Multi-zone electric warming blanket

Abstract

A multi-zone electric heating blanket. The blanket may be shaped to cover the outstretched arms or other body parts of a patient. The blanket includes first and second body part portions and a connecting bridge. The interconnection via the bridge leaves an open gap between the first and second body part portions for unblocked access to the patient. A power controller may supply power to heating elements in both body part portions based on a temperature sensor in one of the body part portions.

1 . A multi-zone electric heating blanket, comprising:
 an elongate first body part portion having proximal and distal ends, the first body part portion including a first heating element assembly and adapted for placement over a first body part of a patient;   an elongate second body part portion having proximal and distal ends, the second body part portion including a second heating element assembly and adapted for placement over a second body part of the patient; and   a bridge portion interconnecting the first body part portion and the second body part portion at or near the proximal ends thereof, the interconnection via the bridge portion leaving an open gap between the proximal ends of the first body part portion and the second body part portion, whereby the open gap provides unblocked access to the patient when the blanket is placed on the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge portion is unheated. 
     
     
         3 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge portion is flexible. 
     
     
         4 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge portion electrically connects the first heating element assembly to the second heating element assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge portion consists essentially of an electrical cable. 
     
     
         6 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the first heating element assembly is about 10 to 15 inches wide. 
     
     
         7 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the open gap is between about 5 to 15 inches wide. 
     
     
         8 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , further including straps adapted for securing the heating blanket against the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second body parts are first and second arms of the patient, the open gap provides unblocked access to the patient's chest area when the blanket is placed on the outstretched arms of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The heating blanket of  claim 9 , wherein the bridge portion is adapted for placement under the head of the patient, whereby the weight of the patient's head will stabilize the position of the heating blanket. 
     
     
         11 . The heating blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second heating element assemblies each include one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         12 . A multi-zone electric heating blanket, comprising:
 an elongate first body part portion having proximal and distal ends, the first body part portion including a first electrical heating element and adapted for placement over a first body part of the patient;   an elongate second body part portion having proximal and distal ends, the second body part portion including a second electrical heating element and adapted for placement over a second body part of the patient; and   a bridge portion electrically interconnecting the first electrical heating element and the second heating element, the bridge portion having a length that establishes the separation distance between the proximal ends of the first body part portion and the second body part portion, the distance between the proximal ends of the first body part portion and the second body part portion forming an open gap therebetween, whereby the open gap provides unblocked access to the patient when the blanket is placed on the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The heating blanket of  claim 12 , wherein the first body part portion includes one or more unheated flaps extending from one or more locations around the perimeter of the first heating element assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The heating blanket of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more unheated flaps may be tucked under the first body part of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The heating blanket of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more unheated flaps contain weights causing the flaps to hang down along the first body part of the patient when the first body part portion is placed over the first body part of the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The heating blanket of  claim 13 , wherein the unheated flaps contain one or more slots for receiving a connecting strap, the connecting strap adapted for securing the heating blanket against the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The heating blanket of  claim 13 , wherein the second body part portion includes one or more unheated flaps extending from one or more locations around the perimeter of the second heating element assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The heating blanket of  claim 13 , wherein the unheated flaps of the first body part portion and the second body part portion contain one or more connectors, the unheated flaps of the first body part portion being connectable to the unheated flaps of the second body part portion via the one or more connectors, whereby a wide blanket may be formed by such a connection. 
     
     
         19 . The heating blanket of  claim 12 , wherein the bridge portion comprises electrical wiring. 
     
     
         20 . The heating blanket of  claim 19 , wherein the bridge portion consists essentially of electrical wiring.