Inflatable thermal blanket with surgical access for use with patients in the lithotomy position

摘要

An inflatable thermal blanket includes an inflatable covering inflated through an inlet by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable covering exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the inflatable covering. The inflatable thermal blanket is adapted for controlling a patient's body temperature, when the patient is placed in the lithotomy position. The inflatable thermal blanket allows a medical practitioner access through the inflatable thermal blanket for medical purposes, and includes an inflatable portion for covering an upper extent of the patient's body, to which are joined a pair of elongate inflatable portions that cover the patient's legs. The elongate inflatable. portions are separated by an elongate opening that allows access to the care site. Uninflatable drapes may extend from the inner edges of the elongate inflated portions to maintain the temperature control medium, proximate to the patient, and away from the care site. The inflatable thermal blanket may also be provided with attachment devices placed to aid the positioning of the blanket on the patient, and for contouring to the patient's shape in the lithotomy position. The inflatable thermal blanket allows a medical practitioner to easily access a care site while being shielded from the air flow that is generated by the blanket in order to warm the patient.