Disclosed is an applicator device for an apparatus used in a localized cryotherapy treatment. The applicator device is configured, when positioned over a body area to be treated, to receive and to uniformly distribute across the entire area covered thereby a stream of medium, such as air, adjusted to a temperature equal to or above −40 degrees Celsius (° C.) and directed, at a predetermined speed, via the applicator to the area to be treated, whereby a cold-induced thermal shock response is developed in skin and an underlying tissue within the area covered by the applicator. Related apparatus and a method are further provided.

The invention provides methods and compositions for sequential dosing of capsaicin to treat knee joint pain in a patient, such as knee joint pain due to osteoarthritis, while minimizing transient burning sensation experienced by patients due to capsaicin administration.

The invention provides methods and compositions for treatment of pain, such as joint pain, using capsaicin in a procedure that attenuates transient burning sensation experienced by patients due to capsaicin administration. The methods desirably provide relief from joint pain, such as osteoarthritic knee joint pain, for an extended duration, such as at least about 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, or 1 year. To attenuate the adverse side effect of a transient burning sensation caused by capsaicin-induced neuronal excitation, the methods utilize a cooling article, such as a material wrap cooled via a circulating fluid, to reduce the temperature of tissue to be exposed to capsaicin to within a certain range for certain durations of time, optionally in combination with administering a local anesthetic agent, resulting in the substantial reduction or even elimination of transient burning sensation caused by capsaicin.

A method, apparatus and a system for thermally-assisted pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation for treatment of osteoarthritis in the knee are disclosed. A multi-coil applicator is adapted for positioning around the knee. A first coil is positioned on the top of the knee and provides electric field stimulation in the plane of the patella to stimulate the patella cartilage. Second and third coils are rectangular coils wrapped up below and above the knee respectively. The coils in the wrapped position generate a magnetic field along the knee axis and provide high amplitude of the electric field stimulation of the femoral and tibial cartilages in the plane of tibial plateau. Resistive heaters and free wheel diodes can be provided to the applicator to supply uniform thermal stimulation around the knee joint.

A system and method for portably delivering a therapeutic dose of heat to the skin to relieve pain, reduce accommodation of thermal nerve receptors, promote healing, and deliver transcutaneous medications. The heating device is user programmable or preprogrammed to deliver according to a variety of cycles, patterns and algorithms. The cycles, patterns, and algorithms of the heat are programmable parameters, are under the user's control, and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the device. The heating algorithms are designed to interact with an individual user's thermal nerve receptors and other tissue characteristics and to reduce the tendency of the receptors to accommodate to the external stimuli with back pain, muscular pain, dysmenorrhea, headaches, fibromyalgia, post-herpetic neuralgia, nerve injuries and neuropathies, and sprains and strain. The device can also be used in conjunction with existing medical devices such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) to increase the effectiveness of TENS devices.

A modular therapy system for treatment of at least a portion of an animate body is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first modular member and a second modular member. The first modular member comprises a heat transfer device adapted to transfer heat between the device and the portion of the animate body. The second modular member includes a pouch adapted to receive the first modular member. The second modular member can be wrapped around the animate body portion with the first modular member positioned therein. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a third modular member having a pouch adapted to receive the first modular member. The third modular member is configured for wrapping to a different sized animate body or different portion of the body than the second modular member. The third modular member may have a different shape or size than the second modular member. In various embodiments, the second and third modular members are sleeves selected from among a plurality of differently configured sleeves. Methods of making and using the system are also disclosed.

The invention provides methods and compositions for treatment of pain, such as joint pain, using capsaicin in a procedure that attenuates transient burning sensation experienced by patients due to capsaicin administration. The methods desirably provide relief from joint pain, such as osteoarthritic knee joint pain, for an extended duration, such as at least about 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, or 1 year. To attenuate the adverse side effect of a transient burning sensation caused by capsaicin-induced neuronal excitation, the methods utilize a cooling article, such as a material wrap cooled via a circulating fluid, to reduce the temperature of tissue to be exposed to capsaicin to within a certain range for certain durations of time, optionally in combination with administering a local anesthetic agent, resulting in the substantial reduction or even elimination of transient burning sensation caused by capsaicin.

A Leg Joint Therapy Apparatus is provided which enables heat therapy to be easily applied to the knee and foot parts of the body. The apparatus comprises a knee support member, a foot support member, a support connection member, and a heat transfer member. The user will place the back of their knee or knees upon the top of the knee support member, and place the back of their foot or feet upon the top of the foot support member. The support connection member is for adjustably connecting the knee support member and the foot support member together to allow the apparatus to be easily adjusted for different user leg lengths. The heat transfer member operatively attaches to the knee support member and to the foot support member for providing heat therapy to both the knee and foot parts of the body. Optional features of the device include multiple knee and foot covers, and a heat transfer member which may utilize two or more separate heat sources, and a collapseable feature which allows the apparatus to be more easily stored and transported

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.

A system and method for providing a universal wrap that can apply a thermal pack to many different regions of a patient's body. The universal wrap is provided in a standardized form. The medical provider is provided with options to modify the standardized form in order to adapt the wrap to many different applications.