Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc.

Mallinckrodt, Inc.

Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated

Covidien LP

Thomas F Kappel

Scott D Dickerhoff

Dennis S Chivetta

Philip M Metzler

Robert A Virag

Wayne Schuessler

Michael H Vardanega

Mark Dennis Worley

Karin Feit

Scott D Dikerhoff

A method of performing cardiac surgery on a patient's heart, including covering a patient with an inflatable blanket for a forced air convection system, the inflatable blanket having at least one separable seal line within the blanket. The separable seal line may be separated to form a slit. A patient's femoral artery is accessed through the slit, and an elongate medical instrument is passed through the slit, and through the femoral artery toward the patient's heart. Cardiac surgery is performed with the elongate medical instrument, and the elongate medical instrument is withdrawn from the femoral artery through the slit.

Inflatable blanket for use in cardiac surgery

A vent system for an infusion drip chamber is provided according to the invention. The vent system includes an automatic air eliminator communicating with an interior and an exterior of the infusion drip chamber. The automatic air eliminator is capable of automatically venting air from the infusion drip chamber in a substantially continuous manner. The vent system further includes a mechanical air eliminator communicating with the interior and the exterior of the infusion drip chamber. The manual air eliminator is capable of mechanically venting air from the infusion drip chamber at discrete time intervals.

Manual/auto-prime air eliminator

The present invention relates to an upper body blanket for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blanket includes an integrally formed head cover and integrally formed tie straps. By providing a blanket with a head cover, heat loss from the head area of the patient can be significantly reduced.

Upper body warming blanket

The present invention relates to a blanket for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blanket is sized to accommodate pediatric patients. The blankets according to the present invention may be used both over or under the patient, thereby facilitating use in the operating room or outside the operating room. The present invention also relates to a blanket for use with forced air convection systems which is nonflammable and laser resistant. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of prevention hypothermia and hyperthermia and to a method of making a blanket for use with forced air convection systems.

Warming blanket for pediatric use

The present invention relates to a blanket for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blanket includes multiple inlet ports. By providing a blanket with multiple inlets, the user has the choice of positioning the air supply or blower unit and the supply hose on either side of the patient. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the inlet ports are resealable, thus allowing the user to switch inlets during use.

Warming blanket having multiple inlets

The present invention relates a method of preventing hypothermia utilizing to an upper body blanket for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blanket includes an integrally formed head cover and integrally formed tie straps. By providing a blanket with a head cover, heat loss from the head area of the patient can be significantly reduced.

Methods of preventing hypothermia using an upper body warming blanket

The present invention relates to blankets for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blankets include means to provide air through selective areas of the lower sheet of the blanket. In particular, perforations are provided through the lower sheet of the blanket over only selective areas, such that air exits toward only those portions of a patient which are covered by areas of the blanket having perforations.

Inflatable blanket having selective air flow patterns

The present invention relates to blankets for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blankets allow for access to portions of a patient's body before, during or after surgery. In addition, the blankets according to the present invention allow versatility in use by providing access to portions of the patient's body before, during, or after surgery, but which may also completely cover the patient after the surgical procedure is complete. To accomplish these purposes, the blankets according to the present invention include seals or separation lines which extend into the interior of the blanket and which may be separated to allow access to portions of the patient's body.

Inflatable blanket having access slits

The present invention relates to a blanket for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blanket includes an airflow deflector internal to the blanket and located near the air inlet port of the blanket. By providing a blanket with an airflow deflector, better distribution of air within the confines of the blanket may be achieved, which helps to reduce and eliminate problems associated with hot and cold spots within the blanket.

Inflatable blanket having air flow deflector

The present invention relates to blankets for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blankets include perforations formed through the lower sheet of the blanket. In particular, the perforations are provided in a number of different sizes, such that a greater transfer of air may be provided in areas of the blanket which will directly cover portions of a patient.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Thomas F Kappel