By Jessica Surber Attorney, English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP In the late 1980s, Dr. Scott Augustine, an anesthesiologist, invented what he thought would be a very helpful device for patients and doctors: a forced air warming blanket. The blanket is a single-use device that covers patients during and after surgery. It is hollow and filled with warm, forced air. The technology has become widely used throughout hospitals all over the country, and at least initially, was hailed as a way to help patients heal faster and bleed less during and after surgery. Since he invented this technology, Dr. Augustine stepped away from Arizant, the company that manufactures the device. The Bair Hugger forced air warming blanket is manufactured and marketed by 3M and its subsidiary, Arizant. 3M purchased Arizant in 2010. Read More