Importance

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Abstract

A thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering with a head end, a foot end, two edges and an undersurface. The covering includes a plurality of inflatable chambers that are inflated when a thermally-controlled inflating medium is introduced into the thermal blanket through an inlet at the foot end. When inflated, the thermal blanket self-erects into a structure and provides a bath of thermally-controlled inflating medium to the interior of the erected structure through an aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable covering. The thermal blanket includes a first aspect in which the inflatable chambers in the covering are oriented for substantially longitudinal disposition over a portion of a patient's body extending from the pelvic area to the feet of the patient's body. This aspect may include a provision for securing the inflatable covering to the patient's body at the head end and an uninflatable foot drape at the foot end. In another aspect of the thermal blanket, the inflatable chambers are oriented for substantially transverse disposition over a portion of the patient's body extending across the arms and chest of the patient's body. This aspect may include an uninflatable portion at the foot end of the thermal blanket with provision for attaching to a patient's body and a head drape at the head end to drape over the patient's head.

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First Claim