Patient thermal support device

• US 6,296,606 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Draeger Medical Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Newkirk, David C., Olson, William, Donnelly, Michael M., Goldberg, Charles, Moll, Robert G., Gutwillig, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/484,728
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 600/21-22, 128/736
• 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 radiant heater noves upwardly and downwardly with the canopy. The patient warming apparatus also includes a convective heater.

Claims

1. A patient warming apparatus, comprising:

a) a patient support surface;

b) a convective heater;

c) an assembly comprising a canopy and a radiant heater, the assembly being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the support surface between a lower position and an upper position; and

d) a controller having a first output coupled to the convective heater and a second output coupled to the radiant heater, the controller operating to energize the radiant heater when the assembly is in the upper position, and to de-energize the radiant heater and energize the convective heater when the assembly is in the lower position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position indicator having an output and being configured to generate an output signal indicative of the position of the assembly.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said output of the position indicator is coupled to the controller.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a humidifier for adding moisture to air adjacent the support surface.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controller has an output coupled to the humidifier.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fan, and wherein said controller has an output coupled to the fan.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the fan is energized by the controller when the assembly is in the lower position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an air temperature sensor having an output and being configured to produce a signal indicative of air temperature in the apparatus.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the output of the air temperature sensor is coupled to the controller.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a patient temperature sensor having an output and being configured to produce a signal indicative of the temperature of the patient.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output of the patient temperature sensor is coupled to the controller.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mode selector coupled to the controller and configured to allow a caregiver to operate the apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of modes for controlling warming of the patient.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the mode selector allows the caregiver to operate the apparatus in at least a first mode in which the assembly is in the upper position and the radiant heater is energized to warm the patient, and a second mode in which the assembly is in the lower position, the radiant heater is de-energized, and the convective heater is energized to warm the patient.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the convective heater and the radiant heater are energized in the first mode to warm the patient.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller adjusts the convective heater when the apparatus is operating in the second mode to maintain a desired air temperature in the vicinity of the support surface.

16. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the mode selector allows the caregiver to operate the apparatus in a mode in which the radiant heater is energized by the controller and supplies infrared energy at a level set by the caregiver to warm the patient.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller energizes the convective heater and the fan in said mode to provide air warmed to a preset level to the apparatus.

18. A patient warming apparatus, comprising:

a) a patient support surface;

b) a convective heater;

c) an assembly comprising a canopy and a radiant heater, the assembly being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the support surface between a lower position and an upper position;

d) the canopy and support providing an enclosure when the assembly is in the lower position cooperating with the convective heater to warm the patient;

e) the radiant heater providing heat to the patient on the support when the assembly is in the upper position; and

f) a controller having a first output coupled to the convective heater and a second output coupled to the radiant heater, the controller operating to energize the radiant heater when the assembly is in the upper position, and to de-energize the radiant heater and energize the convective heater when the assembly is in the lower position.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a humidifier cooperating with the convective heater to add moisture to the air within the enclosure.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said controller has an output coupled to the humidifier.

21. Apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a fan, and wherein said controller has an output coupled to the fan.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the fan is energized by the controller when the assembly is in the lower position.

23. Apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an air temperature sensor having an output and being configured to produce a signal indicative of air temperature in the apparatus.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the output of the air temperature sensor is coupled to the controller.

25. Apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a patient temperature sensor having an output and being configured to produce a signal indicative of the temperature of the patient.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the output of the patient temperature sensor is coupled to the controller.

27. A patient warming apparatus, comprising:

a) a patient support;

b) a canopy associated with the patient support to provide an enclosure for the patient;

c) a radiant heater;

d) a convective heater disposed to warm the enclosure;

e) the canopy being movable upwardly away from the support to expose the patient thereon;

f) the radiant heater being disposed to heat the patient on the support when the canopy is raised to expose the patient; and

g) a controller having a first output coupled to the convective heater and a second output coupled to the radiant heater, the controller operating to energize the radiant heater when the canopy is raised to expose the patient, and to de-energize the radiant heater and energize the convective heater when the canopy and support provide an enclosure.