A mist generator improves the sterility of blowers having controlled forced air systems. In one embodiment, the mist generator has a chamber adapted to receive a disinfectant adapted for attachment to an output opening of a blower for delivery into the chamber of forced air carrying misted disinfectant. The main body also includes an output duct or aperture adapted for attachment to a second hose which, in turn, is adapted for attachment to an inlet opening of the blower for delivery of disinfectant misted air through internal components of the blower. Alternatively, there is used a disinfectant filter formed as a sterilizing grid having a screen coated with a soft porous surface material impregnated with a liquid disinfectant. The soft porous surface material releases said liquid disinfectant when forced air moves through the filter. In both embodiments, sterile water is introduced to take up residual disinfectant and the vapor captured in a dry filter or desiccant material and removed from the system. The mist generator improves the sterility of the blower to mitigate microbial contamination of forced air delivery systems.

A temperature regulating device for a user's neck includes a housing that extends about the neck and has a base portion, and first and second side portions. The side portions each have an air duct extending from an air inlet to an air outlet in communication with air inlets of an air duct within the base portion. Two thermoelectric are devices located within each of the side portions. Each thermoelectric device is in thermal connection with a cold space member at exterior sides of the side portions for contacting the lateral sides of the neck. Two fans within the base portion are configured to pull air through the side portions past the thermoelectric devices to the base portion and out through the air outlets of the base portion. Only the side portions of the housing selectively heat and cool the neck near pulse points of the neck.

An inflatable convective pad for warming a person during surgery has two ends, two sides, and at least two openings, each located in an area of the pad between the two ends and between a respective side and the center of the pad. The openings, which may be in the form of slits, allow the threading of a sheet or the person's arms through the pad to restrain the arms during surgery.

A blanket for forced air warming of a patient, the blanket including a non-air permeable outer layer an air permeable inner layer contactable to the patient; the outer layer and inner layer defining an inflatable chamber, the inflatable chamber allowing egress of the forced warming air through the inner layer; wherein in use, the inflated chamber provides visual transparency of the patient.

A retainer with a closure mechanism not removable from the retainer is bonded to each of the air inlet openings of an inflatable convective thermal blanket. The bottom surface of the retainer is bonded to the blanket so that its orifice is in alignment with the opening into the blanket. The closure may be a flexible layer or sheet that is adhesively attached to the top surface of the retainer. An end portion of the flexible layer away from the orifice of the retainer may be press or die cut into the retainer so that the flexible layer is non-removably attached to the retainer when the user peels the releasably secured portion of the flexible layer away from the retainer to expose the air inlet opening. The closure can also be an extension of the retainer that is hingedly connected to the retainer so as to be able to be moved pivotally to cover the retainer. The closure has a configuration that allows it to be releasably secured to the retainer when it covers the orifice opening of the retainer.

A whole-body hyperthermia system for raising the body temperature of the entire body of an individual to a predetermined target temperature and for stabilizing the body temperature at the target temperature comprises an apparatus means for raising the body temperature at a rate of at least 1 C./hour, and at least a second thermal means for further adjusting the body temperature to the target temperature Tb. The second thermal means comprises a fluid circuit, which is at least partially within the individual, and a fluid, heated by a heat exchanger to a set temperature is circulated through the fluid circuit.

An apparatus and method of controlling a temperature within an isolette includes obtaining a temperature of ambient air external to the isolette, obtaining a base-line ambient air temperature, and calculating a maximum heater power level based on a relationship between the base-line ambient air temperature and the actual ambient air temperature.

A unitary inlet port assembly for use as a closable air inlet port for an inflatable heating blanket or garment. The inlet port assembly has a port panel on the outside of blanket, having an inlet opening configured for receiving an air hose nozzle. A closure panel that is disposed within an interior portion of the inflatable heating blanket or garment, and is hinged an edge of the port panel. A latch extends from an outer-facing surface of the closure panel, to register with the inlet opening of the port panel when pivoted to a closed position. At the closed position, the outer-facing surface of the closure panel confronts and engages the inside surface of the port panel to close the air inlet port. The latch is configured to engage the annular rim of the port panel to hold the closure panel in the closed position.

A warming blanket includes a warm-air generator, a blanket unit, an air-providing tube and a returning tube. The warm-air generator includes a blower that has an air inlet for drawing air, and a heating member for heating air. The blanket unit has first and second air channels. The warm air which is heated by the heating member is transmitted into the first air channel through the air-providing tube, flows through the first and second air channels, and is transmitted back to the air inlet of the blower.

Methods for treating fluid overload in a subject comprise shifting fluids directly and non-invasively from an interstitial compartment of the subject to skin of the subject through controlled local sweating. Methods of the invention allow for removal of excess fluid from the interstitial compartment of the subject and treat fluid overload in the subject. Sweat stimulation systems comprise a chamber and first and second relative humidity sensors. The chamber is sized to fit around a body part of a subject, comprises an inlet and an outlet, and is configured such that air flows through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet. The first relative humidity sensor is operably located inside the inlet, and the second relative humidity sensor is operably located proximate the outlet.