Abstract: An electric blanket including a flexible sheet-like heating element, a shell comprising two flexible sheets covering the heating element, one or more welds coupling the sheet of the shell about the edges to hermetically seal the heating element there between; and a flexible insulating layer extending over the heating element and covered by the shell providing at least one of thermal insulation and electrical insulation, wherein the heating element is held in position between the two sheets of the shell without using connectors that pierce the two sheets.

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

Abstract: A blanket for warming patients during surgery and other medical procedures. The blanket includes one or more temperature sensors and a shut-off timer to prevent prolonged exposure of excessive heat to a patient. Embodiments of the present invention provide a safety feature that cuts power to a heating blanket after a certain period of time has elapsed, irrespective of the feedback provided by a temperature sensor concerning the blanket temperature. That period of time is longer than it takes for the blanket to reach its threshold temperature but shorter than it takes to cause thermal burn injury.

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

Abstract: A heated underbody supports including heated mattresses, heated mattress overlays and heated pads, and methods of using heated underbody supports, for therapeutic warming. The heated underbody supports include a heater assembly and a layer of compressible support material. The heater assembly includes a flexible heating element , first and second bus bars, and a temperature sensor. The flexible heating element is a conductive fabric which can be adapted to stretch into a 3-dimensional compound curve without wrinkling or folding while maintain electrical conductivity, and wherein the heating element is adapted to return to the planar shape when pressure is removed. The flexible heating element may include a fabric which is coated with a conductive or semi-conductive polymer. The heated underbody support may also include a water resistant shell which may encase the heater assembly and the compressible support material.

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: An electric heating blanket system includes a flexible sheet-like heating element having a substantially uniform watt density output across a surface area thereof, when the heating element is electrically powered. A temperature sensor is coupled to the heating element at a location where the heating element will be in conductive contact with a body when the blanket is draped over the body. The system further includes a temperature controller coupled to the temperature sensor, and an electric power source coupled to the heating element and to the temperature controller, the power source being controlled to provide the watt density output for the heating element according to a temperature sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A flexible heating subassembly, which may be incorporated in an electric warming blanket or any other type of flexible heater, includes a single heater, which is preferably formed from an electrically conductive polymeric fabric. The subassembly further includes first and second conductive bus bars, each extending alongside a respective first and second edge of the heater, each being coupled to the heater by at least one row of stitching that extends along the respective bus bar. The edges of the heater may be folded over respective bus bars for coupling and each of the bus bars may terminate just beyond opposing ends of the heater. A ribbon of conductive material may be interposed between each of the bus bars and the heater.

Abstract: A cover includes an enclosure for a heating blanket which is formed between an upper sheet bonded to a lower sheet of the cover. An opening for the enclosure is formed by a panel of the upper sheet which is separable from the lower sheet.

Abstract: A multi-zone electric heating blanket. The blanket may be shaped to cover the outstretched arms or other body parts of a patient. The blanket includes first and second body part portions and a connecting bridge. The interconnection via the bridge leaves an open gap between the first and second body part portions for unblocked access to the patient. A power controller may supply power to heating elements in both body part portions based on a temperature sensor in one of the body part portions.

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: A blanket for warming patients during surgery and other medical procedures. The blanket includes one or more temperature sensors and a shut-off timer to prevent prolonged exposure of excessive heat to a patient. Embodiments of the present invention provide a safety feature that cuts power to a heating blanket after a certain period of time has elapsed, irrespective of the feedback provided by a temperature sensor concerning the blanket temperature. That period of time is longer than it takes for the blanket to reach its threshold temperature but shorter than it takes to cause thermal burn injury.

Abstract: An electric heating blanket includes a flexible sheet-like heating element, a first unheated flap extending from a first edge of the heating element, and a second unheated flap extending from a second edge of the heating element. A flexible water-resistant shell may cover the heating element.

Abstract: An electric warming blanket includes a flexible heater that may be enclosed within a flexible shell, which is, preferably, water resistant and may extend beyond lateral edges of the heater to support stiffening members. A layer of non-conductive flexible porous material may be bonded to one or both sides of the heater. When the heater is enclosed in the shell, a layer of thermal insulation may be disposed between one side of the heater and the shell. A temperature sensor may be coupled to the heater at a location where the heater will be in conductive contact with a body when the blanket is draped thereover, and at least one super-over temperature sensor may also be coupled to the heater; the at least one super over-temperature sensor is adapted to interrupt a supply of power to the heater.

Abstract: A cover includes an enclosure for a heating blanket which is formed between an upper sheet bonded to a lower sheet of the cover. An opening for the enclosure is formed by a panel of the upper sheet which is separable from the lower sheet.

Abstract: An electric heating blanket system includes a flexible sheet-like heating element having a substantially uniform watt density output across a surface area thereof, when the heating element is electrically powered. A temperature sensor is coupled to the heating element at a location where the heating element will be in conductive contact with a body when the blanket is draped over the body. The system further includes a temperature controller coupled to the temperature sensor, and an electric power source coupled to the heating element and to the temperature controller, the power source being controlled to provide the watt density output for the heating element according to a temperature sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A heating blanket cover is constructed from a lower sheet, which may include a first material layer laminated to a second material layer, and an upper sheet bonded to the lower sheet along a longitudinally extending bonding site, wherein the upper sheet extends laterally from the bonding site over the lower sheet to a free edge. The bonding site may be formed by heat sealing the upper sheet to the lower sheet. A gap between the upper sheet and the lower sheet forms an enclosure to hold the heating blanket; the enclosure is accessible by lifting the free edge of the upper sheet away from the lower sheet. A series of covers may be formed, for example by a web-manufacturing process, by bringing together at least two lengths of materials, bonding the lengths together and assembling the lengths on a roll for dispensing of individual covers from the series.

Abstract: A flexible heating subassembly, which may be incorporated in an electric warming blanket or any other type of flexible heater, includes a single heater, which is preferably formed from an electrically conductive polymeric fabric. The subassembly further includes first and second conductive bus bars, each extending alongside a respective first and second edge of the heater, each being coupled to the heater by at least one row of stitching that extends along the respective bus bar. The edges of the heater may be folded over respective bus bars for coupling and each of the bus bars may terminate just beyond opposing ends of the heater. A ribbon of conductive material may be interposed between each of the bus bars and the heater.