Underbody warming systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An underbody support for a patient, the support comprising:
- one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume;
at least one of the inflatable chambers includes one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, the one or more compression sensitive switches located within the inflatable chamber;
whereinthe one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume,wherein at least one of the one or more compression sensitive switches comprises two layers of flexible, electrically conductive material separated by a compressible switch layer made of compressible material,the compressible switch layer includes one or more holes within which the two layers of electrically conductive material contact each other when at least one of the compression sensitive switches is sufficiently compressed,wherein the at least one of the compression sensitive switches is coupled to a base layer of the underbody support distal from a patient support surface of the underbody support, at least one of the compression sensitive switches further comprising one or more compressible foam layers attached to the side of the electrically conductive material that is opposite the compressible switch layer,wherein a combined thickness of the one or more compressible foam layers and the compressible switch layer determines a distance between the patient and the base layer when the at least one compression sensitive switch closes, andwherein the said distance between the patient and the base layer correlates with the volume of the inflatable chamber.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An underbody support for a patient, the support comprising:
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one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume; at least one of the inflatable chambers includes one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, the one or more compression sensitive switches located within the inflatable chamber;
whereinthe one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume, wherein at least one of the one or more compression sensitive switches comprises two layers of flexible, electrically conductive material separated by a compressible switch layer made of compressible material, the compressible switch layer includes one or more holes within which the two layers of electrically conductive material contact each other when at least one of the compression sensitive switches is sufficiently compressed, wherein the at least one of the compression sensitive switches is coupled to a base layer of the underbody support distal from a patient support surface of the underbody support, at least one of the compression sensitive switches further comprising one or more compressible foam layers attached to the side of the electrically conductive material that is opposite the compressible switch layer, wherein a combined thickness of the one or more compressible foam layers and the compressible switch layer determines a distance between the patient and the base layer when the at least one compression sensitive switch closes, and wherein the said distance between the patient and the base layer correlates with the volume of the inflatable chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An underbody support for a patient, the support comprising:
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one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume; at least one of the inflatable chambers includes one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, the one or more compression sensitive switches located within the inflatable chamber;
whereinthe one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume, wherein at least one of the one or more compression sensitive switches comprises two layers of flexible, electrically conductive material separated by a compressible switch layer made of compressible material, the compressible switch layer includes one or more holes within which the two layers of electrically conductive material contact each other when at least one of the compression sensitive switches is sufficiently compressed, wherein a layer of compressible material is positioned over at least a portion of an upper surface of the one or more inflatable chambers, wherein the layer of compressible material is a polymeric foam; a flexible grounding electrode comprising a sheet of conductive or semi-conductive material having a top surface opposite a bottom surface, the flexible grounding electrode is approximately the same size as at least one of the one or more layers of compressible material, wherein the flexible grounding electrode is positioned and secured co-planer to at least one of the one or more layers of compressible material across the top surface or the bottom surface; and a return electrode wire electrically connected to the flexible grounding electrode and adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An underbody support for a patient, the support comprising:
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one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume; at least one of the inflatable chambers includes one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, the one or more compression sensitive switches located within the inflatable chamber;
whereinthe one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume, wherein at least one of the one or more compression sensitive switches comprises two layers of flexible, electrically conductive material separated by a compressible switch layer made of compressible material, the compressible switch layer includes one or more holes within which the two layers of electrically conductive material contact each other when at least one of the compression sensitive switches is sufficiently compressed, wherein a layer of compressible material is positioned over at least a portion of an upper surface of the one or more inflatable chambers, wherein a heating element is positioned over at least a portion of the upper surface of the layer of compressible material, wherein at least one of the one or more layers of compressible material is bonded about its perimeter to two flexible side walls and two flexible end walls that are also made of polymeric foam, and the two flexible side walls and two flexible end walls are fastened to the perimeter of a base layer forming a box-like structure made of flexible foam, wherein the box-like structure surrounds and contains the one or more inflatable chambers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification