Provided is an athletic headband with removable cooling elements. The athletic headband includes a body and cooling elements. The body has a first opening and a second opening substantially opposed to the first opening. Further, the body includes pockets disposed about the body and extending from the first opening to the second opening. The pockets have respective openings about the second opening. The first cooling elements are configured to be received into the pockets through the respective openings to provide cooling to the head of the user. The cooling elements are disposed adjacently to one another about the body to provide continuous cooling about the head.

A lighting apparatus for use as a surgical headlamp is disclosed. A light emitting diode is positioned in a recess within a frustoconical, thermally-conductive heat sink that has a several circumferential ridges to provide a desired surface area for heat transfer. The diode and the heat sink are provided in a housing that also includes a fan for drawing ambient air into the housing to contact the heat sink and exhausting heated air. A lens is snap-fit into a slide that frictionally engages the interior of the housing, allowing a user to adjust the spacing between the light emitting diode and the lens as desired. Personal cooling apparatuses usable with the lighting apparatus are also described. Auxiliary undergown switches are also described as are personal cooling apparatuses.

Provided is a covering adapted for the head that includes a generally rectangular shaped fabric sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface, the fabric sheet having at least one evaporative cooling fabric secured to the inner surface of the fabric sheet, and a first and second elastic fabric panel located on or within the fabric sheet. A method of aiding thermoregulation of the human body and a kit including a covering and instructions for use is also provided.

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 lighting apparatus for use as a surgical headlamp is disclosed. A light emitting diode is positioned in a recess within a frustoconical, thermally-conductive heat sink that has a several circumferential ridges to provide a desired surface area for heat transfer. The diode and the heat sink are provided in a housing that also includes a fan for drawing ambient air into the housing to contact the heat sink and exhausting heated air. A lens is snap-fit into a slide that frictionally engages the interior of the housing, allowing a user to adjust the spacing between the light emitting diode and the lens as desired. Personal cooling apparatuses usable with the lighting apparatus are also described. Auxiliary undergown switches are also described as are personal cooling apparatuses.

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 headband facilitating free airflow to the scalp is disclosed, comprising a support structure and a plurality of spacers. The spacers extend between the support structure and the wearer's scalp, creating a hair space for ventilation and defining scalp touch zones for comfortable support. The support structure can be a belt, a ring, or integrated directly into the hat body. Spacers may be helical (spiral), posts, or other shapes. In a preferred embodiment, spacers in the forehead region are modified for enhanced sweat absorption, such as by wrapping a portion of a helical spacer with an absorbent material. A jig is also disclosed for facilitating assembly of the headband. The headband provides improved ventilation and comfort compared to traditional headbands.