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.

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.

Systems and methods for treating a body region are provided herein. A treatment device for treating a body region is provided, and may include a first applicator and a second applicator. The first and second applicators are held on the body region by a belt. The first applicator may include a first magnetic field generating device and a radiofrequency electrode. The second applicator may include a second magnetic field generating device. The first and second magnetic field generating devices may each generate a time-vary magnetic field with a plurality of sequential magnetic impulses to cause muscle contraction in the body region. The radiofrequency electrode may provide radiofrequency waves causing heating of tissue within the body region. The treatment device may further include an energy storage device and a switching device. The switching device my discharge energy from the energy storage device to the first or the second magnetic field generating device to generate the time-vary magnetic field.

Methods and apparatus for an improved Contrast Therapy Device that delivers alternating heated and chilled temperature fluids to a contrast thermal therapy pad. Mitigation processes maintain water temperature in hot water tanks and cold water tanks in order to keep water temperatures in the respective tanks from drifting beyond a desired setpoint range when the system switches a therapy state from a cooling cycle to a heating cycle or from heating cycle to a cooling cycle. Thermal shock is reduced to the fluid tanks. Mitigation techniques include delaying actuation of a return path flow, such as via a diverting solenoid. Mitigating delay can be a static time delay based upon one or both of: a volume of water in a therapy pad and related volume and rate of flow; and meeting a threshold transition temperature for return fluid temperature.

The present invention generally relates to improved medical devices, systems, and methods, with exemplary embodiments providing improved cooling treatment probes and cooling treatment methods and systems. In some embodiments, freezing of the skin may be desirable to effect the hypopigmentation of the skin of the patient. Generally, embodiments may limit supercooling of the skin of the patient during a cooling treatment. Additionally, embodiments may limit adverse side effects such as hyperpigmentation. It has been found that the freezing behavior (frequency and time to freeze) can be modified by adjusting the thermal parameters of the cooling applicator. Accordingly, in some aspects of the invention, a method of treating the skin may be provided where the thermal parameters of the cooling applicator are adjusted during treatment.

In one instance, a recovery system for a user is presented that includes a battery-operated, flexible wrap that applies heat with both conductive heat and radiant heat. The recovery system has a control unit that ramps the temperature applied using primarily perceived conductive heat before leveling at a target temperature. Other systems and devices are presented.

Disclosed are systems and methods for performing targeted temperature management including a thermal pad having a thermoelectric device. A pad controller may regulate the temperature of the thermal pad. The thermal pad temperature can facilitate cooling and/or warming of the patient. The pad can include a thermal conduction layer and a skin contact layer. The system may include a controller to set the pad temperature of multiple thermal pads according to a TTM therapy. The thermal pad and the system can incorporate data from temperature sensors coupled to the thermoelectric device and the patient. The system controller may be coupled to the thermal pads via a wired or wireless connection.

Systems and methods for treating a body region are provided herein. A treatment device for treating a body region is provided, and may include a first applicator and a second applicator. The first and second applicators are held on the body region by a belt. The first applicator may include a first magnetic field generating device and a radiofrequency electrode. The second applicator may include a second magnetic field generating device. The first and second magnetic field generating devices may each generate a time-vary magnetic field with a plurality of sequential magnetic impulses to cause muscle contraction in the body region. The radiofrequency electrode may provide radiofrequency waves causing heating of tissue within the body region. The treatment device may further include an energy storage device and a switching device. The switching device my discharge energy from the energy storage device to the first or the second magnetic field generating device to generate the time-vary magnetic field.

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 device for applying compressive therapy is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the device has a top layer and a bottom layer adapted to contact a body surface of a user. The device further includes a compressive element disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, where the compressive element is configured such that, upon activation of the compressive element: (i) a compressive force is applied to the body surface and (ii) the compressive element curves to more closely conform to the bottom layer.