초록 ▼

A convective warmer to which blankets of different dimensions may be connected is capable of providing air to the various blankets at flow rates that optimally inflate those blankets to achieve the optimal clinical result for the patients covered by those blankets. The blanket connected to the warm

A convective warmer to which blankets of different dimensions may be connected is capable of providing air to the various blankets at flow rates that optimally inflate those blankets to achieve the optimal clinical result for the patients covered by those blankets. The blanket connected to the warmer may range from a full size adult warming blanket to a pediatric warming blanket. The convection warmer may have multiple fixed air flow rates each selectable by a user, via switch(es) either electronically or mechanically. For the electronic selection of a given flow rate, a motor adaptable to rotate a different speeds is used. To vary the flow rate mechanically, a valve is controlled to vary the amount of air that may pass to the blanket. Instead of different fixed flow rates, variable air flow rates, selectable by the user, may be used. Also, a feedback circuit that maintains the pressure sensed at the outlet of the warmer to a preset pressure may be used to eliminate the need for user intervention.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. System for providing a fluid to a patient temperature regulating blanket comprising: a temperature regulating blanket; an outlet for establishing a fluid path to said patient temperature regulating blanket; a fluid mover for directing the fluid to said outlet; a control

The invention claimed is: 1. System for providing a fluid to a patient temperature regulating blanket comprising: a temperature regulating blanket; an outlet for establishing a fluid path to said patient temperature regulating blanket; a fluid mover for directing the fluid to said outlet; a controller for controlling the flow rate of the fluid to said outlet; at least one sensor located relative to said outlet adapted to sense the pressure of the fluid at said outlet; and a circuit for utilizing the sensed pressure of the fluid from said sensor to instruct said controller to, if needed, vary the flow rate of the fluid to said outlet for maintaining the sensed pressure substantially at a preset pressure so that the blanket is property inflated with the fluid to effect an optimal clinical temperature environment for a patient using the blanket; wherein said fluid is air and wherein said sensor is positioned away from said outlet but in fluid communication with the air in said outlet for sensing the pressure of the air at said outlet, said sensor further being in communication with atmospheric pressure, said sensor comparing the sensed pressure at said outlet with the sensed atmospheric pressure for outputting a difference signal to said circuit. 2. System of claim 1, wherein said fluid mover comprises a variable speed air blower, said controller controlling the speed of said blower to direct air to said outlet in response to the pressure sensed by said sensor and relayed to said circuit, said circuit using the sensed pressure from said sensor as a feedback to instruct said controller to control the speed of said blower to thereby ensure that the sensed pressure of the air directed by said blower to said outlet does not substantially deviate from the preset pressure. 3. System of claim 1, wherein said fluid mover comprises an air blower, and wherein said controller comprises a valve adapted to control the amount of air directed by said blower to said outlet, said circuit using the sensed pressure from said sensor as a feedback for said valve to control the amount of air provided to said outlet at a given period of time and therefore the flow rate of air provided to said outlet to ensure that the sensed pressure of the air directed by said blower to said outlet does not substantially deviate from the preset pressure. 4. System of claim 1, wherein said blanket is selected from among a plurality of blankets of different dimensions for use by patients of different sizes, each of the plurality of blankets having a corresponding inlet fittingly connectable to said outlet, wherein each of me plurality of blankets requires a given desired flow rate in order to be inflated by the fluid at the preset pressure. 5. System of claim 1, further comprises a heater for heating the fluid, the heated fluid being fed to the blanket for warming a patient covered by the blanket. 6. System of claim 1, wherein said preset pressure is approximately 0.005 to 0.05 psi. 7. System for providing a fluid to a patient warming blanket, comprising: an outlet for establishing a fluid path to the blanket; a fluid mover for directing the fluid to said outlet, said fluid mover adapted to move the fluid at variable flow rates; a controller for controlling said fluid mover to move the fluid to the blanket; at least one sensor located relative to said outlet adapted to sense the pressure of the fluid at said outlet; and a circuit for utilizing the sensed pressure of the fluid from said sensor to instruct said controller to control said fluid mover to continuously vary the flow rate of the fluid fed to said outlet so as to maintain the sensed pressure substantially at a preset pressure; wherein said fluid is air and wherein said sensor is positioned away from said outlet but in fluid communication with The air in said outlet for sensing the pressure of the air at said outlet, said sensor further being in communication with atmospheric pressure, said sensor comparing the sensed pressure at said outlet with the sensed atmospheric pressure for outputting a difference signal to said circuit. 8. System of claim 7, wherein said fluid mover comprises a variable speed air blower, said controller controlling the speed of said blower to direct air to said outlet in response to the pressure sensed by said sensor and relayed to said circuit, said circuit using the sensed pressure from said sensor as a feedback to instruct said controller to controllably vary the speed of said blower so that said blanket is maintained at substantially the preset pressure after being inflated. 9. System for providing a fluid to a patient warming blanket, comprising: an outlet for establishing a fluid path to the blanket; a fluid mover for directing the fluid to said outlet; a valve adapted to variably control the flow rate of the fluid to be moved to said outlet; a controller for controlling said valve to move the fluid to the blanket; at least one sensor located relative to said outlet adapted to sense the pressure of the fluid at said outlet; and a circuit for utilizing the sensed pressure of the fluid from said sensor to control said valve to, if needed, vary the flow rate of the fluid provided to said outlet so as to maintain the sensed pressure substantially at a preset pressure; wherein said fluid is air and wherein said sensor is positioned away from said outlet but in fluid communication with the air in said outlet for sensing the pressure of the air at said outlet, said sensor further being in communication with atmospheric pressure, said sensor comparing the sensed pressure at said outlet with the sensed atmospheric pressure for outputting a difference signal to said circuit. 10. A method of providing a fluid to a patient warming blanket fluid, comprising the steps of: a) providing an outlet for establishing a fluid path to the blanket; b) utilizing a fluid mover for directing the fluid to said outlet; c) controlling the flow rate of the fluid directed to said outlet; d) locating at least one sensor relative to said outlet for sensing the pressure of the fluid at said outlet; and e) utilizing the sensed pressure of the fluid from said sensor to continuously control the flow rate of the fluid provided to said outlet so as to maintain the sensed pressure substantially at a preset pressure; wherein said fluid is air and wherein step d comprises the step of: positioning said sensor away from said outlet but in fluid communication with the air in said outlet for sensing the pressure of the air at said outlet, said sensor further being in communication with atmospheric pressure; and wherein step e further comprises the step of: comparing the sensed pressure at said outlet with the sensed atmospheric pressure for outputting a difference signal. 11. Method of claim 10, wherein said said fluid mover comprises a variable speed air blower, wherein step e further comprises the steps of: controlling the speed of said blower to direct air to said outlet in response to the pressure sensed by said sensor; and using the sensed pressure from said sensor as a feedback to vary the speed of said blower to ensure that the pressure of the air directed by said blower to said outlet does not substantially deviate from the preset pressure. 12. Method of claim 10, wherein said fluid mover comprises an air blower, wherein step c further comprises the step of: utilizing a valve to control the amount of air directed by said blower to said outlet; and wherein said step e further comprises the steps of: using the sensed pressure from said sensor as a feedback for said valve to control the amount of air provided to said outlet at a given period of time; and controlling said valve to provide air to the blanket at an optimal flow rate so that the pressure of the air inflating the blanket does not substantially deviate from the preset pressure.