Patient Temperature

Management Systems
Blanketrol III
®

Users Guide for Experienced Users

Technology to the next degree™

Blanketrol III
®

Hyper-Hypothermia Systems

The Blanketrol® III is used to lower or to raise a patient’s The unit can be set to operate based on the
temperature and/or maintain a desired temperature temperature of the water, Manual Control Mode;
through conductive heat transfer. The unit uses sterile or it can be set to operate based on the patient’s
water or water that has been passed through a filter of temperature Automatic Modes.
less than or equal to 0.22 microns to pump heated or
cooled water to a blanket.

Blanketrol III Operation Modes: Supplies Needed:

1 Auto Control Mode 1 
Maxi-Therm Lite/Maxi-Therm/PlastiPad/Kool-Kit
2 Gradient 10C SMART Mode 2 
286 Connecting hose (unless using PlastiPad with
3 Gradient Variable SMART Mode hoses attached)
3 400 Series Probe/connecting cable
(if using an Automatic mode)
4 
2 gallons of sterile water or water that has been
passed through a filter of less than or equal to
0.22 microns.
Blanketrol® III Set Up: Tips for User:
1 Lift the lid of the water fill opening and gradually 1 Patient core temperature,the condition of skin
pour approximately 2 gallons (7.6 liters) of sterile in contact with the blanket and blanket’s water
water or water that has been passed through a temperature should be checked every 20 minutes
filter of less than or equal to 0.22 microns into the or as directed by a physician. Surgical patients,
reservoir. Stop pouring when the water reaches temperature sensitive and pediatric patients should
the strainer visible at the bottom of the water fill be checked more frequently.
opening. 2 The clinician is responsible for determining the
appropriateness of the temperature limits in
dependency to time. Exceeding 40°C for extended
periods can cause tissue damage and burns; clinical
judgement based on patient age, clinical condition
and current medications, should be used to
determine the safe maximum contact periods.
3 Notify the physician if the core temperature
2 Connect the blanket to the unit by attaching the does not reach the prescribed temperature in
quick-disconnect female coupling of the connecting the time prescribed or deviates from prescribed
hose to the male outlet coupling temperature. The placement and position of
(on the bottom row) of the unit. the 400 Series probe should also be inspected
regularly.
4 The patient should be turned and properly
repositioned according to hospital/institution
policy/ protocol. Changes in skin color, edema,
inflammation, or indications of pressure sores
(especially over bony prominences) should be
*Note: if using the Kool-Kit Head Wrap be sure to fill noted and treated promptly as ordered.
the wrap before placing it on patient’s head. 5 If using 2 blankets, be sure to tuck blanket around
3 Make sure that unit is OFF, plug cord into hospital patient and in between arms/legs.
grade receptacle. 6 When disconnecting the cooling blankets from the
4 Lay the hyper-hypothermia blanket flat with the hoses on the Blanketrol®, make sure that the unit
hose route, without kinks, towards the unit. has been off for a few minutes to allow water to
drain back in to the machine.
5 Place the 400 series temperature probe into
esophagus or rectum per policy; check placement
with an x-ray for esophageal probe only per
hospitals policy.

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MANUAL MODE & AUTO CONTROL MODE
In order to switch from one operating mode to another, press the “Temp Set” button,
and then select the operating mode of choice.

Manual Mode is recommended for: Auto Control Mode is recommended for:

• Pre-conditioning water to achieve desired water • Patients that can be treated for shivering
temperature before start of therapy
• Larger patients with denser body mass
• Fever control in patients unable to have
• Patients going through withdrawal or have
continuous core temperature monitoring
increased metabolism
• Peri-operative normothermia or warming of
• Maintaining perioperative normothermia
patients that don’t require continuous core
• Current guidelines recommend servo control for
temperature monitoring
all TTM procedures.
• Based on current recommendations MANUAL
Consult the physician’s order to determine the desired
CONTROL should be avoided for Targeted
patient Set Point temperature. As a safety precaution, the
Temperature Management (TTM); servo control
Set Point display can only be set between 30°C - 40°C
should be used for TTM.
(86°F - 104°F) to operate in Automatic Control Mode.
1 Press Temp Set button.
1 Press the Temp Set button.
2 P
 ress the up or down arrow to adjust the
2 P
 ress the up or down arrow to adjust the
water set point to the desired temperature
set point to the desired temperature per
per physician’s order.
physician’s order.
3 P
 ress Manual Control mode (green light
3 P
 ress Auto Control (green light will appear in
will appear in the oval).
the oval).
4 P
 atient temperature should always be
4 A
 400 series temperature probe must be used
monitored.
to operate in Auto Control mode.
5 E
 xceeding 40°C for extended periods can
5 P
 atient temperature should always be
cause tissue damage and burns; clinical
monitored.
judgement based on patient age, clinical
condition and current medications, should 6 Water temperature may go all the way down
be used to determine the safe maximum to 4°C or up to 42°C.
contact periods. 7 Exceeding 40°C for extended periods can cause
tissue damage and burns; clinical judgement
based on patient age, clinical condition and
current medications, should be used to
determine the safe maximum contact periods.
GRADIENT 10C MODE SMART
Gradient 10°C Mode is recommended for:
• Neonates and small patients
• Patient’s overshooting their Set Temperature
• Patients with low metabolism or very sedated. 1 Press the Temp Set button
The unit monitors the patient’s temperature and 2 Use the up or down arrows to adjust the set
maintains the temperature of the water in the point to the desired temperature per physician’s
Blanketrol® at the maximum of 10°C (18°F) from order.
patient’s temperature reading.
3 Press Gradient 10°C button (green light will
Gradient is the maximum allowable temperature appear in the oval).
difference between the patient and the water. So if the 4 Press SMART button
patient’s temperature is 35°C and the set point is 33°C
5 A 400 series temperature probe must be used
and the unit is in the Gradient 10C mode, the water will
to operate in Gradient 10°C mode.
not cool further than 25°C or warm further than 42°C
(automatic stop point for safety). After initial set up is 6 Patient temperature should always be
complete place the desired temperature sensing device monitored.
(esophageal, rectal, Foley catheter probe) according to 7 Exceeding 40°C for extended periods can cause
hospital protocol. tissue damage and burns; clinical judgement
based on patient age, clinical condition and
current medications, should be used to
determine the safe maximum contact periods.

* The water will be a maximum of 10 degrees warmer/

cooler than the patient (the water temperature will not
go above 42°C or below 4°C)

* The blanket may not feel cold to the touch at this point
but through conductive cooling the patient will slowly
cool down.

If the patient should start to run a fever or temperature

starts rising the water temperature will rise with patient
temperature to maintain the 10°C temperature difference.
Should this occur the operator may want to change back
to Auto Control Mode.

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GRADIENT VARIABLE MODE WITH SMART
Gradient Variable Mode with Smart is
recommended for:
• Neonates and small patients
• Patient’s overshooting their Set Temperature
5 In the Temp Set window “xxx” will appear, use
• Patients with low metabolism or very sedated
the up and down arrows to adjust the Variable
Gradient Variable allows the care giver the opportunity per physician’s order.
to have greater control over the water temperature 6 Press Gradient Variable button again to start
(minimizing overshoot) without having to manage the treatment (green light will appear in oval).
Blanketrol®. The Blanketrol® operates on the same
7 Exceeding 40°C for extended periods can cause
principle as in Gradient 10C mode, but allows the
tissue damage and burns; clinical judgement
caregiver to customize the temperature offset, rather than
based on patient age, clinical condition and
defaulting to 10°C. Keep in mind the larger the number the
current medications, should be used to
more aggressively the unit allows the water temperature
determine the safe maximum contact periods.
to adjust. A smaller gradient number maintains a tighter
temperature to the temperature of the patient. 8 Gradient Variable mode can be set 0-33
(patient temperature dependent). However, it
For example, if the Gradient Variable is set to 20°C and
is not recommended to ever use a setting of
the patient’s temperature is 34°C and their target set
“0”. This setting will only allow the water to
point is 33°C, the water will cool as low as 14°C.
track and equal the actual patient temperature
1 Press the Temp Set button with no therapy being delivered to the patient.
2 Use the up or down arrows to adjust the * For rapid cooling in a short period of time e.g. sedated
set point to the desired temperature per patients for therapeutic hypothermia
physician’s order.
* The water will not go above 42°C or below 4°C
3 Press Gradient Variable button * If you go below 5°C for your Gradient Variable Set Point,
4 Press SMART button, green light will the water may not fluctuate enough to cool the patient
appear in oval. as skin temperature is cooler than core temperature.

SMART MODE & MONITOR ONLY MODE

The SMART mode should always be used when in the
Gradient modes. It will help manage larger gradients 1 Press the SMART button when the unit is
in patients who have fever or develop fever during running in either Gradient mode (green light
Therapeutic Hypothermia. will appear in the oval)
Once you activate the SMART mode the unit will * This can be helpful in minimizing shivering with fever.
evaluate whether or not the patient’s current This may also be helpful when managing the temperature
temperature is the same as their target temperature of large or muscular people. Smart mode can be turned
every 30 minutes. If they are not the same then the unit off at any time.
will respond by adjusting the water temperature by 5
degrees (warmer or colder) until the patient reaches Monitor Only Mode
their target temperature. The Monitor Only mode displays the temperature reading
on the patient temperature probe. This is good to use
Once the patient reaches the target temperature the post therapy to monitor for rebound hyperthermia. While
SMART mode will turn off and the Blanketrol® III will in Monitor Only mode, the unit does not circulate water
default back to the original Gradient setting. If the and will not cool or warm the water.
patient’s temperature drifts 0.2°C (+ or -) the SMART
mode timer will start again.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
Low Water: 3 To resume therapy, press the mode that the unit
was in previously.
1 Press the Temp Set button (this will return
water to the unit). Low Flow:
2 Add sterile water or water that has been passed 1 Something may be occluding the hoses.
through a filter of less than or equal to 0.22
2 You may tape your hoses down to the bed but
microns to the bottom of the screen.
not to the point of occlusion.
3 If the water is too low, the Blanketrol® III will stop
3 Check for kinked blanket or hoses.
circulating water. The water will drain back to the
unit and if there is not enough water to run, the 4 Check to make sure the fly wheel is rapidly
unit will read “Low Water”. This indicates that spinning.
there is not enough circulating water and more 5 Filter should be replaced every 2-3 months.
sterile water should be added.
Leaking hoses:
Power Surge or Accidental Unplug:
1 Make sure that the hoses are connected.
1 Plug Blanketrol III back in.
®
2 Must hear a “click” when connecting blankets.
2 The unit will default to Set Point of 37°C.
Excessive condensation:
3 Return to original Set Point per physician order.
1 During the warm and humid months,
Check Probe: condensation may occur if the water gets too
1 Check the connection between the black cable cold for a prolonged time. Use the Gradient
and the probe making sure they are tight. Mode instead of Automatic Mode to ensure water
temperature does not go too low.
2 Confirm placement of temperature probe in/on
the patient. 2 If in the Manual mode, do not stay in the very
low range for a prolonged period of time. If
3 The Blanketrol® III will automatically shut off
condensation is occurring have the biomed or
if the patient’s temp drops below 30°C or over
maintenance team come to the room to get
43.5°C as a safety mechanism while in the Auto
the ambient temperature and dew point and
or Gradient modes.
set as directed.
4 Press Temp Set button and place in Manual
mode if patient’s temp is reading below 30°C Need to Defibrillate:
or over 43.5°C. 1 Most cardiac arrest patients will have their
pads still on under the Kool-Kit or blanket.
X-Ray:
Per ACLS protocol a caregiver can then charge,
1 All Gentherm blankets are radiolucent, but clear and defibrillate as usual.
the circulating water during an x-ray can create
2 If pads are not in place, wipe down the patient’s
shadowing. To prevent this, press the Temp Set
chest free of moisture and place
button and this will allow the Blanketrol® III to
new pads to defibrillate.
drain the water from the blankets attached. Allow
approximately 30 seconds before taking the film.
2 For stable neonates, they may be gently lifted
and film placed directly under patient at the
discretion of the team.

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 Technology to the next degree™

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