A cold and/or hot therapy device that utilizes insulation to maintain its temperature.

The present invention is directed to a device for absorbing heat from a body. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved device which utilizes a gel material comprising liquids and solids to absorb, over an extended period of time, heat from a body. The present invention also includes methods of providing cold therapy treatment to a user

Disclosed is a system which employs a cooling or heating pad which is preferably a thin, flexible pad for placement at an intended area of the body. The pad includes a layer of highly conductive material which can be cooled or heated using a portable source of heat or cold material delivered to the conductive material by a delivery conduit. Valves can be included to regulate flow of the cooling or heating material from the source to the pad. The system can also include a dual-chambered canister for containing two different media for heating, cooling or for alternating heating and cooling the pad.

A heat exchanger, and method of manufacture of a heat exchanger configured to be placed into contact with an object to regulate the temperature of the object. The heat exchanger comprises a layer of material defining a passage through which a heat transfer fluid may flow. The material layer has a first side for contact with the object; and a second side which, in use, will face away from the object. The first side has a relatively high coefficient of thermal conduction. The second side has a relatively low coefficient of thermal conduction compared to the first side.

A heating pad includes a heat pad with an anterior and posterior side. The heat pad includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The second layer is located in between the first layer and the third layer. The first layer is located on the posterior side, while the third layer is located on the anterior side. The second layer has a wire selectively heated to increase the temperature of the heat pad. The third layer is a reflective material positioned to reflect heat from the second layer towards the first layer, decreasing heat emitted on the anterior side of the heat pad. The heating pad also includes a battery storage section for securing a battery. The battery is in electronical communication with the wire of the heat pad. The heating pad further includes an engagement mechanism to secure the heating pad to a user.

A human body is cooled at an appropriate temperature, and a sufficient usage time is ensured. A cooling tool according to one aspect of the present invention is a cooling tool for cooling a human body, including a freezing material 30a that undergoes a phase change at a particular temperature and a first container containing the freezing material 30a. The first container transfers heat between the human body and the freezing material at a contact surface in contact with the skin of the human body. At least the contact surface has a thermal effusivity within the possible range of thermal effusivity of the skin of the human body. The contact surface may have a thermal effusivity (J/(m2S1/2.Math.K)) of 1,000 to 2,000.

The presented invention is directed to an apparatus and methods of thermal treatment for a body and/or limb of a subject. Embodiments of the invention include a composite for maintaining temperature and moisture levels surrounding the body or limb to which the composite may be applied. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a moisture retention material, a temperature retention material, and a vapor barrier material.

The present invention is directed to a device for absorbing heat from a body. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved device which utilizes a gel material comprising liquids and solids to absorb, over an extended period of time, heat from a body. The present invention also includes methods of providing cold therapy treatment to a user

Exemplary blankets can comprise a flexible fluid-impermeable outer shell having two outer layers sealed around their perimeters, a flexible radiant barrier layer positioned inside the outer shell and being reflective of radiant energy, and a flexible thermal insulation layer positioned inside the outer shell adjacent the radiant barrier layer and comprising a material having low thermal conductivity, such that the blanket is capable of retaining patient body heat by creating a barrier to conductive, convective, and radiant patient body heat loss. Some disclosed blankets include an air cell layer or material capable of entrapping air, inside the outer shell, such as an exemplary open cell foam layer. Some disclosed blankets are MRI-compatible.

Disclosed is a system which employs a cooling or heating pad which is preferably a thin, flexible pad for placement at an intended area of the body. The pad includes a layer of highly conductive material which can be cooled or heated using a portable source of heat or cold material delivered to the conductive material by a delivery conduit. Valves can be included to regulate flow of the cooling or heating material from the source to the pad. The system can also include a dual-chambered canister for containing two different media for heating, cooling or for alternating heating and cooling the pad.