One variation of a method for fabricating a dermal heatsink includes: fabricating a substrate defining an interior surface, an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and an open network of pores extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface; activating surfaces of the substrate and walls of the open network of pores; applying a coating over the substrate to form a heatsink, the coating comprising a porous, hydrophilic material and defining a void network; removing an excess of the coating from the substrate to clear blockages within the open network of pores by the coating; hydrating the heatsink during a curing period; heating the heatsink during the curing period to increase porosity of the coating applied over surfaces of the substrate; and rinsing the heatsink with an acid to decarbonate the coating along walls of the open network of pores in the substrate.

The invention relates to a vasodilation assembly for facilitating intravenous cannulation. The assembly comprises: (i) a flexible plastics sleeve (10); (ii) a heated air supply; and (iii) a conduit for conveying heated air from the air supply into the flexible plastics sleeve. The sleeve comprises an air inlet opening (12) for coupling to the conduit, and an opening (14) for accepting an appendage of a patient. The flexible plastics sleeve (10) is of a double-walled construction comprising transparent inner and outer sleeve layers (16, 18).

A therapeutic splint for the treatment of one or more joint areas of a patient. The splint includes longitudinal housings extending along a longitudinal axis (L) and arranged parallel to this longitudinal axis (L); one or more modular cartridges with therapeutic effect suitable for being arranged in the housings according to the joint area (s) to be treated. The splint further includes at least one transverse and/or oblique housing extending along one or more transverse and/or oblique axes (O), respectively, with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the splint. The transverse and/or oblique housing is arranged so as to cover an area extending around a joint to be treated. The modular cartridge or cartridges are arranged in the transverse and/or oblique housings according to the joint area(s) to be treated.

A method of treating tissue of a patient uses a device including a mother case, a belt, at least one treatment unit and at least two applicators. The treatment method may include attaching first and second applicators to the belt at a working distance to the patient's surface, and providing different treatment energy to the first applicator and the second applicator. A treatment pattern is created by the applicators providing the different treatment energies. The hardware pattern or positions of the applicators on the belt may be changed before and/or during the treatment. The hardware pattern may be based on selected treatment effect and body part.

Methods and systems for heating limb blood vessels are provided. An example system may include a wearable device comprising a body configured to be disposed on a limb of a user. The wearable device may include a battery disposed within the body. The wearable device may include a heating component disposed within the body and powered by the battery. The heating component includes a heating element configured to cover a portion of a skin of the user, the portion of the skin covering at least one blood vessel of the limb. The heating element can be configured to provide heat to the portion of the skin and of the blood vessel to cause the blood vessel to dilate. The wearable device may include a controller disposed within the body and configured to regulate a temperature of the heating element. The body can be wrapped around the limb.

A device for providing thermal treatment to a patient's hand is provided. The device includes a therapy component for applying thermal therapy, compression therapy, or both; a sleeve for receiving the therapy device and sized and shaped to cover the patient's hand; and a hand support for supporting the patient's hand in a relaxed state.

An apparatus for improving dexterity of the bare hands in cold temperatures includes heating pads 10 disposed on the forehead, cheeks and forearms. The heating pads 10a, 10b, 10c on the forehead and cheeks stimulate the trigeminal nerve area to increase blood flow to the fingers. The heating pads 10d, 10d on the forearms 24, 24 increase the temperature of the blood flowing to the hands. Thermocouples 32 in each heating pad 10 are connected to a set-point controller 28.

A patient warming device with patient access for maintaining normothermia and/or treating hypothermia is provided. The device includes a first compliant layer and a second compliant layer sealed together around an outer border to contain a liquid between the two layers and to form a wrap that surrounds and conforms to a body portion of a patient. A plurality of flaps extends from opposite sides of a generally longitudinal central portion of the wrap, such that one or more flaps from the opposite sides fasten to each other to surround the body portion. The flaps are openable during functional use to provide access to an underlying patient body surface. A continuous fluid flow path extends between the first compliant layer and the second compliant layer between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet to carry liquid and deliver heat through the wrap.

A system including apparatus and methods for sanitizing or otherwise reducing biologics present on thermal therapeutic treatment wraps used for treating athletes after workouts or games, physical therapy patients after injury, and hospital patients after surgery is disclosed. The system includes a storage cabinet with an internal conveyor system that exposes each wrap to periodic sanitization or other biologic reduction means, such as ultraviolet light. This prevents growth of bacteria and mold. In some embodiments, warm air is blown into the storage cabinet to assist with drying the wraps.

One variation of a system includes a garment insert: configured to be worn across a dermal surface; including a textile panel defining a grid receptacle; and including a grid structure arranged within the grid receptacle and defining an array of apertures. The system further includes a cooling unit including a heatsink structure: defining a base section defining an inner surface configured to contact the dermal surface; and defining a set of heatsink columns extending from the base section, opposite the inner surface, and configured to seat extending through the array of apertures. The cooling unit: is configured to wick moisture from the dermal surface toward surfaces of the set of heatsink columns; and includes a polymer frame, bonded to the heatsink structure about the base section, configured to abut surfaces of the base section to surfaces of the grid receptacle to flexibly retain the cooling unit within the grid receptacle.