Flexible Heating Pad Shell for Safe Surgical Patient Warming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heated blankets and pads for surgical patients face issues such as high cost, noise, contamination risks, bulkiness, and safety concerns due to high-temperature air flow in forced-air warming systems, while existing electric heating solutions are inflexible and difficult to clean, and capacitive coupling electrodes are cumbersome and non-stretchable, hindering optimal patient warming and electrosurgical performance.
Innovation Solution
A flexible sheet-like heating element integrated with a capacitive coupling grounding electrode, made from conductive or semi-conductive materials like polypyrrole, which serves both heating and grounding functions, is used in a stretchable and durable design that can be easily cleaned and positioned optimally near the patient's skin, minimizing the risk of burns and pressure ulcers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If forced-air warming systems are used to prevent hypothermia, then patient warming effectiveness is improved, but noise, contamination risk, and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical forced-air system with an electric heating element that directly generates heat through resistive heating. This eliminates the need for air blowing mechanisms, reducing noise and contamination risks while maintaining effective patient warming through direct thermal contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the pneumatic air-based warming system and transitions to an electrically-powered thermal system. By removing the air flow mechanism and using direct electric heating, the system avoids the harmful effects of noisy air blowing and potential surgical field contamination.
2Use of energy by moving object
If forced-air warming systems use high-temperature air flow, then heating efficiency is improved, but patient burn risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shell as an intermediary between the heating element and the patient. This shell acts as a thermal mediator that distributes heat evenly and prevents direct contact with high-temperature surfaces, thereby maintaining heating efficiency while eliminating burn risks associated with direct high-temperature air flow or hose contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature delivery mechanism from high-temperature air flow to controlled electric heating through a shell interface. This parameter change allows for safer temperature distribution that maintains heating efficiency while preventing the dangerous high-temperature contact issues inherent in forced-air systems.
3Reliability
If electric heating blankets use traditional shell designs, then protection from fluid damage and electric shock is improved, but flexibility and ease of cleaning deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible shell design that maintains protective functions while enabling ease of cleaning and patient comfort. The shell is constructed to be fluid-resistant and electrically insulating while remaining flexible enough to conform to patient body contours and be easily removed for cleaning, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and flexibility.
4Stability of the object's composition
If capacitive coupling electrodes are made non-stretchable, then electrical stability is improved, but adaptability to patient body contours deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials for the capacitive coupling electrode that combine electrical stability with flexibility. The composite structure maintains consistent electrical properties for stable capacitive coupling while incorporating flexible or stretchable components that allow the electrode to adapt to patient body contours, thus resolving the contradiction between electrical stability and physical adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides effective and safe patient warming with improved flexibility, ease of cleaning, and reduced risk of burns, while allowing for simultaneous optimal positioning of heating and grounding functions, enhancing surgical efficiency and patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
electric heating elements
Implementation Method 2
capacitive coupling grounding electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An electric heating pad for warming a patient. The electric heating pad may be a heated underbody support, heated mattress or heated mattress overlay. An embodiment of the heating pad includes a flexible sheet-like heating element including an upper edge, a lower edge, and at least two side edges. The heating pad may also include a shell covering the heating element and comprising at least two sheets of flexible material (e.g., two sheets may be one sheet folded over to form at least two sheets). The two sheets of flexible material may be coupled together about the edges of the heating element by a weld. The material of the two sheets may include urethane. In some embodiments, a catalyst to accelerate hydrogen peroxide decomposition is coated on or impregnated into an element within the shell, or on the interior surface of the shell.