Patent 7520889 was granted and assigned to ARIZANT HEALTHCARE, INC. on April, 2009 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A thermal blanket for warming the limbs includes a surface, an inactive region of the surface adapted to lie against the thoracic and/or abdominal area of a person extending at least from the thighs to the abdomen of the person, active regions of the surface adapted to circulate pressurized air to limbs of the person, and an inflatable pneumatic structure adapted to distribute pressurized air to the active regions. When warmed, pressurized air is introduced into the pneumatic structure, prewarming and/or comfort warming is provided.