Patient thermal support device

• US 20010049465A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Draeger Medical Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: Newkirk, David C., Olson, William, Donnelly, Michael M., Goldberg, Charles, Moll, Robert G., Gutwillig, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,008,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/006 of gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0088 Radiating heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/002 height-adjustable patient support
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/003 height-adjustable heater
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/005 with movable walls, e.g. for accessing the inside, removable walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/006 by pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/007 by translating
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/008 tiltable about a horizontal axis, e.g. oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/50 for radiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/026 specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 : Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 : for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 : Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 : by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2009/007 : using more than one jet or band in the air curtain
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 : Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 : Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 9/00 : Use of air currents for screening, e.g. air curtains
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 : for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A patient warming apparatus includes a patient support and a canopy that moves upwardly and downwardly relative to the patient support. A first heater is coupled to the canopy and moves upwardly and downwardly with the canopy. A second heater is coupled to the patient support.

Claims

1. A patient warming apparatus, comprising

a patient support,

a canopy positioned above the patient support, the canopy being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the patient support,

a first heater coupled to the canopy to move upwardly and downwardly therewith, the first heater being operable to direct infrared radiation toward the patient support, and

a second heater coupled to the patient support, the second heater being operable to heat air.

2. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a humidifier carried by the patient support and the humidifier being operable to humidify air.

3. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 2

, further comprising a fan carried by the patient support, the fan being operable to generate moving air, the moving air being heated by the second heater, and the moving air being humidified by the humidifier.

4. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 3

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support as an air curtain.

5. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 4

, wherein the patient support includes a substantially horizontal patient support surface and the air curtain initially exits the patient support at an angle of about 90 degrees to the patient support surface.

6. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 4

, wherein the patient support includes a substantially horizontal patient support surface and the air curtain initially exits the patient support at an angle of about 45 degrees to the patient support surface.

7. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 3

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support and travels upwardly toward the canopy.

8. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support along a vertical path.

9. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support along a non-vertical path.

10. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 3

, wherein a speed at which the fan operates is adjustable.

11. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a fan carried by the patient support, the fan being operable to generate moving air, and the moving air being heated by the second heater.

12. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 11

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support as an air curtain.

13. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 12

, wherein the patient support includes a substantially horizontal patient support surface and the air curtain initially exits the patient support at an angle of about 90 degrees to the patient support surface.

14. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 12

, wherein the patient support includes a substantially horizontal patient support surface and the air curtain initially exits the patient support at an angle of about 45 degrees to the patient support surface.

15. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 11

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support and travels upwardly toward the canopy.

16. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 15

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support along a vertical path.

17. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 15

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support along a non-vertical path.

18. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 11

, wherein a speed at which the fan operates is adjustable.

19. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a side wall coupled to the patient support and the canopy cooperating with the side wall to enclose a patient supported by the patient support when the canopy is in a lowermost position.

20. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the canopy includes an elongated support and a pair of canopy side members coupled to the elongated support.

21. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 20

, wherein the canopy side members are pivotable relative to the elongated support.

22. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the first heater and the second heater are operable at the same time.

23. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the first heater and the second heater are operable at different times.

24. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a controller having a first output coupled to the first heater to control operation of the first heater and a second output coupled to the second heater to control operation of the second heater.

25. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 24

, further comprising a position indicator having an output coupled to the controller to indicate a position of the canopy and the first heater relative to the patient support.

26. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 24

, further comprising a humidifier operable to add moisture to air and the controller having an output coupled to the humidifier to control operation of the humidifier.

27. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 24

, further comprising a fan operable to move air and the controller having an output coupled to the fan to control operation of the fan.

28. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 24

, further comprising a temperature sensor having an output coupled to the controller and the temperature sensor being configured to produce a signal indicative of air temperature adjacent the patient support.

29. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 24

, further comprising a temperature sensor having an output coupled to the controller and the temperature sensor being configured to produce a signal indicative of the temperature of a patient supported by the patient support.

30. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 24

, further comprising a mode selector coupled to the controller and configured to allow the first heater and the second heater to operate in a selected one of a plurality of modes for controlling warming of a patient supported by the patient support.

31. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 30

, wherein one mode of the plurality of modes has the first heater turned on and the second heater turned off.

32. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 30

, wherein one mode of the plurality of modes has the second heater turned on and the first heater turned off.

33. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 30

, wherein one mode of the plurality of modes has the first heater turned on and the second heater turned on.

34. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the controller adjusts the operation of the first heater to maintain a desired temperature in a vicinity of the patient support.

35. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the controller adjusts the operation of the second heater to maintain a desired temperature in a vicinity of the patient support.

36. The patient support apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the first heater is energized by the controller and supplies infrared energy at a level that is set by a caregiver.

37. The patient support apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the second heater is energized by the controller and heats air at a level that is set by a caregiver.

62. The patient support apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the second heater is operated by the controller and heats air at a level that is set by a caregiver.

38. A patient warming apparatus, comprising a patient support, a canopy positioned above the patient support, the canopy being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the patient support, a first heater coupled to the canopy and movable upwardly and downwardly with the canopy, the first heater being operable to direct infrared radiation downwardly toward the patient support, a second heater coupled to the patient support, the second heater being operable to heat air, and a fan coupled to the patient support, the fan being operable to generate moving air, the moving air flowing across the second heater, the moving air exiting the patient support along an upward path.

39. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein the upward path is vertical.

40. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein the upward path is non-vertical.

41. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support as an air curtain.

42. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, further comprising a humidifier that operates to humidify the moving air.

43. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein a speed at which the fan operates is adjustable.

44. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein the patient support includes a substantially horizontal patient support surface and the air curtain initially exits the patient support at an angle of about 90 degrees to the patient support surface.

45. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein the patient support includes a substantially horizontal patient support surface and the air curtain initially exits the patient support at an angle of about 45 degrees to the patient support surface.

46. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein the patient support includes a return duct and the moving air enters the return duct after exiting the patient support and traveling upwardly.

47. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein the first heater and the second heater are operable at the same time.

48. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, wherein the first heater and the second heater are operable at different times.

49. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 38

, further comprising a controller having a first output coupled to the first heater to control operation of the first heater and a second output coupled to the second heater to control operation of the second heater.

50. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 49

, further comprising a position indicator having an output coupled to the controller to indicate a position of the canopy and the first heater relative to the patient support.

51. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 49

, further comprising a humidifier operable to add moisture to the moving air and the controller having an output coupled to the humidifier to control operation of the humidifier.

52. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 49

, wherein the controller has a third output coupled to the fan to control operation of the fan.

53. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 49

, further comprising a temperature sensor having an output coupled to the controller and the temperature sensor being configured to produce a signal indicative of air temperature adjacent the patient support.

54. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 49

, further comprising a temperature sensor having an output coupled to the controller and the temperature sensor being configured to produce a signal indicative of the temperature of a patient supported by the patient support.

55. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 49

, further comprising a mode selector coupled to the controller and configured to allow the first heater and the second heater to operate in a selected one of a plurality of modes for controlling warming of a patient supported by the patient support.

56. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 55

, wherein one mode of the plurality of modes has the first heater turned on and the second heater turned off.

57. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 55

, wherein one mode of the plurality of modes has the second heater turned on and the first heater turned off.

58. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 55

, wherein one mode of the plurality of modes has the first heater turned on and the second heater turned on.

59. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 55

, wherein the controller adjusts the operation of the first heater to maintain a desired temperature in a vicinity of the patient support.

60. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 55

, wherein the controller adjusts the operation of the second heater to maintain a desired temperature in a vicinity of the patient support.

61. The patient support apparatus of

claim 55

, wherein the first heater is operated by the controller and supplies infrared energy at a level that is set by a caregiver.

63. A patient warming apparatus comprising a patient support, an assembly comprising a canopy and a first heater, the assembly being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the patient support between a lower position and an upper position, the canopy cooperating with the patient support to provide an enclosure for a patient on the patient support, a second heater coupled to the patient support and operable to heat air to be provided to a patient space defined by the enclosure, a humidifier coupled to the patient support, at least one of the first heater and the second heater being operable to heat the patient space, and the humidifier being operable to humidify the patient space.

64. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, wherein the first heater and the second heater operate at different times.

65. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, wherein the first heater and the second heater operate at the same time.

66. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, wherein the first heater and the humidifier operate at different times.

67. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, wherein the first heater and the humidifier operate at the same time.

68. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, further comprising a fan coupled to the patient support, the fan being operable to generate moving air, the moving air being heated by the second heater, and the moving air being humidified by the humidifier.

69. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 68

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support as an air curtain.

70. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 68

, wherein the patient support includes a substantially horizontal patient support surface and the air curtain initially exits the patient support at an angle of about 90 degrees to the patient support surface.

71. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 68

, wherein the patient support includes a substantially horizontal patient support surface and the air curtain initially exits the patient support at an angle of about 45 degrees to the patient support surface.

72. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 68

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support and travels upwardly toward the canopy.

73. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 68

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support along a vertical path.

74. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 68

, wherein the moving air exits the patient support along a non-vertical path.

75. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 68

, wherein a speed at which the fan operates is adjustable.

76. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, further comprising a side wall coupled to the patient support and the canopy cooperating with the side wall to enclose a patient supported by the patient support when the assembly is in a lowermost position.

77. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, further comprising a controller coupled to the first heater, the second heater, and the humidifier to control the operation of the first heater, the second heater, and the humidifier.

78. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 77

, further comprising a position indicator having an output coupled to the controller to indicate a position of the canopy and the first heater relative to the patient support.

79. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 77

, further comprising a temperature sensor providing a feedback signal to the controller and the controller adjusting the operation of at least one of the first heater and the second heater in response to the feedback signal.

80. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 79

, wherein the temperature sensor produces a feedback signal indicative of air temperature adjacent the patient support.

81. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 79

, wherein the temperature sensor produces a signal indicative of a temperature of a patient supported by the patient support.

82. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 77

, further comprising a humidity sensor providing a feedback signal to the controller.

83. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 82

, wherein the controller adjusts the operation of the humidifier in response to the feedback signal.

84. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, wherein the first heater is a radiant heater.

85. The patient warming apparatus of

claim 63

, wherein the second heater is a convective heater.