An economical dual modality system is useful in a system for independent delivery of two distinct energy modalities to a mammalian body and includes a thermal subsystem. The thermal subsystem includes a thermal source affixed to flexible web having an adhesive surface and at least one structure arranged and configured to couple the thermal subsystem to a chassis comprising a durable energy subsystem.

Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.

Systems and methods provide air or gas-based temperature-controlled medical devices. The systems and methods may be applied to provide therapy to a patient suffering orthopedic or other injuries. Air or other gas is temperature-controlled and adjusted to meet a patient's physical needs and delivered the patient therapy site through a temperature regulated system including a therapeutic orthopedic wrap. Feedback mechanisms allow the caregiver or the patient to adjust the temperature of the gas. Other fluids may also be used. The systems and methods permit use of electrotherapy for enhanced therapy and injury recovery.

A means can be used instead of or with conventional temperature control to achieve warming device temperature control at a lower cost, prevent or reduce deterioration of a warming device over time, and lower generated heat temperature due to storage at high temperatures. The warming device can be used for the same. A higher level temperature control means can be used for warming devices for medical applications. An improved warming device can be used for medical applications with a high level of safety and efficacy. A temperature control agent controls a maximum temperature of a warming device with a heat generating composition that generates heat by reaction with oxygen. Said agent includes an aliphatic compound that has a particle form that will not pass through a standard sieve with a #60 mesh, a melting point of 35-65 C., and an aqueous solubility (g/100 mL) at 20 C. of 5.

A therapeutic device such as an eye mask or compress for delivery of moist heat therapy to a body part such as an eye of a human or animal subject. Example devices are configured to be worn with one or more eye coverage portions positioned over the subject's eye(s). The eye coverage portions have a front side configured for placement against the treated body part, and a back side opposite the front side. The eye coverage portions include recesses or retracted sections configured to be positioned over the wearer's cornea area. The shell of the eye coverage portions may further incorporate antimicrobial properties. Heat transfer mediums or fill materials can include hydrophilic zeolite, silica gel, and/or one or more phase change materials so as to provide controlled performance characteristics.

Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.

A permeable layer associated relative to a phase change material associated relative to a securing fabric layer. The permeable layer retains a therapeutic or cosmetic agent to be transferred, in whole or in part, to the user's skin. The phase change material may be dissolved within a thermoplastic matrix or situated within a suitable container. This invention provides the novelty of a phase change material, coupled with a permeable layer and a fabric layer, which work in conjunction with a therapeutic or cosmetic agent.

An economical dual modality system can be manufactured and used in a method including the steps of assembling a system including a durable energy subsystem and a replaceable thermal subsystem, activating the replaceable thermal subsystem, attaching the system to a desired treatment area of a user's body, and activating the durable energy subsystem. The durable energy subsystem is arranged and configured to deliver energy, and the replaceable thermal subsystem is arranged and configured to be coupled to the durable energy subsystem arranged and configured to deliver thermal energy. The replaceable thermal subsystem delivers thermal energy to the desired treatment area at a predetermined temperature range for at least 30 minutes, and the durable energy subsystem delivers energy from the group consisting of non-visible light electromagnetic radiation, visible light radiation, electromagnetic field, microcurrent, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, sonophoresis and combinations thereof independently of the thermal energy.

Mattress assemblies including at least one panel or layer including a preformed capsulate sheet including a plurality of cells, and a phase change material within at least a portion of the cells.

The present invention provides a composition comprising a) a phase change material; b) 1 to 10 wt % of a silica gelling additive; and c) a styrene co-polymer gelling additive; wherein the composition is in the form of a gel and wherein the weight ratio of b) silica gelling additive to c) styrene co-polymer gelling additive in the composition is in the range from 0.6 to 5:1. The invention also provides a method of making the composition and an article and a product comprising the composition. Finally, the invention provides the use of a combination of a silica gelling additive and a styrene co-polymer gelling additive to make a gel composition comprising a phase change material with one or more improved properties.