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-12011883-B2
Publication Date
2024-06-18
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 invention relates to an electric heating pad for warming a patient that includes a heated underbody support, heated mattress, or heated mattress overlay having a flexible sheet-like heating element configured to generate heat. The flexible sheet-like heating element includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and at least two side edges. A shell covering encloses the flexible sheet-like heating element and comprises at least two sheets of flexible material, including 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.
The heating pad joins the shell sheets to the heating element by a weld coupling the first sheet and the second sheet together about the upper edge, lower edge, and the at least two side edges of the flexible sheet-like heating element. The weld is one of a RF weld, ultrasonic weld, or a heat bond, and the shell includes a securing strip enclosed within the shell and coupled to at least the upper edge, lower edge, or one of the side edges. The securing strip extends laterally away from the flexible sheet-like heating element and is engaged between the first sheet of flexible material and the second sheet of flexible material in the weld to secure the flexible sheet-like heating element within the shell.
The first sheet of flexible material and the second sheet of flexible material each include at least one layer of PVC to facilitate the weld in the RF weld, ultrasonic weld, or heat bond embodiment, or each include at least one layer of a weldable polymeric material to facilitate the weld. The described heating pad further supports powering and control features in dependent claim sets, including conductive bus bars with electrically conductive stitching, optional electrically insulating members to prevent direct electrical contact, and a temperature sensor and temperature controller maintaining a first temperature zone lower than a second temperature zone based on conductive contact with the patient and non-contact during warming.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to an electric heating pad having a flexible sheet-like heating element enclosed by a shell with first and second flexible sheets, peripheral edge welding by RF, ultrasonic, or heat bonding, and a securing strip engaged in the weld. The claim set includes 8 inventive features.
Welded shell joining of contact and spaced flexible sheets
A shell covering the flexible sheet-like heating element and comprising at least two sheets of flexible material, including 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, together with a weld coupling the first sheet and the second sheet together about the upper edge, the lower edge, and the at least two side edges of the flexible sheet-like heating element, wherein the weld is one of a RF weld, ultrasonic weld, or a heat bond.
Laterally extending securing strip engaged in the weld
A securing strip enclosed within the shell, coupled to at least the upper edge, the lower edge, or one of the at least two side edges of the flexible sheet-like heating element, the securing strip extending laterally away from the flexible sheet-like heating element and being engaged between the first sheet of flexible material and the second sheet of flexible material in the weld in order to secure the flexible sheet-like heating element within the shell.
PVC layer to facilitate welded shell bonding
The first sheet of flexible material and the second sheet of flexible material each include at least one layer of PVC to facilitate the RF weld, ultrasonic weld, or heat bond.
Urethane layer to facilitate welded shell bonding
The first sheet of flexible material and the second sheet of flexible material each include at least one layer of urethane to facilitate the RF weld, ultrasonic weld, or heat bond.
Conductive power coupling via bus bars and stitched electrical coupling
Each side edge includes a corresponding first and second conductive bus bar connected to a power source, where the flexible sheet-like heating element is electrically stitched to each bus bar using a dedicated row of electrically conductive stitching.
Insulating members between bus bars and heating element
First and second electrically insulating members are interposed between the first and second conductive bus bars and the flexible sheet-like heating element, respectively, and are secured by the conductive stitching to prevent direct electrical contact.
Temperature-zone control using conductive contact vs non-contact regions
A temperature-sensing and control system that maintains a first temperature zone lower than a second zone by sensing the first zone in conductive contact with a patient while the second zone is not in conductive contact during warming.
Substantially uniform watt density output
The flexible sheet-like heating element is made to provide substantially uniform watt density across its surface and a temperature-sensing and control system that maintains a first surface temperature zone lower than a second zone.
Across the independent claim set, the core claim coverage requires a flexible sheet-like heating element enclosed by a shell having a first sheet in patient conductive contact and a second sheet spaced from the patient, with peripheral edge welding and a laterally extending securing strip engaged in the weld. Dependent claims further add conductive bus bar power distribution with stitched electrical couplings, insulating members to prevent direct electrical contact, and temperature-zone control that uses sensed conductive-contact temperatures to maintain a lower first temperature zone than a second non-contact zone while supporting substantially uniform watt density output.
Stated Advantages
Facilitating substantially uniform watt density output across the heating element surface.
Maintaining a first temperature zone lower than a second temperature zone by sensing conductive-contact regions compared to non-contact regions during warming.
Preventing direct electrical contact between conductive bus bars and the flexible sheet-like heating element using electrically insulating members secured by conductive stitching.
Documented Applications
Warming a patient using a heated underbody support, heated mattress, or heated mattress overlay.
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