Electric heating pad
Inventors
Augustine, Scott D. • Arnold, Randall C. • Augustine, Ryan S. • Deibel, Rudolf A. • Entenman, Scott A. • Augustine, Garrett J. • Augustine, Brent M.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11691350-B2
Publication Date
2023-07-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electric heating pad for warming a patient. The electric heating pad may be a heated underbody support, heated mattress or heated mattress overlay. An embodiment of the heating pad includes a flexible sheet-like heating element including an upper edge, a lower edge, and at least two side edges. The heating pad may also include a shell covering the heating element and comprising at least two sheets of flexible material (e.g., two sheets may be one sheet folded over to form at least two sheets). The two sheets of flexible material may be coupled together about the edges of the heating element by a weld. The material of the two sheets may include urethane. In some embodiments, a catalyst to accelerate hydrogen peroxide decomposition is coated on or impregnated into an element within the shell, or on the interior surface of the shell.
Core Innovation
The electric heating pad is configured for warming a patient and includes a heated underbody support, heated mattress, or heated mattress overlay having a flexible sheet-like heating element with an upper edge, a lower edge, and at least two side edges. The heating element is configured to generate heat and is covered by a shell comprising at least two sheets of flexible material, with a first sheet configured to be in contact with the patient during warming and a second sheet configured to be spaced apart from the patient during warming.
A layer of thermally insulating polymeric foam is positioned between the heating element and the second sheet of the shell. The shell sheets are welded together about the upper edge, the lower edge, and the at least two side edges of the heating element, where the weld is one of an RF weld, ultrasonic weld, or a heat bond. The two sheets of flexible material each include at least one layer of PVC to facilitate the weld, and in one claim each sheet includes a strengthening layer and a second layer of a weldable polymeric material.
The heating pad further integrates electrical coupling and temperature management features, including power coupling to conductive bus bars and conductive stitching, and electrical insulation members to prevent direct electrical contact. Temperature sensing and temperature control establish a first temperature zone in conductive contact with the patient body and a second temperature zone at a location not in conductive contact with the body during warming, to maintain a first temperature lower than a second temperature. The shell environment also incorporates a catalyst to accelerate hydrogen peroxide decomposition, protecting oxidizable components.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00008, clm-00015, and clm-00023. Across these independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on an electric heating pad structure with a flexible sheet-like heating element enclosed by a welded two-sheet flexible shell, with thermally insulating polymeric foam spacing, weld-facilitating polymeric layers, and additional features relating to electrical coupling, temperature-zone control, and hydrogen peroxide decomposition via a catalyst.
Flexible sheet-like heating element enclosed by welded two-sheet shell with patient-contact and spaced-apart sheets
An electric heating pad for warming a patient comprising a heated underbody support, heated mattress or heated mattress overlay with a flexible sheet-like heating element configured to generate heat; a shell covering the heating element and comprising at least two sheets of flexible material; wherein the at least two sheets of flexible material comprise a first sheet configured to be in contact with the patient during warming and a second sheet configured to be spaced apart from the patient during warming, and a layer of thermally insulating polymeric foam positioned between the heating element and the second sheet of the shell; and a weld coupling the two sheets of flexible material together about the upper edge, the lower edge, and the at least two side edges of the heating element, wherein the weld is one of a RF weld, ultrasonic weld, or a heat bond.
PVC layers to facilitate welded coupling of shell sheets
The electric heating pad of the flexible sheet-like heating element enclosed by welded two-sheet shell, wherein the two sheets of flexible material each include at least one layer of PVC to facilitate the one of the RF weld, the ultrasonic weld, or the heat bond.
Urethane layers to facilitate welded coupling of shell sheets
An electric heating pad of claim 8, wherein the two sheets of flexible material each include at least one layer of urethane to facilitate the one of the RF weld, the ultrasonic weld, or the heat bond.
Weldable polymeric material layers and strengthening layer within shell sheets
An electric heating pad comprising: a flexible sheet-like heating element; a shell covering the heating element comprising at least two sheets of flexible material; wherein the at least two sheets of flexible material comprise a first sheet configured to be in contact with the patient during warming and a second sheet configured to be spaced apart from the patient during warming, with a layer of thermally insulating polymeric foam positioned between the heating element and the second sheet of the shell; and a weld coupling the two sheets of flexible material together about the upper edge, the lower edge, and the at least two side edges of the heating element, wherein the weld is one of a RF weld, ultrasonic weld, or a heat bond; wherein each sheet of flexible material comprises a strengthening layer and a second layer of a weldable polymeric material to facilitate the one of the RF weld, the ultrasonic weld, or the heat bond.
The independent claims collectively cover an electric heating pad that uses a flexible sheet-like heating element under a welded shell made from at least two flexible sheets, with thermally insulating polymeric foam positioning the second sheet away from the patient. The independent claims further specify weld-facilitating polymeric layers, including PVC or urethane, and, in one case, strengthening and weldable polymeric material layers in each sheet to support the weld coupling.
Stated Advantages
Provides improved cleaning and maintenance characteristics compared with prior heated blankets having stitched/reinforced seals that create cleaning issues.
Addresses hot-spot and burn risks associated with prior heated blankets and uneven heating.
Improves accommodation to avoid hammocking and improve heat transfer and pressure relief by conforming to patient contours and supporting the underbody/mattress configuration.
Supports disinfection compatibility with hydrogen peroxide by accelerating hydrogen peroxide decomposition with a catalyst within the shell to protect oxidizable components.
Documented Applications
Surgical patient warming using an electric heating pad comprising a heated underbody support, heated mattress, or heated mattress overlay.
Use in warming a patient with a conductive contact region and a spaced-apart region, managed by temperature sensing and control during warming.
Disinfection of the heating pad using hydrogen peroxide vapor or hydrogen peroxide liquid, with the shell incorporating a catalyst to accelerate hydrogen peroxide decomposition.
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