IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0080481
(2005-03-16)
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등록번호 |
US-7517360
(2009-07-01)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Frey, William E.
- Pierre, Joseph
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
3 |
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 or neonate warming blanket. There is provided on each blanket a code, marking or marker, to be read by a sensor(s) provided at the outlet of the warmer, that identifies the type of blanket when the blanket is coupled to the warmer. Consequently, heated air may be automatically output by the warmer to the blanket at the appropriate flow rate of that blanket to optimally inflate the blanket without any need for intervention by a user. In addition to being used to control the flow rate of the heated air, the code from the blanket may also be used to control the temperature of the heated air to be input to the blanket.
대표청구항
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The invention claimed is: 1. System, comprising: a patient warming blanket having an inflatable body, an inlet for providing a fluid path to said body; a non-actively powered code positioned on said body, said code when read by an appropriate sensor would identify at least the flow rate of air requ
The invention claimed is: 1. System, comprising: a patient warming blanket having an inflatable body, an inlet for providing a fluid path to said body; a non-actively powered code positioned on said body, said code when read by an appropriate sensor would identify at least the flow rate of air required to optimally inflate said body; and a convective warmer having an outlet for mating to said inlet to establish a fluid path to said blanket; a heater for heating air in a plenum of said warmer, an air blower for directing the heated air to said outlet, at least said sensor located relative to said outlet for reading said code; controller means for controlling the flow rate of the heated air provided to said outlet; wherein upon mating of said inlet of said blanket to said outlet of said warmer, said code is read by said sensor and a signal representative of the identified flow rate read by said sensor from said code is provided to said controller means to controllably inflate said blanket with the heated air at the flow rate indicated by said code. 2. System of claim 1, wherein said air blower is a variable speed air blower, and wherein said controller means controls the speed of said blower to direct air to said outlet in correspondence to said signal so that the heated air is provided to said blanket at the flow rate specified by said code. 3. System of claim 1, wherein said warmer further comprises a valve adapted to regulate the amount of air directed by said blower to said outlet, wherein said controller means actuates said valve to regulate the amount of heated air provided to said outlet at the flow rate specified by said code. 4. System of claim 1, wherein said warmer comprises a plurality of sensors and wherein said code comprises a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said inlet, said rings each being either reflective of light or non-reflective of light, said rings being detected by said pair of sensors when said inlet is mated to said outlet, and wherein the flow rate of the air supplied to said blanket is dependent on the combination of the light reflectiveness/non-reflectiveness of said rings as detected by said sensors. 5. System of claim 1, wherein said code comprises at least one magnetic stripe or marker positioned proximate to said inlet so as to be detectable by said sensor when said inlet is mated to said outlet. 6. System of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises either an optical or magnetic scanner adaptable to detect said code. 7. System of claim 1, wherein the signal read by said sensor also controls said heater to adjust the temperature of the heated air to be supplied to said blanket. 8. System of claim 1, wherein said warmer comprises a plurality of sensors and wherein said code comprises a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said inlet, said rings each being either magnetic or non-magnetic, said rings being detected by said pair of sensors when said inlet is mated to said outlet, and wherein the flow rate of the air supplied to said blanket is dependent on the respective states of magnetization of said rings as detected by said sensors. 9. System, comprising: a patient warming blanket having an inflatable body, an inlet for providing a fluid path to said body, and a non-actively powered code positioned on said body, said code when read by an appropriate sensor would identify at least the flow rate of air required to optimally inflate said body; and a convective warmer having an outlet for mating to said inlet to establish a fluid path to said blanket, a heater for heating air in a plenum of said warmer, an air blower for directing the heated air to said outlet, said air blower adapted to operate at variable speeds to move the heated air at different flow rates, and at least said sensor located relative to said outlet for reading said code; controller means for controlling the operating speed of said air blower to move air to said outlet at selective flow rates; wherein upon mating of said inlet of said blanket to said outlet of said warmer, said code is read by said sensor and a signal representative of the identified flow rate read by said sensor from said code is provided to said controller means for selectively controlling said blower to operate at a selected speed to move heated air to said blanket via said outlet at the flow rate indicated by said code. 10. System of claim 9, wherein said code comprises a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said inlet, said rings being detected by a corresponding plurality of sensors of said warmer when said inlet is mated to said outlet. 11. System of claim 9, wherein said code comprises at least one magnetic stripe or marker positioned proximate to said inlet so as to be detectable by said sensor when said inlet is mated to said outlet. 12. System of claim 9, wherein said sensor comprises either an optical or magnetic scanner adaptable to detect said code. 13. System, comprising: a patient warming blanket having an inflatable body, an inlet for providing a fluid path to said body, a non-actively powered code positioned on said body, said code when read by an appropriate sensor would identify at least the flow rate of air required to optimally inflate said body; and a convective warmer having an outlet for mating to said inlet to establish a fluid path to said blanket, a heater for heating air in a plenum of said warmer, an air blower for directing the heated air to said outlet, at least said sensor located relative to said outlet for reading said code, and a valve for regulating the amount of heated air directed by said air blower to said outlet at a given time; wherein upon mating of said inlet of said blanket to said outlet of said warmer, said code is read by said sensor and a signal representative of the identified flow rate read by said sensor from said code is used to control said valve for selectively regulating the output of the heated air to said blanket at an amount that corresponds to the flow rate specified by said code. 14. System of claim 13, wherein said code comprises a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said inlet, said rings being detected by a corresponding plurality of sensors of said warmer when said inlet is mated to said outlet. 15. System of claim 13, wherein said code comprises at least one magnetic stripe or marker positioned proximate to said inlet so as to be detectable by said sensor when said inlet is mated to said outlet. 16. System of claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises either an optical or magnetic scanner adaptable to detect said code. 17. In combination, an air convection warmer having an outlet, a plenum in fluid communication with said outlet, a heater for heating air in said plenum, a blower for directing the heated air to said outlet, a warming blanket connectable to said warmer for inflation, said blanket having an inlet matable to said outlet of said warmer, said blanket further having a non-actively powered code positioned proximate to said inlet which when read by an appropriate sensor would identify the flow rate of air required to optimally inflate said blanket and the amount the air is to be heated, and said warmer further having at least said sensor located proximate to said outlet for detecting said code, wherein when said inlet of said blanket is mated to said outlet of said warmer, appropriately heated air is automatically supplied by said warmer at the flow rate identified by said code to inflate said blanket. 18. Combination of claim 17, wherein said code comprises a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said inlet, said rings each being either reflective of light or non-reflective of light, said rings being detected by a corresponding plurality of sensors of said warmer when said inlet is mated to said outlet, wherein the flow rate of the heated air supplied to said blanket is dependent on the combination of the light reflectiveness/non-reflectiveness of said rings as detected by said sensors. 19. Combination of claim 17, wherein said code comprises at least one magnetic stripe or marker positioned proximate to said inlet so as to be detectable by said sensor when said inlet is mated to said outlet. 20. Combination of claim 17, wherein said sensor comprises either an optical or magnetic scanner adaptable to detect said code. 21. Combination of claim 17, wherein said blower comprises a variable speed blower, said blower operating at a speed corresponding to the flow rate identified by said code for supplying the heated air to inflate said blanket. 22. Combination of claim 17, further comprising a valve operable in response to said code for regulating the amount of the heated air to be supplied from said warmer to inflate said blanket. 23. Combination of claim 17, wherein said heater is regulated to change the amount of heat for heating the air so that the temperature of the heated air to be supplied to said blanket is adjusted in response to the detection of said code. 24. A blanket for use with a fluid temperature control system having a fluid outlet, comprising: an inflatable body; an inlet for mating to said outlet of said control system, said inlet providing a fluid path into said body; and a non-actively powered code positioned on said blanket, said code when read by an appropriate sensor would identify to said control system the flow rate of the fluid to be supplied by said control system to inflate said body. 25. Blanket of claim 24, wherein said code comprises a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said inlet, said rings each being either magnetic or non-magnetic, said rings being detected by sensor means of said control system when said inlet is mated to said outlet, wherein at least the flow rate of the fluid supplied to said blanket is dependent on the respective states of magnetization of said rings as detected by said sensor means. 26. Blanket of claim 25, wherein said code provides a unique indication to said control system to supply the fluid to said blanket at a flow rate that optimally inflates said blanket. 27. Blanket of claim 25, wherein said code comprises a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said inlet, said rings each being either reflective of light or non-reflective of light, said rings being detected by sensor means of said control system when said inlet is mated to said outlet, wherein at least the flow rate of the fluid supplied to said blanket is dependent on the combination of the light reflectiveness/non-reflectiveness of said rings as detected by said sensor means. 28. Blanket of claim 27, wherein said sensor means comprises a plurality of sensors each adaptable to detect the light reflectiveness of a corresponding one of said rings. 29. Blanket of claim 27, wherein said concentric rings are adaptable to identify a plurality of different flow rates for supplying fluid to differently dimensioned blankets, wherein when said inlet of said blanket is mated to said outlet of said control system so as to couple said blanket to said control system, the concentric rings on said blanket are scanned by said sensors and the flow rate identified by said concentric rings of said blanket provides a signal to said control system that a particular one of said different flow rates is to be used for inflating said blanket. 30. Blanket of claim 25, wherein said code comprises at least one magnetic stripe or marker positioned proximate to said inlet so as to be detectable by sensor means of said control system when said inlet is mated to said outlet. 31. Blanket of claim 25, wherein said temperature control system comprises a convective warmer and wherein said fluid is air, said warmer having a heater for heating air in a plenum of said warmer independent of or in accordance with said code, and a blower for directing the heated air into said blanket at a flow rate in accordance with said code for inflating said blanket. 32. Blanket of claim 25, wherein said code is positioned proximate to said inlet of said blanket, and wherein said control system comprises at least one sensor positioned proximate to said inlet of said control system for detecting said code to supply the fluid to said blanket at the optimal flow rate for said blanket. 33. Blanket of claim 32, wherein said sensor comprises either an optical or magnetic scanner adaptable to detect said code. 34. Combination of claim 17, wherein said code comprises a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said inlet, said rings each being either magnetic or non-magnetic, said rings being detected by a corresponding plurality of sensors of said warmer when said inlet is mated to said outlet, wherein the flow rate of the heated air supplied to said blanket is dependent on the respective states of magnetization of said rings as detected by said sensors.
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