An apparatus and method for the core body warming of mammals experiencing hypothermia

摘要

Provided is a method and apparatus for treating mammalian hypothermy comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a portable, self-powered, lightweight apparatus having a vacuum chamber 15 for receiving a limb of a hypothermia subject, a hand vacuum pump 20 to manually produce a negative atmosphere in the vacuum chamber, gasket means 42 for sealing the vacuum chamber from atmosphere, and an exothermic chemically-activated heat source 50 for supplying heat to the subject limb. The limb of the hypothermic subject is placed in the vacuum chamber after application of the heat source about the limb, and the chamber is sealed and evacuated. Shortly thereafter, and up to at least an order of magnitude faster than conventional forced air warming techniques, the core body temperature of the hypothermic subject may be rapidly increased to normal temperature. The preferred apparatus is designed for use in the field as well as in the hospital in a portable, self-contained manner.