Air blanket

Claim 2

A blanket for positioning over a patient to supply temperature adjusted air to said patient, said blanket comprising: an upper layer formed of an air impermeable material; a lower air permeable layer formed of a non-woven, fibrous material substantially free of discrete openings wherein temperature adjusted air may readily diffuse through said lower layer; a peripheral connection extending around and joining said upper layer and said lower layer to define an air chamber; an inlet port for supplying said temperature adjusted air to said air chamber; and wherein said upper layer defines partitions located in said air chamber to increase turbulence and mixing of said temperature adjusted air flowing through said air chamber where said temperature adjusted air will have a substantially uniform temperature distribution throughout said air chamber.

Claim 3

The blanket as in claim 1 wherein said partitions are defined by folds in said upper layer extending downwardly toward said lower layer.

Claim 4

A blanket for positioning over a patient to supply temperature adjusted air to said patient, said blanket comprising: an upper layer formed of an air impermeable material; a lower layer formed of an air permeable material wherein temperature adjusted air may readily diffuse through said air permeable material; a peripheral connection extending around and joining said upper layer and said lower layer to define an air chamber an inlet port for supplying said temperature adjusted air to said air chamber; said upper layer including folds defining partitions located in said air chamber; and wherein said blanket includes opposing proximal and distal ends and side portions extending between said ends, and a longitudinal axis is defined extending between said ends generally centrally between said side portions wherein said folds extend across said upper layer diagonally relative to said longitudinal axis to increase turbulence and mixing of said temperature adjusted air flowing through said air chamber whereby said temperature adjusted air will have a substantially uniform temperature distribution throughout said air chamber.

Claim 5

A blanket for positioning over a patient to supply temperature adjusted air to said patient, said blanket comprising: an upper layer formed of an air impermeable material; a lower layer formed of an air permeable material wherein temperature adjusted air may readily diffuse through said air permeable material; a peripheral connection extending around and joining said upper layer and said lower layer to define an air chamber an inlet port for supplying said temperature adjusted air to said air chamber; said upper layer including folds defining partitions located in said air chamber; and wherein said blanket includes opposing proximal and distal ends and side portions extending between said ends, and a longitudinal axis is defined extending between said ends generally centrally between said side portions wherein said folds extend across said upper layer diagonally relative to said longitudinal axis to increase turbulence and mixing of said temperature adjusted air flowing through said air chamber whereby said temperature adjusted air will have a substantially uniform temperature distribution throughout said air chamber.

Claim 6

The blanket as in claim 3 including a plurality of distinct connection points between said upper layer and said lower layer wherein said folds extend from said distinct connection points.

Claim 7

The blanket as in claim 4 wherein said distinct connection points are arranged in rows extending laterally relative to said longitudinal axis, each said connection point defining a location for a longitudinal line passing through a respective connection point parallel to said longitudinal axis, at least one of said longitudinal lines of each row being laterally displaced relative to each of said longitudinal lines of an adjacent row.

Claim 8

A blanket for positioning over a patient for supplying temperature adjusted air to said patient, said blanket comprising: an upper layer formed of an air impermeable material; a lower layer formed of a substantially uniformly porous air permeable material wherein temperature adjusted air may readily diffuse through said air permeable material; a peripheral connection extending around and joining said upper layer and said lower layer to define an air chamber; opposing proximal and distal ends and side portions extending between said ends; an inlet port located at said proximal end for supplying said temperature adjusted air to said air chamber; a longitudinal axis defined by said upper and lower layers extending from said proximal end to said distal end generally centrally between said side portions; a plurality of distinct connection points between said upper and lower layers arranged substantially in rows extending laterally of said longitudinal axis; and wherein said connection points in adjacent rows are staggered relative to each other in a lateral direction to thereby define angled airflow paths through said air chamber such that a substantially uniform temperature distribution for said temperature adjusted air will be obtained throughout said air chamber.

Claim 9

A blanket for positioning over a patient for supplying temperature adjusted air to said patient, said blanket comprising: an upper layer formed of an air impermeable material; a lower layer formed of a substantially uniformly porous air permeable material wherein temperature adjusted air may readily diffuse through said air permeable material; a peripheral connection extending around and joining said upper layer and said lower layer to define an air chamber; opposing proximal and distal ends and side portions extending between said ends; an inlet port located at said proximal end for supplying said temperature adjusted air to said air chamber; a longitudinal axis defined by said upper and lower layers extending from said proximal end to said distal end generally centrally between said side portions; a plurality of distinct connection points between said upper and lower layers arranged substantially in rows extending laterally of said longitudinal axis; and wherein said connection points in adjacent rows are staggered relative to each other in a lateral direction to thereby define angled airflow paths through said air chamber such that a substantially uniform temperature distribution for said temperature adjusted air will be obtained throughout said air chamber.

Claim 10

The blanket as in claim 6 wherein each connection point defines a location for a longitudinal line passing through a respective connection point parallel to said longitudinal axis and at least one of said longitudinal lines of each row is laterally displaced relative to each of said longitudinal lines of an adjacent row.

Claim 11

The blanket as in claim 7 wherein a majority of said longitudinal lines of each row are laterally displaced relative to each of said longitudinal lines of an adjacent row.

Claim 12

The blanket as in claim 7 wherein said longitudinal lines of at least one of said rows are located substantially midway between adjacent ones of said longitudinal lines of an adjacent row.

Claim 13

The blanket as in claim 6 including partitions defined by said upper layer, said partitions extending from said distinct connection points diagonally relative to said longitudinal axis to control airflow from said proximal end to said distal end.

Claim 14

In a blanket for diffusing temperature-adjusted air to a patient over which said blanket is positioned, including an upper, air impermeable layer, a lower, air permeable layer through which temperature-adjusted air may be diffused, means forming a peripheral connection between said upper and lower layers and defining an air chamber, and means for supplying temperature-adjusted air to said air chamber, the improvement comprising: said lower layer being formed of a non-woven, fibrous material substantially free of discrete openings.

Claim 15

In a blanket for diffusing temperature-adjusted air to a patient over which said blanket is positioned, including an upper, air impermeable layer, a lower, air permeable layer through which temperature-adjusted air may be diffused, means forming a peripheral connection between said upper and lower layers and defining an air chamber, and means for supplying temperature-adjusted air to said air chamber, the improvement comprising: said lower layer being formed of a non-woven, fibrous material substantially free of discrete openings.

Claim 16

The blanket as in claim 11 further comprising: bonding material applied to said non-woven fibrous material.

Claim 17

The blanket as in claims 12 wherein said bonding material occupies between about 15 to 60 percent of the surface area of said lower layer.

Claim 18

The blanket as in claim 12 wherein said bonding material is applied to said non-woven fibrous material in a discontinuous pattern.

Claim 19

The blanket as in claim 14 wherein: said bonding material is applied to said non-woven fibrous material in a substantially reticular pattern.

Claim 20

The blanket as in claim 14 wherein: said bonding material is applied to opposite surfaces of said non-woven fibrous material.

Claim 21

The blanket as in claim 16 wherein: said bonding material is supplied to said non-woven fibrous material in a substantially net-like pattern.

Claim 22

The blanket as in claim 11 wherein: said non-woven fibrous material comprises cellulosic fibers.

Claim 23

The blanket as in claim 18 wherein: said cellulosic fibers comprise paper fibers.

Claim 24

The blanket as in claim 11 wherein: said non-woven fibrous layer comprises synthetic fibers.

Claim 25

The blanket as in claim 20 wherein: said non-woven fibrous material comprises polypropylene fibers.

Claim 26

The blanket as in claim 20 wherein: said non-woven fibrous material comprises polyolefinic fibers.

Claim 27

The blanket as in claim 11 further comprising: means for generating turbulence in said air chamber.

Claim 28

The blanket as in claim 11 further comprising: means for generating eddy currents in said air chamber.

Claim 29

The blanket as in claim 11 wherein said lower layer is in direct fluid communication with said air chamber and defines a lower outer surface for said blanket.

Claim 30

In a blanket for diffusing temperature-adjusted air to a patient over which said blanket is positioned, including an upper, air impermeable layer, a lower, air permeable layer through which temperature-adjusted air may be diffused, means forming a peripheral connection between said upper and lower layers and defining an air chamber, and means for supplying temperature-adjusted air to said air chamber, the improvement comprising: said lower layer being formed of three laminate-like regions defining a non-woven fibrous material substantially free of discrete openings and including: a soft central core of non-woven fibrous material; and bonding material applied to opposite surfaces of said soft central core in a reticular pattern occupying between about 15-60 percent of the surface area of said soft central core; and means for generating turbulence within said air chamber.

Claim 31

In a blanket for diffusing temperature-adjusted air to a patient over which said blanket is positioned, including an upper, air impermeable layer, a lower, air permeable layer through which temperature-adjusted air may be diffused, means forming a peripheral connection between said upper and lower layers and defining an air chamber, and means for supplying temperature-adjusted air to said air chamber, the improvement comprising: said lower layer being formed of three laminate-like regions defining a non-woven fibrous material substantially free of discrete openings and including: a soft central core of non-woven fibrous material; and bonding material applied to opposite surfaces of said soft central core in a reticular pattern occupying between about 15-60 percent of the surface area of said soft central core; and means for generating turbulence within said air chamber.