Abstract: A warming system, mounted to the foot of a bed, warms a person's lower extremities by directing air into the space between the mattress and overlaying blankets. A blower directs air into an elongated distribution chamber having many tiny exit apertures. The chamber is mounted at the foot of the bed, so that air exiting the apertures warms the person's feet. For maximum thermal transfer, the chamber is placed under the sheet and any blankets, but above the mattress cover and fitted sheet. The chamber may be implemented by a length of open cell foam, a hollow manifold with many punctures or other tiny distribution apertures, collapsible pocket, etc. While the person is lying on the bed beneath the blankets, with feet proximate the foot of the bed, the blower directs temperature-regulated air into the chamber and through the exit apertures, thereby warming the person's feet. A temperature regulator ensures a normothermic air temperature (or alternatively, hyperthermic air temperature.

Abstract: A warming system, mounted to the foot of a bed, warms a person's lower extremities by directing air into the space between the mattress and overlaying blankets. A blower directs air into an elongated distribution chamber having many tiny exit apertures. The chamber is mounted at the foot of the bed, so that air exiting the apertures warms the person's feet. For maximum thermal transfer, the chamber is placed under the sheet and any blankets, but above the mattress cover and fitted sheet. The chamber may be implemented by a length of open cell foam, a hollow manifold with many punctures or other tiny distribution apertures, collapsible pocket, etc. While the person is lying on the bed beneath the blankets, with feet proximate the foot of the bed, the blower directs temperature-regulated air into the chamber and through the exit apertures, thereby warming the person's feet. A temperature regulator ensures a normothermic air temperature (or alternatively, hyperthermic air temperature.

Abstract: A condition is detected between an inlet port of an inflatable thermal device, such as an inflatable thermal blanket, and an end of an air hose through which a flow of pressurized, thermally treated air is provided to the device by way of the inlet port. The condition may be disconnection of the end of the air hose from the inlet port or the identification of a particular style of inflatable thermal device. A response to the condition may include provision of a perceptible indication that the condition has occurred. Other responses may include cessation of the flow of air or changing an air flow characteristic.

Abstract: A laryngeal airway device for sealing against the laryngeal opening includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends and a sealing member attached to the distal end. The sealing member includes a coupler for coupling the device to an introducer. Complementing the laryngeal airway device is an introducer that includes a track for receiving the coupler of the laryngeal airway device and guiding the sealing member to a sealing position with respect to the laryngeal inlet. The introducer may include an epiglottic engager on a distal end to engage the epiglottis and retain it while the sealing member is being tracked to engagement with the laryngeal inlet.

Abstract: A condition is detected between an inlet port of an inflatable thermal device, such as an inflatable thermal blanket, and an end of an air hose through which a flow of pressurized, thermally treated air is provided to the device by way of the inlet port. The condition may be disconnection of the end of the air hose from the inlet port or the identification of a particular style of inflatable thermal device. A response to the condition may include provision of a perceptible indication that the condition has occurred. Other responses may include cessation of the flow of air or changing an air flow characteristic.

Abstract: A laryngeal airway device for sealing against the laryngeal opening includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends and a sealing member attached to the distal end. The sealing member includes a coupler for coupling the device to an introducer. Complementing the laryngeal airway device is an introducer that includes a track for receiving the coupler of the laryngeal airway device and guiding the sealing member to a sealing position with respect to the laryngeal inlet. The introducer may include an epiglottic engager on a distal end to engage the epiglottis and retain it while the sealing member is being tracked to engagement with the laryngeal inlet.

Abstract: An airway device for sealing against the laryngeal opening includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends and a sealing member attached to the distal end. The sealing member has a distal portion with a pair of opposing lateral flanges for engaging the cricoid cartilage to laterally align the sealing member with respect to the laryngeal inlet. The sealing member has a compressible anterior surface that contacts and seals against the laryngeal inlet. A tubular extension of the distal end of the air tube projects through and beyond the compressible anterior surface. The sealing member has a pronounced sigmoid shape having a lower section which, together with the tubular extension, creates a hook that provides an end point for accurate cephalad-caudad depth placement of the sealing member against the rim of the laryngeal inlet.

Abstract: A laryngeal airway device for scaling against the laryngeal opening includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends and a sealing member attached to the distal end. The sealing member includes a coupler for coupling the device to an introducer. Complementing the laryngeal airway device is an introducer that includes a track for receiving the coupler of the laryngeal airway device and guiding the sealing member to a sealing position with respect to the laryngeal inlet. The introducer may include an epiglottic engager on a distal end to engage the epiglottis and retain it while the sealing member is being tracked to engagement with the laryngeal inlet.

Abstract: An intravenous (IV) fluid warming system with a removable heat exchanger includes a presence detector. The system is for warming an IV fluid before infusion into a body. The system includes a warming unit for warming the IV fluid and an inlet slot for receiving a heat exchanger, preferably embodied as a cassette . The heat exchanger is sized to fit into the inlet slot of the warming unit. The heat exchanger has a heat exchanger membrane with an internal fluid pathway that is in fluid communication with a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port. While the heat exchanger is in the warming unit, the IV fluid flows through the internal fluid pathway of the heat exchanger, warming the fluid. A heat exchanger presence detector is part of the warming system. The presence detector detects the presence of the heat exchanger when it is received in the warming unit. The presence detector enables the heating operation of the warming unit when the presence of the heat exchanger is sensed.

Abstract: A surgical barrier device includes an inflatable thermal blanket formed integrally with, or attached to, a surgical drape. The inflatable thermal blanket is inflatable through an inlet by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable thermal blanket exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the inflatable thermal blanket. The surgical drape extends from the inflatable thermal blanket and is sized to substantially cover the entirety of the patient's body. Where patient access is required, the drape has an opening to provide access to a surgical site.

Abstract: An inflatable thermal blanket with a multilayer sheet and a method of use are disclosed for delivering thermally-controlled air to a person. The apparatus includes an inflatable structure formed from joining a first sheet and a second sheet. An inlet is provided into the inflatable structure for receiving thermally-controlled air. A multilayer sheet, made from a plurality of sheets releasably attached together, is attached to the second sheet. Means are provided for exhausting the thermally-controlled air from the inflatable thermal blanket. In the method of use, the inflatable thermal blanket is deployed in a first use and a source of thermally-controlled air is attached to the inflation port admitting thermally-controlled air into the inflatable structure and exhausting thermally-controlled air.

Abstract: A condition is detected between an inlet port of an inflatable thermal device, such as an inflatable thermal blanket, and an end of an air hose through which a flow of pressurized, thermally treated air is provided to the device by way of the inlet port. The condition may be disconnection of the end of the air hose from the inlet port or a change in the value of an air flow characteristic such as temperature or velocity. A response to the condition may include provision of a perceptible indication that the condition has occurred. Other responses may include cessation of the flow of air or changing an air flow characteristic.

Abstract: An airway device for sealing against the laryngeal opening includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends and a sealing member attached to the distal end. The sealing member has a distal portion with a pair of opposing lateral flanges for engaging the cricoid cartilage to laterally align the sealing member with respect to the laryngeal inlet. The sealing member has a compressible anterior surface that contacts and seals against the laryngeal inlet. A tubular extension of the distal end of the air tube projects through and beyond the compressible anterior surface. The sealing member has a pronounced sigmoid shape having a lower section which, together with the tubular extension, creates a hook that provides an end point for accurate cephalad-caudad depth placement of the sealing member against the rim of the laryngeal inlet.

Abstract: An inflatable convective thermal pad is adapted for use under a patient. The pad has a surface on a layer that receives the patient and that provides for the passage of air through the layer and the surface toward the patient. One or more drain openings or channels are provided in the layer for draining fluid from the layer.

Abstract: An electrically operated source provides a stream of thermally-controlled inflating medium to inflate an inflatable thermal care apparatus for treating a hospital patient while employing active noise cancellation to reduce noise created by the source, thereby provides a reduced noise treatment device for treating hypothermic patients.

Abstract: An inflatable thermal care apparatus directs a thermally-controlled inflating medium into a thermal care zone to regulate a patient's body temperature, while providing selective access to desired parts of the patient. The apparatus includes an elongate member, inflatable and formable into an enclosure that surrounds a patient and defines a thermal care zone. A plurality of exhaust ports open through sides of the inflatable member to exhaust the thermally-controlled medium. A deformally resilient, insulating access panel interconnects the sides, and extends over the patient and the enclosure to confine the inflating medium to the thermal care zone. The panel includes boundaries, such as perforations, defining sections that may be selectively removed to create temporary or permanent access openings, exposing selected regions for treatment, inspection, healing, and the like.