A weighted medical blanket is provided for containing a polymer gel; the device of the invention maintains consistent weight over time and can be warmed or cooled to be applied to patients to provide heating or cooling and can be easily cleaned, reused, and its weight reconstituted through the insertion of water through an insertion valve and insertion sleeve suited to reduce flow out of the device. Disclosed is a method for alleviating post-operative shivering utilizing the device of the invention.

Protective clothing and apparel for pets and animals, and method of using same, structured as a shirt and/or hat made of an ultraviolet protective rash guard material with at least on portion having cooling crystals integrated therein. In a first embodiment the clothing is directed to a pet shirt constructed having a top portion, bottom portion, and side portions arranged to form a generally tubular member having an opened torso end, two leg members, and a collar member. In a second embodiment the clothing is directed to a pet hat constructed having a top portion, side portions and a front portion having a visor member attached thereto, the side portions having a lower rim. Two ear members and securement means are integrated within the lower rim of the side portions. At least a portion of the shirt/hat comprises ultraviolet properties. Additionally, at least a portion of the shirt/hat comprises a cooling zone formed of a plurality of cooling crystals. Owing to the ultraviolet material and cooling crystals the pet clothing shields pets/dogs from harmful ultraviolet rays while keeping them cool and comfortable and mitigating heat exhaustion.

A pack with Super Absorbent Material (SAM) inside and without refrigerant fluid inside. A system for dispensing a cold pack including a filling unit for taking in a waterproof SAM pack with SAM inside and without refrigerant fluid inside and adding refrigerant fluid to an inside of the SAM pack, producing a refrigerant pack. Apparatus for producing a cold pack including a SAM source, a source of refrigerant fluid, a bag filler for filling a bag with a mixture of SAM and refrigerant fluid, producing a refrigerant pack, and a cooler for cooling the refrigerant pack, thereby producing a cold pack. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

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.

An object of the present invention is to provide a water absorbent resin powder for a heat-generating element composition, which suppresses the generation of the aggregates derived from the water absorbent resin and the adhesion of the water absorbent resin in the production of a heat-generating element composition. A present inventive water absorbent resin powder for a heat-generating element composition includes polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin powder which have a bulk specific gravity (specified by JIS K3362) of 0.630 g/cm.sup.3 or less, fluid retention capacity without load (CRC) for a 0.9% by weight aqueous solution of sodium chloride (specified by ERT441.01-2) of 32.0 g/g or less, a weight-average particle diameter (specified by sieve classification) of 250 ?m or more, and an amount of a residual glycidyl-based crosslinking agent of 10 ppm or less.

Polymers, hydrogels, and thermochromic agents, including products embodying them, methods of using them, and processes for making them. In certain embodiments, temperature therapy packs which utilize thermochromic agents integrated into solid, semi-solid, or liquid hydrogels. In preferred (but optional) embodiments, the thermochromic agents are integrated into the composition used as the temperature exchange material of the therapy pack. In certain other embodiments, methods of using the thermochromic integrated temperature exchange materials, or processes for manufacturing such thermochromic integrated temperature exchange materials and/or methods or processes for manufacturing or using thermal packs embodying such materials. In certain particularly preferred embodiments, novel polymer compositions and/or processes for making polymers, which improve product durability or longevity and/or which improve use cycles or usage times.

An eye ailment treatment apparatus includes a case having an outer wall that has a front end and a rear end opposite the front end, the outer wall defining an interior area and having an outlet port at the front end. A water reservoir is positioned in the interior area and in operable communication with the outlet port. A pump is operably coupled to the water reservoir for pumping water from the water reservoir to the outlet port when actuated. An actuator is positioned on the outer wall and operably coupled to the pump for actuating the pump when operated. A treatment head is in fluid communication with the outlet port, the treatment head having an external surface constructed of a soft material for contact with a user's eye and having an unvented internal chamber that includes a exothermal material that generates heat when mixed with water.

An eye ailment treatment apparatus includes a case having an outer wall that has a front end and a rear end opposite the front end, the outer wall defining an interior area and having an outlet port at the front end. A water reservoir is positioned in the interior area and in operable communication with the outlet port. A pump is operably coupled to the water reservoir for pumping water from the water reservoir to the outlet port when actuated. An actuator is positioned on the outer wall and operably coupled to the pump for actuating the pump when operated. A treatment head is in fluid communication with the outlet port, the treatment head having an external surface constructed of a soft material for contact with a user's eye and having an unvented internal chamber that includes a exothermal material that generates heat when mixed with water.

Polymers, hydrogels, and thermochromic agents, including products embodying them, methods of using them, and processes for making them. In certain embodiments, temperature therapy packs which utilize thermochromic agents integrated into solid, semi-solid, or liquid hydrogels. In preferred (but optional) embodiments, the thermochromic agents are integrated into the composition used as the temperature exchange material of the therapy pack. In certain other embodiments, methods of using the thermochromic integrated temperature exchange materials, or processes for manufacturing such thermochromic integrated temperature exchange materials and/or methods or processes for manufacturing or using thermal packs embodying such materials. In certain particularly preferred embodiments, novel polymer compositions and/or processes for making polymers, which improve product durability or longevity and/or which improve use cycles or usage times.

A thermal device having a waterproof pouch including a first member having a first perimeter and an first waterproof outer surface, and, a second member having a second perimeter and a waterproof second outer surface, wherein the first and second members are partially joined about the first and second perimeter, respectively, and a cavity is formed between the first and second members, a removable insert arranged to be disposed within the cavity, wherein the insert comprises thermal material capable of being heated or cooled, and, a barrier member having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface of the barrier member is releasably secured to the first outer surface of the first member via at least one attachment means.