Abstract:
A medical device embodied as a stretcher, body bag, or mattress is disclosed. The device includes water and a selectively breakable package. The selectively breakable package includes a chemical, such as ammonium nitrate, which when mixed with water will cause an endothermic reaction. In use, the package is broken in order to cause the water to cool. The cooled water absorbs heat from an injured person placed on the device, thereby minimizing inflammation that may occur from injuries sustained by the person.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/974,244, filed on Sep. 21, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of emergency medical devices, including the use of cooling devices embedded within medical equipment. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Great interest is currently being generated in the field of spinal cord injury, heart attack, stroke, and other traumatic injury treatment by the use of cooling to control swelling and prevent further injury. The efficacy of this treatment increases as the time between initial injury and application of the treatment decreases. Therefore, it is desirable to have equipment for use at the scene of the injury which will enable such treatment. 
         [0004]    Also, great interest exists in the area of response to natural disasters. Currently, body bags are used for the storage and transportation of human remains. The decomposition of those remains hinders efforts to determine the identity and cause of death. Decomposition is aided by heat, and therefore it is desirable to have body bags which include a cooling device. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A medical device according to the invention includes one or more cooling devices. The cooling device may be imbedded within medical equipment. Alternatively, the cooling device may be fitted into a patient support device, or otherwise applied to a patient support surface. Such medical devices may be used to prevent swelling in an injured person or to preserve the remains of a dead person. In an embodiment of the invention, the medical device may be a litter or stretcher having a mattress, which includes an outer bag and a selectively breakable inner bag. The outer bag may include water and the inner bag may include a chemical compound which will react with the water to produce an endothermic reaction. Alternatively, the inner bag may include water and the outer bag may include the chemical compound. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment of the invention, the cooling assembly may include an impermeable package, which may be filled with water, and the impermeable package may enclose a selectively breakable package. The selectively breakable package may contain a chemical compound. In another embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package may include the chemical compound and the selectively breakable package may contain water. The chemical compound (“reactant”), such as ammonium nitrate, reacts with water to produce an endothermic reaction. This assembly is referred to herein as the “cooling assembly.” In use, the selectively breakable package is broken in order to allow the reactant to react with the water thereby causing an endothermic reaction. This reaction will cool the water contained within the impermeable package, the package itself, and any objects in thermal communication with the package. 
         [0007]    The present invention may be directed to a medical device for supporting a human body. The medical device may be used for transportation of an injured person or a dead body. In this use, the cooling assembly may form, may be embedded within, or may be placed upon a mattress upon which the injured person is placed. The cooling assembly may be adapted to allow the initiation of the reaction before or after placement of the injured person. The mattress may be adapted to fit an emergency gurney, litter or stretcher of the types known in the art. Multiple cooling assemblies may be used in this device. 
         [0008]    The present invention may be directed to a medical bed for the support of an injured person. In this use, the cooling assembly may form, may be embedded within, or may encapsulate a mattress upon which the injured person is placed. The mattress may be adapted to fit a hospital bed, which may include elevating and reclining features, of the type known in the art. Multiple cooling assemblies may be used in this device. 
         [0009]    The present invention may be directed to a device for the storage and transportation of human remains. In this device, the cooling assembly may form any or all of the surfaces of a body bag. Multiple cooling assemblies may be used to form the bag. The body bag may also include an outer insulating layer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be described further by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached drawings and diagrams in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a cooling assembly in the form of a gurney mattress pad according to the invention and a stretcher; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of a gurney with a mattress having an embedded cooling assembly according to the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1   c  is a perspective view of a gurney with a cooling assembly in the form of a mattress that is in keeping with the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1   d  is a perspective view of a cooling assembly in the form of a gurney mattress pad according to an alternate embodiment of the invention and a stretcher; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1   e  is a perspective view of a gurney with a mattress having an embedded cooling assembly according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1   f  is a perspective view of a gurney with a cooling assembly in the form of a mattress according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a litter wherein the supporting surface is made from a cooling assembly that is in keeping with the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of a litter wherein the supporting surface is made from a cooling assembly according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3   a  is a side view of a cooling assembly in the form of a mattress pad according to the invention and a hospital bed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3   b  is a side view of a hospital bed with a mattress having embedded multiple cooling assemblies that are in keeping with the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3   c  is a side view of a hospital bed having a cooling assembly embedded within a mattress; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3   d  is a side view of a cooling assembly in the form of a mattress pad according to an alternate embodiment of the invention and a hospital bed; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3   e  is a side view of a hospital bed with a mattress having embedded multiple cooling assemblies according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3   f  is a side view of a hospital bed having a cooling assembly embedded within a mattress according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4   a  is a side view of a body bag wherein a cooling assembly is formed into a bottom surface of the body bag; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 4   b  is a side view of a body bag wherein a cooling assembly is formed into a top surface of the body bag; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4   c  is a side view of a body bag wherein a cooling assembly is formed into a bottom surface of the body bag according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 4   d  is a side view of a body bag wherein a cooling assembly is formed into a top surface of the body bag according to an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]      FIGS. 1   a - 1   f  show embodiments of the invention wherein the cooling assembly is adapted for use with a gurney  30 .  FIG. 1   a  shows a cooling assembly  10  including an impermeable package  11  having water therein. The impermeable package  11  may be constructed of a rigid material or a flexible material, as required for the specific application in which the cooling assembly  10  is to be used. A suitable rigid material may be a plastic material. A suitable flexible material may be a rubber or vinyl material. The impermeable package  11  may be dimensioned to fit onto a mattress  20  of the gurney  30 . The impermeable package  11  may be selectively removable from the mattress  20  and the gurney  30 . Sealed within the impermeable package  11  may be a selectively breakable package  12 . Sealed within the selectively breakable package  12  may be a reactant. 
         [0030]    For simplicity, the invention is described herein where the impermeable package includes water and the selectively breakable package includes the reactant. However, it should be understood that the impermeable package may include the reactant and the selectively breakable package may include the water. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1   b  shows a cooling assembly  15  embedded into the top surface of a gurney mattress  21 . The impermeable package  11  may be dimensioned to fit into the gurney mattress  21 . Sealed within the impermeable package  11  may be the selectively breakable package  12 . Sealed within the selectively breakable package  12  may be a reactant. The entire cooling assembly  15  may therefore be contained within the top surface of the gurney mattress  21 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 1   c  shows a cooling assembly  16  formed into a mattress shape, wherein the cooling assembly  16  replaces the mattress placed on the gurney  30 . In this example, the entire mattress may be viewed as the impermeable package  11 . Sealed within the impermeable package  11  may be the selectively breakable package  12 . Sealed within the selectively breakable package  12  may be a reactant. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1   d  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assembly  10 . In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  11  includes a selectively breakable barrier  312  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  11 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  11 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1   e  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assembly  15 . In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  11  includes a selectively breakable barrier  31  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  11 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  11 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1   f  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assembly  16 . In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  11  includes a selectively breakable barrier  312  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  11 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  11 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0036]    In each of the above embodiments of the invention, the reactant may be ammonium nitrate, which will react with water to produce an endothermic reaction. In use, the selectively breakable package  12  or the selectively breakable barrier  312  is broken in order to allow the reactant to react with the water contained within the impermeable package  11 , thereby causing an endothermic reaction. This reaction will cool the water contained within the impermeable package  11 , the impermeable package  11  itself, and any objects in thermal communication with the package, including a person&#39;s body. The selectively breakable package  12  or the selectively breakable barrier  312  may be broken before a person&#39;s body is placed on the cooling assembly. Alternatively, the selectively breakable package  12  or the selectively breakable barrier  312  may be broken after a person&#39;s body is placed on the cooling assembly, or at the same time a person&#39;s body is placed on the cooling assembly. One method of breaking the selectively breakable package  12  or the selectively breakable barrier  312 , in order to allow the reactant to mix with the water, is to apply pressure to the selectively breakable package  12  or the selectively breakable barrier  312 . Pressure may be applied to the selectively breakable package  12  or the selectively breakable barrier  312  by placement of the body on the impermeable package  11  or by force applied to the impermeable package  11  by a user, such as a doctor, nurse, EMT, etc. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2   a  shows another embodiment of the invention wherein the cooling assembly is adapted for use with a litter  60 . In this embodiment, an impermeable package  14  is made to fit between the side rails  61  and  62  of the litter  60 . Sealed within the impermeable package  14  is a selectively breakable package  13 . Sealed within the selectively breakable package  13  is the reactant. In use, the selectively breakable package  13  may be broken before, after, or in synchronization with a person&#39;s body being placed on the cooling assembly, in order to allow the reactant to react with the water contained within the impermeable package  14  thereby causing an endothermic reaction. This reaction will cool the water contained within the impermeable package  14 , the impermeable package  14  itself, and any objects in thermal communication with the package, including a person&#39;s body. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2   b  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assembly shown in  FIG. 2   a . In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  14  includes a selectively breakable barrier  313  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  14 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  14 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   f  show embodiments of the invention wherein the cooling assembly is adapted for use with a hospital bed  40 .  FIG. 3   a  shows a cooling assembly  17  including an impermeable package  18  having water therein. The impermeable package  18  may be dimensioned to fit onto a mattress  41  of the hospital bed  40 . Sealed within the impermeable package  18  is a selectively breakable package  19 . Sealed within the selectively breakable package  19  is a reactant. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3   b  shows multiple cooling assemblies  100 ,  101 , and  102  embedded into the mattress  41 . Each cooling assembly  100 ,  101 , and  102  includes an impermeable package  110  having water therein. Sealed within each impermeable package  110  is a selectively breakable package  120 . Sealed within each selectively breakable package  120  is a reactant. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3   c  shows a cooling assembly  105  formed into a mattress shape, wherein the cooling assembly  105  replaces the mattress  41  of the hospital bed  40 . In this example, the entire mattress  41  may be viewed as the impermeable package  110 . Sealed within the impermeable package  110  is a selectively breakable package  121 . Sealed within the selectively breakable package  121  is a reactant. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3   d  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assembly  17 . In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  18  includes a selectively breakable barrier  319  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  18 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  18 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3   e  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assemblies  100 ,  101 ,  102 . In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  110  includes a selectively breakable barrier  320  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  110 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  110 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3   f  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assembly  105 . In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  110  includes a selectively breakable barrier  321  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  110 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  110 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0045]    In each of the above embodiments of the invention, the reactant may be ammonium nitrate, which will react with water to produce an endothermic reaction. In use, the selectively breakable package  12 ,  13 ,  19 ,  120 ,  121 , or the selectively breakable barrier  312 ,  313 ,  319 ,  320 ,  321  is broken in order to allow the reactant to react with the water contained within the impermeable package  11 ,  14 ,  18 ,  110  thereby causing an endothermic reaction. This reaction will cool the water contained within the impermeable package  14 ,  18 ,  110 , the impermeable package itself, and any objects in thermal communication with the package, including a person&#39;s body. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  show different embodiments of the invention wherein the cooling assembly is adapted for use with a body bag.  FIG. 4   a  shows a body bag  260  having a bottom surface  270  and a top surface  250 . In this embodiment, the bottom surface  270  is formed by the impermeable package  200 . The impermeable package  200  has water therein. A selectively breakable package  210  is sealed within the impermeable package  200 . A reactant is sealed within the selectively breakable package  210 . The impermeable package  200  may be adapted to accommodate a zipper  220  or other type of resealable closure to allow insertion or removal of a body. The body bag  260  may also include an outer insulating layer  280  to assist with cooling by reducing the amount of ambient heat allowed to penetrate into the body bag  260 . The insulating layer  280  may be constructed from any known light-weight insulating material such as a black scrim PVC having a liner, or a heavy duty vinyl PVC, as known in the art. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4   b  shows a body bag  261  having a bottom surface  271  and a top surface  251 . In this embodiment, the top surface  251  of the body bag  261  is formed by the impermeable package  201 . The impermeable package  201  has water therein. A selectively breakable package  211  is sealed within the impermeable package  201 . A reactant is sealed within the selectively breakable package  211 . The impermeable package  201  may be adapted to accommodate a zipper  220  or other type of resealable closure to allow insertion or removal of a body. The body bag  261  may also include an outer insulating layer  281  to assist with cooling by reducing the amount of ambient heat allowed to penetrate into the body bag  261 . The insulating layer  281  may be constructed from any known insulating material. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4   c  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assembly. In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  200  includes a selectively breakable barrier  410  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  200 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  200 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4   d  shows an alternate embodiment of the cooling assembly. In this embodiment of the invention, the impermeable package  201  includes a selectively breakable barrier  411  formed in the interior of the impermeable package  201 , thereby forming two chambers A, B within the impermeable package  201 . Water may be included in one of the chambers A, B and a reactant may be included in the other chamber A, B. 
         [0050]    In each of the above embodiments of the invention, the reactant may be ammonium nitrate, which will react with water to produce an endothermic reaction. In use, the selectively breakable package  210 ,  211  or the selectively breakable barrier  410 ,  411  is broken in order to allow the reactant to react with the water contained within the impermeable package  200 ,  201  thereby causing an endothermic reaction. This reaction will cool the water contained within the impermeable package  200 ,  201 , the impermeable package itself, and any objects in thermal communication with the package, including a person&#39;s body. 
         [0051]    Although embodiments of the invention have been described herein, the invention is not limited to such embodiments. The claims which follow are directed to the invention, and are intended to further describe the invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.