GB2238722A - Medical apparatus for producing a heat induced artificial fever (Hiaf) - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric/electronic medical apparatus, comprising a user's blood temperature sensoring and controlled electrically heated sleeping envelope for producing a Heat induced Artificial Fever (HIAF) in patients to help overcome a spectrum of viral and bacterial infections that are caused by pathogens which are unable to survive and/or replicate at fever temperatures. The apparatus comprises a lower electric duvet means 1, using a P.T.C. heating element, 1e, fitted on a mattress 13, of a bed 14, and a similar upper electric duvet means 2, between which the patient lies. Both electric duvet means 1, and 2, are connected via an electronic digital control panel 3, to the electricity supply 4. The control panel 3, is connected to a blood temperature measuring intravenous probe 6, inserted in a vein in the patient's arm (alternatively the probe comprises an intimate body cavity probe, or subcutaneous or extracutaneous probe, or a non-contact thermal imaging probe, or a non-contact infra-red detecting/sensing probe). Additional electronic digital displays and controls, and a computer, provided enable the HIAF to be set accurately to specific parameters, selected from a menu of pathogen v/s HIAF parameters known (from HIAF laboratory tests, and other double blind trials) to be effective against specific pathogens. <IMAGE>

Description

Heat induced artificial fever (HIAF) medical apparatus This invention relates to a users blood temperature sensoring and controlled electrically heated sleeping envelope medical apparatus, for producing a Heat Induced Artificial Fever (HIAF) in patients, to assist in combating a spectrum of viral and bacterial infections that are caused by pathogens which are unable to survive and/or replicate at fever, or safe elevated blood/host cell temperatures without damage to the host's cells.

This medical apparatus invention is particularly useful for producing a Heat Induced Artificial Fever, for the treatment of viral infected patients who are unable to produce a sufficient natural fever due to old age, hypothermia, a weak constitution a damaged primary and secondary immune response system and/or being infected by a virus that the Immune System is unable to detect. This may* include the Human Immune Deficiency Virus - HIV - also known as AIDS (Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

Furthermore, the apparatus may continue to be used as a protection against a wide range of secondary pathogenic infections for patients with damaged immune response systems, particularly infections that do not respond to antibiotics such as influenza and the pathogenic variety of the common cold.

*At time of filing this patent, this apparatus has not yet been tried out on HIV infected patients, but based upon the molecular technology involved there are good grounds for optimism. The least HIV patients will benefit from is protection against a wide range of secondary infections that are resistant to medical treatment, ie antibiotics etc. This is important to HIV patients because it is usually the secondary infections that kill them rather than the HIV. At best they may experience a complete cure.

MEDICAL BACKGROUND - HUMAN IMMUNE RESPONSE SYSTEM It is a well known medical fact that when pathogens (such as bacteria and viruses), invade the human body, the body's first reaction (or line of defence) is to stimulate the blood to produce lymphocytes, leucocytes and antibodies specific to that pathogen, which attack, neutralize and/or destroy the pathogens. If unable to recognize a specific pathogen and/or unable to produce sufficient antibodies in time to overcome the infection, nature has provided the human body with one last immune reaction (or a protective mechanism) - a fever - or blood temperature rise.

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON PATHOGENS / V.S. HUMAN DNA CELLS The normal human blood temperature is maintained at 37 C, by a biological thermostat set in the brain. When pathogens start proliferating in the human body, the host's body produces special hormones to reset the thermostat in the brain to allow the host's blood temperature to rise (to 380 C, 390C or even 400C - a fever). Human DNA cells are able to survive at these elevated fever temperatures, because they are protected by special chemicals that are produced that cling to the protein molecules of the cell and stop the cell from breaking down. When the host's blood temperature goes back down to normal, these special chemicals disappear and the human cells are able to perform as well as they did before the fever.However, at these same elevated temperatures, the pathogenic molecules of bacteria and/or viruses (with a some exceptions) are unable to cope and die. Some pathogens die because their molecular structure breaks down at these higher blood temperatures, others are unable to replicate at these elevated temperatures, and die and/or eventually become extinct in the host because of their extremely short life span (of only a few hours) providing that the fever is maintained that long.

When all the pathogens have been destroyed and/or reduced substantially in number, the host's brain may reset its thermostat, and the fever disappears. If a few pathogens survive, and the host is able to cope with them by the first line of defence - (production of antibodies), all will be well. However, if unable to cope and those few pathogens start to replicate and proliferate again, the host will suffer a relapse, resulting in a renewed fever, which may reiterate until, depending upon the constitution of the host, and/or environmental conditions, either the host or the pathogens will overcome.

Thus a fever can be good thing in most human host adults, when fighting off an infection, as the extra heat produced in a fever, temporarily speeds up other cells in the Human body to fight off the infection and attack and destroy the pathogens.

HEALTHY NATURAL FEVERS Elevated body temperatures - or fevers, are reguarly produced by normal healthy people in their day to day living, especially if they indulge in positive thinking combined with vigorous exercise because the adrenalin and other hormones flow to produce heat and other benefits. Most vigorous exercises will raise blood and body temperature. Everything from manual work, to sports and dancing activities. Even housework, or walking about briskly will raise body/blood temperatures, and produce a healthy fever.

This is why people who are active and think positively are less susceptible to infection, because at these elevated blood temperatures produced by the activity, pathogens are less likely to survive and/or proliferate.

However, it is not possible for all persons to be active and/or think positive at all times. Often due to circumstances beyond control, a person may catch a chill and/or be under stress. If the person is inactive and also thinking negative, the adrenalin and heat producing hormones may fail to flow, body temperature may fall (especially if also exposed to a chill). Under these conditions a person becomes vunerable, and may contract a pathogenic infection if exposed to same.

If the pathogen is recognised as an antigen, it will evoke an immune response, and will be dealt with either by the production of lymphoctyes, leucocytes and antibodies, or failing that, by a fever. If the host immune response system is unable to recognise the presence of the pathogen (such as AIDS), and/or is old and/or weak, insufficient or no fever may be produced to destroy the pathogen.

MASQUERADING MOLECULES Recent medical studies have shown that the AIDS virus start off as RNA molecules and after entering human cells are able to masquerade as Human DNA molecules and consequently do not evoke any immune response from some patients. However even though the virus is able to alter the cytoplasm of the host cell into replicating themselves the virus is still basically an RNA molecule with the likely weakness of being unable to survive and/or replicate at elevated fever temperatures.

INDUCED ARTIFICIAL FEVERS In such an eventuality and in the absence of any other remedy, an Induced Artificial Fever may well be a salvation for such HIV positive patients.

Fevers have been saving the Human Race from extinction for thousands of years against viral infections, which strongly suggests that an Artificial Fever may very likely also work against the AIDS virus; which is an RNA Molecule, that lacks the molecular structural protection enjoyed by the Human DNA molecules at elevated blood fever temperatures.

MALARIA INDUCED ARTIFICIAL FEVER The ability of Induced Artifical Fevers to fight off infections, is well documented in medical records. Prior to the discovery and availability of penicillin and antibiotics, one method used to induce an Artificial Fever to fight off certain fatal diseases was to allow the patient to be infected by a Malaria carrying mosquito. The high blood temperature produced by the Malaria disease killed off the fatal infection, and was considered, at the time, to be the lesser of the two evils.

However, fevers produced by deliberate alternative infections are medically unacceptable today, because of the insidious side effects. Drugs may also be used to induce artificial fevers, but to date none are known that are safe and/or able to produce a controlled fever without insidious side effects and/or damage to vital organs in the body.

Even fevers produced naturally (when a patient is ill) can put a patient under stress because of:a) the substantial loss of heat energy to produce the fever in the form of calories being used up by the patient, (who may have eaten very little, due to loss of appetite) and also, b) at these elevated temperatures the brain is unable to function at peak performance.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention, is to overcome the aforementioned void in Medical Science and Technology, by providing a medical apparatus in the form of patients blood temperature sensing and controlled electrically heated sleeping envelope, to produce a Heat Induced Artificial Fever (or HIAF) in a patient. One advantage of such an apparatus is that it is non-invasive, in that it does not make use of drugs, pills, injections, vaccinations, infections or any other invasive medical means, and also without any of their attendant side effects.

A further advantage of the apparatus is that it is able to produce a Heat Induced Artificial Fever (HIAF) in the patient without any effort, (such as exercise) by the patient, some of whom are too ill or too weak to carry out any exercise any way. Furthermore, the patient may enjoy the benefits of this HIAF (Heat Induced Artificial Fever), while being fully rested and/or asleep; and the necessity for complete rest and sleep cannot be over emphasized in aiding the recovery of the patients, suffering from pathogenic infections.

AIDS CURE? Based upon the aforementioned Scientific and Medical Evidence there are very strong indications that AIDS patients may respond to treatment from the present HIAF producing invention.

CANCER CURE? To date the cause of many cancers is not fully understood; nor have any successful cures been found without side effects. There are unproved suspicions that some cancers may be caused by viruses (like HIV) which (for unknown reasons) the Human Immune System is unable to detect and evoke a response.

It is now known that certain leukaemias (which is a form of blood cancer) are definitely caused by viral pathogens. It is also well known statistically that the incidence of cancers tends to increase with age, the elderly being the most vulnerable. There are some suggestions that with ageing a host is less likely to evoke the last immune response, ie. a fever, against cancer causing pathogens and consequently contract the cancer.

In a younger active and positive thinking host, elevated temperatures and the evoking of the immune response, ie a fever would normally destroy the pathogen causing cancer. It is also suggested that why some younger hosts who do contract concers could be because of negative thinking, and/or a weak constitution for environmental, dietary and/or genetic reasons, which make them prone to not evoking the fever response.

If these suspicions are well founded and it turns out that these cancer producing viruses are also comprised of RNA molecules masquerading as DNA molecules, then they may also respond to a HIAF treatment such as that provided by the present invention. Thus the use of the present invention to cure certain cancers may be an additional benefit of this invention.

CONSTANT TEMPERATURE DRUG RESEARCH Present day virologists and bacterialogists are reasonably proficient in isolating, growing and sustaining pathogens mainly for research in developing a drug or antibiotic. The pathogens are usually kept in incubators which are maintained at a constant ideal temperature - normal blood temperature - 370 C. The main emphasis is observing the effects of various chemicals on the pathogens. Little or no observations are made on the effects of temperature on Pathogens.

VARIABLE TEMPERATURE HIAF RESEARCH The HIAF Research on Pathogens would be the other way around.

Maintaining ideal chemical conditions for Pathogens but varying the temperature to find the HIAF Parameters (fever temperature/fever time period) most effective against each specific Pathogen vulnerable to a HIAF.

Typical HIAF Parameters would include:a) The temperature at which Pathogenic proliferation starts to decline.

b) The critical temperature at which Pathogenic replication ceases.

c) The critical temperature for Pathogenic disintegration, and d) The HIAF v/s Pathogenic life span period in minutes at the critical temperatures.

LABORATORY TESTS/DOUDLE BLIND TRIALS For maximum use of this invention, specific pathogens vulnerable to a HIAF (or the fever range of temperatures ie 37 2 C to 39 9 C) are subjected to HIAF laboratory tests/double blind HIAF trials to obtain the most effective HIAF Parameters for each specific Pathogen and a Menu of tabulated HIAF Parameters v/s Pathogens of the results prepared for use with the HIAF apparatus.

COMPUTER CONTROLLE:D HIAF Advanced versions of the HIAF apparatus include a Computer complete with Interface, Monitor, Keyboard and Floppy Disc Drive, preprogrammed with the HIAF Parameters for all known susceptible Pathogens. Thus, for example, once it is known for certain that a patient is suffering from say 'HONG KONG FLU' the Medic would merely select 'FLU-HONG KONG' from the Menu of Pathogens v/s Parameters displayed on the Computer Screen, and the apparatus would automatically be set for the correct Maximum and Minimum allowable Fever temperatures, Envelope Temperatures and Programmed Time Periods for maintaining the fever, without the Doctor, Medical Assistant, or user having to operate any additional controls.

As and when continued HIAF Research discovers more effective Parameters, and/or a wider Spectrum of HIAF Susceptible Pathogens, the said updated Parameters/Spectrums would be updated in the computer software/Menu/Parameters displayed by down-loading a respectively updated floppy disc into the floppy disc drive of the computer.

PRIOR ART With the present state of the art in the medical field, at the time of filing this application, there is no known cure for the Human Immune Deficiency Virus - HIV - also known as AIDS (Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

With the present state of the art, no known medical cure (to date) exists for viral infections. Indeed, the medical profession freely admit that to date they have no known cure for Viral Infections neither anti-biotics, drugs nor otherwise (inspite of this many patients do recover from viral infections), such as influenza and the common cold (some drugs have been produced and used that are able to suppress (not cure) certain viral infections such as the herpes virus.

It is known to present Medical Science that fevers produced naturally by the Human body are responsible for overcoming viral and other infections.

However no one has yet deliberately exploited this knowledge by providing an apparatus specifically for producing a Heat Induced Artificial Fever (HIAF) in patients to combat viral infection.

A hot bath, hot shower, turkish bath, steam bath, sauna and hot jacuzzi are all capable of producing a HIAF, and although not specifically designed for a HIAF, many patients can testify to the rapid recovery they have enjoyed from the above appliances when suffering from colds and viral flu infections. However most of the above mentioned HIAF producers have drawbacks which the present invention does not. Firstly the patient cannot safely fall asleep whilst undergoing treatment, and some patients may be too weak and/or ill to use them.

The temperature control of the aforementioned equipment are not designed to specifically control the Patients blood temperature and consequently there is a likelyhood of the temperature being too cold or too hot for the patient and in an uncontrolled extreme case the patient might even suffer a heat stroke, if not other ill effects.

Furthermore, in some cases it might be necessary and beneficial to keep the patients brain relatively cool, whilst the rest of the patient's body undergoes a HIAF.

The use of 2 fully automatic electric blankets, one above and one beneath the patient, would be a very useful HIAF producer as it will enable the patient to fall asleep. However, lack of a seal between the perimeters of the blankets may expose the patients body to draughts and produce a HIAF in only some parts of the patient's body.

Furthermore most electric blankets and electric duvets today are sold for use on their own, ie. as an overblanket only, or as an underblanket only and not as a combined purpose made HIAF producing heated envelope. In fact some manufacturers categorically state "to be used as an overbianket only", or "to be used as an underblanket only".

The thermostatic control of all existing electric blankets and electric duvets available today, have been based on sensors that are too crude to accurately sense and control the user's blood temperature within the human blood temperature range (37 C to 40 C), and would not make very efficient HIAF producers.

For example, when just getting into bed the user's body temperature may be relatively cold and their demand for immediate heat quite large.

Consequently, the user may set the electric blanket to a fairly high temperature, but after the user's body has warmed up and the user fallen asleep, the demand for body heat is considerably less, but the electric blanket is still pumping out heat at the high temperature, selected by the user when just getting into bed.

The net result is that the user's body becomes overheated and in most cases, they wake up feeling unbearably hot. The user in a half awake state, may then throw the top blanket off, and start shivering. Alternatively, the user if too hot, may manually reset the temperature of the electric blanket to a much lower temperature; as a result of which as one goes through the night, the user starts shivering and may have to wake up again to reset the blanket temperature; sometimes several times during the night.

Even if the user is able to select from experience a reasonable mid-setting, changes in weather conditions and the room temperature during the night may still render that setting too high or too low.

With the present state of the art, sleeping envelopes in the form of sleeping bags exist (made of various materials). However none are available with blood temperature sensing and controlled electric heating elements. Also with the present state of the art, no ready-made blood temperature sensing and controlling electrically heated sleeping envelope medical apparatus exist that hospitals, doctors and/or patients can readily go out and buy, for the specific purpose of providing a HIAF.

BODY/F3LOOD TEMPERATURE RANGES Although some Electric Blanket/Electric Duvet Patent Applications have been filed claiming to sense the users body temperature, it must be pointed out that the body and body surfaces are capable of withstanding a considerably wider range of temperature than the human blood temperature range (particularly the human fever temperature range - 370C to 40 C - for which the present invention is specifically provided to control. Mere body temperature control of this prior art would not be functionally adequate to produce the controlled HIAF medical requirements that the present invention is dedicated to perform.Furthermore, in none of the prior art (claiming body temperature control) are the sensors and/or probes intimately attached to the users body nor sufficiently provided to sense the users Blood Temperature. Nor does any prior art specifically provide for sensors and/or probes to be used Extracutaneously, Subcutaneously, Intravenously and/or Intimately through bodily cavities/orifices.

The present invention, although using electric blanket and/or electric duvet constructional means and materials is nevertheless novel in that:a) it provides a heated envelope and not just one side of a heated envelope, b) the control of the heated envelope is based upon sensors that sense and control the user's blood temperature and not just temperatures of the heated material/nor users body temperature, c) the present invention is specificially provided to cater for the dedicated therapeutic requirements of producing a blood temperature controlled HIAF ie Heat Induced Artificial Fever preselected within the safe range of Human Blood Temperature limits: No other prior art specifically does this.

REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1, (Sheet 1) is one preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the complete apparatus fitted on a bed in use by a patient.

FIGURE 2, (Sheet 2) is one preferred embodiment of the layout of the electric duvet means, of an extra long combined bottom section (onto which the patient lies) and foldover section (over patient's face) of the heated envelope.

FIGURE 3, (Sheet 3) is the top section (covering the patient) of the electric duvet means of the heated envelope.

FIGURE 4, (Sheets 2 & 3) is an enlarged section of the self-temperature regulating twin conductor/carbon polymer heating element used.

FIGURE 5, (Sheets 2 & 3) is a typical enlarged section of a magnetic rubber strip.

FIGURE 6, (Sheet 4) is one preferred embodiment of a typical digital control panel with Digital Displays covered by the scope of the Invention.

FIGURE 7, (Sheet 5) is a block (electronic circuit) diagram of one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig 7, there is provided an electrically heated envelope medical apparatus (fitted on a mattress 13, of a bed 14) comprising a lower electric duvet means 1, and an upper electric duvet means 2, between which the patient lies. Both electric duvet means, 1 and 2 are connected (by clables lc, and 2c), via a control panel 3, to the AC electricity supply 4, via (the on/off switch 4s, and) the power plug 4p (fig 1).The control panel 3, is provided with a sensor/probe cable 5, at the end of which there is provided a blood temperature measuring intravenous probe 6, which is preferably inserted in a vein in the patient's arm (alternatively, depending upon the patient's condition, accuracy and comfort desired, the probe comprises an intimate body cavity probe, such as oral probes, rectal probes, and/or a subcutaneous probe, and/or extracutaneous probes, and/or a non-contact thermal imaging probe and/or a non-contact infrared detecting/sensing probe).

The apparatus is additionally provided with a fold over section of electric duvet means, 7, (figs 1 and 7), together with a prop up frame, 8 (fig 1), to keep the fold over section, 7, from touching the patient's face.

The fold over section, 7, is preferrably an extra long section extension of the lower electric duvet means (figs. 1, 2 and 7). Alternatively, it may comprise a third separate electric duvet means (not shown). The electric duvets, 1, 2, and 7, (or alternatively electric blankets if blanket material is preferred) is preferably provided with a self temperature regulating twin conductor carbon polymer PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating element, le, 2e, and 7e (figs 2, 3, and 7), comprising, in its simplest form, (fig. 4) twin conductors, 10, encased over its entire length by self temperature regulating carbon polymer PTC heating element material 11, which in turn is encased in a flexible electrically insulating material, 12.

Preferably the peripheral edges lp (7p) and 2p, of the electric duvet means 1, 2, and 7, (figs 2 and 3), are provided with flexible magnetic sealing strips lm (7m), and 2m, to seal the matching peripheral edges lp and 2p, together to form an envelope 16 (fig 1), and to retain the heat within the envelope 16, and also to prevent cold draughts from cooling down parts of the user's body. Alternatively, the magnetic sealing strips Im (7m) and 2m, are provided in a hem and in the peripheral edges of the purpose made duvet covers (not shown).

Preferrably there are additionally provided temperature sensing probes it and 2t (figs 2, 3 and 7), within the electric duvet means (or alternatively, electric blanket material), 1, 2, and 7, and these probes are also connected to the digital control panel 3, via the probe sensing cable ltc and 2tc.

The front of the digital control panel 3, is illustrated in figure 5. Figure 7 is a block electronic circuit diagram of one preferred embodiment of the digital control panel 3, and its connections to the rest of the apparatus.

The digital control panel 3, (figs 1, 5, and 7) is provided with a Digital LCD (or LED) display, 22, which is interfaced via the control PCB 21 (fig 7) to the blood temperature sensing probe 6, to give a continous digital read out 22d, of the patient's current blood temperature. Similarly there are provided additional LCD (or LED) displays, 23, 24, and 25 (figs 5 and 7), which respectively give a reading of the maximum selected blood temperature, 23d, the minimum selected blood temperature, 24d, and the maximum selected envelope temperature, 25d. Raising of these selected temperatures is attained by the provision of the push buttons, 23r, 24r, and 25r respectively, and lowering is attained by the push buttons, 231, 241, and 251 respectively.There is also provided audible and visual alarms/lights 23a, 24a, and 25a respectively, which sound off and indicate if the selected temperatures are breached. All the digital displays 22 to 25 and the push buttons (23r to 25r and 231 to 251) and the alarms 23a to 25a are connected to the digital control PCB (Printed Circuit Board), 21 (fig 7), which comprise solid state discrete and/or customised components/integrated microchip circuits (not shown) to interface them with the blood temperature sensing probe, 6, the envelope temperature sensing probe it and 2t (figs 2, 3, and 7), the envelope temperature controller, 17, and the stabilized DC power supply, 15, connected to the AC electric supply 4, via the junction box 18. The envelope temperature controller, 17, is preferably of the thyristor solid control type.

There is additionally provided on the control PCB, an integrated digital timer circuit (not shown), which is interconnected with the Digital Timer Display 26, and the Digital Timer raising and lowering control buttons 26r, and 261 respectively, for controlling the time duration of the HIAF treatment (figs 5 and 7). -Increasing the time period is by pushing button 26r, and similarly, button 261 is for decreasing the time period which is displayed on the LCD (or LED) display 26d.

The scope of this invention also includes the provision of a digital computer 29, complete with floppy disc drive 30, keyboard 31 and monitor 32, interfaced 33, to the HIAF control panel 3, (fig. 1), wherein the computer 29, has been pre-programmed to specifically pre-set the HIAF displayed parameters 23d, 24d, 25d and 26d (maximum selected blood temperature, minimum selected blood temperature, maximum selected envelope temperature and HIAF time period, respectively), based upon the most effective HIAF parameters for each specific pathogen. The computer monitor 32, would display a menu of "Pathogen v/s HIAF" parameters giving the most effective HIAF parameters for each pathogen based upon known HIAF v/s Pathogenic Research conducted in laboratory tests and double blind trials on specific pathogens. As and when progressive HIAF Research discovers more effective parameters, and/or a wider spectrum of HIAF Susceptible Pathogens, the said updated parameters/spectrums would be updated in the computer software by loading a respectively updated floppy disc into the floppy disc drive 30, of the computer 29.

Claims (26)

CLAIMS: -

1. ELECTRICALLY HEATED ENVELOPE MEDICAL APPARATUS, for use by sleeping users, comprising Electric Blanket means adapted to form an envelope around the user including sensors and/or probes for sensing and controlling the heat of the envelope, which respond primarily and accurately to the user's blood temperature.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein Electric Blanket means includes a duvet and/or eiderdown construction.

3. Apparatus as in claims 1 and 2, wherein Electric Blanket means comprises at least 2 Electric Blankets and/or Electric Duvets.

4. Apparatus as in claims 1, 2 and 3, including detachable fastening means for joining the borders/perimeters of the fabric together, to form the envelope.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein there is provided a gap in the fastening of the perimeter/borders to enable the user's head to protrude out of the heated sleeping envelope.

6. Apparatus as in any one of the above claims including washable covers for each electric blanket means and/or electric duvet means.

7. Apparatus as in claims 4 and 5, wherein the detachable means to fasten the borders or perimeters of electric blanket and/or electric duvet means together includes the provision of a plurality of flexible strips of plastic magnetic material, and/or Velcro, contained in either the blanket or duvet means and/or covers.

8. Apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein a hood shaped Electric Blanket or Duvet means is additionally provided to supply heat to the user's head and neck.

9. Apparatus as in claims 1 to 7 wherein Electric Blanket/Duvet means includes sufficiently longer material to enable folding of the electric blanket means over the user's head and face, including the provision of a prop up frame to keep the material from touching the user's face.

10. Apparatus as in claims 1 to 7 wherein a "Balaclava" shaped hood Electric Blanket/Duvet means is additionally provided to supply heat to the user's head, neck, forehead and facial parts.

11. Apparatus as in any one of the above claims, wherein the sensor provided for sensing and controlling the users blood temperature includes a Thermal-Imaging sensor and/or a Pyroelectric Infra-red detector sensor.

12. Apparatus as in claims 1 to 10, wherein the probe/probes provided for sensing and controlling the users blood temperature includes a thermistor and/or a carbon polymer sensor.

13. As in claims 1 to 10, wherein the probe/probes provided for accurately sensing and controlling the user's blood temperature includes a platinum resistance wire.

14. Apparatus as in claims 1 to 10, wherein the probe/probes provided for accurately sensing and controlling the user's blood temperature includes a thermocouple.

15. Apparatus as in claims 12 to 14, wherein the sensor is provided with a removable stick-on patch and flexible cables to enable it to be attached to any vital part of the user's skin (such as areas near liver or heart) which closely relate to the users blood temperature.

16. Apparatus as in claims 12 to 14, wherein the probe/probes provided include Subcutaneous, Extracutaneous, Intravenous Hypodermic probes, and Tissue-implantation probes.

17. Apparatus as in claims 12 to 14, wherein the probe/probes provided include intimate bodily cavity probes, including Catheter probes, Oral probes, Vaginal probes and Rectal probes.

18. Apparatus as in any one of the above claims including digital displays temperature measuring and controlling micro-electronic circuits, including controls for pre-setting minimum and maximum temperature HIAF Parameters, including high and low temperature alarms, and relays to include maintenance of any desired user's blood temperature within the safe range of human fever temperatures.

19. Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein the HIAF temperature Parameter range is 370C to 400C.

20. Apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein at least one additional temperature sensor is provided near and/or within each Electric duvet/blanket heating element means to sense the temperature of the electric duvet/blanket means itself.

21. Apparatus as in claim 20 wherein at least one temperature sensing and control means is included to limit the maximum temperature of each of the electric duvet/blanket heating elements to a predetermined maximum HIAF Parameter or safety temperature limit, so as not to burn or cause undue discomfort to the user.

22. Apparatus as in claim 21, wherein this predetermined maximum HIAF Parameters or safety temperature limit is not above 42 C.

23. Apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein there is additionally included a digital display microelectronic programmer/timer to limit the duration of the preselected elevated temperature of the users blood and/or heated envelope means to a preselected HIAF Parameter or time period, after which the Parameters mentioned in claims 18 to 22 are reduced to lower desired temperature Parameters.

24. Apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein there is additionally provided a digital computer complete with floppy disc drive, keyboard, monitor and interface to connect up to the said control panel wherein said computer has been pre-programmed to specifically pre-set the HIAF displayed parameters mentioned in claim 18 to 23 on the said control panel to a specific parameter selected from a menu of pathogens versus HIAF parameters displayed on the computer monitor the said preprogramming being based upon the most effective HIAF parameter for each pathogen, and based upon HIAF parameters versus pathogenic research conducted in laboratory tests and double blind trials on specific pathogens.

25. Apparatus as in any one of the above claims wherein the heating element of said electric blanket/electric duvet means comprises a self temperature regulating twin conductor, carbon polymer PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heating element cable encased in a flexible insulating material.

26. Electrically heated envelope medical apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.