Electric heating pads and mattresses
Inventors
Augustine, Scott D. • Augustine, Ryan S. • Augustine, Garrett J. • Augustine, Brent M. • Arnold, Randall C. • Beckman, John R.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12150888-B2
Publication Date
2024-11-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electric heating pad for warming a patient includes a heated underbody support or heated mattress. The heated underbody support or mattress includes a heater assembly having a flexible sheet-like heating element, conductive bus bars attached at or near side edges of the heating element, and fabric side edge extensions attached to heating element side edges. The heated underbody support or mattress also includes a layer of polymeric foam positioned under the heater assembly and a shell, including at least two sheets of flexible material, covering at least a portion of the heater assembly and the layer of polymeric foam. When the heater assembly is wrapped around the top surface of the layer of polymeric foam, side edges of the heating element extend partially down the two side walls of the layer of polymeric foam and the conductive bus bars lie adjacent those two side walls.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an electric heating pad for warming a patient that includes a heated underbody support or heated mattress. The heated underbody support or heated mattress includes a heater assembly with a flexible sheet-like heating element having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least two side edges, with conductive bus bars attached near the side edges and fabric side edge extensions extending from the side edges.
A layer of polymeric foam is positioned under the heater assembly, the foam layer having a top surface and side walls that underlie the heater assembly. The heater assembly is wrapped around the top surface of the polymeric foam, the flexible sheet-like heating element extends partially down the side walls while the conductive bus bars lie adjacent the side walls, and the fabric side edge extensions are wrapped under and attached to the bottom surface of the polymeric foam thereby securing the heater assembly to the polymeric foam.
The heating pad also includes a shell covering at least a portion of the heater assembly and the layer of polymeric foam, where the shell comprises one or more sheets of flexible material. In constructions where patient-contact and safety control are included, a temperature control sensor is attached at a location configured to be in contact with a patient laying on the electric heating pad, and a pressure sensor detects a weight of the patient and is configured to reduce or turn off electrical power to the flexible sheet-like heating element when the weight of the patient has not been detected for a preset period of time.
The disclosed constructions include an optional polymeric oxygen barrier film associated with the flexible sheet-like heating element and arrangement features intended to accommodate bending and repositioning, including configurations for use with bending a surgical table into a sitting position. Additional structural features such as vertical slits in the fabric side edge extensions are described as positioned in a bending area in such a use case.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims, covering an electric heating pad with a flexible sheet-like heating element, conductive bus bars, a polymeric foam layer, and a flexible shell, with additional limitations including fabric extensions for securing the heater and patient-contact temperature sensing and pressure-based power interruption.
Wrapped flexible sheet-like heating element with conductive bus bars adjacent foam side walls
The heater assembly is wrapped around the top surface of the layer of polymeric foam and the at least two side edges of the flexible sheet-like heating element extend partially down the at least two side walls of the layer of polymeric foam, and the conductive bus bars lie adjacent the at least two side walls of the layer of polymeric foam.
Fabric side edge extensions wrapped under and attached to secure to polymeric foam
The fabric side edge extensions are wrapped under and attached to the bottom surface of the layer of polymeric foam thereby securing the heater assembly to the layer of polymeric foam.
Flexible shell covering heater assembly and polymeric foam
A shell covering at least a portion of the heater assembly and the layer of polymeric foam, the shell comprising one or more sheets of flexible material.
Patient-contact temperature control and pressure-based power reduction or shutoff
The pressure sensor is configured to reduce or turn off electrical power to the flexible sheet-like heating element when the weight of the patient has not been detected by the pressure sensor for a preset period of time.
Polymeric oxygen barrier film associated with heating element surfaces
The heater assembly includes at least one polymeric oxygen barrier film layer attached to and covering at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the flexible sheet-like heating element.
Fabric lower edge extension attached to foam top surface, lower wall, and bottom surface
The fabric lower edge extension, attached to the lower edge of the flexible sheet-like heating element, is attached to the top surface, the lower wall and the bottom surface of the layer of polymeric foam.
Vertical slits positioned in a bending area for surgical table sitting position
The heater assembly fabric side edge extensions include vertical slits extending through the portion attached to the bottom surface of a polymeric foam layer, where the slits are positioned in a bending area of the heating pad when the surgical table is bent into a sitting position.
Across the independent claims, the core construction is an electric heating pad with a flexible sheet-like heating element and conductive bus bars arranged relative to a polymeric foam layer, secured by fabric side edge extensions and covered by a flexible shell. Some independent and dependent configurations further include patient-contact temperature sensing and pressure sensing that reduces or turns off power when weight is not detected for a preset period, with additional optional material and structural limitations such as polymeric oxygen barrier film and vertical slits for bending during a surgical table sitting position.
Stated Advantages
Improved cleanability by avoiding puncturing fasteners, as described in the partial content.
Improved patient accommodation/pressure relief by reducing hammocking pressure points, as described in the partial content.
Safe temperature control by using patient-contact temperature sensing.
Safety/power control by reducing or turning off electrical power when the weight of the patient has not been detected for a preset period of time.
Optional oxygen-barrier function via a polymeric oxygen barrier film layer, as described in the partial content.
Structural accommodation for repositioning, including bending when a surgical table is moved into a sitting position, as described in the partial content.
Documented Applications
Warming a patient using an electric heating pad including a heated underbody support or heated mattress.
Use in a procedure where bending a surgical table into a sitting position is relevant, including configurations with vertical slits positioned in a bending area.
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