Cooling bed system

Abstract

A cooling bed system is configured to provide a cooling airflow around a patient suffering from heat exhaustion, heat stroke and or burns. A cooling bed system produces an airflow over a patient and preferably an airflow from both above and below the patient to more effectively and quickly cool the patient A cooling bed system may also include a liquid dispenser that creates mist that is carried by the airflow to further cool the patient. A patient may be supported by a platform having a plurality of openings to allow airflow and mist to pass therethrough. A controller controls the airflow rate and/or temperature of the air, and may also control the liquid dispensing rate and/or temperature of the liquid as a function of an input from a temperature sensor to effectively and safely cool the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling bed system comprising:
 a) a frame having an opening;   b) an upper cooling portion comprising:
 i) an upper air moving device configured to create a down-airflow that flows down; 
 ii) an upper liquid dispenser configured to create a mist; 
   c) a lower cooling portion comprising:
 i) a lower air moving device configured to create an up-airflow that flows up; 
 ii) a lower liquid dispenser configured to create a mist; 
   d) a patient platform configured between the upper and lower cooling portions,
 wherein a gap between the upper and lower cooling portions is configured to receive a patient through said opening in the frame; 
   wherein the patient platform has a plurality of openings to from to allow the upper and lower portions to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper air moving device and lower air moving device each comprise a plurality of fans. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper liquid dispensing device and lower liquid dispensing device each comprise, a plurality of misters. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper cooling portion comprises an upper filter, configured to filter out ambient air before entering the upper cooling portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower cooling portion comprises a lower filter, configured to filter out ambient air before entering the lower cooling portion. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ultraviolet light source configured to project ultraviolet,light into the cooling bed system. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling bed system of  claims 6 , further comprising an ultraviolet light sensor that is coupled with the controller and wherein the controller activates and deactivates the ultraviolet lightsource as a function of an input from he ultraviolet light sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ultraviolet light source the upper and lower cooling portions,
 wherein a liquid conduit for the, supply of liquid to the liquid dispensers is UV translucent: and   wherein the ultraviolet light source projects ultraviolet light through the liquid conduit to disinfect the liquid before it is dispensed onto a patient in the cooling bed system.   
     
     
         9 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the openings the patient platform are at least 3 mm in dimension. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient platform is detachably attachable to the cooling bed system. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor and a controller that controls the rate of the upper and lower airflows and wherein the temperature sensor is coupled with the controller to adjust the upper or lower airflow as a function of an input from the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling bed system of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor is a body temperature sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling bed system of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor is an air temperature sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower cooling portion comprises a removable collection tray for collecting liquids and bodily fluids. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , further comprising a curtain configured to prevent ambient air from entering the cooling bed system wherein a gap between the upper and lower cooling portions is covered by said curtain. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid reservoir coupled with the liquid dispenser to provide a liquid for dispensing from the liquid dispensers. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling bed system of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid temperature control device that changes the liquid temperature before deliver to the liquid dispensers. 
     
     
         18 . A cooling bed system comprising:
 a) a frame having an opening;   b) an upper cooling portion comprising;
 i) an upper air moving device configured to create a down-airflow that flows down; 
 ii) a plurality of upper liquid dispenser configured to create a mist; 
   c) a lower cooling portion comprising:
 i) a lower air moving device configured to create an up-airflow that flows up; 
 ii) a plurality of lower liquid dispenser configured to create a mist; 
   d) a patient platform configured between the upper and lower cooling portions;   wherein a gap between the upper and lower cooling portions is configured to receive a patient through said opening in the frame;   wherein the patient platform has a plurality of openings to allow mist from the upper and lower portions to pass therethrough;   e) an ultraviolet light source in the upper or lower cooling portion, wherein a liquid conduit for the supply of liquid to the liquid dispense is UV translucent; and   wherein the ultraviolet light source projects ultraviolet light through the liquid conduit to disinfect the liquid before it is dispensed onto a patient in the cooling bed system.   
     
     
         19 . The cooling bed system of  claim 18 , wherein the upper and lower cooling portions comprise an ultraviolet light source and wherein each ultraviolet light source projects ultraviolet light through a liquid conduit to disinfect the liquid before it is dispensed onto a patient in the cooling bed system from the plurality of upper and lower liquid dispensers. 
     
     
         20 . A method of cooling a heat stroke patient comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a cooling bed system comprising:
 i) a frame having an opening; 
 ii) an upper cooling portion;
 an upper air moving device configured to create an down-airflow that flows down; 
 an upper liquid dispenser configured to create a mist; 
 iii) a lower cooling portion comprising: 
 a lower air moving device configured to create, an up-airflow that flows up; 
 a lower liquid dispenser configured to create a mist; 
 
 wherein a gap between the upper and lower cooling portions is configured to receive a patient through said opening in the frame; 
 iv) a patient platform configured between the upper and lower cooling portions; 
   wherein the patient platform has a plurality of openings to allow mist from the upper and lower portions to pass therethrough;   b) placing the heat stroke patient on the patient platform;   c) activating the upper and lower air moving devices as well as the upper and lower liquid dispensers to create a flow of air and mist over the heat stroke patient;   d) monitoring the heat stroke patient's temperature and controlling the upper and lower air moving devices as a function of the heat stroke patient's temperature.