A heat exchange module alone or part of a system including a control console. The module includes a channel assembly and a heat exchange stack attached thereto, and can be used to directly cool and/or heat tissue or skin. The channel assembly includes a liquid channel. The stack can include a pair of spaced plates with thermoelectric coolers exchangers, heat reflective layers, and a core composite layer which keeps the plates spaced. To provide flexibility of the module to better fit on round body parts the stack can include a thermally-conductive plate construction between the plates which has rotational flexibility axes in the X and/or Y directions between plate portions. Optionally the channel can include windows to which the plate portions are sealed. The heat exchange stack separately or together with the channel assembly can be secured in the thickness direction with mechanical securements such as sewing or tacking to also provide for greater flexibility.

A heat exchange module having a heat transfer fluid channel and a heat transfer plate in heat transfer relation with fluid in the channel. The reference side of a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is in thermal contact with the plate. A heat transfer tile is in thermal contact with a user side of the TEC. The module is configured to be operatively positionable with the tile in heat transfer relation with skin of a patient.

A method and system in accordance with a particular embodiments of the technology includes applying a substance onto skin of a human subject. An applicator is then applied to the subject to cool a region of the subject. After cooling the tissue, a nucleation initiator is used to initiate a freeze event in the tissue. The nucleation initiator can be an ice crystal that inoculates the skin upon contact to create a predictable freeze event therein. The time of contact between the ice crystal and the skin can be controlled to achieve desired effects.

A system and method for providing Thermal contrast therapy are presented. The system may comprise a fluid membrane barrier, a human interface device (HID), fluid tubing, a pump, and a reservoir. The system may be operable to apply any combination of heat, cold, and pressurized compression, light energy, acoustic energy, and vibratory energy to a therapy recipient for treating anal-prostate-perineal and vaginal areas, as well as podological and other extremities. The system may be operable to impart a desired therapy temperature to the human interface device and to expand a membrane containing a therapy fluid. The expanded membrane may conform to the contours of a therapy site. Operation of the human interface device may be controlled using a remote-control device. The therapy recipient may be able to control the temperature of the fluid or gel, as well as reception of light energy, acoustic energy and vibratory pulsing energy to assist in treatment of one or more conditions.

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.

This present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods relating to the modulation of tissue temperature. In particular, the present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for rapidly cooling or heating tissue in a subject as a therapeutic and/or prophylactic means for treating tissue that has been injured or damaged.

Systems and methods for improving or preventing a condition, such as the treatment of pain syndromes and migraine headaches are disclosed. A method for treating pain can include one or more of the steps including identifying a region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue; positioning the region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue into an enclosed chamber; adjusting the relative humidity of the enclosed chamber sufficient to create a physiologic effect. The method need not involve altering the temperature within the enclosed chamber.

Systems and methods for affecting metabolism, such as the treatment of metabolic syndrome are disclosed. A method for treating metabolic syndrome can include one or more of the steps including identifying a region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue; positioning the region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue into an enclosed chamber; adjusting the relative humidity of the enclosed chamber sufficient to create a physiologic metabolic effect; and activating a convection fan within the chamber to promote heat transfer from the glabrous tissue. The method need not involve altering the temperature within the enclosed chamber.

An extracorporeal blood cooling or heating circuit includes an intravenous catheter for withdrawing a patient's blood coupled to a combined pump/heat exchanger device. One or more sensors are provided upstream and/or downstream of the pump/heat exchanger device for measuring pressure, temperature, fluid flow, blood oxygenation, and other parameters, A controller is operative!}′ coupled to the pump/heat exchanger device and the one or more sensors to control the speed of the pump inside the pump/heat exchanger device and regulate the blood temperature by controlling the operation of the heat exchanger. The combined pump/heat exchanger device includes a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a pump portion defining a blood circuit inside the housing, and a heat exchanger portion contained within the housing for selectively heating or cooling the blood.

The present invention provides systems, methods, and articles for stress reduction and sleep promotion. A stress reduction and sleep promotion system includes at least one remote device, at least one body sensor, and at least one remote server. The sleep promotion devices includes a control unit able to thermoelectrically heat or cool a fluid circulating through a mattress pad. In one embodiment, the control unit includes Peltier chips connected to two heat sinks via heat pipes, with both heat sinks attached to a fan for dissipating heat. In another embodiment, the control unit further includes EMF shielding for reducing EMF interference with a user's sleep.