Systems and methods of passive body temperature management

Abstract

A cooling blanket, including a wall defining a body portion, a plurality of elongated chambers positioned within the body portion, a plurality of baffles positioned within each respective elongated chamber, at least one respective port operationally connected to each respective elongated chamber, and cooling fluid positioned within each respective elongated chamber. The respective elongated chambers are respectively sized to restrict fluid flow towards the ends.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A cooling blanket, comprising:
 a wall defining a body portion;   a plurality of elongated chambers positioned within the body portion;   a plurality of baffles positioned within each respective elongated chamber;   at least one respective port operationally connected to each respective elongated chamber; and   cooling fluid positioned within each respective elongated chamber;   wherein the respective elongated chambers are respectively sized to restrict fluid flow towards the ends.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling blanket of  claim 1  and further comprising a plurality of fasteners connected to the body portion and a cover connected to the fasteners. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling blanket of  claim 1  wherein the fluid further comprises one of the group consisting of surfactants, wetting agents, active cooling agents, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling blanket of  claim 1  wherein the wall is a multilayer material. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling blanket of  claim 4  wherein the multilayer material includes a metallized layer for reflecting infrared radiation away from the blanket. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling blanket of  claim 1  and further comprising at least one air bladder positioned within the body portion. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling blanket of  claim 6  wherein respective air bladders are positioned within respective elongated chambers. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling blanket of  claim 1  wherein the wall is at least partially coated with a wetting agent. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling blanket of  claim 8  wherein the wall is selectively coated with the wetting agent to encourage the fluid to prefer predetermined portions of the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling blanket of  claim 1  and further comprising a plurality of welds operationally connected to the body portion and positioned to restrict volumetric expansion of the body portion to generate hydrostatic pressure to urge fluid to predetermined portions of the body portion. 
     
     
         11 . A thermal reduction blanket, comprising:
 a flexible body portion separating an interior volume from an exterior environment;   a plurality of welds formed on the flexible body portion for restricting volumetric expansion of the interior volume;   a liquid at least partially filling the interior volume;   a plurality of baffles positioned withing the interior volume; and   a wetting agent at least partially covering the flexible body portion in the interior volume;   wherein the plurality of welds and the wetting agent establish a hydrostatic pressure to urge the liquid toward predetermined portions of the flexible body portion.   
     
     
         12 . The thermal reduction blanket of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of welds are oriented to define a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal reduction blanket of  claim 11  and further comprising weights disposed within the interior volume. 
     
     
         14 . The thermal reduction blanket of  claim 11  and further comprising a plurality of air bladders positioned within the interior volume. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal reduction blanket of  claim 11  and further comprising a plurality of channels disposed within the interior volume. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal reduction blanket of  claim 11  and further comprising a plurality of ventilation passages formed through the thermal reduction blanket.