| abstract |
A portable, battery-operated (e.g. 12 v.) electronic heater/humidifier is provided for hypothermia treatment. This heater/humidifier includes the combination of a casing provided with a heat exchanger system comprising an upper compartment loaded with a tangled mass of high heat conductivity material, and, serially-interconnected thereto, at least two serially-interconnected lower compartments, each such lower compartment being open at the bottom to a water reservoir and containing a lower horizontally-oriented heater element for heating water in the water reservoir and an upper porous hydrophilic batt. An airflow path is established between an air inlet and an air outlet, providing a one-way-flow airway system first through the tangled mass of high heat conductivity material, to transfer heat obtained conductively from the heater elements for pre-heating the incoming air and then through the porous hydrophilic batts, for wicking action of heated water to the site of vaporization in the air flow path. An inhalate thermal sensor is located within the air stream of the air outlet, for continuously monitoring the temperature of that air stream. A heater control is also provided, the heater control including a high-limit thermal sensor to control the heating power to the heaters, dependent on the temperature sensed by the inhalate thermal sensor. |