Thermal blanket for warming the limbs

1. A thermal blanket for warming limbs of a person during a preoperative period, comprising:

a surface for facing the person;

a plurality of inactive regions of the surface of which one inactive region is adapted to lie against a body portion of the person which extends at least from the thighs to the abdomen of the person;

a plurality of separate active regions of the surface adapted to circulate pressurized air to limbs of the person; and

an inflatable pneumatic structure to distribute warmed pressurized air to the active regions;

the pneumatic structure including at least one manifold connecting the active regions.

2. The thermal blanket of claim 1 , further including at least one retainer on the surface to receive a portion of one of the limbs.

3. The thermal blanket of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic structure includes at least two manifolds to conduct pressurized air to the active regions.

4. The thermal blanket of claim 3 , further including at least one retainer on the surface to receive a portion of one of the limbs.

5. The thermal blanket of claim 1 , wherein the active regions include three active regions.

6. The thermal blanket of claim 1 , wherein the active regions surround the one inactive region.

7. The thermal blanket of claim 1 , wherein the one inactive region has a rectangular shape.

8. The thermal blanket of claim 7 , wherein the active regions include;

a first active region adapted to circulate pressurized air to the shoulders and non-outstretched arms of the person; and

a second active region in communication with the first active region, the second active region adapted to circulate pressurized air to adjacently-disposed lower leg portions of the person.

9. A thermal blanket for warming the limbs of a person, comprising:

a surface for facing the person;

an inactive region of the surface, the inactive region adapted to lie against a body portion of the person extending at least from the calves to the abdomen of the person;

at least three separate active regions of the surface adapted to circulate pressurized air to limbs of the person; and

an inflatable pneumatic structure to distribute warmed pressurized air to the active regions; and

the pneumatic structure including at least one manifold connected to the active regions.

10. The thermal blanket of claim 9 , further including at least one retainer on the surface to receive a portion of one of the limbs.

11. The thermal blanket of claim 9 , wherein the active regions are disposed around the inactive region.

12. The thermal blanket of claim 11 , wherein the inactive region has a rectangular shape.

13. The thermal blanket of claim 12 , wherein the three active regions include first and second active regions adapted to circulate pressurized air to the arms of the person and a third active region adapted to circulate pressurized air to the legs of the person.

14. The thermal blanket of claim 13 , wherein the at least one manifold includes a first manifold connected to the first and third active regions and a second manifold connected to the second and third active regions.

15. A thermal blanket for warming the limbs of a person, comprising:

a surface for facing the person;

an inactive region of the surface, the inactive region adapted to lie against a body portion of the person extending at least from the calves to the shoulders of the person;

at least three separate active regions of the surface adapted to circulate warmed pressurized air to limbs of the person;

an inflatable pneumatic structure to distribute warmed pressurized air to the active regions; and

the pneumatic structure including at least one manifold connecting the active regions.

16. The thermal blanket of claim 15 , further including at least one retainer on the surface to receive a portion of one of the limbs.

17. The thermal blanket of claim 15 , wherein the active regions are disposed around the inactive region.

18. The thermal blanket of claim 17 , wherein the active regions include:

a first active region adapted to circulate pressurized air to a portion of one arm of the person;

a second active region adapted to circulate pressurized air to a portion of the other arm of the person; and

a third active region adapted to circulate pressurized air to portions of the adjacently-disposed legs of the person.

19. The thermal blanket of claim 18 wherein the at least one manifold includes:

a first manifold connected to the first and third active regions; and

a second manifold connected to the second and third active regions.

20. The thermal blanket of claim 18 wherein the at least one manifold includes a manifold connected to all three active regions.