Importance

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Abstract

A thermal treatment apparatus for underlying and/or covering and bathing a patient in a thermally-controlled inflating fluid is disclosed. The apparatus has an inflatable chamber, fluid inlet, and a plurality of interspaced exhaust ports. The inflatable chamber is designed to receive or overlie at least a portion of a patient and is defined by at least one upper surface material and a lower surface material. The fluid inlet is disposed in the inflatable chamber for receiving a thermally-controlled inflating fluid into the inflatable chamber. Where the inflating fluid is a gas, including and not limited to air, the plurality of interspaced exhaust ports are formed on the inflatable chamber for exhausting the inflating fluid from the inflatable chamber toward the portion of the patient position contacting the inflatable chamber. The exhaust ports can be positioned along the seal of the upper and lower materials and within an interior aperture positioned in the inflatable chamber. Filler can also be positioned within the inflatable chamber to provide support to decrease the chance of occlusion in the inflatable chamber.

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First Claim