A thermal control unit for delivering temperature-controlled fluid to one or more patient therapy devices (e.g. pads, blankets, etc.) that are in contact with a patient is disclosed. The thermal control unit includes a fluid circuit with an inlet and outlet, a reservoir, a heat exchanger, a pump, and a controller. The thermal control also includes any one or more of the following: (1) an air eliminator with an air filter for filtering air vented from the fluid circuit to the ambient surroundings; (2) a plug that moves in response to changing fluid levels and that fluidly isolates the air filter from the fluid; (3) a second air filter coupled to the reservoir; (4) a check valve to prevent fluid from back flowing into the reservoir; and/or (5) a liquid filter coupleable to the reservoir to filter liquid entering or exiting the reservoir.

A system and/or method for proactively inducing a significant drop in blood pressure during sleep is provided herein. The system includes a blood pressure monitor and a stimulating device that provides stimulation to at least a portion of the person's body. For example, the stimulating device may stimulate a portion of the person's body corresponding to the person's peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue. The stimulation increases or maintains blood flow in the person's glabrous tissue. Additionally, the stimulating device provides stimulation in response to the person's blood pressure being above a predetermined threshold.

A system for cooling or heating a body part includes at least one bladder, a pump, a heat exchanger, a first fluid line in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the at least one bladder, a second fluid line in fluid communication with the at least one bladder and the heat exchanger, a main reservoir and a separator. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the pump. The first fluid line is located downstream from the heat exchanger and the second fluid line is located downstream from the at least one bladder when the system is operating to cool or heat the body part. The separator is in fluid communication with the main reservoir and the pump and is located below the main reservoir to receive fluid under the influence of gravity from the main reservoir and to deliver fluid to the pump via gravity.

Various implementations include wearable devices and methods for managing respiration and user health. In some particular implementations, a wearable device includes: a mount sized to couple with a body part of a user; and a housing coupled with the mount. The housing at least partially contains: a contact element for applying pressure to the body part; and an actuator coupled with the contact element, the actuator configured to actuate the contact element in applying pressure to the body part according to a prescribed pattern. The prescribed pattern includes at least two repetitions, each repetition having: a first segment at a progressively increasing pressure; a second segment at a substantially constant pressure, following the first segment; a third segment at a progressively decreasing pressure, following the second segment; and a fourth segment at a substantially constant pressure that is less than the substantially constant pressure of the second segment.

A Cold Therapy Cooler Apparatus includes a port body with a flange and threads that is inserted into an orifice in the sidewall or lid of a cooler. An interior retaining ring with compatible threads cooperates with the flange to retain the port body within the orifice. A circulating pump is inside the cooler. An internal supply hose is connected to the pump, and to a supply pass-through that passes through the port body and is connected to an exterior supply hose. An internal return hose is connected to the pump, and to a return pass-through that passes through the port body and is connected to an exterior return hose. The exterior hoses are connected to an anatomical area cooling device. A power cord is connected to the pump and to a power cord connection by way of a power cord pass-through that passes through the port body.

A cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject having skin is provided. The cooling device includes a plurality of cooling elements movable relative to each other to conform to the contour's of the subject's skin. The cooling elements have a plurality of controllable thermoelectric coolers. The cooling elements can be controlled to provide a time-varying cooling profile in a predetermined sequence, can be controlled to provide a spatial cooling profile in a selected pattern, or can be adjusted to maintain constant process parameters, or can be controlled to provide a combination thereof.

Embodiments described herein are directed to methods of treating visceral fat where the method includes the steps of identifying visceral fat to be treated, inserting a laparoscopic device into the visceral fat to be treated, inserting a treatment instrument into the laparoscopic device such that a distal treatment section of the treatment device is delivered into the visceral fat, cooling the distal treatment section and the visceral fat adjacent to the distal treatment section to a cooling temperature no colder than approximately −20° C., and wanning the distal treatment section and the visceral fat adjacent to the distal treatment section to a temperature greater than the cooling temperature.

A device to change the temperature of a localized volume of material. A workable device includes at least one heat transfer mechanism having an external surface for direct contact with an exposed surface of the material. A working fluid is directed by input and output conduits to contact an internal surface of the heat transfer mechanism. The heat transfer mechanism exchanges heat between the working fluid and the material. Temperature of the working fluid may be regulated by a thermal system disposed at a remote location. An optional temperature sensing element may monitor a local temperature of the heat transfer mechanism or otherwise infer a temperature of a portion of the material. Sometimes, a device includes a cooperating anchoring arrangement to facilitate holding the heat transfer mechanism in a desired spot. Certain devices may be plastically deformed to a desired device shape.

A cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject having skin is provided. The cooling device includes a plurality of cooling elements movable relative to each other to conform to the contour's of the subject's skin. The cooling elements have a plurality of controllable thermoelectric coolers. The cooling elements can be controlled to provide a time-varying cooling profile in a predetermined sequence, can be controlled to provide a spatial cooling profile in a selected pattern, or can be adjusted to maintain constant process parameters, or can be controlled to provide a combination thereof.

A system and method for adding or removing heat from a heat exchange fluid circulating between an external heat exchanger and an intravascular heat exchange catheter is described. The system includes a two stage cooling system providing for a high rate of cooling in one stage and a lower rate of cooling in a second stage. Both stages may be used to provide maximal cooling while the second stage is used to provide improved control of the cooling rate as a target temperature is approached. The second stage may also be used to provide heat to the heat exchange fluid.