BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the neck collar of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the neck collar electrical heating wire diagram of the present invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates the neck collar with the protective covering of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates the neck collar and patient barrier covering of the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a groin warming pad heating wire diagram of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates another groin warming pad wire diagram of the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates the external side of the groin warming pad of the present invention;
FIG. 8 illustrates the interior side of the groin warming pad of the present invention;
FIG. 9 illustrates the another interior side of the groin warming pad;
FIG. 10 illustrates the groin warming pad which has been positioned on the patient;
FIG. 11 illustrates the axillary warming pad of the present invention;
FIG. 12 illustrates the axillary warming pad being applied to the patient;
FIG. 13 illustrates a first configuration for the heater wire of the present invention;
FIG. 14 illustrates a second configuration for the heater wire of the present invention;
FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the axillary warming pad;
FIG. 16 illustrates a fastening device of the present invention;
FIG. 17 illustrates an external view of the upper torso warming device;
FIG. 18 illustrates an interior view of the upper torso warming device;
FIG. 19 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the upper torso warming devices wiring diagram;
FIG. 20 illustrates a first torso warming device and a second torso warming device attached to one another;
FIG. 21 illustrates a power module for providing electrical power to the warming devices of the present invention;
FIG. 22 illustrates a configuration for the power module of the present invention;
FIG. 23 illustrates a patient using the warming devices of the present invention;
FIG. 24 illustrates a alternate apparatus to prevent or treat hypothermia in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 25 illustrates a patient using the warming device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a neck collar 100 to provide heat to only the neck of the patient. The neck collar 100 includes a protective covering 1 to protect the neck collar 100 from the heating elements. The protective covering 1 may be formed from flexible and/or durable material such as nylon, vinyl, cotton, canvas or other suitable material. The neck collar 100 additionally includes a layer of insulation 2 to reflect heat back to the patient, heater wire 3 which is resistive in order to convert the electricity to heat for the patient and patient barrier covering 4 to protect the skin of the patient from direct contact with the heater wire 3 and may be formed from fleece, cotton or other suitable material.
FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the neck collar 100 of the present invention. The neck collar 100 is substantially rectangular with a pair of raised portions 102 to be placed under the chin of the patient. FIG. 2 shows a path for the heater wire 3, and FIG. 2 shows the heater wire 3 connected to a thermistor 5 to measure the temperature and regulate the temperature by connecting and disconnecting the electricity to the heater wire 3.
FIG. 3 illustrates the neck collar 100 showing the protective covering 1 in approximately the center of the neck collar 100 and a first fastening device 6 and a second fastening device 8 on opposing ends of the neck collar 100. The first fastening device 6 and a second fastening device 8 may be the hooks and loops of Velcro or buttons, buckles, magnetic fasteners or any other suitable device.
FIG. 4 illustrates the neck collar 100 showing the patient barrier covering 4 in approximately the center of the neck collar 100 and the first fastening device 6 and the second fastening device 8 on reversed opposing ends of the neck collar 100.
FIG. 5 illustrates a groin/femoral warming pad 500 which is shown having an H shape to warm only a portion of the groin. The groin warming pad 500 includes a first arm 502, a second arm 504, a third arm 506, a fourth arm 508 and a connecting member 510. The connecting member 510 is substantially perpendicular to the first arm/flap 502, the second arm/flap 504, the third arm/flap 506 and the fourth arm/flap 508. FIG. 5 additionally illustrates a path for the heater wire 3 and the thermistor 5.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate design for the groin warming pad 600 including the connecting member 610 which is convexly shaped. FIG. 6 additionally illustrates the path for the heater wire 3 which is connected to the thermistor 5.
FIG. 7 illustrates the external side of the groin warming pad 500 and shows the first strap 12 connected to the first arm 502 and the second arm 504 and the second strap 12 connected to the third arm 506 and the fourth arm 508. The strap 12 may be formed from nylon, cotton or any other suitable material. The exterior surface 702 of the groin warming pad 500 may be formed from nylon, cotton, canvas, vinyl or any other suitable material. FIG. 7 additionally illustrates a fastening device 704, 706 at opposing ends of the strap 12.
FIG. 8 illustrates the interior side 802 of the groin warming pad 500 which is placed against the patient and shows the straps 12.
FIG. 9 illustrates the interior side 902 of the groin warming pad 600 which is placed against the patient and shows the straps 12.
FIG. 10 illustrates the groin warming pad 500 which has been positioned on the patient. The groin warming pad 500 is held in place by the strap 12 which extends around the upper leg of the patient. FIG. 10 shows the first arm 502 and the third arm 506 being held in the groin of the patient.
FIG. 11 illustrates an axillary warming pad 1102 to produce heat on the external side of the axillary warming pad 1102 and to produce heat on the interior side of the axillary warming pad 1102 to warm only a portion of the armpit. The axillary warming pad 1102 could be placed around the upper arms of the patient at the armpit in order to take advantage of the heating on the interior side and the heating on the external side. FIG. 11 illustrates that the axillary warming pad 1102 includes straps 12 on opposing ends of the axillary warming pad 1102. The straps 12 include a fastening device such as Velcro, buckles, buttons and other appropriate devices.
FIG. 12 illustrates the axillary warming pad 1102 being applied to the upper arms of the patient at the armpit. The straps 12 hold the axillary warming pad 1102 in position on the upper arms of the patient at the armpit.
FIG. 13 illustrates a first configuration for the heater wire 3 of the axillary warming pad 1102. The heater wire 3 forms an approximate U-shape and is connected to the thermistor 5.
FIG. 14 illustrates a second configuration for the heater wire 3 of the axillary warming pad 1102. The heater wire 3 is shown as being H shaped.
FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the axillary warming pad 1102 to apply heat to the external and internal side of the axillary warming pad 1102.
FIG. 16 illustrates an additional fastening device 1602, 1604, 1606 connected to the strap 12. The fastening device 1606 is shown as a buckle to connect to the first Velcro section 1602 and the second Velcro section 1604 on the opposing end of the axillary warming device 1102. The first Velcro section 1602 and the second Velcro section 1604 are adjacent, and one of the first and second Velcro section 1602, 1604 includes the hooks of Velcro and the other of the first and second Velcro section 1602, 1604 includes the loops of Velcro. The buckle 1606 is positioned approximately at the junction of the first Velcro section 1602 and the second Velcro section 1604, and the first and second Velcro section 1602, 1604 are pressed together to engage the hoops and loops of Velcro.
FIG. 17 illustrates an external view of the torso warming device 1702 to warm only a portion of the torso for example only the upper torso and which includes a fastening device which is shown as the first Velcro section 1602 and the second Velcro section 1604 for each strap. FIG. 17 illustrates two straps 12 which are connected to two buckles 1606. Any number of straps 12 could be incorporated with the teachings of the present invention. The first Velcro section 1602, the second Velcro section 1604 and the buckle 1606 function as described in FIG. 16. FIG. 17 illustrates that the exterior surface of the torso warming device 1702 includes a first Velcro section 1602 and a second Velcro section 1604 for connection to an other torso warming device (not shown).
FIG. 18 illustrates an interior view (patient side) of the torso warming device 1702 which includes a first upper torso arm 1704 and a second torso arm 1706 which extends from a central section 1708 of the upper torso warming device. FIG. 18 additionally illustrates the straps 12 extending from the first upper torso arm 1704.
FIG. 19 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the torso warming device 1702 which shows a path of heater wire 3 which is connected to a thermistor 5. Other paths of heater wire 3 are within the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 20 illustrates a first torso warming device 1720 connected to a second torso warming device 2002. One way of achieving the result illustrated in FIG. 20 is to rotate the torso warming device 1720 by 180°. The second torso warming device 2002 can be used to warm the lower torso of the patient. The second torso warming device 2002 is connected to the first torso warming device 1720 by the fastening device 1620 which is shown in FIG. 20 as Velcro.
FIG. 21 illustrates a power module 2102 for providing electrical power to the above described warming devices which may be attached to a 12 V sealed lead acid battery 2104 to provide portable power.
FIG. 22 illustrates a potential configuration for the power module 2200. The power module 2200 includes power outlet 2202 for connecting to the warming devices described in the present application, trip fuses 2204 to protect the circuits, a power level display 2206 to display the power level, a battery fuse 2208, a switch 2210 to switch between external power supply, internal power supply and off. Additionally the power module 2200 includes an AC to DC recharge outlet 2212 and an external power supply and outlet 2214.
FIG. 23 illustrates a patient laying supine with a torso warmer 1720 applying warmth to the chest wall and penetrating to heat the vascular lung tissue and axillary blood vessels. The neck collar 100 is applied loosely to the neck of the patient in order to provide warmth to the carotid blood vessels and trachea. The groin warming pad 500 provides warmth to the femoral blood vessels. The configuration described above could be used to prevent or treat mild, moderate and severe hypothermia with important external areas of the body being warmed. The majority of the body surfaces are correspondingly left to be warmed at a slower rate reducing the risk of core temperature after drop.
FIG. 24 illustrates an alternate apparatus and method to prevent or treat hypothermia. FIG. 24 illustrates that only the carotid, femoral and axillary blood vessels are warmed. The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 24 could be used to prevent or treat mild, moderate and severe hypothermia.
FIG. 25 illustrates a system and method similar to the system and method described in FIG. 23. FIG. 25 illustrates a patient laying supine with a torso warmer 1720 and a second torso warmer 2002 applying warmth to the chest wall and penetrating to heat the vascular lung tissue and axillary blood vessels. FIG. 25 illustrates an additional torso warmer 1720 and an additional second torso warmer 2002 to warm the abdomen. The neck collar 100 is applied loosely to the neck of the patient in order to provide warmth to the carotid blood vessels and trachea. The groin warming pad 500 provides warmth to the femoral blood vessels. The configuration described above could be used to prevent or treat mild and moderate hypothermia with important areas of the body being warmed. The extremities are left to be warmed at a slower rate reducing the risk of core temperature after drop.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
Patent Application
20080077212
