US4969459A — Infrared heating system for surgical patients

Claim 1

Independent Claim 303 words

An infrared heating system to stop shivering in a post-anesthetic patient following surgery, comprising: a plurality of infrared heat lamps and an associated power source for operating said lamps; a control system for controlling the duration and intensity of the operation of said lamps, said control system comprising means including a plurality of temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of said skin and generating respective temperature signals corresponding to the temperature sensed by each temperature sensor; means including a plurality of individual signal conditioning amplifiers each coupled to a respective temperature sensor of said plurality of temperature sensors for receiving and scaling a respective temperature signal and for producing a respective first output signal; means including a plurality of individual limiter circuits each coupled to a respective signal conditioning amplifier for receiving a respective first output signal and limiting said respective first output signal such that if said respective first output signal is within high threshold and low threshold bounds set by the respective individual limiter circuit said respective first output signal will be sent unchanged to an averaging amplifier, and if said respective first output signal is not within said bounds set by the respective individual limiter circuit said respective individual limiter circuit will saturate at a preset limit value, which will be sent to said average amplifier; said averaging amplifier is coupled to each of said limiter circuits for so receiving therefrom unchanged first output signals, and any saturation voltage, for producing an averaged output signal; and means including a control circuit which is coupled to said averaging amplifier for receiving said averaged output signal for comparison with an average temperature setpoint and producing a corresponding second output signal which is applied to said control system to provide closed-loop temperature control of said patient by controlling the operation of said lamps.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 303 words

An infrared heating system to stop shivering in a post-anesthetic patient following surgery, comprising: a plurality of infrared heat lamps and an associated power source for operating said lamps; a control system for controlling the duration and intensity of the operation of said lamps, said control system comprising means including a plurality of temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of said skin and generating respective temperature signals corresponding to the temperature sensed by each temperature sensor; means including a plurality of individual signal conditioning amplifiers each coupled to a respective temperature sensor of said plurality of temperature sensors for receiving and scaling a respective temperature signal and for producing a respective first output signal; means including a plurality of individual limiter circuits each coupled to a respective signal conditioning amplifier for receiving a respective first output signal and limiting said respective first output signal such that if said respective first output signal is within high threshold and low threshold bounds set by the respective individual limiter circuit said respective first output signal will be sent unchanged to an averaging amplifier, and if said respective first output signal is not within said bounds set by the respective individual limiter circuit said respective individual limiter circuit will saturate at a preset limit value, which will be sent to said average amplifier; said averaging amplifier is coupled to each of said limiter circuits for so receiving therefrom unchanged first output signals, and any saturation voltage, for producing an averaged output signal; and means including a control circuit which is coupled to said averaging amplifier for receiving said averaged output signal for comparison with an average temperature setpoint and producing a corresponding second output signal which is applied to said control system to provide closed-loop temperature control of said patient by controlling the operation of said lamps.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 87 words

The infrared heating system of claim 1 further including a first logic gate coupled to each limiter circuit and to said control circuit, and further, wherein if any of said first output signals are not within said bounds set by its respective limiter circuit then any signal amplitude beyond said high threshold of said preset limit value will be applied to said first logic gate for causing said control circuit to send a full off signal to said control system to turn said heat lamps completely off.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The infrared heating system of claim 2 wherein said first logic gate is coupled to an alarm.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The infrared heating system of claim further including a second logic gate coupled to each limiter circuit and an alarm, and further wherein if any of said first output signals are not within said bounds set by it respective limiter circuit then any signal amplitude beyond said low threshold of said preset limit value will be applied to said alarm for signaling said alarm.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The infrared heating system of claim 1 further including a variable resistor coupled to said control circuit and wherein said average temperature setpoint is adjustable by said variable resistor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 47 words

The infrared heating system of claim 1 wherein each temperatue sensor of said plurality of temperature sensors provides feedback to produce a signal for the control system and wherein the feedback of less than all of said temperature sensors will produce signals to maintain said control system.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 68 words

An infrared heating system as described in claim 1, in which said control system for controlling the duration and intensity of the operation of said lamps includes a full on operating level for maximum heating and minimum response time, and a controlled off operating level which allows said lamps to generate just enough heat to compensate for the normal heat loss experienced by a human body at rest.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

An infrared heating system as described in claim 1, in which said temperature sensors are resistance thermometers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

An infrared heating system as described in claim 1, in which said temperature sensors are thermistors.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

An infrared heating system as described in claim 1, in which said plurality of temperature sensors are contained in a single housing to facilitate attachment to a patient.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-11-12	1994-05-14	1994-11-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-11-12	1998-05-14	1998-11-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-11-12	2002-05-14	2002-11-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Infrared heating system for surgical patients

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