Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to reducing patient contact area of a medical pad for exchanging thermal energy between a targeted temperature management (TTM) fluid and a patient. The system, apparatus and method pertain to a medical pad that includes a fluid containing layer for containing the TTM fluid and a patient contact surface. The fluid containing layer is configured for circulating the TTM fluid within the fluid containing layer. The patient contact surface defines a patient contact area to facilitate thermal energy exchange with the patient. The pad can be segmented into a main pad section and one or more foldable sections configured to be folded by a user, thereby reducing the patient contact area. The circulation of the TTM fluid within the fluid containing layer may be constricted by a fold of the one or more foldable sections while folded.

Devices for providing thermal therapy to the perineal and rectal areas of a patient are described. The device is particularly useful for containing gushing lochia flow. Different embodiments of the device can be used to provide either hot or cold therapy to the patient. The inventive thermal pack of the current invention comprises a thermal pouch, pad and a backing layer.

Taking an individualistic approach to the treatment of chronic pain may soon be the norm of modern-day medicine. The potential to control the type of medication, in addition to external stimulus including, but not limited to electrical, thermal, cold, or ultrasonic, presents itself in a new “toolbox.” The present invention relates to the management of chronic pain through non-opioid, multi modal compounded transdermal applications, whose properties are enhanced externally, by electrical, thermal, or mechanical energy. More specifically, the present invention encapsulates the customization of personal health, in analyzing, applying and contributing to the betterment of patient's well-being, adapting to patient's preference, biological requirements and regulating to various environments based on the individual's specific body part.

A system and method for automatically producing and monitoring a cryotherapy session within a chamber includes a plumbing system coupled to the chamber for cooling the chamber. A central controller may be coupled to the plumbing system. The central controller may be operable for: initiating the cryotherapy session within the chamber with a cryogenic gas flowing through the plumbing system for cooling the chamber to a first temperature; determining if the first temperature has been reached within the chamber; determining if a check-in command has been received for the cryotherapy session; and stopping the cryotherapy session after a predetermined period of time. The central controller may also monitor a cooling rate for the chamber and a heater associated with the cooling rate.

Methods of treating viral infections. At least one example embodiment is a method including: measuring a core temperature of a human patient; testing the human for the presence of a virus that causes disease; responsive to the human having both fever and presence of the virus, submerging at least a trunk and legs of the human in water comprising a surfactant, the human at least partially submerged in the water for a treatment period of at least three hours; and controlling a temperature of the water during the treatment period.

A thermal control unit controls the temperature of a fluid delivered to one or more thermal transfer devices (e.g. thermal pads) in contact with a patient. The thermal control unit generates thermal data while being used to treat the patient and is adapted to receive thermal history data previously generated by a different thermal control unit in the treatment of that patient. Both the current and previous thermal data are displayable on the thermal control unit currently being used, thereby giving the caregiver a complete picture of the thermal history of the patient. The thermal control unit may also be adapted to transmit its thermal data, as well as the thermal history data previously received from the other thermal control unit, to still another thermal control unit. The thermal history data transfer may take place via a cable, wirelessly, by a portable flash drive, or by other means.

A utility garment comprises a first layer and a second layer of a fabric, an infrared heater including a plurality of flexible heating elements, provided between the first layer and the second layer of the fabric, a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) provided between the first and the second layer of the fabric and a plurality of sensors configured to determine a plurality of parameters pertaining to a body by which the utility garment has been worn

A method for treating the lung during an acute episode of reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as an asthma attack. The method comprises transferring energy to an airway wall of an airway such that a diameter of the airway is increased. The energy may be transferred to the airway wall prior to, during or after an asthma attack. The energy may be transferred in an amount sufficient to temporarily or permanently increase the diameter of the airway. The method may be performed while the airway is open, closed or partially closed.

A thermal therapy garment assembly for includes a shirt that is wearable on a user. A plurality of pockets is each of the pockets is coupled to the shirt. A plurality of thermal packs is provided and each of the thermal packs is positionable in a respective one of the pockets. Each of the thermal packs is exposable to a heat source to apply heat therapy to strategic locations on the user's body. Each of the thermal packs is exposable to a cooling source to apply cold therapy to the strategic locations on the user's body. A plurality of straps is each coupled to the shirt. Each of the straps is tensionable along the shirt for compressing the shirt against the user's body. In this way each of the straps reduces blood circulation in the user's body for enhancing effectiveness of the heat or cold therapy.

One variation of a method for fabricating a dermal heatsink includes: fabricating a substrate defining an interior surface, an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and an open network of pores extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface; activating surfaces of the substrate and walls of the open network of pores; applying a coating over the substrate to form a heatsink, the coating comprising a porous, hydrophilic material and defining a void network; removing an excess of the coating from the substrate to clear blockages within the open network of pores by the coating; hydrating the heatsink during a curing period; heating the heatsink during the curing period to increase porosity of the coating applied over surfaces of the substrate; and rinsing the heatsink with an acid to decarbonate the coating along walls of the open network of pores in the substrate.