Blankets, especially mats for regulating the temperature of living creatures.

Abstract

1. A blanket, in particular a mat for regulating the temperature of a living being, comprising an upper layer (1) directed towards the living being, in particular a patient or wounded person, a lower layer (2) located opposite the upper layer (1), at least one elastic and air-permeable intermediate layer (3) arranged between the upper layer (1) and the lower layer (2), at least one air inlet opening (7) with a connection (7a) for supplying air, in particular hot air, to the area of ​​the intermediate layer (3), wherein at least one air outlet opening (8) is provided in an edge area (6) of the blanket remote from the at least one air inlet opening (7), and at least a major part of the air supplied via the air inlet opening (7) leaves the blanket through the air outlet opening (8), wherein the upper layer (1) is formed so as to be liquid-permeable and the lower layer (2) is formed substantially air-tight and substantially liquid-tight, preferably as a plastic film or a coated textile sheet-like structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a blanket as described in the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device for stabilizing and / or immobilizing an organism, in particular a patient or an injured person, comprising such a blanket.

Background Art

[0002] This type of blanket is used especially as a mat for regulating the temperature of a patient or an injured person. However, basically, this type of blanket may also be placed over the body. The role of the blanket is to regulate the temperature of the body and to let the body lie down without pressure as much as possible (as a mat).

[0003] In the case of use for warming, for example, warm air is supplied from a heating blower and blown into the blanket.

[0004] Such a blanket is used especially in the medical field to prevent hypothermia of the patient and / or injured person to be treated, but not only for this purpose.

[0005] An example of a heat blanket according to the prior art can be found in German Patent Invention No. 10207793. In the configuration described in this specification, the blown warm air flows out directly from the heat blanket itself through the upper layer towards the patient lying on the blanket, and warms the patient by means of a convective warm air flow.

[0006] Such a direct air guidance to the patient may cause problems with regard to the high requirements for sterility, especially in the area of surgery. Furthermore, with this known configuration, it is difficult to properly carry out the moisture coming out of the body lying on the blanket.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a blanket that can improve upon the blanket described at the beginning and avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the present invention, this problem is achieved by the features of claim 1.

[0009] In the scope of this invention, air is not released directly toward the patient through the upper layer (or at least not primarily so), but through separate air outlet openings located in the edge region of the blanket, away from the air supply connector. In this case, the air is controlled to flow out of the blanket through these air outlet openings.

[0010] Therefore, it becomes possible to guide the air much more precisely than in the case of prior art. By setting the dimensions of the air outlet opening, the airflow can be precisely adjusted to obtain the desired degree of expansion of the heat blanket.

[0011] Furthermore, the air guide according to the present invention, via a separate air outlet, guides moisture that leaves the body and reaches the interior of the blanket from above through the upper layer, thereby making it possible to maintain a state in which virtually no invading moisture remains in the blanket for a longer period of time.

[0012] Furthermore, the air outlet opening according to the present invention allows for the connection of an air outlet hose or similar device to precisely guide the exhaust away from the surgical area or other sensitive areas. Thus, it becomes possible to meet high sterility requirements.

[0013] It may be specified that at least one air outlet opening is located in an outlet valve that can block or regulate the flow. Thus, the airflow rate through the blanket can be adapted to various applications.

[0014] Further advantages and details of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing an embodiment of a blanket, particularly a heat mat, according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing the blanket. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the blanket shown in Figure 1, obtained by cutting along the line A-A in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the heat mat according to the present invention in an operating room, along with an external hot air supply unit and an external hot air exhaust unit. [Figure 5] This figure shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention for stabilizing and / or positioning a living organism, particularly a patient or injured person, comprising a blanket and an exhaustable support filled with granules according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The blankets, particularly the heating mats, shown in Figures 1 to 3 have an upper layer 1 directed towards a living organism, especially a patient or injured person. The target may be a human body. However, the blankets according to the present invention are also suitable for animals.

[0017] The lower layer 2 is provided on the opposite side of the upper layer 1 and is airtightly (or substantially airtightly) bonded to the upper layer 1 along its edge 6. This may result in, for example, an edge bend 4 being provided in the edge region 6 (as shown in Figure 3) and sewn to both layers 1 and 2 (see reference numeral 5).

[0018] An elastic and air-permeable intermediate layer 3 is provided between the upper layer 1 and the lower layer 2. In this embodiment, this intermediate layer 3 consists of two layers (upper layer 3a and lower layer 3b = Figure 3).

[0019] The air inflow is carried out from the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2 through the hose 13, the connector 7a, and the original air inflow opening 7. This air inflow opening 7 is formed in the protruding flexible flap 25.

[0020] Two further (smaller) flaps 26 may be placed, for example, over a person's shoulder in the direction of the rotation arrow in FIG. 2. In this case, the flap 26 is positioned as shown by the dashed line labeled 26a in FIG. 1.

[0021] Here, according to the present invention, at least one defined air outflow opening 8 is provided in the edge region 6 of the blanket that is remote from the air inflow opening 7.

[0022] In this embodiment, two air outflow openings 8 are provided that are arranged in the lower layer 2.

[0023] Through these air outflow openings 8, most of the air that has flowed in through the air inflow opening 7, particularly warm air, flows out after substantially flowing through the entire interior of the heat blanket, that is, completely through the intermediate layer present within the blanket. A part of the air streamline inside is shown by the schematic dashed arrow labeled 9 in FIG. 1.

[0024] Such an arrangement of the air outflow openings can be combined with a further variant of the present invention, which is specifically defined in that the upper layer 2 is formed to be substantially airtight, but preferably moisture permeable.

[0025] In such a variant, as shown by the double arrow 10 in FIG. 2, not only moisture such as sweat or blood that emerges from the organism lying on the blanket, but also other moisture that penetrates from above first reaches the interior of the blanket. In this case, there is no longer an excessive amount of moisture or liquid on the upper surface where the body, particularly the patient or the injured person, is lying to cause an obstruction.

[0026] In combination with the air guide specified by claim 1, the moisture is precisely guided out from the inside of the blanket through the air outlet opening 8 to the outside. In this case, the air is guided through the intermediate layer 3.

[0027] The intermediate layer 3 is preferably formed as a spacer knit or spacer woven fabric, each having a rigid yet flexible spacer yarn between two textile layers. The textile layers are denoted by reference numeral 11, and the spacer yarns by reference numeral 12 (see Figure 3).

[0028] Such spacer knitted or spacer woven fabrics have yarn made of, for example, polyester.

[0029] These spacer knits or woven fabrics allow a body lying on them to be positioned without pressure.

[0030] At the same time, the body temperature can be regulated by precisely supplying warm air through the air inlet opening 7. In addition to heating, body cooling is also possible if necessary.

[0031] The air guide according to the present invention can generate a precise airflow with no loss. Therefore, a smaller heating blower or a smaller heat unit is sufficient overall.

[0032] In the blanket according to the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, at least 70%, preferably at least 90%, i.e., the majority, of the airflow rate (volume per unit time) supplied through the air inlet opening 7 flows out through the air outlet opening 8.

[0033] Basically, a small portion of the outflowing air can also escape from inside the blanket by passing through another path, for example, through the upper layer itself, as in the prior art.

[0034] However, it is specified that preferably the upper layer is formed to be substantially airtight, but preferably permeable to moisture. Because the upper layer is formed to be airtight, if the lower layer is similarly formed to be airtight and the seams are substantially tight, air can only flow out substantially exclusively through the air outlet opening 8. This enables precise air guidance.

[0035] The air outlet opening 8 may preferably be formed or positioned in the lower layer, and therefore will not obstruct a body lying on top of it.

[0036] The air outlet opening 8 may preferably be formed as a circular notch in each layer, as shown by the solid lines (circles) in Figure 1. Of course, other shapes of the air outlet opening, such as square or polygonal shapes, are also possible.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, at least one air outlet opening has a filter or screen 14, indicated by a dashed line. This allows for the capture of contaminants inside the blanket and also allows for precise restriction of the airflow.

[0038] The filter or screen 14 may consist of, for example, a circular textile planar structure, which has relatively large individual openings and is bonded, for example, to the inner surface of the lower layer 2 so as to surround the openings 8.

[0039] The lower layer is preferably formed from an airtight and liquid-tight material, such as a plastic film or a coated textile planar structural material. This prevents moisture entering from above from passing through the blanket and flowing out to the bottom.

[0040] To achieve accurate air guidance and a relatively simple structural configuration, it is advantageous to provide one to three air inlet openings.

[0041] For the same reason, it is also advantageous to have 1 to 5 air outlets.

[0042] With just a few air inlet and outlet openings, it becomes possible to easily connect not only air supply hoses but also, in some cases, air outlet hoses.

[0043] As shown in Figure 1, one air inlet opening 7 and the other air outlet opening 8 are located in the opposite edge regions 6 of the blanket.

[0044] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the blanket has a maximum longitudinal extension L measured parallel to the body that can be laid on it. An intermediate region has a length L1. This intermediate region extends over at least 70% of the total longitudinal extension L of the blanket. This intermediate region having length L1 preferably has no air outlet openings, or only air outlet openings that are significantly smaller than those outside the intermediate region. Thus, substantially all air flows out as specified through specified and separate individual air outlet openings.

[0045] As previously mentioned, the upper layer is advantageously permeable to air only slightly and is preferably formed to be substantially airtight overall. This configuration allows substantially all or at least the majority of the airflow to flow precisely as specified from the air inlet opening to the separate individual air outlet openings.

[0046] A textile planar structure is suitable as the material for the upper layer, and this textile planar structure forms at least one constituent layer of the upper layer. The textile planar structure may preferably consist of plastic yarn. Such a textile planar structure can be easily manufactured, for example, as a woven or knitted fabric.

[0047] The plastic yarn in the textile planar structure is preferably polyester yarn, and particularly preferably polyester making up more than 90%. For stabilization, carbon fiber may be used in combination with the textile planar structure, preferably in a proportion of less than 5%. Although carbon fiber is extremely stable and possesses tensile strength, it is also expensive, so a small proportion of carbon fiber is preferable. Since carbon fiber is conductive, it may be used not only for reasons of stability or strength, but also to prevent static electricity buildup.

[0048] The basis weight of the textile surface structure material is preferably 90 g / m². 2 ~130g / m 2 It has been found that such a textile planar structural material can simultaneously provide good air permeability (relatively low) and liquid permeability (for transporting, for example, blood or sweat).

[0049] From the same considerations, it has been determined that preferably, the fineness of the yarn in the textile planar structural material is less than 150 dtex, and more preferably 90 dtex to 120 dtex.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, a surgical table 16 for surgical intervention is schematically shown. On this surgical table 16, the blanket A according to the present invention and the body of the patient and / or injured person are positioned lying on it.

[0051] Starting from the heating blower 17, warm air is preferably guided into the blanket through the air inlet opening 7 via the flexible air supply hose 13.

[0052] This warm air flows through the blanket and exits again through the air outlet opening 8. Preferably, it is specified that the air does not flow directly toward the body K. That is, only the upper layer 1 of the blanket is heated, and consequently, the body lying on it is also warmed.

[0053] The outflowing air is guided to the outside via the air outlet hose 15.

[0054] The vertical dashed line 18 represents, for example, an air curtain surrounding the operating table or a wall separating it from an adjacent room. In other words, it is possible to supply fresh air from a separate area or to vent exhaust air to a separate area.

[0055] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the blanket A according to the present invention is combined with a support B. The support B has a granular material 21 in an inner chamber 20 that can be exhausted via a valve 19, and after exhaust, the granular material 21 comes into close contact with each other, thereby reinforcing the support B.

[0056] Such supports or vacuum mattresses themselves are already known. They are used, in particular, to stabilize injured people or patients undergoing surgery.

[0057] In particular, when combined with the blanket according to the present invention, which is formed as a heat mat, it is possible not only to stabilize and fix the position of the body lying on it, but also to regulate the temperature very well. Furthermore, the blanket and its elastic internal structure completely reduce pressure on the body lying on it.

[0058] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the support body B is specially configured. The support body B has a granulated body 21 in its inner chamber and an insert for stabilizing the granulated body 21.

[0059] In this embodiment, the insert is formed by two textile planar structural materials 22, 23 connected to each other via a number of threads 24. For example, granules 21 in the form of small expanded polystyrene spheres are placed at the edges between both textile planar structural materials 22, 23 and between the threads 24. The threads 24 act as spacers, and together with both textile planar structural materials 22, 23, they form a spacer knit or spacer weave as a whole.

[0060] In contrast to the yarn 12 in blanket A, which is subjected to reduced pressure, the yarn 24 in support B does not necessarily need to have shape stability itself. The role of yarn 24 is primarily to maintain both layers 22 and 23 at an equal and constant maximum distance, preferably throughout.

[0061] In terms of use, the blanket A according to the present invention is preferably placed between the body K and the support B.

[0062] However, even if the blanket is positioned only beneath the patient or injured person, the support can also be positioned laterally for stabilization, for example, in the form of two support units connected laterally to the blanket (not shown here).

[0063] In this invention, warm air above room temperature, i.e., above 20°C, can be supplied, for example, via a heating blower. In particular, it is also specified that air adjusted to an even higher temperature, for example, above body temperature (i.e., above 36°C), can be supplied.

[0064] As previously mentioned, it is basically possible to supply cool air, which allows for cooling of the body lying on it, for example, in the case of a febrile illness. Preferably, the blanket according to the present invention is suitable as a mat, and especially as a heat mat. However, basically, the blanket may be placed on the patient.

Claims

1. It is a blanket, - The upper layer (1) directed towards living organisms, - The lower layer (2) located on the opposite side of the upper layer (1), - An elastic and air-permeable intermediate layer (3) is disposed between the upper layer (1) and the lower layer (2), - At least one air inlet opening (7) equipped with a connector (7a) for supplying air to the region of the intermediate layer (3), Equipped with, In a blanket, in order to prevent air from flowing directly toward the organism, at least one air outlet opening (8) is provided in the edge region (6) of the blanket, away from the at least one air inlet opening (7), and at least the majority of the air supplied through the air inlet opening (7) flows out of the blanket through the air outlet opening (8), The lower layer (2) is formed to be substantially airtight and substantially liquidtight, The upper layer (1) has at least one constituent layer made of a textile planar structural material, and the basis weight of the textile planar structural material is 90 g / m² to 130 g / m², or the fineness of the yarn of the textile planar structural material is less than 150 dtex, so that it has liquid permeability and slight air permeability, and at least 70% of the airflow rate supplied through the air inlet opening (7) flows out through the air outlet opening (8). A blanket characterized by the following features.

2. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the blanket is a mat for regulating the temperature of an organism.

3. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the organism is a patient or injured person.

4. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the air is warm air.

5. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the lower layer (2) is formed as a plastic film or a coated textile planar structural material.

6. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the air inlet openings (7) and the other air outlet opening (8) are located in the opposite edge regions (6) of the blanket.

7. The blanket according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that at least 90% of the airflow rate supplied through the air inlet opening (7) flows out through the air outlet opening (8).

8. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with one to three air inlet openings (7).

9. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with 1 to 5 air outlet openings (8).

10. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the textile surface structure material is a plastic surface material.

11. The blanket according to claim 10, characterized in that the plastic surface material is made of polyester and / or carbon fiber.

12. The blanket according to claim 11, characterized in that the plastic surface material consists of more than 90% polyester and / or less than 5% carbon fiber.

13. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that the fineness of the yarn of the textile planar structural material is 90 dtex to 120 dtex.

14. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that substantially all of the airflow supplied through the air inlet opening (7) flows out of the blanket through the air outlet opening (8).

15. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one air outlet opening (8) is formed in or arranged in the lower layer.

16. The blanket according to claim 15, characterized in that all air outlet openings (8) are formed in or located in the lower layer.

17. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one air outlet opening (8) is formed as a notch provided in the lower layer (2) or the upper layer (1).

18. The blanket according to claim 17, wherein the notch is circular.

19. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein at least one air outlet opening (8) has a filter or screen (14) that can capture contaminants inside the blanket and / or restrict the airflow.

20. The blanket according to claim 19, characterized in that the filter or screen (14) is made of a mesh-like textile planar structural material different from the upper layer and the lower layer.

21. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one air outlet opening is located in an outlet valve capable of blocking or regulating the flow.

22. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate layer has at least one spacer knitted fabric or spacer woven fabric (3a, 3b) or similar, in which rigid yet flexible spacer yarns (12) are arranged between two layers (11).

23. The blanket according to claim 22, wherein the two layers (11) are layers of textile.

24. The blanket according to claim 22, characterized in that the intermediate layer is formed in two or multiple layers and has two different spacer knitted fabrics or spacer woven fabrics (3a, 3b) or similar.

25. The blanket according to claim 22, characterized in that the intermediate layer is formed in two or multiple layers and has two different spacer knitted fabrics or spacer woven fabrics (3a, 3b) or similar that are positioned above and below each other without being fixed.

26. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the blanket has a maximum longitudinal extension length (L) measured parallel to the organism on which it can be laid, and the intermediate region of the blanket having a length (L1) that extends over at least 70% of the entire longitudinal extension length (L) of the blanket is not provided with an air outlet opening.

27. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that a device for supplying warm air is connectable to at least one of the removable connectors.

28. The blanket according to claim 27, wherein the device for supplying the hot air is a heating blower.

29. The blanket according to claim 27, characterized in that a device for supplying the hot air is connectable via a flexible hose to at least one of the removable connectors.

30. The blanket according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the air outlet openings (8) has a removable connector for an air outlet hose (15).

31. A device for stabilizing and / or fixing in position an organism, comprising a blanket according to claim 1 and at least one support having granules in an internal chamber that can be exhausted via a valve, wherein the granules come into close contact with each other after exhaust, thereby reinforcing the support.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the organism is a patient or an injured person.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein a granulated body and an insert for stabilizing the granulated body are arranged in the inner chamber, the insert has two textile planar structural materials, the two textile planar structural materials are connected to each other by a number of threads, and the granulated body is arranged in the space between both of the textile planar structural materials and between the threads.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the insert is formed in the form of a spacer knitted fabric or a spacer woven fabric.

35. The apparatus according to any one of claims 31 to 34, characterized in that the support and the blanket are positioned overlapping each other, and the blanket is substantially positionable between the support and the patient or injured person.

36. The apparatus according to any one of claims 31 to 34, characterized in that the support and the blanket are positioned side by side laterally.

37. The apparatus according to any one of claims 31 to 34, characterized in that the support and the blanket are positioned side by side laterally and can be connected to form a single unit, in which the blanket is substantially located beneath the patient or injured person, and the two support can be brought into contact with the patient laterally to stabilize the patient.