US3818896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable patient enclosures
Assignee: MEDICAL CONCEPTS Inc
•
Filing: 1972-10-17
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-10-17
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable housing includes bottom and side portions adapted to enclose a volume of atmosphere for use as an incubator or an oxygen tent. The side portions of the housing are constructed from spaced apart flexible sheets to form air chambers which extend over a substantial area of the side portions. When the air chambers are inflated, the side portions become self-supporting and the air chambers form a confined air barrier about the volume of atmosphere surrounding the patient. For safety purposes in certain embodiments, at least two independent air chambers are provided around the housing, each of the independent air chambers having the capacity when inflated to maintain the side portions in an upright position. In other embodiments, a top portion has an opening defined therein, with an air chamber ring disposed about the periphery of the opening. The air chamber ring when inflated is capable of maintaining the shape of the opening regardless of the state of inflation of the air chambers in the side portions.
Inventors
- 👤 D Deaton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G11/00; A61G11/009; A61G10/00; A61G10/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: a bottom portion joined with upright side portions to enclose a volume of conditioned atmosphere and an infant patient, said bottom and side portions being constructed from opposed flexible sheets which form air chambers extending over substantially the entire area of said bottom and side portions, said air chambers when inflated adapted to support the weight of the infant patient at said bottom portion and adapted to maintain said side portions in a self-supporting upright position, a top portion connected at the periphery thereof to said side portions and including a hole defined therein, and a supply of warm conditioned air connected to said incubator, a positive air pressure being provided to the atmosphere within said incubator such that a portion of said air escapes from said hole in said top portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: a bottom portion joined with upright side portions to enclose a volume of conditioned atmosphere and an infant patient, said bottom and side portions being constructed from opposed flexible sheets which form air chambers extending over substantially the entire area of said bottom and side portions, said air chambers when inflated adapted to support the weight of the infant patient at said bottom portion and adapted to maintain said side portions in a self-supporting upright position, a top portion connected at the periphery thereof to said side portions and including a hole defined therein, and a supply of warm conditioned air connected to said incubator, a positive air pressure being provided to the atmosphere within said incubator such that a portion of said air escapes from said hole in said top portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The inflatable incubator of claim 1 and further comprising: an independent air chamber ring disposed about said opening, said air chamber ring when inflated maintaining the shape of said opening regardless of the state of inflation of said side portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The inflatable incubator of claim 1 and further comprising: means to sense the temperature within said incubator, and means for controlling the temperature of said warm conditioned air in response to the sensed temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The inflatable incubator of claim 1 and further comprising: safety means for maintaining the upright support of said side portions when a portion of said air chambers are deflated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The inflatable incubator of claim 4 wherein said safety means comprises: at least a pair of independent chambers each having the capability of maintaining the walls in an upright condition when inflated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The inflatable incubator of claim 1 and further comprising: means for supplying moisture to the conditioned air supplied to said incubator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
164 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air cHambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from the ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and an independent air chamber disposed about the periphery of said aperture formed in the top of said housing, said independent air aperture when inflated being capable of maintaining the shape of said aperture regardless of the state of inflation of said air chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air cHambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from the ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and an independent air chamber disposed about the periphery of said aperture formed in the top of said housing, said independent air aperture when inflated being capable of maintaining the shape of said aperture regardless of the state of inflation of said air chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air chambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from the ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and means for supplying warm conditioned air through said receiving means into the interior of said incubator housing for treating the patient therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air chambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from the ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and means for supplying warm conditioned air through said receiving means into the interior of said incubator housing for treating the patient therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air chambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from the ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and means for controlling the temperature of the atmosphere within said incubator housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air chambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from the ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and means for controlling the temperature of the atmosphere within said incubator housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
166 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air chambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from the ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and a source of warm conditioned air connected to said means for receiving a treated gas to supply a positive pressure within said incubator housing such that a portion of the conditioned air escapes through said aperture formed in the top portion of said incubator housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
166 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air chambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from the ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and a source of warm conditioned air connected to said means for receiving a treated gas to supply a positive pressure within said incubator housing such that a portion of the conditioned air escapes through said aperture formed in the top portion of said incubator housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
140 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air chambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from thE ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and a nebulizer for supplying moist conditioned air into said nebulizer housing through said means for receiving a treated gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
140 words
An inflatable incubator comprising: an incubator housing having bottom, top and side portions dimensioned to enclose the entire body of a patient, said side portions being constructed from spaced apart sheets of thin flexible material joined to form air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said air chambers when deflated allowing said incubator housing to be collapsed for storing, said air chambers when inflated forming a confined air barrier about the patient to insulate the patient from thE ambient atmosphere, an aperture formed in the top portion of said housing, means formed through said side portions for receiving a treated gas in order to maintain a treated atmosphere of said gas within said housing, and a nebulizer for supplying moist conditioned air into said nebulizer housing through said means for receiving a treated gas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |