A cooling device includes a package substrate, a plurality of cooling units, and device electronics. The plurality of cooling units are configured to cool a user's body. Each cooling unit includes a plurality of semiconductor cooling elements sandwiched between a first cooling unit substrate and a second cooling unit substrate. Each of the cooling units is connected to the package substrate. The device electronics are coupled to the cooling units. The device electronics are configured to store a first cooling device profile that includes data indicating an amount of power to deliver to each of the cooling units over a period of time. The device electronics are configured to deliver power to the cooling units according to the first cooling device profile, wirelessly receive a second cooling device profile from an external computing device, and deliver power to the cooling units according to the second cooling device profile.

A thermal control unit for controlling a patient's temperature includes a fluid outlet for delivering temperature-controlled fluid to a patient, a pump, first and second cooling units, and a controller that selectively enables and disables at least one of the cooling units based on one more factors, such as the temperature of the fluid. Alternatively or additionally, a variable speed fan is included in one or both of the cooling units that blows air over the condenser and the controller selectively controls the fan speed based on factors such as the temperature of the circulating fluid. The thermal control unit may be modified to accept a cartridge having its own cooling unit. When so modified, the controller communicates with a controller inside of the cartridge and coordinates control of the cartridge cooling unit and the cooling unit inside the thermal control unit that is external to the cartridge.

A thermal eye pod assembly for use in efficiently heating and/or cooling a plurality of thermal eye patch members, as desired. A portable thermal eye pod assembly for use in efficiently treating a user's recurring ophthalmic conditions, accelerating a user's healing process, and providing a user with a relatively faster means of pain relief.

Systems and methods for manipulating the temperature of a surface are described. Described embodiments include thermal adjustment devices that may include a heatsink and that are operated in two or more modes of operation to apply a desired temperature to a user. In one operating mode the thermal adjustment device may apply a first temperature to an underlying surface while generating heat at a rate faster than the heatsink's heat dissipation rate. The thermal adjustment device may then apply a second temperature to reduce the rate of heat generation to be less than the heatsink's heat dissipation rate. These modes of operation may be applied cyclically to permit continuous operation of the thermal adjustment device. In some embodiments, the temperature profile applied when changing between the modes of operation may be selected such that the user experiences either a reduced, or substantially, neutral thermal sensation.

Example devices and methods of tongue stimulation for communication of information to a user are disclosed herein. In an example, a tongue stimulation device may include a body configured to be placed entirely within a mouth of the user and atop the tongue of the user. An array of electro-tactile elements may be distributed on the body, wherein each of the electro-tactile elements is configured to stimulate an area of the tongue adjacent the electro-tactile element. A wireless receiver coupled to the body may be configured to receive stimulation information wirelessly from outside the mouth of the user. At least one processing unit coupled to the body may be configured to transform the received stimulation information into a stimulation signal for each of the electro-tactile elements, and to provide the stimulation signals to the electro-tactile elements.

An apparatus includes a thermal guide element to contact a specific site of a subject to apply a thermal stimulus from the thermal guide element to the specific site; an electrical thermal stimulus controller to raise a temperature of the thermal guide element; and a laser Doppler tissue blood flow meter attached to the subject. The electrical thermal stimulus controller raises a peak temperature of the thermal guide element to be 505 C. when the thermal guide element is brought into contact with the specific site to apply the thermal stimulus to the specific site, while measuring the rate of the blood flow by the laser Doppler tissue blood flow meter. The rate of the blood flow is increased in the subject by 30% or more as compared with the rate of the blood flow measured before the application of the thermal stimulus.

The present disclosure includes devices, systems and related methods useable for controlling a patient's body temperature by endovascular heat exchange as well as body surface heat exchange.

A system to provide controlled therapeutic treatments, including a thermal pad coupled to a control unit. The thermal pad includes a flexible fluidic channel having an input port and an output port, and a thermally-transmissive outer covering. The control unit includes an output port coupled to the input port of the thermal pad fluidic channel, an input port coupled to the output port of the thermal pad fluidic channel, a hot-fluid circulation loop coupled to the output port and the input port, a cold-fluid circulation loop coupled to the output port and the input port. A pump provides fluid flow in at least one of the hot-fluid circulation loop and the cold-fluid circulation loop, a temperature sensor, and a processor coupled to a memory. The processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, to provide to the thermal pad a fluid flow having a predetermined temperature profile.

A treatment system for cooling subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a human subject includes an applicator and a control unit. The treatment system has a cooling mode for cooling tissue and a heating mode for warming tissue. The control unit includes a circulation circuit in fluid communication with the applicator, a chiller apparatus configured to chill fluid from the applicator circulation circuit, and a heater apparatus to warmed fluid from the applicator circulation circuit. The control unit mixes the chilled fluid and/or the warmed with fluid in the applicator circulation circuit control the temperature of the fluid circulated in the applicator.

A thermal eye pod assembly for use in efficiently heating and/or cooling a plurality of thermal eye patch members, as desired. A portable thermal eye pod assembly for use in efficiently treating a user's recurring ophthalmic conditions, accelerating a user's healing process, and providing a user with a relatively faster means of pain relief.