central body is used to close an inlet port within an inflatable thermal blanket. In accordance with the preferred invention, the generally circular portion of the central body has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the inlet port. Preferably, for extensions extend from the central body each extension being generally circular. Each extension is preferably formed from the same material used to form the central body, and is sufficiently resilient to be easily flexed and to return to an essentially coplanar sheet when released.

Abstract: A treatment device having a first portion in a first plane, a treatment portion with a cover in a second plane that defines a treatment volume extending between the first and second planes, and a flexible transition portion that connects the first portion to the treatment portion. The treatment portion including a polymeric foam ring having interior and exterior walls extending from the first plane to the second plane. The cover spanning the interior wall thereby forming a closed treatment volume. The polymeric foam ring may be impregnated with a medicament selected from the group including an antibiotic material, an antifungal material, an antimicrobrial material, a deodorant material and nitric oxide. The cover may include a pocket for use with an accessory, such as a heater or mapping grid. A method of treating a treatment area on a patient's skin with the treatment device. The treatment device includes a closed treatment volume having polymeric foam ring impregnated with a medicament.

Abstract: A thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges, and an undersurface. The covering includes a plurality of inflatable chambers that are inflated when a thermal-controlled inflating medium is introduced into the thermal blanket through an inlet at the foot end. When inflated, the thermal blanket self-erects into a structure and provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the erected structure through an aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable covering. The thermal blanket is constructed for substantially longitudinal disposition over a portion of a patient's body extending from the pelvic area to the feet of the patient's body. Provision may be made for securing the inflatable covering to the patient's body at the head end. Provision may further be made for an uninflatable foot drape at the foot end.

Abstract: A forced air warming unit has a casing with inlet and outlet openings. The casing encloses a scroll housing with a curved inside surface in which a blower is disposed. A circuit board in the casing encloses the blower in the scroll housing. At least one opening penetrates the circuit board. A heater plate is disposed between the circuit board and the blower. The blower draws air through the inlet opening, along a first side of the circuit board through the at least one opening into the scroll housing. The blower also forces air along a second side of the circuit board which faces the scroll housing, through air passages in the circuit board, along the first side through the at least one opening, into the scroll housing. The blower accelerates air along the curved inside surface and past the heater plate. Heated, pressurized air exits through the outlet opening.

Abstract: Apparatus and a system for thermally comforting a patient include pneumatic, convective device providing thermal treatment for persons or animals. The pneumatic convective device is adapted to fit around a person's neck and provides convective warming focused or directed primarily on the thorax or body core. The pneumatic convective device includes an inlet, a region in distribution with the inlet for distributing a stream of pressurized, thermally treated air, and a permeable member for emitting pressurized, thermally treated air from the distribution region.

Abstract: A non-contact wound treatment device suitable for releasable attachment to a patient's skin surface over a selected wound area in a non-contact position relative to the selected wound area, the wound treatment device comprising an attachment portion suitable for releasable attachment with the patient's skin surface, having an inner perimeter for defining the selected wound area, a wound treatment portion with a substantially planar wound cover and a support member supporting the wound cover, and a transition portion with a membrane connecting the wound treatment portion to the attachment portion, the membrane extending around the outer perimeter of the support member and attached to the attachment portion between the inner and outer perimeter of the attachment portion.

Abstract: A forced air warming unit has a casing that encloses a scroll housing with a curved inside surface. A blower is disposed in the scroll housing inside the curved surface. Inlet and outlet openings are provided in the casing. A circuit board is mounted in the casing, against the scroll housing so that the blower is enclosed in space between the scroll housing and the circuit board. At least one opening is provided through the circuit board into the space in which the blower is disposed. A tapered, elongate, arcuate heater plate is disposed in the scroll housing between the circuit board and the blower, with a relatively wide end near the outlet opening and a second, relatively narrower end near the curved inside surface. Air is conducted in response to operation of the blower through the inlet opening, along a first side of the circuit board through the one or more openings in the circuit board into the scroll housing.

Abstract: A forced air warming unit has a casing that encloses a scroll housing with a curved inside surface. A blower is disposed in the scroll housing inside the curved surface. Inlet and outlet openings are provided in the casing. A circuit board is mounted in the casing, against the scroll housing so that the blower is enclosed in space between the scroll housing and the circuit board. At least one opening is provided through the circuit board into the space in which the blower is disposed. A tapered, elongate, arcuate heater plate is disposed in the scroll housing between the circuit board and the blower, with a relatively wide end near the outlet opening and a second, relatively narrower end near the curved inside surface. Air is conducted in response to operation of the blower through the inlet opening, along a first side of the circuit board through the one or more openings in the circuit board into the scroll housing.

Abstract: An apparatus, device, or inlet port plug, may close an inlet port that is formed in a sheet of flexible material. The inlet port is adapted for mounting on an inflatable device and is shaped and constructed to receive and retain an air hose nozzle through which air flows to inflate the inflatable device. The inlet port plug blocks the inlet port when no air hose nozzle is engaged. Consequently, air cannot easily pass out of the inflatable device through the inlet port when the device is inflated or being inflated. The inlet port plug has a generally planar shape with coplanar extensions extending radially from a plug body. The inlet port plug may be engaged with an inlet port by causing at least two of the extensions to be received in the inlet port. When the extensions are received, the plug is retained against the inlet port.

Abstract: Apparatus and a system for thermally comforting a patient include pneumatic, convective device providing thermal treatment for persons or animals. The pneumatic convective device is adapted to fit around a person's neck and provides convective warming focused or directed primarily on the thorax or body core. The pneumatic convective device includes an inlet, a region in distribution with the inlet for distributing a stream of pressurized, thermally treated air, and a permeable member for emitting pressurized, thermally treated air from the distribution region.

Abstract: A non-contact wound treatment device suitable for releasable attachment to a patient's skin surface over a selected wound area in a non-contact position relative to the selected wound area, the wound treatment device comprising an attachment portion suitable for releasable attachment with the patient's skin surface, having an inner perimeter for defining the selected wound area, a wound treatment portion with a substantially planar wound cover and a support member supporting the wound cover, and a transition portion with a membrane connecting the wound treatment portion to the attachment portion, the membrane extending around the outer perimeter of the support member and attached to the attachment portion between the inner and outer perimeter of the attachment portion.

Abstract: A non-contact wound treatment device suitable for releasable attachment to a patient's skin surface over a selected wound area in a non-contact position relative to the selected wound area, the wound treatment device comprising an attachment portion suitable for releasable attachment with the patient's skin surface, having an inner perimeter for defining the selected wound area, a wound treatment portion with a substantially planar wound cover and a support member supporting the wound cover, and a transition portion with a membrane connecting the wound treatment portion to the attachment portion, the membrane extending around the outer perimeter of the support member and attached to the attachment portion between the inner and outer perimeter of the attachment portion.

Abstract: An inflatable thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges, an undersurface and a drape. The inflatable covering is inflated through an inlet at the foot end by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable covering exhausts the thermally-controlled inflating medium from the inflatable covering. An uninflatable section is provided at an end of the inflatable covering to provide the drape. When inflated, the inflatable thermal blanket provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium through the apertures. When inflated, the inflatable thermal blanket covers a patient, while the drape retains heat from the inflating medium to contribute to patient warming and to insulate the bare skin of the patient from excessive conductive heat from a hose connected to the inlet. The drape preferably is a foot drape formed from an uninflatable extension of the inflatable covering at the foot end.

Abstract: Prevention or treatment of hypothermia in a person is afforded by an inflatable cover with a surface for expelling air from the cover. A heater/blower unit is connected to the cover to inflate the cover with warmed air and to maintain the temperature of warmed air expelled through the surface in a range of 85.2° F. to 117.7° F. The heater/blower unit may also maintain the temperature of warmed air provided to inflate the cover in a range of 113.3° F. to 121.3° F. The heater/blower unit may also maintain the temperature of warmed air under the surface in a range of 103.8° F. to 112.5° F. A pattern of apertures in the surface or vents in sides of the inflatable cover may be provided in order to circulate the warmed air to edges of the inflatable cover.

Abstract: A non-contact wound treatment device having a flexible portion to accommodate patient motion without peeling off. A removable wound heater may be used to treat the wound area.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a human or animal body, while selectively cooling weight-bearing areas of the body in order to prevent or reduce damage from ischemia includes a cooling layer that is partitioned into a plurality of zones, and a surface disposed over the cooling layer to support the body. Each zone of the cooling layer is disposed for cooling a respective portion of the surface. Means are provided to selectively operate one or more zones of the plurality of the zones to cool a portion of the surface that receives pressure from a weight-bearing surface of the body being supported.

Abstract: A thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges and an undersurface. The covering includes a plurality of inflatable chambers that are inflated when a thermally-controlled inflating medium is introduced into the thermal blanket through an inlet at the foot end. When inflated, the thermal blanket self-erects into a structure and provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the erected structure through an aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable covering. The thermal blanket includes a first aspect in which the inflatable chambers in the covering are oriented for substantially longitudinal disposition over a portion of a patient's body extending from the pelvic area to the feet of the patient's body. This aspect may include a provision for securing the inflatable covering to the patient's body at the head end and an uninflatable foot drape at the foot end.