Inflatable blanket having access slits

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.

BACKGROUND 
Hypothermia is a condition of subnormal body temperature and presents 
serious consequences to the patient suffering therefrom. It has been shown 
that nearly seventy five percent of all patients who undergo surgical 
procedures develop some degree of hypothermia. This equates to 
approximately fourteen million patients a year in the United States alone. 
The hypothermic condition is brought on by many factors including 
anesthesia, the air conditioning of the operating room, and the infusion 
of cold blood, I-V solutions, or irrigating fluids. 
Several methods and products have been developed to help prevent 
hypothermia from occurring; such as the use of infrared lamps, cotton 
blankets, and warm water mattresses. However, none of these methods and 
products have proven completely successful. In fact, it has been shown 
that these methods and products can not even prevent the patients from 
losing their endogenous heat. (See Journal of Post Anesthesia Nursing, 
Vol. 5, No. 4, August 1990, pp 254-263). 
Another method of helping to prevent hypothermia that has proven very 
effective is the use of forced warm air convection. As early as 1937, a 
refrigeration blanket using cold air convection was suggested in U.S. Pat. 
No. 2,093,834 to Gaugler. This blanket included a plurality of layers for 
channeling airflow from an inlet port. Non-inflatable portions were 
provided around the periphery of the blanket to secure the blanket around 
the body. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,512,559 to Williams also relates to a blanket for providing 
cooled air to a person. The blanket in Williams comprised a plurality of 
thin sheets of material connected together at a plurality of discrete 
locations and connected together in a continuous line about the peripheral 
edge. An air inlet was provided to communicate with space between the 
sheets to allow cool air to be supplied thereto. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,188 to Augustine, et al., a forced air convection 
system which can supply either cool or warm air to a blanket is described. 
The blanket in Augustine, et al. comprises a plurality of inflatable 
hollow tubes having their interiors connected together through transverse 
openings. An entry port is provided in the upper surface of the blanket 
for admitting the cool or warm air and small exit ports are provided 
through the lower surface to allow the cool or warm air to flow out toward 
a body covered by the blanket. 
Other patents relating to the supply of cool or warm air to a person 
through an inflatable blanket include U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,388 to Greene, 
Jr.; U.S. Pat No. 4,777,802 to Feher; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,230 to Voss; 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,238 to Ragan et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,100 to Hickle 
et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,102 to Augustine et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,320 
to Augustine et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,579 to Dickerhoff et al; U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,360,439 to Dickerhoff et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,924 to 
Dickerhoff et al. Each of these patents describe blankets having various 
attributes and configurations to supply cool or warm air to the person. 
While there are a number of patents noted above and others not mentioned 
which relate to inflatable blankets for use in supplying cool or warm air 
to a patient, there remains a need in the art for improvements to forced 
air convection systems. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is one object of the present invention to provide a blanket for a forced 
air convection system that allows for access to portions of a patient's 
body, before, during or after surgery. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a blanket for a 
forced air convection system which provides versatility in use by 
providing access to portions of the patient's body during surgery, and may 
also completely cover the patient after the surgical procedure is 
complete. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above objects and others are accomplished according to the present 
invention by providing a blanket for a forced air convective system which 
includes a separation line which allows access to portions of the 
patient's body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blanket, generally designated by reference 
numeral 100, for a forced air convection system, according to one 
embodiment of the present invention. In particular, blanket 100, comprises 
a lower sheet of material (not visible), and an upper sheet of material 
110, sealed together around respective peripheral edges to form a cavity 
therebetween. The lower sheet and upper sheet 110, may further be 
connected together in any one of several desirable configurations, such as 
spot welds (see FIG. 2), interconnected columns, interconnected tubes, 
etc. The blanket 100, includes at least one inlet port 130, for attachment 
to a source of forced air which will be used to inflate the blanket 100, 
and provide either warming or cooling air to the patient. As shown in FIG. 
1, the inlet port 130, is formed through the surfaces of the blanket 100, 
at an interior location spaced away from the edges of the blanket 100. 
Other configurations are equally acceptable and are within the scope of 
the present invention, as will be further discussed below. The lower sheet 
of the blanket 100, preferably has a plurality of perforations or small 
exit holes formed therethrough which allow air to escape from the blanket 
100, toward a patient. 
The blanket 100, also includes a center line seal 120, extending from a 
head end of the blanket 100, for a predetermined distance toward a foot 
end of the blanket 100. The center line seal 120, is formed by sealing the 
lower sheet to the upper sheet 110, along the center of the blanket 100, 
for the desired length. 
In use the blanket 100, may be separated along center line seal 120, to 
allow portions of the blanket to be folded away from contact with the 
patient and thereby reveal desired areas of the patient upon which it may 
be necessary to perform a surgical or other medical procedure. Separation 
may be accomplished by cutting through the center line seal 120. 
Preferably, the center line seal 120, is provided with a perforation which 
allows the center line 120, to be separated by an easy tearing procedure. 
In a preferred embodiment, the blanket 100, includes fastening means, along 
at least one edge of the center line seal 120, which allow the portions of 
the blanket 100, separated by the center line seal 120, to be held 
together when it is desired to cover the patient completely. The fastening 
means may be of any suitable form, such as tie straps, hook and loop 
fasteners, buttons, snaps, zippers, adhesives, tape, etc. 
The center line seal 120, may extend for any desired length, but preferably 
extends far enough to enable the entire chest and torso area of the 
patient to be exposed. Preferably the center line seal 120, extends from 
about 20 to about 50 inches. 
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blanket, generally designated by reference 
numeral 200, for a forced air convection system, according to a further 
embodiment of the present invention. The blanket 200, comprises a lower 
sheet of material (not visible), and an upper sheet of material 210, 
sealed together around respective peripheral edges to form a cavity 
therebetween. In FIG. 2, the lower sheet and upper sheet 210, are further 
connected together at a plurality of spot welds 240, which provide a 
quilt-like pattern to the blanket 200, upon inflation. The blanket 200, 
includes at least one inlet port 230, which as shown in FIG. 2, is formed 
along the bottom edge of the blanket 200. The inlet port 230, is attached 
to a source of forced air which will be used to inflate the blanket 200, 
and provide either warming or cooling air to the patient. Other locations 
for the inlet port. 230, are equally acceptable, such as at the corners of 
the blanket 200, or anywhere along edges of the blanket 200. The lower 
sheet of the blanket 200, preferably has a plurality of perforations or 
small exit holes formed therethrough which allow air to escape from the 
blanket 200, toward a patient. 
The blanket 200, also includes a center line seal 220, extending from a 
head end of the blanket 200, for a predetermined distance toward a foot 
end of the blanket 200. The center line seal 220, is formed by sealing the 
lower sheet to the upper sheet 210, along the center of the blanket 200, 
for the desired length. 
In use the blanket 200, may be separated along center line seal 220, to 
allow portions of the blanket to be folded away from contact with the 
patient and thereby reveal desired areas of the patient upon which it may 
be necessary to perform a surgical or other medical procedure. Separation 
may be accomplished by cutting through the center line seal 220. 
Preferably, the center line seal 220, is provided with a perforation which 
allows the center line 220, to be separated by an easy tearing procedure. 
In a preferred embodiment, the blanket 200, includes fastening means, along 
at least one edge of the center line seal 220, which allow the portions of 
the blanket 200, separated by the center line seal 220, to be held 
together when it is desired to cover the patient completely. The fastening 
means may be of any suitable form, such as tie straps, hook and loop 
fasteners, buttons, snaps, zippers, adhesives, tape, etc. 
The center line seal 220, may extend for any desired length, but preferably 
extends far enough to enable the entire chest and torso area of the 
patient to be exposed. Preferably the center line seal 220, extends from 
about 20 to about 50 inches. 
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blanket, generally designated by reference 
numeral 300, for a forced air convection system, according to a further 
embodiment of the present invention. The blanket 300, comprises a lower 
sheet of material 305, and an upper sheet of material 310, sealed together 
around respective peripheral edges 315 to form a cavity therebetween, see 
also FIG. 4. In FIG. 3, the lower sheet and upper sheet 310, are further 
connected together at a plurality of spot welds 340, which provide a 
quilt-like pattern to the blanket 300, upon inflation. The blanket 300, 
includes at least one inlet port 330, which as shown in FIG. 3, is formed 
along the bottom edge of the blanket 300. The inlet port 330, is attached 
to a source of forced air which will be used to inflate the blanket 300, 
and provide either warming or cooling air to the patient. Other locations 
for the inlet port 330, are equally acceptable, such as at the corners of 
the blanket 300, or anywhere along edges of the blanket 300. The lower 
sheet of the blanket 300, preferably has a plurality of perforations or 
small exit holes formed therethrough which allow air to escape from the 
blanket 300, toward a patient. 
The blanket 300, also includes a separation seal 320, extending from a head 
end of the blanket 300, for a predetermined distance toward a foot end of 
the blanket 300. The separation seal 320, is offset from the center of the 
blanket 300, and is formed by sealing the lower sheet to the upper sheet 
310, for the desired length. 
In use the blanket 300, may be separated along separation seal 320, to 
allow portions of the blanket to be folded away from contact with the 
patient and thereby reveal desired areas of the patient upon which it may 
be necessary to perform a surgical or other medical procedure. Separation 
may be accomplished by cutting through the separation seal 320. 
Preferably, the separation seal 320, is provided with a perforation which 
allows the separation seal 320, to be separated by an easy tearing 
procedure. 
In a preferred embodiment, the blanket 300, includes fastening means, along 
at least one edge of the separation seal 320, which allow the portions of 
the blanket 300, separated by the separation seal 320, to be held together 
when it is desired to cover the patient completely. The fastening means 
may be of any suitable form, such as tie straps, hook and loop fasteners, 
buttons, snaps, zippers, adhesives, tape, etc, as represented 
schematically by fastening means 325 shown in FIG. 3. 
The separation seal 320, may extend for any desired length, but preferably 
extends from about 20 to about 50 inches. 
Also in a preferred embodiment, the blanket 300, includes a head cut out 
area 350, for accommodating the patients head when blanket 300, is in use. 
The provision of the center line seal in the blankets according to the 
present invention enable use of the blankets in a wide variety of 
configurations. In particular, the center line seal may be only partially 
opened so that a limited portion of the patient is exposed, or the center 
line seal may be fully opened if a greater portion of the patient is to be 
exposed. Even if the center line seal is fully opened, it is still 
possible to expose smaller portions of the patient, simply by folding less 
of the blanket back. 
The invention has been described above with reference to a center line 
seal. However, the present invention is equally applicable to any seal 
which would aid in exposing selective portions of a patient. As shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2, the center line seal extends from the head end of the 
blanket. However, a seal could extend from any edge of the blanket, 
including the foot end, or either side of the blanket. Additionally, 
multiple seals could be provided in any of the configurations noted above. 
Also, these seals may extend along parallel lines with respect to the 
edges of the blanket or may extend at different angles into the interior 
of the blanket. 
Seals may also be provided entirely within the interior of the blanket, 
rather then extending from an edge. Such seals may be opened to allow 
tubes or other medical apparatus to be admitted or egressed therethrough. 
Preferably, such seals would be in the form of a cross or "X" so that the 
opening could be sufficiently opened to serve its purpose. Such a seal 
would also allow very specific portions of the patient to be revealed. 
As noted above, the inlet port may be formed at almost any position which 
allows inflation medium to be introduced to the interior of the blanket. 
In particular, the inlet port may be provided along an edge of the 
blanket, at a corner of the blanket, or through the upper or lower sheet 
of the blanket within the interior surface area thereof. 
The blankets according to the present invention provide for great 
versatility of use. In particular, the blankets of the present invention 
allow for access to portions of a patient's body during surgery. Further, 
the blankets of the present invention provide access to portions of the 
patient's body during surgery, but may also completely cover the patient 
after the surgical procedure is complete. 
The blankets shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 represent full body blankets but the 
present invention would be equally applicable to blankets intended to 
cover only portions of the patient, such as an upper body blanket or a 
lower body blanket. The blankets according to the present invention are 
also equally useful in both adult and pediatric sizes. The blankets above 
have been described primarily as relating to blankets for use in the 
operating room, however, it will be recognized that the present invention 
is equally applicable for blankets to be used in other areas of the 
hospital, such as the U. Moreover, as noted, the blankets according to 
the present invention may be used to provide either warming or cooling to 
a patient. 
The blankets of the present invention may be formed of any suitable 
material capable of being sealed together at selected positions and having 
sufficient strength to allow inflation and adequate air distribution 
within the inflated portion. Such materials include plastics, plastic 
non-wovens, wood pulp compositions, laminated plastic and wood pulp 
materials, and combinations thereof. 
The foregoing has been a description of certain preferred embodiments of 
the present invention, but is not intended to limit the invention in any 
way. Rather, malay modifications, variations and changes in details may be 
made within the scope of the present invention.