A heat transfer device particularly structured for application of thermal therapy from a contact surface to a human ear. A device may be passive (pre-cooled), active (thermoelectrically active), or include elements of both. A device may be structured to apply thermal treatment from a contact surface of a contact cavity only to a localized posterior area relative to the circumference of an ear. Preferably, a device provides an uninterrupted opening extending in a line-of-sight between an ear canal and the local environment. A device may include both of a contact cavity and a bulk cavity, with heat transfer media disposed in each cavity. Typically, a bulk cavity holds at least twice the media volume contained in a contact cavity. The cavities may be disposed in fluid communication, or separated by a barrier to permit only thermal communication there-between. When a barrier is present, a device may include different heat transfer media in each cavity. One or more device may be associated with various mounting structure to dispose a contact surface in contact with desired portion(s) of a head.

A control unit and methods for operating the control unit to perform non-contact radio-frequency (RF) heating of a fluid flowing through or contained within a non-contact radio-frequency heating element.

This present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods relating to modulating the temperature of a target tissue in a subject for various therapeutic purposes. In particular, the present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for the focal delivery of cytostatic hypothermia to a target tissue to treat a disease or condition in a subject (e.g., cancerous tumors).

This present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods relating to modulating the temperature of a target tissue in a subject for various therapeutic purposes. In particular, the present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for the focal delivery of cytostatic hypothermia to a target tissue to treat a disease or condition in a subject (e.g., cancerous tumors).

Methods for treating and managing pain in a patient with therapeutic neuromodulation and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. Chronic or debilitating pain can be associated, for example, with a disease or condition of the abdominal or reproductive viscera. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods that at least partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate a target blood vessel of a diseased or damaged organ of a patient experiencing pain. Targeted sympathetic nerve activity can be modulated at least along afferent pathways which can improve a measurable parameter associated with the pain of the patient The modulation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly, e.g., a therapeutic assembly configured to use electrically-induced, thermally-induced, and/or chemically-induced approaches to modulate the target sympathetic nerve.

Methods for treating and managing pain in a patient with therapeutic neuromodulation and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. Chronic or debilitating pain can be associated, for example, with a disease or condition of the abdominal or reproductive viscera. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods that at least partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate a target blood vessel of a diseased or damaged organ of a patient experiencing pain. Targeted sympathetic nerve activity can be modulated at least along afferent pathways which can improve a measurable parameter associated with the pain of the patient The modulation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly, e.g., a therapeutic assembly configured to use electrically-induced, thermally-induced, and/or chemically-induced approaches to modulate the target sympathetic nerve.

An in-ear stimulation device for administering caloric stimulation to the ear canal of a subject includes (a) first and second earpieces configured to be insertable into the ear canals of the subject; (b) at least first and second thermoelectric devices thermally coupled to respective ones of the first and second earpieces; (c) a first heat sink thermally coupled to the first thermoelectric device opposite the first earpiece and a second heat sink thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric device opposite the second earpiece; and (d) a controller comprising a waveform generator in communication with the first and second thermoelectric devices, the waveform generator configured to generate a first control signal to control a first caloric output to the first thermoelectric device and a second control signal to control a second caloric output to the second caloric device.

An in-ear stimulation device for administering caloric stimulation to the ear canal of a subject includes (a) first and second earpieces configured to be insertable into the ear canals of the subject; (b) at least first and second thermoelectric devices thermally coupled to respective ones of the first and second earpieces; (c) a first heat sink thermally coupled to the first thermoelectric device opposite the first earpiece and a second heat sink thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric device opposite the second earpiece; and (d) a controller comprising a waveform generator in communication with the first and second thermoelectric devices, the waveform generator configured to generate a first control signal to control a first caloric output to the first thermoelectric device and a second control signal to control a second caloric output to the second caloric device.

A method and apparatus used to prevent brain death by use of rapid and safe cooling of the brain is disclosed. The cisterna magna is accessed through a patient's neck and cooled artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) is circulated about spaces within the brain and in a subarachnoid space surrounding the brain by entering the cisterna magna with an entry through the neck of the patient with a specially designed needle/cannula which allows the flow of cooled aCSF about the brain. aCSF exits from an opening in the skull where a temperature/pressure sensor is placed. Data is sent to a computer-controlled motorized system that pumps cooled aCSF to the needle/cannula placed in the cisterna magna. The pumping of aCSF is controlled to maintain a predetermined temperature and/or pressure of the exiting aCSF.

A method and apparatus used to prevent brain death by use of rapid and safe cooling of the brain is disclosed. The cisterna magna is accessed through a patient's neck and cooled artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) is circulated about spaces within the brain and in a subarachnoid space surrounding the brain by entering the cisterna magna with an entry through the neck of the patient with a specially designed needle/cannula which allows the flow of cooled aCSF about the brain. aCSF exits from an opening in the skull where a temperature/pressure sensor is placed. Data is sent to a computer-controlled motorized system that pumps cooled aCSF to the needle/cannula placed in the cisterna magna. The pumping of aCSF is controlled to maintain a predetermined temperature and/or pressure of the exiting aCSF.