Patent ID: 8328858

Claim:
An infrared wound healing unit comprising: a first flexible frame member defining a first opening; a layer of an optically and radiographically transparent flexible heating element mounted to said first flexible frame member; a power unit, comprising a housing and a battery disposed within said housing, for supplying power to said layer of an optically and radiographically transparent flexible heating element to heat said layer of an optically and radiographically transparent flexible heating element; a second flexible frame member defining a second opening through which heat emitted from said layer of an optically and radiographically transparent flexible heating element passes; means for connecting said first flexible frame member to said second flexible frame member: (a) for relative pivotal movement between said first flexible frame member and said second flexible frame member about a common axis, and (b) in line-of-sight alignment; means for selectively supplying power from said power unit to said layer of an optically and radiographically transparent flexible heating element; and means for securing the infrared wound healing unit to a patient in proximity to the wound being treated; whereby: (a) heat emitted from said layer of an optically and radiographically transparent flexible heating element passes through said second opening of said second flexible frame member to a wound of a patient to treat the wound, (b) the wound of the patient that is being treated can be viewed while heat is emitted from said layer of an optically and radiographically transparent flexible heating element and passes through said second opening of said second flexible frame member to treat the wound, (c) the wound is accessible for other forms of treatment, and (d) the infrared wound healing unit remains secured to the patient while the wound is being viewed or treated.