An electronic heating/cooling garment includes: a neck part, a collar (neckband), or an underarm part where a Peltier device (31) is placed; and a front body or a back body where a heating medium circulation path (35) and a battery (35) are placed, the battery (35) being configured to supply electric power to a pump (341) and the Peltier device (31). The heating medium circulation path (35) is composed of a flexible thermally conductive material having a tubular shape and holds a heating medium therein in an airtight manner. The heating medium circulation path has a first electrode and a second electrode on its outer surface. The first and second electrodes are configured to supply the electric power from the battery (35) to the Peltier device (31) and the pump (341).

A balloon catheter is used in a closed-loop heat exchange system for manipulating the temperature of a patient. The balloon catheter is positioned in the stomach of the patient, and then expanded with a heat exchange fluid delivered through a lumen formed in the shaft of the catheter. The balloon catheter comes into contact with the wall of the stomach, and the stomach substantially conforms around the expanded balloon catheter. The heat exchange fluid is allowed to flow continuously into and out of the balloon catheter. Heat is exchanged between the balloon catheter and the stomach so as to controllably alter the temperature of at least a portion of the patient. Anti-shivering mechanisms and automatic control based on temperature feedback from the patient may be used in connection with the heat exchange system.

A passive neonatal transport incubator (PNTI), useful for thermo-regulating a neonate, comprising an inner volume configured by means of size and shape to accommodate the neonate, the inner volume is defined by an envelope having a main longitudinal axis with a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the envelope is at least partially perforated. Further, the PNTI is configured to be ventilated by an independently ventilated medical device, and is configured by means of size, shape and material to allow the neonate to be examined by the medical device.

A blanket, in particular a support for controlling the temperature of living beings, includes an upper layer to faces a living being, in particular a patient or injured being; a lower layer opposite the upper layer; a resilient and air-permeable intermediate layer situated between the upper layer and the lower layer; and an air inlet opening, having a connection for supplying air, in particular warm air, into the region of the intermediate layer. An air outlet opening is provided in an edge region of the blanket remote from the air inlet opening, and at least the greater part of the air supplied via the air inlet opening(s) exits the blanket through the air outlet opening(s). The upper layer is fluid-permeable and the lower layer is substantially airtight and substantially fluid-tight, preferably in the form of plastics film or a coated textile sheet.

A heater, for an incubator for infants, has a housing structure with an upper housing surface and a lower housing surface, at least one air inlet for an inflowing air stream, at least one air outlet for an outflowing air stream, at least one fan impeller, at least one heating element and at least one heat transfer element. The upper housing surface and the lower housing surface delimit a flow space. The heat transfer element is a plate with a flat surface that is arranged horizontally during operation of the heater. An incubator for infants having such a heater is also provided.

Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve applying thermal therapy to tissue (e.g., localized cooling or heating of tissue), and in particular applying thermal therapy to the spinal canal, tissue disposed within the spinal canal, and/or nerve roots extending from the spinal canal. In some embodiments, tissue can be cooled or heated by implanting a malleable or deformable thermal device in proximity to the targeted tissue. The thermal device can be left in place following surgery to facilitate application of post-surgical thermal therapy. In some embodiments, the thermal device can be removed post-surgery in a minimally- or non-invasive manner. The thermal device can be connectionless or can include penetrable regions, pre-attached tubing, or detachable connectors to facilitate application of cooling or heating means to the device. Methods are disclosed for utilizing thermal devices and for carrying out various treatment regimens that involve cooling or heating tissue using such devices.

An inflatable convective pad for warming a person during surgery has two ends, two sides, and at least two openings, each located in an area of the pad between the two ends and between a respective side and the center of the pad. The openings, which may be in the form of slits, allow the threading of a sheet or the person's arms through the pad to restrain the arms during surgery.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling body temperature using a thermoelectric element, the apparatus including: a chamber unit including a water container configured to store water; a temperature control unit configured to cool or heat water; a circulation unit including a water circulation line configured such that the cooled or heated water discharged from the temperature control unit is circulated therethrough to flow back to the temperature control unit; a pad unit configured to contain a part of the water circulation line and to increase or decrease the body temperature of a human; and a control unit configured to control the operation of the temperature control unit; wherein the temperature control unit includes a cartridge part and a body part, and the body part includes a thermoelectric unit including a thermoelectric element and a heat sink plate.

An inflatable convective pad for warming a person during surgery has two ends, two sides, and at least two openings, each located in an area of the pad between the two ends and between a respective side and the center of the pad. The openings, which may be in the form of slits, allow the threading of a sheet or the person's arms through the pad to restrain the arms during surgery.

Disclosed is a system which employs a cooling or heating pad which is preferably a thin, flexible pad for placement at an intended area of the body. The pad includes a layer of highly conductive material which can be cooled or heated using a portable source of heat or cold material delivered to the conductive material by a delivery conduit. Valves can be included to regulate flow of the cooling or heating material from the source to the pad. The system can also include a dual-chambered canister for containing two different media for heating, cooling or for alternating heating and cooling the pad.