Methods of treating viral infections. At least one example embodiment is a method including: measuring a core temperature of a human patient; testing the human for the presence of a virus that causes disease; responsive to the human having both fever and presence of the virus, submerging at least a trunk and legs of the human in water comprising a surfactant, the human at least partially submerged in the water for a treatment period of at least three hours; and controlling a temperature of the water during the treatment period.

A surgical system includes a fluid source including a fluid inflow tube, a fluid delivery device coupled to the fluid inflow tube and configured to deliver fluid from the fluid source into a patient, a surgical instrument, and a control box coupled to the surgical instrument. The control box includes one or more waste heat-generating electronic components and a heat pipe assembly disposed in thermal communication with the one or more waste heat-generating electronic components. The fluid inflow tube is disposed in thermal communication with the heat pipe assembly of the control box such that the heat pipe assembly conducts heat away from the one or more waste heat-generating electronic components and heats fluid flowing through the fluid inflow tube.

Therapeutic agent delivery devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include an active agent composition and an actuator configured to deliver the active agent composition to a target delivery site. In some instances, aspects of the devices include a syringe comprising a viscous active agent composition, a needle operably coupled to the syringe and an actuator configured to deliver viscous active agent composition from the syringe through the needed to a target delivery site, such as an intravitreal site. In some instances, aspects of the devices include a sleeve comprising a solid formulation of the active agent; a needle operably coupled to the sleeve; and an actuator configured to move the solid formulation from the sleeve and through the needle, e.g., to an intravitreal location. In some instances, aspects of the devices include a syringe containing a composition for subcutaneous delivery, a needle operably coupled to the syringe, a motorized actuator configured to deliver the composition from the syringe through the needle to a target subcutaneous site, and a pain mitigation system. Also provided are methods of using the devices.

Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve applying thermal therapy to tissue (e.g., localized cooling or heating of tissue), and in particular applying thermal therapy to the spinal canal, tissue disposed within the spinal canal, and/or nerve roots extending from the spinal canal. In some embodiments, tissue can be cooled or heated by implanting or positioning a thermal device in proximity to the targeted tissue. A number of exemplary thermal devices are disclosed, including bone anchors, inserts for use with bone anchors, K-wires, bone anchor extensions or towers, cross-connectors, spinous process plates, spinal rods, pedicle markers, bone taps, drill bits, bone plugs, bone plates, clamps, interbody or disc implants, thermal pads, and tubing loops. The thermal device can be left in place following surgery to facilitate application of post-surgical thermal therapy. In some embodiments, the thermal device can be removed post-surgery in a minimally- or non-invasive manner.

One embodiment is directed to a non-contact, medical ultrasound therapy system for generating and controlling low frequency ultrasound for the delivery of fluids containing biologic or cellular materials. The ultrasound therapy system includes a treatment wand including an ultrasonic transducer, a generator unit, and a cable coupling the treatment wand to the generator unit. The generator unit generates electric power output to drive the ultrasonic transducer and includes a digital frequency generator.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for regulating a temperature of an esophagus when heat or cold is delivered to a left atrium, the method including altering a heat exchange device from an insertable configuration to a heat exchanging configuration which conforms and corresponds with a cross-section of an inside of the esophagus such that the esophagus is maintained in its natural shape and location. In some embodiments the heat exchange device has a heating/cooling balloon which is inflated to be in the heat exchanging configuration. Some alternative embodiments includes altering the configuration of the balloon to conform to or correspond with the cross section of an esophagus by means other than inflation.

An attachment for a device for generating an air flow or dispensing a fluid, which attachment is designed to be at least partially introduced into an external auditory canal of a human or animal ear, the attachment including a connection piece for connecting the attachment to the device for generating an air flow, and a tongue-type guide vane for conducting air that flows out of the device for generating an air flow via the connection piece, the guide vane having a bottom.

Apparatus and methods for treating dry eye include an energy source configured to apply energy to an obstruction located in a meibomian gland of a patient's eyelid. The apparatus also comprises an insulator configured to be positioned between a rear portion of the patient's eyelid and a surface of the patient's eyeball. An inner surface of the insulator has a curvature greater than that of the patient's eyeball such that an air pocket is formed between the inner surface of the insulator and the patient's eyeball, wherein the air pocket provides additional insulation to reduce or eliminate an amount of heat due to the applied energy from the energy source from being conducted to the surface of the patient's eyeball, such that the applied energy does not cause the temperature to reach a temperature sufficient to cause damage to a corneal or scleral portion of the patient's eyeball.

A surgical system includes a fluid source including a fluid inflow tube, a fluid delivery device coupled to the fluid inflow tube and configured to deliver fluid from the fluid source into a patient, a surgical instrument, and a control box coupled to the surgical instrument. The control box includes one or more waste heat-generating electronic components and a heat pipe assembly disposed in thermal communication with the one or more waste heat-generating electronic components. The fluid inflow tube is disposed in thermal communication with the heat pipe assembly of the control box such that the heat pipe assembly conducts heat away from the one or more waste heat-generating electronic components and heats fluid flowing through the fluid inflow tube.

This application relates to a cooling device that sprays a coolant received from a coolant reservoir toward a target region to cool the target region. In one aspect, the cooling device includes a spraying unit from which the coolant is sprayed, a valve configured to regulate a flow of the coolant, and a control unit configured to control opening and closing of the valve, wherein, when cooling starts. The control unit controls a first cooling mode in which a temperature of the target region is decreased and a second cooling mode in which the temperature of the target region is maintained in a predetermined temperature range to be sequentially performed.