US5817146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patient warming system with IV fluid warmer
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1995-11-09
•
Granted: 1998-10-06
•
Expires: 2015-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A small container such as a syringe or vial of fluid is inserted into a flow of temperature-conditioned gas to warm the fluid. The gas may be used, for example, to inflate a thermal care apparatus that exhausts the gas through a plurality of exhaust ports about a patient to envelop the patient in a warm bath. In one embodiment, the container is inserted into an inflatable chamber of the apparatus, and sealably held in place by a resilient aperture structure. In another embodiment, the container is inserted into through the aperture structure into a fluid supply hose that brings temperature-conditioned gas to the apparatus from a source. The aperture structure may comprise, for example, a selected pattern of perforations defined in the chamber or hose, or a layering of resilient material affixed to the chamber or hose with a suitably shaped aperture for receiving the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott D. Augustine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/0053; A61F2007/0059; A61F2007/006; A61F2007/0095; A61F7/0097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A thermal-treatment device comprising: an inflatable thermal blanket with a passage to carry a stream of thermally-conditioned gas; an access port to the passage defined in the inflatable thermal blanket; and a self-closing aperture structure acting on the inflatable thermal blanket to sealably receive and support an elongated fluid container in the access port while an end of the container extends through the inflatable structure, wherein the aperture structure comprises a resilient cover layer adhered externally to the inflatable thermal blanket and defining an aperture therethrough, said aperture being aligned with the access port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A thermal-treatment device comprising: an inflatable thermal blanket with a passage to carry a stream of thermally-conditioned gas; an access port to the passage defined in the inflatable thermal blanket; and a self-closing aperture structure acting on the inflatable thermal blanket to sealably receive and support an elongated fluid container in the access port while an end of the container extends through the inflatable structure, wherein the aperture structure comprises a resilient cover layer adhered externally to the inflatable thermal blanket and defining an aperture therethrough, said aperture being aligned with the access port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the inflatable thermal blanket includes a plurality of exhaust ports to expel the thermally-conditioned gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, further including the elongated fluid container received and supported in the access port by the aperture structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 3, wherein the fluid container comprises a syringe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 3, wherein the fluid container comprises a tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of synthetic porous foam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of rubber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises a resilient self-adhesive layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the aperture structure further comprises a layer of adhesive material interposed between the cover and the inflatable structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the access port comprises an aperture defined in the inflatable thermal blanket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the access port comprises a perforated pattern defined in the inflatable thermal blanket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the access port comprises a region of penetrability defined in the inflatable thermal blanket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising a thermometer affixed to the inflatable thermal blanket proximate the aperture structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 13, wherein the thermometer comprises a strip of thermochromic liquid crystals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, further including the elongated fluid container received and supported in the access port by the aperture structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 15, further including a thermometer on the elongated fluid container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
133 words
A thermal-treatment device comprising: an inflatable thermal blanket; an inflatable structure in the inflatable thermal blanket defining a passage to carry a stream of thermally-conditioned gas and including a plurality of exhaust ports to exhaust the gas into a thermal care zone; an access port to the passage defined in the inflatable structure; a resilient self-closing structure acting on the inflatable thermal blanket to sealably receive and support an elongated fluid container in the access port while an end of the container extends through the inflatable structure, wherein the aperture structure comprises a resilient cover layer adhererd externally to the inflatable thermal blanket and defining an aperture therethrough, said aperture being aligned with the access port; and an inlet in the inflatable thermal blanket to receive the thermally-conditioned gas in the inflatable structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
A thermal-treatment device comprising: an inflatable thermal blanket; an inflatable structure in the inflatable thermal blanket defining a passage to carry a stream of thermally-conditioned gas and including a plurality of exhaust ports to exhaust the gas into a thermal care zone; an access port to the passage defined in the inflatable structure; a resilient self-closing structure acting on the inflatable thermal blanket to sealably receive and support an elongated fluid container in the access port while an end of the container extends through the inflatable structure, wherein the aperture structure comprises a resilient cover layer adhererd externally to the inflatable thermal blanket and defining an aperture therethrough, said aperture being aligned with the access port; and an inlet in the inflatable thermal blanket to receive the thermally-conditioned gas in the inflatable structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, further including the elongated fluid container received and supported in the access port by the aperture structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 18, wherein the fluid container comprises a syringe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 18, wherein the fluid container comprises a tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of synthetic porous foam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of rubber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover layer comprises a resilient self-adhesive layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the aperture structure further comprises a layer of adhesive material interposed between the cover and the inflatable structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the access port comprises an aperture defined in the inflatable structure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the access port comprises a perforated pattern defined on the inflatable structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the access port comprises a region of penetrability defined in the inflatable structure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the inflatable structure comprises one or more inflatable chambers, each defining a plurality of exhaust ports to exhaust the thermally-controlled medium into a thermal care zone.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a thermometer affixed to the inflatable structure proximate the aperture structure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 25, wherein the thermometer comprises a strip of thermochromic liquid crystals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 17, further including the elongated fluid container received and supported in the access port by the aperture structure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 31, further including a thermometer in the elongated fluid container.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
106 words
An inflatable thermal blanket to bathe a patient in a thermally-controlled gas, said blanket including at least one inflatable structure including an inlet to receive the thermally-controlled gas into the structure and also including a plurality of exhaust ports to exhaust the thermally-controlled gas into a thermal care zone, said structure further including a resilient aperture sealably receive and support an elongated fluid container in the access port while an end of the container extends into the structure, wherein the aperture comprises a resilent cover layer adhered externally to the inflatable thermal blanket and defining an aperture therethrough, said aperture being aligned with the access port.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
106 words
An inflatable thermal blanket to bathe a patient in a thermally-controlled gas, said blanket including at least one inflatable structure including an inlet to receive the thermally-controlled gas into the structure and also including a plurality of exhaust ports to exhaust the thermally-controlled gas into a thermal care zone, said structure further including a resilient aperture sealably receive and support an elongated fluid container in the access port while an end of the container extends into the structure, wherein the aperture comprises a resilent cover layer adhered externally to the inflatable thermal blanket and defining an aperture therethrough, said aperture being aligned with the access port.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, further including the elongated fluid container received and supported in the aperture.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 34, wherein the fluid container comprises a syringe.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 35, wherein the fluid container comprises a tube.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of synthetic porous foam.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of rubber.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, wherein the cover layer comprises a resilient self-adhesive layer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, wherein the resilient aperture further comprises a layer of adhesive material interposed between the cover and the structure.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, wherein the access port comprises an aperture defined in the structure.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, wherein the access port comprises a perforated pattern defined in the structure.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, wherein the access port comprises a region of penetrability defined on the structure.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
33 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, wherein the structure comprises one or more inflatable chambers, each defining a plurality of exhaust ports to exhaust the thermally-controlled medium into a thermal care zone.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a thermometer affixed to the structure proximate the aperture structure.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 45, wherein the thermometer comprises a strip of thermochromic liquid crystals.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 33, further including the elongated fluid container received and supported in the resilient aperture.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermal care apparatus of claim 47, further including a thermometer on the elongated fluid container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1493450A
Cited
US1995302A
Cited
US2507464A
Cited
US3358382A
Cited
US3968346A
Cited
US4111659A
Cited
US4047563A
Cited
US4167663A
Cited
US4114620A
Cited
US4293762A
Cited
US4177816A
Cited
US4214147A
Cited
US4281238A
Cited
US4532414A
Cited
US4306018A
Cited
US4384578A
Cited
US4572188A
Cited
US4680445A
Cited
US4709135A
Cited
US4734269A
Cited
WO1987001946A1
Cited
US4653577A
Cited
US4707587A
Cited
US4787883A
Cited
US4908014A
Cited
US4878537A
Cited
US4759749A
Cited
US4772778A
Cited
US4735609A
Cited
US4900308A
Cited
US5405371A
Cited
US5300101A
Cited
US4833299A
Cited
US5074838A
Cited
US5254094A
Cited
US5106373A
Cited
US5179943A
Cited
US5097898A
Cited
US5063994A
Cited
US5245693A
Cited
US5125238A
Cited
US5271085A
Cited
US5214860A
Cited
US5625960A
Cited
US5443488A
Cited
US5651757A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-05 | 2002-04-06 | 2002-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-05 | 2006-04-06 | 2006-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-05 | 2010-04-06 | 2010-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |