A two person portable apparatus (10) for reducing the core temperature of one or more human beings includes a trough (14) made of a waterproof, flexible fabric (56) and a generally rectangular frame (12). Portions (68, 70, 72, 74) of the fabric (56) are looped over sides (24, 26, 28, 30) of the frame (12) so that the trough is supported by and suspended from the frame. The apparatus includes four legs (16, 18, 20, 22) hinged to corners of the frame and pivotable inwardly under the trough. Cooling water is placed in the trough and the hands and forearms of human beings are immersed in the cooling water.

A rehabilitation compression garment includes a shirt, pants and socks each having a plurality of pockets that are positioned so as to correspond to a major muscle group of a garment wearer. Each of the pockets including a connector for securing a therapy pack within the pocket. Each garment is constructed as a form-fitting garment that is sized specifically for either a man, woman or child. Each garment further includes a plurality of fabric patches positioned along the inside facing portion to act as a burn guard.

A sequential compression and temperature therapy blanket with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression.

A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for exchanging heat with a human body part to reduce fever, reduce localized swelling, warm up feet, cool down the body, increase body core temperature, and the like. A double walled water-tight article of clothing, such as a boot or a glove, may include a fluid inlet and outlet. A single walled but water-tight article of clothing may be used around a body part and allow the water to contact the skin inside the article of clothing for more rapid and direct heat exchange. Pumps, heating or cooling elements, thermometers or other devices may be included with the article of clothing. The article of clothing may be compartmentalized to concentrate the fluid around a particular body part. Multilayered articles of clothing are also disclosed to inject a thermal gas into a heat exchange space to cool or warm a user.

A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for exchanging heat with a human body part to reduce fever, reduce localized swelling, warm up feet, cool down the body, increase body core temperature, and the like. A double walled water-tight article of clothing, such as a boot or a glove, may include a fluid inlet and outlet. A single walled but water-tight article of clothing may be used around a body part and allow the water to contact the skin inside the article of clothing for more rapid and direct heat exchange. Pumps, heating or cooling elements, thermometers or other devices may be included with the article of clothing. The article of clothing may be compartmentalized to concentrate the fluid around a particular body part. The fluid may continuously enter through an inlet and exit from an outlet in the article of clothing, or be a fixed amount.

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.

A device for warming or rehabilitating a muscle for maintaining muscle readiness in sporting events or for retaining body heat. The disclosure identifies a device for warming or rehabilitating a muscle that includes a muscle wrap using a nylon layer and an insulation material. The muscle wrap works in combination with at least one fastener band to offer an athlete the ability to conform the device to a body for heat retention while minimizing blood flow restriction. The nylon layer retains internal body moisture to deter evaporative cooling while repelling external moisture to deter temperature reduction in the muscle.

An elastic material or other stretch material formed as a layer or cylinder and capable of holding hot or cold temperature and radiating such temperature through contact and an elastic fabric adhered to the elastic material capable of providing a protective cover and a fabric liner between a user's skin and the elastic material and, thus, functions to conform to user's body providing evenly distributed encompassing cold or hot temperature application, a fabric liner between user's skin and the hot or cold therapy, even application of compression therapy without the need for clips or buckles.

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.

Methods and systems for thermoregulation of injured tissue, medical specimens and other perishable materials are disclosed. Thermoregulation systems can comprise a thermoelectric device comprising a thermoelectric element within a flexible sleeve such that the sleeve can be applied circumferentially within an orthopedic positioner. Methods for shipping medical specimens under precise temperature control are disclosed by actively regulating the temperature within containers and at the surface of the specimen. Methods for treating injured tissue that demonstrate increased precision and control are disclosed.