GB2057885A

GB2057885A - Apparatus for reducing high temperature in the human body

Info

Publication number: GB2057885A
Application number: GB7931255A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ANDOVER MACHINE TOOLS Ltd
Current assignee: ANDOVER MACHINE TOOLS Ltd
Priority date: 1979-09-08
Filing date: 1979-09-08
Publication date: 1981-04-08

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for reducing high temperature in the human body, the apparatus comprising a perforate support (2) for supporting in a lying position a person to be treated, spray means (15) above and below said support (2) for spraying water onto a person lying on the support (2), and means (7, 8, 9, 12, 21, 25) for directing heated air under pressure both from above and below the support (2) over the body of a person lying on the support (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for reducing high temperature in the human body This invention relates to apparatus for reducing high temperature in the human body.

There are occasions, for example in cases of heat exhaustion, when a patient has a dangerously high body temperature and when it is necessary or desirable to reduce the patient's body temperature at a controlled rate over a relatively short period of time.

So far as is known to the present Applicants there is, at the present time, no effective apparatus available for reducing high temperatures in the human body and the present invention has as its object to remedy this deficiency.

The present invention provides apparatus for reducing high temperature in the human body, the apparatus comprising a perforate support for supporting in a lying position a person to be treated, spray means above and below said support for spraying water as a fine spray onto a person lying on said support, air duct means above and below said support, said air duct means extending longitudinally of the support and having air outlets spaced along the length thereof, and means for supplying heated air under pressure to said air duct means, said air outlets being so arranged that heated air under pressure issuing therefrom when the apparatus is in use will flow over the front and back and around both sides of a person lying on said support.

Said perforate support should preferably be such as to restrict as little as possible the exposure of the body of a person lying thereon to the water spray and heated air supplied from beneath the support.

To this end the perforate support preferably comprises a mesh or net support stretched taut over a suitable,e.g., rectangular, frame.

The perforate support is preferably mounted on an open-topped tank, e.g., of glass-reinforced plastics material so that excess water sprayed onto a person lying on the support can drain into the tank, the spray means and air duct means located beneath the support being mounted in said tank.

The air duct means provided above and below said support preferably each comprise at least two air ducts which are spaced apart in the lateral direction of the perforate support. Each air duct preferably has a planar wall directed towards said support, said air outlets being in the form of apertures in said planar wall. To ensure that heated air under pressure issuing from the air outlets flows over the front and back and around both sides of a person lying on said support, the planar walls of the two air ducts above the support and the planar walls of the two air ducts below the support are preferably angled with respect to one another so that air under pressure issuing from the outlets of each pair of ducts will be directed towards and slightly laterally inwardly of said support.To ensure that air under pressure supplied to said ducts will issue at substantially the same pressure from each of the air outlets spaced along the length of each duct, each duct preferably progressively reduces in cross-sectional area from that end thereof connected to the air supply means to that end thereof remote from the air supply means.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a control console which forms part of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section on a larger scale of a fan and heater unit forming part of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale of an upper duct assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 1, and Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view on a larger scale of part of a lower duct assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the apparatus illustrated comprises a tank 1 of glassreinforced plastics material on which is mounted a perforate support 2 comprising a rectangular frame 3 over which is tautly stretched netting 4.

Although not shown in the drawings, the frame 3 has inwardly projecting hooks thereon over which the netting 4 is engaged and those hooks along at least one side ofthe frame are adjustable by suitable screw means so that the netting 4 can be tensioned as required.

To facilitate access to the interior of the tank 1, e.g., for cleaning, the two end members of the frame 3 are each formed in two parts which are hinged together so that the frame 3 can fold in half about its longitudinal axis. The frame 3 has rollers 5 at either end thereof adjacent one longitudinal side member, which rollers can roll in channels (not shown) mounted on opposite ends of the tank 1 whilst the other longitudinal side member of the frame is mounted in a fixed position but is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. Thus, when it is desired to gain access to the interior of the tank 1, said one longitudinal side member can be moved toward said fixed longitudinal side member to cause the frame 3 to fold in half about its longitudinal axis.

Mounted above the support 2 is duct means 6 comprising two duct assemblies 7, 8 each of which extends from a different end of the support 2 for substantially half the length of the support 2.

Mounted in the tank 1 beneath the support 2 is a further duct assembly 9 which extends the length of the support 2. The duct assemblies 7, 8 and 9 are similar to one another except for the fact that the duct assembly 9 is longer than the duct assemblies 7, 8. One of the duct assemblies 7, 8 is shown in Fig.

4 whilst the duct assembly 9 is shown in Fig. 5. Each duct assembly 7, 8 or 9 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending ducts 10, 11 which are spaced apart in the lateral direction of the support 2. Each duct 10, 11 is substantially rectangular in cross-section and has outlet apertures 12 spaced along the length of the wall 13 thereof facing toward the support 2. The walls 13 of the ducts 10, 11 are angled slightly inwardly with respect to one another so that heated air under pressure issuing from the outlet apertures 12 will flow over both the upper and lower surfaces and around both sides of the body of a person lying on the support 2.In the illustrated embodiment the ducts 10, 11 are spaced substantially 7 inches apart and the walls 13 are inclined at an included angle of from substantially 150" to 170" with respect to one another. Each of the outlet apertures 12 is substantially 0.608 inches in diameter and the number of outlet apertures 12 is such that the total area thereof for all three duct assemblies is substantially 56 square inches. Each of the ducts 10, 11 is connected at one end by a flexible conduit 14 to a source of heated air under pressure (which will be described hereinafter) and is closed at its other end.To ensure that heated air under pressure will issue from each of the apertures 12 at substantially the same pressure each of the ducts 10, 11 progressively reduces in cross-sectional area from that end thereof connected to a conduit 14 to the closed end thereof.

Each of the ducts 10, 11 of the duct assemblies 7,8 is substantially 40 inches long and reduces in crosssectional area from substantially 9.375 square inches at said one end thereof to substantially 3.750 square inches at the other end thereof whilst each of the ducts 10,11 of the duct assembly 9 is substantially 59 inches long and reduces in cross-sectional area from substantially 9.375 square inches at said one end thereof to substantially 3.375 square inches at the other end thereof.

Located between the ducts 10, 11 of each duct assembly are spray nozzles 15 (Figs. 4 and 5) each of which is connected by means of conduits 16, 17 (Fig.

5) to a water reservoir (not shown) housed in the tank 1 and to a source of compressed air. A foot control 18 (Fig. 1) is provided for controlling the supply of compressed air from a compressor to the spray nozzles 15. The spray nozzles 15 are of the kind adapted to supply a fine mist spray in an elliptical fan pattern. The duct assemblies 7, 8 each comprise two spray nozzles 15 spaced along the length thereof whilst the duct assembly 9 comprises four spray nozzles 15 spaced along the length thereof.

The control console 19 illustrates in Fig. 2 houses two fan and heater units 20 as shown in Fig. 3 and a compressor (not shown) for supplying compressed air to the spray nozzles 15.

Each of the fan and heater units 20 comprises a centrifugal fan 21 mounted in a fan housing 22 and adapted to deliver air at a rate of 250 cubic feet per minute. The outlet 23 of the fan housing 22 is connected to one end of a heater tube 24 within which is mounted four electric resistance heaters 25, each rated at 1 Kilowatt, for heating the air discharged by the fan 21. The other end of each heater tube 24 is connected by a suitable conduit 31 (Fig. 1) e.g., six inch diamter"Thermaflex"tubing,to a manifold (not shown) mounted within the tank 1. The manifold is connected to the ducts 10,11 of each of the duct assemblies by flexible conduits 14 which in the illus trated embodiment are formed from four inch diameter "Thermafiex" tubing.

The compressor is adapted to deliver air at a rate of 23 cubic feet per minute.

The temperature of the heated air delivered by each of the fan and heater units 20 is controlled by suitable temperature control means (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment the temperature control means for each unit 20 comprises a "Skinko" resistrance type controllerthe probe of which is located in the heater tube adjacent said other end thereof. In addition each unit 20 is provided with a capillary type thermostat the bulb of which is also located in the heatertube adjacent said other end thereof, the capillary type thermostat being adapted to switch-off the electrical supply to the heaters in the event that the temperature of the heated air rises above a predetermined maximum, e.g., in the event that the temperature rises above 53 C.

To facilitate the positioning of a patient on and the removal of a patient from the support 2 the upper duct assemblies 7,8 are so mounted that they can be moved between a lower in-use position and an upper out-of use position. To this end each of the duct assemblies 7, 8 is mounted on slide guides 26 and is movable on the slide guides by means of a lead screw 27 rotatable by means of a hand wheel 28 and engaging a fixed nut (not shown) carried by the duct assembly.

The height of the upper duct assemblies above a patient when these assemblies are in the in-use position can be varied to suit different patients. To facilitate the rapid return of the upper duct assemblies to a selected in-use position suitable for a particular patient adjustable stop means (not shown) may be provided for limiting downward movement of the upper duct assemblies.

Although not shown in the drawings, suitable restraining straps are preferably provided for retaining delerious patients on the support 2.

In the use of the apparatus, a patient is first positioned on the support 2 whilst the duct assemblies 7,8 are in their upper out-of-use position and the said restraining straps are secured if the patient is delerious and requires restraint. The duct assemblies 7, 8 are then lowered to their in-use position and the fans 21 and heaters 25 actuated to blow heated air over the patient. The foot control 18 is then actu atedfora period of time sufficient to cover the patient with a fine spray of water from the spray nozzles 15. The temperature of the patient is reduced by the evaporation of the water covering his body in the heated air flowing around his body. As the water on the patient's body evaporates so this is replaced by spraying more water thereon by actuation of the foot control 18. Treatment is continued until the temperature of the patient has been reduced to a required level. The rate at which the temperature of the patient is reduced can be controlled by controlling the temperature of the heated air and the amount of water which is sprayed onto the patient.

Excess water sprayed onto the patient is collected in the tank 1.

To enable the temperature of the patient to be monitored suitable temperature indicating means may be provided. In the illustrated embodiment a "Digitron" unit 29 (Fig. 1) is provided which is connectable to the patient and which gives a constant digital read-out of the temperature of the patient.

To facilitate movement thereof the control console 19 is mounted on castors 30. Although not shown in the drawings the tank 1 is similarly mounted on castors. At least one, and preferably all, of the castors 30 and at least one, and preferably all, of the castors on the tank 1 has suitable brake means associated therewith.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reducing high temperature in the human body, the apparatus comprising a perforate support for supporting in a lying position a person to be treated, spray means above and below said support for spraying water as a fine spray onto a person lying on said support, air duct means above and below said support, said air duct means extending longitudinally of the support and having air outlets spaced along the length thereof, and means for supplying heated air under pressure to said air duct means, said air outlets being so arranged that heated air under pressure issuing therefrom when the apparatus is in use will flow over the front and back and around both sides of a person lying on said support.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said perforate support is such as to restrict as little as possible the exposure of the body of a person lying thereon to the water spray and heated air supplied from beneath the support.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the perforate support comprises a mesh or net support.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said mesh or net support is stretched taut over a rectangular frame.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said perforate support is mounted on an open-topped tank into which excess water sprayed onto a person lying on the support can drain.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spray means and air duct means located beneath the perforate support are mounted in said tank.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said tank is formed from glass-reinforced plastics material.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air duct means provided above and below said support each comprise at least two air ducts which are spaced apart in the lateral direction of the perforate support.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of said air ducts has a planar wall directed towards said support and wherein said air outlets comprise apertures in said planar wall.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the planar walls of the air ducts above the support and the planar walls of the air ducts below the support are angled with respect to one another so that air under pressure issuing from the outlets of each pair of ducts will be directed towards and slightly laterally inwardly of said support.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8,9 or 10, wherein each said duct is of progressively reducing cross-sectional area from that end thereof connected to the air supply means to that end thereof remote from the air supply means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said frame has inwardly projecting hook means thereon over which said mesh or net is engaged and wherein at least some of said hook means are adjustable to enable the mesh or net to be tensioned.

13. Apparatus according to claim 5, insofar as this is dependent upon claim 4, wherein said frame comprises two opposed longitudinal side members and two opposed end members, each said end member being formed in two parts which are hingedly connected together, one of said longitudinal side members having rollers at opposite ends thereof engaged in opposed channels mounted on opposite ends of said tank and the other of said longitudinal side members being mounted in a fixed position but being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, whereby said one longitudinal side member can be moved towards said other longitudinal side member to fold the frame in half about its longitudinal axis and so provide access to the interior of said tank.

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air duct means provided above said support comprises two duct assemblies each of which extends from a different end of the support for substantially half the length of the support and each of which comprises two air ducts which are spaced apart in the lateral direction of the perforate support.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the spray means above said support comprises spray nozzles mounted in said duct assemblies between the ducts thereof.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each of said duct assemblies is mounted for vertical movement between an upper out-of-use position and a lower in-use position.

17. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein said means for supplying heated air under pressure to said air duct means comprises fan means for supplying air under pressure and heating means for heating the air discharged by said fan means.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said fan means comprises at least one centrifugal fan and said heating means comprises at least one heater tube connected to the discharge of the fan and having electric resistance heating means mounted therein.

19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein temperature control means is provided for controlling the temperature of the heated air under pressure.

20. Apparatus for reducing high temperature in the human body, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.