A61F2007/0295

METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANIPULATING TEMPERATURE

Methods and devices for manipulating the temperature of a surface are generally provided. The present disclosure relates to a device including one or more heating and/or cooling elements, or other suitable thermal adjustment apparatus(es), placed near a surface, such as the skin of a user. The device may be configured to generate one or more (optionally alternating) thermal profiles at the surface, which may include a series of thermal pulses and/or essentially continuous or semi-continuous thermal input, which may vary over time. Such thermal profiles, when suitably applied, may provide enhanced thermal sensations for a user which, in some cases, may provide the user with a more pleasurable thermal experience than would otherwise be the case without the generation of the thermal profiles. In some embodiments, an alternating thermal profile may include an average frequency, an oscillation window, and/or an average temperature, each of which may be adjustable.

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USING A PORTABLE THERMAL DEVICE TO REDUCE ACCOMMODATION OF NERVE RECEPTORS
20200008973 · 2020-01-09 ·

A system and method for portably delivering a therapeutic dose of heat to the skin to relieve pain, reduce accommodation of thermal nerve receptors, promote healing, and deliver transcutaneous medications. The heating device is user programmable or pre-programmed to deliver according to a variety of cycles, patterns and algorithms. The cycles, patterns, and algorithms of the heat are programmable parameters, are under the user's control, and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the device. The heating algorithms are designed to interact with an individual users thermal nerve receptors and other tissue characteristics and to reduce the tendency of the receptors to accommodate to the external stimuli with back pain, muscular pain, dysmenorrhea, headaches, fibromyalgia, post-herpetic neuralgia, nerve injuries and neuropathies, and sprains and strain. The device can also be used in conjunction with existing medical devices such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) to increase the effectiveness of TENS devices.

Heating/Cooling Therapy System
20200008975 · 2020-01-09 ·

A thermal therapy system includes at least one Peltier device having a heating side and a cooling side; a cold fluid channel adjacent the cooling side of the at least one Peltier device, and a hot fluid channel adjacent the heating side of the at least one Peltier device. A controllable cooling fluid pump in fluid communication with the cold fluid channel drives cooling fluid to an applicator pad, and an independently-controllable heating fluid pump in fluid communication with the hot fluid channel drives hot fluid to the applicator pad.

Vibration and heat generation apparatus for use with compression wrap
10524978 · 2020-01-07 · ·

A system applies compression, vibration and heat to a body part of a person. The system includes a portable vibration and heat generation apparatus having a flexible support platform and a bag-like enclosure extending from the support platform. A cylindrical control unit is mounted to the support platform and extends perpendicularly from the support platform. The control unit has a diameter of between 50 millimeters and 100 millimeters. The control unit houses electronic circuitry and at least one battery. Four vibration pods extend from the support platform into the bag-like structure. The bag-like structure also houses a heat generation unit. The control unit extends through a circular bore in a compression wrap. The compression wrap is securable to a body part with a distal wall of the bag-like enclosure against the body part. The system selectively applies vibration, heat or a combination of vibration and heat to the body part.

Simultaneous Thermal and Cooling Therapeutic Device
20200000632 · 2020-01-02 ·

A therapeutic device combines both hot and cold therapy to work simultaneously together. The therapeutic device has a first portion being made of a material capable of being heated to a first temperature and a second portion having a fastener capable of connecting to a cold pack having a second temperature. The application of both hot and cold to the site of an injury of a user stimulates blood circulation to an injured muscle with heat and reduces inflammation with cold to facilitate a faster and more efficient recovery process of the afflicted area.

THERMAL PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION IN A THERMAL THERAPY DEVICE
20200000628 · 2020-01-02 ·

A rapid contrast therapy system can provide cold, heat/hot/warm (hereafter referred to as hot), and/or rapid contrast therapy, which involves rapidly alternating between cold therapy and hot therapy. The system can circulate cold or hot fluid, such as water, through a hose, into a therapy wrap, and then back to the fluid reservoirs of the system. The system can utilize a vapor compression system or other chiller technology to cool the cold water reservoir, and immersion heaters can be used to heat the hot water reservoir.

Wound care method and system with one or both of vacuum-light therapy and thermally augmented oxygenation
10507311 · 2019-12-17 · ·

A system for treatment of a wound area of a patient including a first treatment pad comprising a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for cleaning and exposing a wound area to ultraviolet light, a second treatment pad comprising removal ports for exposing the wound area to a negative pressure, and a control unit interoperably connected to the first and second treatment pads for providing a negative pressure and the ultraviolet light to the wound area.

THERMAL DEVICES

A thermal device includes a first thermal unit, a second thermal unit, and device electronics. The first thermal unit includes a first plurality of semiconductor elements sandwiched between first and second thermal unit substrates. The first thermal unit substrate exchanges heat with a user. The second thermal unit includes a second plurality of semiconductor elements sandwiched between third and fourth thermal unit substrates. The third thermal unit substrate exchanges heat with the user. The device electronics are coupled to the first thermal unit and the second thermal unit. The device electronics operate the first thermal unit in a heating state in which the first thermal unit transfers heat to the user via the first thermal unit substrate. The device electronics operate the second thermal unit in a cooling state in which the second thermal unit removes heat from the user via the third thermal unit substrate.

CONTROLLER FOR COOL AND WARM DUAL SYSTEM
20240093904 · 2024-03-21 ·

A controller for cool and warm dual system includes a bottom housing and the top housing, a water tank is provided in the bottom housing, a heater is provided in the water tank, and a tank cover is arranged on the water tank. Accommodating slots are defined in and extend through two sidewalls of the water tank along its width direction, respectively. The accommodating slots each accommodate a cooling end heat exchanger that extends into the water tank. Outer sides of the cooling end heat exchangers are respectively provided with a cooling plate, and outer sides of the cooling plates are respectively provided with a semi-circular shaped heat sink. Opposite sides of the heat sinks away from each other each define an inclined notch therein. Cooling fans matching with the notches are arranged in the notches, respectively. The cooling fan is set obliquely, and attaches to the heat sink.

METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANIPULATING TEMPERATURE

Methods and devices for manipulating the temperature of a surface are generally provided. The present disclosure relates to a device including one or more heating and/or cooling elements, or other suitable thermal adjustment apparatus(es), placed near a surface, such as the skin of a user. The device may be configured to generate one or more (optionally alternating) thermal profiles at the surface, which may include a series of thermal pulses and/or essentially continuous or semi-continuous thermal input, which may vary over time. Such thermal profiles, when suitably applied, may provide enhanced thermal sensations for a user which, in some cases, may provide the user with a more pleasurable thermal experience than would otherwise be the case without the generation of the thermal profiles. In some embodiments, an alternating thermal profile may include an average frequency, an oscillation window, and/or an average temperature, each of which may be adjustable.