CONFORMABLE HEATED MATTRESS
Embodiments include a conformable heated mattress for patient warming during surgery. The mattress may include a base layer coupled to an operating table and a heated layer coupled to the base layer. The heated layer may include an electrical heating element. The heated layer is coupled to an opposing surface of the base layer at a portion of the opposing surface forming an attached area. The attached area is less than an area of the opposing surface allowing at least a portion of the heated layer to be folded substantially independently of the base layer. Embodiments also include a method of positioning a patient on such a heated mattress.
1 . A method of positioning a patient on a conformable heated mattress for therapeutic under-body warming during surgery, comprising:
positioning a conformable heated mattress on an operating table, the mattress comprising:
a heated layer comprising:
a flexible, sheet-like electrical heating element,
a shell comprising a first sheet and a second sheet bonded together around their peripheries to form a substantially liquid-proof enclosure,
wherein the electrical heating element is sandwiched between the first and second sheets, and
a base layer having a surface adjacent to and beneath the second sheet of the shell,
wherein the second sheet of the shell is coupled to the surface of the base layer forming an attached area wherein the attached area is less than an area of the second sheet allowing at least a portion of the heated layer to be folded substantially independently of the base layer;
positioning the patient on top of the heated layer;
folding one or more portions of the heated layer upwards along the lateral sides of the patient; and
placing at least one positioning element between the heated layer and the base layer to hold the heated layer proximate the sides of the patient.
2 . A mattress for therapeutic under-body warming during surgery, the mattress comprising:
a heated layer comprising;
a flexible, sheet-like electrical heating element,
a shell comprising a first sheet and a second sheet bonded together around their peripheries to form a substantially liquid-proof enclosure,
wherein the electrical heating element is sandwiched between the first and second sheets; and
a base layer beneath the heated layer and having a surface adjacent to the heated layer,
wherein the heated layer is coupled to the surface of the base layer forming an attached area, wherein the attached area is less than an area of the heated layer contacting the base layer.
3 . The mattress of claim 2 wherein the heated layer includes a layer of high-loft fibrous thermal insulation proximate the electrical heating element.
4 . The mattress of claim 2 wherein the electrical heating element is coupled to the heated layer around at least a portion of its periphery.
5 . The mattress of claim 2 wherein the electrical heating element includes one or more of conductive fabrics and films comprising at least one of carbon fiber, carbonized fibers, woven substrates coated with semi-conductive or conductive coating, non-woven substrates coated with conductive or semi-conductive coating, carbonized ink, metalized ink and carbon impregnated plastic films.
6 . The mattress of claim 5 , wherein the electrically semi-conductive material is polypyrrole.
7 . The mattress of claim 2 , further comprising a control temperature sensor coupled to the electrical heating element, the control temperature sensor positioned substantially in line with a longitudinal midline of the electrical heating element.
8 . The mattress of claim 2 , wherein the first sheet of the shell includes a polymeric film
9 . The mattress of claim 8 , wherein the polymeric film is one of polyurethane and PVC.
10 . The mattress of claim 8 , wherein the polymeric film is extruded onto a woven fabric.
11 . The mattress of claim 2 , wherein the first sheet of the shell and the second sheet of the shell are bonded by one of heat welding, radio frequency welding, ultrasound welding, solvent bonding, adhesive bonding and sewing.
12 . The mattress of claim 2 , wherein the base layer comprises a third sheet of the shell and a fourth sheet of the shell that are bonded together around their peripheries to form the substantially liquid-proof enclosure.
13 . The mattress of claim 12 , wherein the base layer comprises a layer of foam sandwiched between the third and fourth sheets of the shell.
14 . The mattress of claim 15 , wherein the third and fourth sheets of the shell is bonded by one of heat welding, radio frequency welding, ultrasound welding, solvent bonding, adhesive bonding and sewing.
15 . The mattress of claim 2 , wherein the heated layer and the base layer are bonded by one of heat welding, radio frequency welding, ultrasound welding, solvent bonding, adhesive bonding, sewing and riveting.
16 . The mattress of claim 2 , wherein the attached area of the heated layer and the base layer includes one or more detachable means, the one or more detachable means comprising buttons, straps, snap closures and hook and loop fasteners.
17 . The mattress of claim 2 , wherein the attached area of the heated layer and the base layer is across at least a portion of an end of the mattress.
18 . The mattress of claim 2 , the attached area of the heated layer and the base layer is substantially along at least a portion of a midline of the mattress.
19 . The mattress of claim 18 , wherein the base layer includes at least two elongated positioning members aligned substantially parallel and lateral to the midline of the mattress and projecting upward from the base layer.
20 . The mattress of claim 18 , wherein the base layer includes at least two elongated inflatable tubes aligned substantially parallel and lateral to the midline of the mattress and projecting upward from the base layer when inflated.