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.

Exemplary blankets can comprise a flexible fluid-impermeable outer shell having two outer layers sealed around their perimeters, a flexible radiant barrier layer positioned inside the outer shell and being reflective of radiant energy, and a flexible thermal insulation layer positioned inside the outer shell adjacent the radiant barrier layer and comprising a material having low thermal conductivity, such that the blanket is capable of retaining patient body heat by creating a barrier to conductive, convective, and radiant patient body heat loss. Some disclosed blankets include an air cell layer or material capable of entrapping air, inside the outer shell, such as an exemplary open cell foam layer. Some disclosed blankets are MRI-compatible.

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.

An air hose includes a corrugated flexible hose. The air hose also includes a first hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The first hose end section includes a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to a warming unit. The first hose end section is configured to releasably couple to a pneumatic convective device. The air hose also includes a second hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The second hose end section is configured to couple to the warming unit.

A mask which will provide air purification along with cooling and warming of a wearer's face and mouth, utilizing tubing that is filled with liquid that is detachable to the mask. The liquid is temperature controlled utilizing a thermostat and distributed by a pump. The mask is provided with removable filters, the filters clean incoming air and have filaments of organic herbs that are breathable and can serve medicinal purposes. A fan is attached to the mask to provide air circulation from outside the mask that is filtered before it reaches inside the mask to help purify the incoming air. An exhaust valve filter is placed inside the mask that filters air exiting the mask to the outside environment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chemical body warmer that achieves a sufficient heating effect even in a low-temperature environment at about 10? C. or less. A chemical body warmer including a flat housing including one or a plurality of cells each containing an exothermic composition that generates heat upon contact with air, wherein a total area of the cell or the plurality of cells in a plan view of the housing is 200 cm.sup.2 or more, and the chemical body warmer is used by being placed under a blanket.

A module for housing electronic and electromechanical equipment and for managing waste heat during surgery. The module including a lower section including a bulbous portion and a tower-like upper section located on top of the lower section. The bulbous portion can be configured to be positioned under an arm overhang of a surgical table. A water-resistant cowling can enclose at least a portion of the lower section and the tower-like upper section. An air inlet vent can be provided in the cowling of the lower section to allow air to enter and cool the electronic and electromechanical equipment housed in the lower section. The tower-like upper section can serve as a chimney allowing a convection current of waste heat to rise within the tower-like upper section and be discharged from outlet vents located near the top of the tower-like upper section.

The invention includes a forced-air blanket for providing a profusion of air to a patient, comprising a bottom layer with a plurality of openings configured to allow a profusion of air to pass through the bottom layer and an upper layer bonded to the bottom layer around a periphery, wherein the upper layer is also bonded to bottom layer by a plurality of linear seals and a plurality of staked seals. In an embodiment, at least one of more of the linear seals have one end which is joined to a portion of the periphery. In another embodiment, the forced-air blanket may further include at least one elongated seal that is positioned proximate to the inlet. The arrangement of the plurality of staked seals, elongated seals and linear seals assists in providing a blanket that is of a low-profile with even air distribution.

An electric blanket including a flexible sheet-like heating element, a shell comprising two flexible sheets covering the heating element, one or more welds coupling the sheet of the shell about the edges to hermetically seal the heating element there between; and a flexible insulating layer extending over the heating element and covered by the shell providing at least one of thermal insulation and electrical insulation, wherein the heating element is held in position between the two sheets of the shell without using connectors that pierce the two sheets.