An improved medical pad for contact thermal exchange with a patient includes a fluid circulation layer for containing a thermal exchange fluid circulatable therethrough, a first port and a second port for circulating the thermal exchange fluid in to and out of the fluid circulation layer, and a hydrogel layer interconnected to and extending across one side of the fluid circulation layer to define an adhesive surface for adherence to a patient's skin. The hydrogel layer can include an ultraviolet light-cured composition with a cross-linking copolymer, water, and glycerol. The hydrogel layer is provided to have a thermal conductivity of at least about 1.9 cal/hr-cm- C.

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.

The invention relates to electrically-heatable plasters which comprise a self-adhesive skin contact layer, an electrically-conductive textile fabric in which electrically-conductive fibres are in contact with one another, as a heating element, and optionally at least one active substance, as well as to a method for production and the use of same for local heat therapy and/or transdermal application of active substances.

A non-pharmaceutical hiccup remedy device that makes use of known treatments for hiccups but in a novel way is described. The device is a drinking cup with an extension that applies a cold finger extension to the cheek of the hiccup sufferer user simultaneous to drinking from the cup. The device has been found by the inventor to provide rapid alleviation of hiccups without the discomfort of prior solutions and without the side effects of pharmaceutical treatments for hiccups. The device can be sized and/or, in some embodiments, adjusted for the particular user, from child to adult.

A scalp cooling apparatus, method, and system that may include an inner scalp cap, an intermediate scalp covering, and an outer scalp cap. The inner scalp cap may be fluidly coupled to a cooling device, that would allow a cooling fluid to traverse the fluid chambers within a set of sections of the inner scalp cap. The inner scalp covering can be constructed of a thermally conductive material. The intermediate scalp covering can be constructed of a thermally neutral material. The outer scalp covering can be constructed of a thermally resistant material. The outer scalp covering may have a first securing mechanism, and a second securing mechanism, that allow the outer scalp covering to be dynamically adjusted and secured against a patient's scalp via the first securing mechanism and the second securing mechanism. The inner scalp cap may be created from a scan of a patient's head, that can then be utilized as an interpolated parametric model may be utilized to generate an output file.

A working fluid cassette for an intravascular heat exchange catheter includes a frame holding two closely spaced, square polymeric membranes along the sides of which are disposed inlet and outlet tubes. Working fluid from the catheter is directed from the inlet tube between the membranes to the outlet tube. The cassette is closely received between two refrigerant cold plates to exchange heat with the working fluid, which is circulated back to the catheter.

A means for controlling the temperature of a warming material includes an air-permeable film or the like. The warming material includes the temperature control means and a heating composition. The temperature control means for controlling the heating temperature of the warming material includes one or more aliphatic compounds that have a melting point of 35-65 C. and a solubility in water (g/100 mL) at 20 C. of 5 or less.

A cooling pad, a method of making the cooling pad, and a method of using the cooling pad are provided. Such a cooling pad includes a hydrogel layer, a protective backing layer coated with a first adhesive layer, and a second adhesive layer. The backing layer coated with the first adhesive layer, and the second adhesive layer are disposed on two different sides of the hydrogel layer. The hydrogel layer comprises a base polymer as a first base ingredient for the hydrogel layer, a second base ingredient for the hydrogel layer, and an additive or filler, which may include a moisture absorbing agent, a stabilizing agent, an antimicrobial agent, a photothermal agent, or any other additive or filler, or any combination thereof.