INFLATABLE PATIENT ENCLOSURES

• US 3,710,791 A
• Filed: 03/09/1970
• Issued: 01/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David W. Deaton
• Original Assignee: David W. Deaton
• Inventors: Deaton, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunne, G. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/017,688
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1B,191,191A,33 135/1A 52/2
• US Class Current: 128/205.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/04 Oxygen tents ; Oxygen hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/009 with hand insertion windows, e.g. in the walls

Abstract

An inflatable housing includes bottom and side portions adapted to enclose a volume of atmosphere for use as an incubator or an oxygen tent. The side portions of the housing are constructed from spaced apart flexible sheets to form air chambers which extend over a substantial area of the side portions. When the air chambers are inflated, the side portions become self-supporting and the air chambers form a confined air barrier about the volume of atmosphere surrounding the patient. For safety purposes in certain embodiments, at least two independent air chambers are provided around the housing, each of the independent air chambers having the capacity when inflated to maintain the side portions in an upright position. In other embodiments, a top portion has an opening defined therein, with an air chamber ring disposed about the periphery of the opening. The air chamber ring when inflated is capable of maintaining the shape of the opening regardless of the state of inflation of the air chambers in the side portions.

Claims

1. An inflatable oxygen tent enclosure for a patient comprising:

bottom, top and side portions joined to form an enclosure for a volume of atmosphere dimensioned to receive the head of a patient, an aperture in said side portions for receiving the head portion of a patient, said side portions constructed from air chambers which when inflated maintain said side portions in an upright position, said top portion having an opening defined therein, and a rigid circular member disposed about the periphery of said opening for maintaining the shape of said opening regardless of the state of inflation of said air chambers in said side portions.

2. The inflatable enclosure of claim 1 wherein said rigid circular member comprises:

an independent air chamber disposed about the periphery of said opening and capable when inflated to maintain the shape of said opening.

3. The inflatable enclosure of claim 1 comprising a supply of oxygen connectable to the side portion for admission of oxygen into said tent.

4. An inflatable oxygen tent comprising:

bottom, top and side portions joined to enclose a volume of atmosphere dimensioned to treat the head portion of a patient, said side and bottom portions being constructed from opposed flexible sheets to form air chambers which extend over a substantial area of said bottom and side portions, said air chambers when inflated causing said side portions to become self-supporting and forming a confined air barrier about the enclosed volume of atmosphere to reduce radiant energy exchange therethrough, an opening in one of said side portions for receiving the head of a patient, an aperture defined in said top portion, and an inflatable air chamber disposed about the periphery of said aperture to maintain the shape of said aperture regardless of the state of inflation of said side portions.

5. The inflatable oxygen tent of claim 4 and further comprising:

safety means for maintaining the upright position of said side portions in the event of deflation of a portion of said air chambers.

6. A generally circular, open top inflatable oxygen tent comprising:

a continuous sidewall formed from opposed flexible sheets joined to define a plurality of adjacent interconnected air chambers extending across the width of said sidewall, inlet means in said sidewall for being connected to a source of Pressurized air wherein said air chambers become inflated to make said sidewall upstanding in a generally circular, open-topped configuration, an opening formed in said sidewall for receiving the head portion of a patient, means for receiving a supply of oxygen such that a stabilized atmosphere is maintained about the head of the patient for treatment, the open top formed by said sidewall allowing access to the head of the patient during treatment, and safety ring means disposed around the periphery of said open top for maintaining the shape thereof regardless of the inflation of said sidewall.

7. The patient enclosure of claim 6 and wherein said sidewall is formed from a plurality of independent air chambers.

8. The patient enclosure of claim 6 and further comprising:

a plurality of rigid rods disposed around said sidewall.

9. The patient enclosure of claim 8 wherein said rods are rigidly connected to said sidewall.

10. The patient enclosure of claim 8 wherein said rods are disposed through loop portions connected to said sidewall.

11. An inflatable oxygen tent comprising:

bottom, top and side portions joined to enclose a volume of atmosphere dimensioned to treat the head portion of a patient, said side and bottom portions being constructed from opposed flexible sheets to form air chambers which extend over a substantial area of said bottom and side portions, said air chambers when inflated causing said side portions to become self-supporting and forming a confined air barrier about the enclosed volume of atmosphere to reduce radiant energy exchange therethrough, an opening in one of said side portions for receiving the head of a patient, and safety means comprising at least a pair of independent air chambers each capable of supporting said side portions in an upright position when inflated to thereby maintain the upright position of said side portions in the event of deflation of a portion of said air chambers.

12. The inflatable oxygen tent of claim 11 and further comprising:

means for supplying oxygen to said tent, and means for supplying controlled amounts of moisture to said tent.