Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A simple and cost-effective method is disclosed to avoid hypothermia and other adverse effects of administration of chilled fluids such intravenous medicating fluid, an intravenous hydrating fluid or blood to a patient during medical procedures such surgery and post-operative recovery. The method provides heat to such fluids, using an elasticized heating device such that each unit can be quickly and easily replaced with another unit when the heating effect of the first significantly diminished, so that the fluid administered is kept at the desirable administration temperature during the entire surgical procedure. The method involves providing a conduit through which the fluid is administered to the patient (usually intravenously or subcutaneously), providing the elasticized device incorporating a semi-solid composition with a relatively high heat capacity, pre-heating the composition to administration temperature; wrapping the device around a length of the conduit; and retaining the device in place by quick release fasteners, so that the pre-heated composition heating the fluid passing through the conduit to the desired temperature immediately prior to administration of the fluid to the patient. Use of two or more devices simultaneously is also disclosed. Further, as the heat content of one device is depleted, the method also includes quick replacement of that device with another, previously pre-heated, so that the heating of the fluid continues substantially continuously at the desire temperature.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim