Proposed is a hand-held cooling device for supplying a cryogen to a target region for cryotherapy. The device can include a cryogen container configured to contain a first cryogen having a first temperature and a nozzle configured to spray a first modified cryogen to the target region, the first modified cryogen having a second temperature higher than the first temperature. The device can also include a cryogen temperature regulator configured to receive the first cryogen and output the first modified cryogen to the nozzle, the cryogen temperature regulator disposed closer to the nozzle than the cryogen container. The cryogen temperature regulator can include a holder tube, a porous structure disposed inside a holder tube and a heater disposed around the holder tube and heating the holder tube so as to increase the first temperature to the second temperature while the first cryogen passes through the porous structure.

Selectively controllable apparatus for insertion into an ear canal, and related methods of use and operation for behavioral control. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a body configured for insertion into an ear canal. In one variant, the body includes one or more thermal mechanisms which enable selective increase or decrease of temperature of at least portions of the ear canal so as to implement behavioral control of the user, such as to mitigate cravings for food, alcohol, narcotics, or other potentially deleterious substances. In one variant, a mild nausea or pre-nausea condition is created within the user according to a time-temperature profile so as to induce the aforementioned behavioral modification.

A neck fan is provided and is configured to be worn around a neck of a user. The neck fan includes: an outer shell, disposed away from the neck; an inner shell, connected to the outer shell and disposed near the neck, wherein the inner shell and the outer shell cooperatively define a receiving space. A plurality of air outlets are defined in the inner shell.

A micro liquid thermal regulator (MLTR) utilizes closed-loop cooling and micro-channel technology to deliver targeted pain suppression. The system comprises a source of cooling liquid supplying the cooling liquid to a conduit that carries the cooling liquid to a neural cooling element. The neural cooling element has a cooling surface that is cooled by the cooling liquid supplied by the conduit, and is configured for placement in an area of nerve tissue in the organism such that the cooling surface cools the nerve tissue and reduces pain. Implanted onto ganglia, e.g., the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), the MLTR can reduce the temperature to as low as 10 C., effectively modulating internal molecular channel activity and reducing pain perception.

An organ can be cooled to minimize ischemic tissue damage from a vascular occlusion by a thrombus or dissection. A catheter including a thermal member can be used to introduce cold fluid downstream from an arterial occlusion to cool tissue affected by the occlusion. This is particularly useful to minimize neurologic damage from a thrombotic stroke.

Methods, devices, and systems employ cryolysis of oropharyngeal adipose tissues to selectively remove fat cells from the tissues causing obstructive sleep apnea. In various embodiments, a chilled liquide.g., a liquid or airis applied to the target tissue at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to cause cryolysis.

The present invention provides improved devices for removing energy and fluid from body fluid containing spaces and surfaces of a mammal, the devices including isolated air and water delivery systems configured to simultaneously deliver streams of dry air and liquid water to the nostrils of a patient, without allowing the streams to come into contact with one-another until it enters the patient's nostrils.

Methods, devices, and systems employ cryolysis of oropharyngeal adipose tissues to selectively remove fat cells from the tissues causing obstructive sleep apnea. In various embodiments, a chilled liquide.g., a liquid or airis applied to the target tissue at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to cause cryolysis.

Embodiments include a cryogenic device for alleviating pain by cryogenically treating a nerve, the cryogenic device including a handpiece; a needle coupled to a distal end of the handpiece, the needle including a needle lumen, the needle being configured for insertion into a skin of a patient along an insertion axis at a site laterally displaced from a treatment zone proximate to the nerve. The needle is configured to resiliently bend after insertion away from the insertion axis, such that at least a portion of the needle is adapted to traverse a skin layer laterally toward the treatment zone. The device includes a cooling fluid supply tube extending distally into the needle lumen; and a cooling fluid source, wherein the cooling fluid source is coupled to the cooling fluid supply tube to direct cooling fluid into the needle lumen.

A method and apparatus for manipulating a temperature set-point of a human or homeothermic-animal for increasing or decreasing the body temperature above or below the prevailing body temperature for therapeutic purposes. The method includes the steps of warming or cooling sphenoid sinuses remotely resulting in manipulation of the temperature of the pituitary gland without manipulation of the hypothalamus temperature which in turn results in manipulation of the body-temperature set-point and the body temperature manipulates accordingly to the new temperature set-point. A heat exchange medium can be used to warm or cool sphenoid sinuses and thus the pituitary gland. The heat exchange fluid can be liquid, or gas maintained at a predetermined temperature. Alternatively, a temperature-controlled probe can be used that upon contact with the sphenoid sinuses provides for the heat exchange.