Patient warming system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for keeping a patient warm, particularly a veterinary patient, during care. An apparatus is provided for delivering conditioned air across a barrier, such as a wire cage, to a blanket arrangement for providing conditioned air to the patient. A first duct and a second duct part are provided either so side of the barrier mounted together across the barrier, so a duct is provided for ducting conditioned air across the barrier.

1 . An apparatus for facilitating delivery of conditioned air across a barrier to a blanket arrangement providing the conditioned air to a patient, the apparatus comprising a first duct part, a second duct part and a mounting mechanism, the mounting mechanism arranged to mount the first duct part on one side of the barrier and the second duct part on the other side of the barrier opposite the first duct part, to provide a duct for ducting conditioned air across the barrier irrespective of the arrangement of the barrier. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , being arranged to duct air from a conduit providing the conditioned air to a further conduit across the barrier and arranged for providing the conditioned air to the blanket. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , the first duct part comprising a connecting portion for releasably connecting to the conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , comprising a second duct part comprising a second connector portion for connecting to the further conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a seal arrangement for sealing the duct across the barrier. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the seal arrangement comprises a first seal portion mounted by the first duct part and a second seal portion mounted by the second duct part, the first and second seal portions arranged to make a seal across the barrier when the first and second duct parts are mounted on opposite sides of the barrier. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a fastening mechanism for fastening the first and second duct parts to each other across the barrier. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is part of a cage for holding the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the part of the cage comprises bars or mesh. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the patient is an animal patient. 
     
     
         11 . A system for providing conditioned air to a patient, comprising an apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , and a blanket arrangement for receiving the conditioned air and providing it to the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The system in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a conduit for providing conditioned air to the apparatus for facilitating and delivering the conditioned air across a barrier, and a further conduit delivering the conditioned air to the blanket arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . The system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the further conduit is integral with the blanket arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a conditioning unit for providing conditioned air to the conduit. 
     
     
         15 . A blanket arrangement for delivering conditioned air to a patient, the blanket arrangement comprising at least two layers capable of forming an air space between them for receiving conditioned air, at least one of the two layers having at least a portion of its surface being pervious so that the conditioned air may be delivered to the patient, and a plurality of ports to the interior of the two layers, each of the ports being able to receive a part of a conduit for conducting conditioned air to the air space. 
     
     
         16 . The blanket arrangement in accordance with  claim 15 , the blanket arrangement comprising at least two corners, wherein a port is provided in each of the corners. 
     
     
         17 . The blanket arrangement in accordance with  claim 15 , the ports being directed at an angle of between 30 and 50° to the longitudinal axis of the blanket arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The blanket arrangement in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the port is directed at an angle transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blanket arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . The blanket arrangement in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the ports are directed at an angle in line or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blanket arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . The blanket arrangement in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the ports are defined by tubes integral with the blanket and forming conduits which are arranged to mate with the conduit conducting conditioned air to the air space.