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.

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.

The present invention relates to a control and command method for a device for thermal stimulation of animal or human tissue (1), said method being characterised in that it includes: determining a neutral temperature applied to the tissue (1), thermally adjusting the neutral temperature by activating a control loop, determining a cold or hot thermal stimulation temperature to be applied to the tissue (1), in alternation with the neutral temperature; determining a duration and a frequency of the thermal stimulations; in the case of an instruction to initiate the stimulation temperature by activating a control loop and by deactivating the control loop on the neutral temperature; and synchronising a physiological recording with the thermal stimulation.

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.

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.

A thermal transfer device for providing thermal treatment to a patient. A patient support portion supporting and contacting the patient includes a first segment of a fluid flow path to receive a fluid from a fluid source. A flexible covering coupled and movable relative to the patient support portion defines a space therebetween that substantially conforms to the patient. The flexible covering includes a second segment of the fluid flow path. The fluid is circulated through an inlet, an outlet, and fluid flow path for supplying heat to or removing heat from the patient support portion and the flexible covering. A fluid circulation system with a controller may selectively adjust heat transfer from temperature zones defining the patient support portion. The thermal transfer device or a mattress cover may provide for controlling the microclimate, or conditions at or near the interface between the patient and the patient support portion.

A thermal control unit controls the temperature of a fluid delivered to one or more thermal transfer devices (e.g. thermal pads) in contact with a patient. The thermal control unit generates thermal data while being used to treat the patient and is adapted to receive thermal history data previously generated by a different thermal control unit in the treatment of that patient. Both the current and previous thermal data are displayable on the thermal control unit currently being used, thereby giving the caregiver a complete picture of the thermal history of the patient. The thermal control unit may also be adapted to transmit its thermal data, as well as the thermal history data previously received from the other thermal control unit, to still another thermal control unit. The thermal history data transfer may take place via a cable, wirelessly, by a portable flash drive, or by other means.

Dermatological treatments and systems employing cooling, topicals, and/or abrasion are disclosed herein. The system can include a cold plate and a suspension assembly tip. The suspension assembly tip can be selectively coupleable to the cold plate. The suspension assembly tip can include a suspension tip and a suspension. The suspension tip can include a contact surface that can be contacted onto a patient's skin to provide a treatment. The suspension can couple to both the cold plate and to the suspension tip. The suspension can be thermally conductive so as to closely thermally couple the suspension tip to the cold plate, or the suspension tip can have a low thermal conductivity so as to not closely thermally coupled the suspension tip to the cold plate.

A system and method for adding or removing heat from a heat exchange fluid circulating between an external heat exchanger and an intravascular heat exchange catheter is described. The system includes a two stage cooling system providing for a high rate of cooling in one stage and a lower rate of cooling in a second stage. Both stages may be used to provide maximal cooling while the second stage is used to provide improved control of the cooling rate as a target temperature is approached. The second stage may also be used to provide heat to the heat exchange fluid.

A thermal control unit for controlling a patient's temperature includes a fluid outlet for delivering temperature-controlled fluid to a patient, a pump, a heat exchanger, and a controller that automatically implements a step change in the temperature of the fluid delivered to the patient. The step change is implemented prior to the patient reaching a target patient temperature. In the moments after (and in some cases the moments before) the step change, the controller monitors the rate of change of patient's temperature to evaluate whether the patient will reach the target patient temperature without reversing the step change, and/or how long it will likely take for the patient to reach the target patient temperature without reversing the step change. The controller then determines whether to reverse the step change or to switch to another algorithm for controlling the fluid temperature.