Personal warming systems and apparatuses for use in hospitals and other settings, and associated methods of manufacture and use
First Claim
1. A patient warming device usable to warm a person, the patient warming device comprising:
- a support portion configured to support at least part of the person;
a flexible substrate positioned at least proximate to the support portion;
a plurality of conductive strands supported by the flexible substrate, each of the conductive strands having a core portion and a conductive portion carried by the core portion, wherein the conductive strands are configured to generate heat to warm the person when the person is positioned at least partially on the support portion; and
an optical temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the conductive strands and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the warming device, wherein the optical temperature sensing device includes a thermal chromatic liquid crystal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Personal warming systems and apparatuses for use in hospitals and other settings are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a heating pad for warming a patient during a hospital procedure can include a heating element and a patient support portion. The heating element can include one or more radiolucent, or at least generally radiolucent, features. The radiolucent features can include conductive paths supported by a flexible substrate. The conductive paths can include conductive yarns oriented in linear and/or non-linear patterns on the flexible substrate. In one aspect of this embodiment, the conductive yarns can include conductive strands having a metallic plating, such as silver plating.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. A patient warming device usable to warm a person, the patient warming device comprising:
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a support portion configured to support at least part of the person;
a flexible substrate positioned at least proximate to the support portion;
a plurality of conductive strands supported by the flexible substrate, each of the conductive strands having a core portion and a conductive portion carried by the core portion, wherein the conductive strands are configured to generate heat to warm the person when the person is positioned at least partially on the support portion; and
an optical temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the conductive strands and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the warming device, wherein the optical temperature sensing device includes a thermal chromatic liquid crystal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A patient warming device usable to warm a person, the patient warming device comprising:
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a support portion configured to support at least part of the person;
a flexible substrate positioned at least proximate to the support portion;
at least one conductive path defining a non-linear pattern extending across at least a portion of the flexible substrate, wherein the conductive path is configured to generate heat to warm the person when the person is positioned at least partially on the support portion; and
an optical temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the at least one conductive path and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the warming device, wherein the optical temperature sensing device includes a thermal chromatic liquid crystal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A personal warming device usable to warm a patient, the personal warming device comprising:
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a flexible heating element;
a compressible layer positioned proximate to the heating element and configured to support at least a portion of the patient, wherein the heating element is configured to generate heat by conducting electricity when a patient is positioned on the compressible layer; and
an optical temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the heating element and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the warming device, wherein the optical temperature sensing device includes a thermal chromatic liquid crystal.
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66. A patient warming device usable to warm a person, the patient warming device comprising:
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a contoured support portion having at least one contoured surface configured to support at least part of the person;
a heating element positioned at least proximate to the contoured support portion, the heating element including;
a flexible substrate; and
a plurality of conductive strands supported by the flexible substrate, each of the conductive strands having a core portion and a conductive portion carried by the core portion, wherein each of the conductive strands is configured to generate heat by conducting electricity; and
an optical temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the heating element and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the warming device, wherein the optical temperature sensing device includes a thermal chromatic liquid crystal. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A patient warming device usable to warm a person, the patient warming device comprising:
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a compressible fill layer;
a flexible substrate positioned at least proximate to the fill layer;
at least one conductive path extending across at least a portion of the flexible substrate, wherein the conductive path is configured to generate heat by conducting electricity;
a form-fitting cover enclosing the fill layer, the flexible substrate, and the conductive path; and
an optical temperature sensing device positioned at least proximate to the conductive path and configured to respond to changes in temperature of the warming device, wherein the optical temperature sensing device includes a thermal chromatic liquid crystal. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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Specification