Patient-Warming Apparatus Including an Electrosurgical Return Electrode

• US 20130237983A1
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medline Industries Incorporated (Medline Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Francis A. Czajka Jr
• Inventors: Czajka, Francis A. Jr., Duck, Benjamin, Giles, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/415,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237983A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/167 Passive electrodes capacitively coupled to the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/08 Warming pads, pans or mats A61F7/02 takes precedence; Hot-water bottles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/025 For medical applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 Heater type

Abstract

A patient-warming apparatus integrally comprises a patient-support substrate, a patient-heating element disposed proximal to the patient-support substrate, and an electrosurgical return electrode that is also disposed proximal to the patient-support substrate. By one approach the electrosurgical return electrode is integral to the patient-heating element. By another approach the electrosurgical return electrode is disposed between the patient-support substrate and the patient-heating element. In all of these cases, if desired, the electrosurgical return electrode comprises a part of a capacitively-coupled electrosurgical return electrode.

Claims

1. A patient-warming apparatus integrally comprising:

a patient-support substrate;

a patient-heating element disposed proximal to the patient-support substrate;

an electrosurgical return electrode disposed proximal to the patient-support substrate.

2. The patient-warming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the patient-support substrate comprises, at least in part, memory foam.

3. The patient-warming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the patient-heating element comprises a plurality of electrically-resistive traces disposed on a flexible substrate.

4. The patient-warming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrosurgical return electrode is integral to the patient-heating element.

5. The patient-warming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrosurgical return electrode is disposed between the patient-support substrate and the patient-heating element.

6. The patient-warming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrosurgical return electrode has a smaller footprint than the patient-heating element.

7. The patient-warming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrosurgical return electrode comprises a part of a capacitively-coupled electrosurgical return electrode.

8. The patient-warming apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of heat as delivered to a patient who is supported by the patient-support substrate.

9. The patient-warming apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a control circuit operably coupled to the at least one temperature sensor and configured to control the patient-heating element to compensate, at least in part, for heat exuded by the electrosurgical return electrode.

10. A method of forming a patient-warming apparatus comprising:

providing a patient-support substrate;

combining the patient-support substrate with both a patient-heating element and an electrosurgical return electrode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein providing a patient-support substrate comprises providing a non-gel patient-support substrate.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein providing a non-gel patient-support substrate comprises providing a patient-support substrate comprised of memory foam.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the patient-heating element and the electrosurgical return electrode share at least one common electricity-conveying component.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the patient-heating element and the electrosurgical return electrode are formed integrally to one another.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the patient-heating element and the electrosurgical return electrode are physically-separate discrete components.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing at least one temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature that corresponds to heat being provided to a patient lying on the patient-support substrate.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing a control circuit configured to operably couple to the at least one temperature sensor and to control the patient-heating element to compensate, at least in part, for heat exuded by the electrosurgical return electrode.