A thermal device includes an inflatable non-perforated blanket, a conduit structure, and a recirculating assembly. The inflatable non-perforated blanket is configured to transport warm air internally. The conduit structure is configured to provide conduit to transport the warm air externally to the inflatable non-perforated blanket. The recirculating assembly is configured to inflate the inflatable non-perforated blanket with the warm air and: (1) to cause the warm air to flow from the first port to the second port in a first direction, and (2) to recirculate the warm air through the conduit structure to flow from the second port to the first port in the first direction. The inflatable non-perforated blanket includes first and second sheets. The first sheet faces ambient air and has a first thermal conductivity. The second sheet faces the subject body and has a second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity.

A steam therapy equipment including a vessel for heating a mixture of water and organic materials, a compressor to inject pressurized air into the vessel producing pressurized steam. The pressurized steam is conducted into the equipment via one or more valves. The therapy equipment is formed from at least one panel and may include a supporting frame. The therapy equipment includes a temperature sensor to measure the temperature inside the therapy equipment when pressurized steam is admitted via the valves. A patient enters the equipment and is exposed to the pressurized steam, causing dilation of the skin pores of the patient, whereby toxins are removed from the patient. One or more applicators may conduct pressurized steam to specific portions of the body of the patient. The patient may be provided with a portion of the mixture to consume as part of the steam therapy treatment.

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 a malleable or deformable thermal device in proximity to the targeted tissue. 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. The thermal device can be connectionless or can include penetrable regions, pre-attached tubing, or detachable connectors to facilitate application of cooling or heating means to the device. Methods are disclosed for utilizing thermal devices and for carrying out various treatment regimens that involve cooling or heating tissue using such devices.

The present invention relates to an air pocket-type massage device comprising: a bed unit (100) which is for supporting parts of the body of a user; a massage module (200) which is disposed on the bed unit (100) and comprises a plurality of air pockets; and a position adjusting means (300) which is provided on the bed unit (100) and enables changing of the position of the massage module (200). Therefore, the present invention provides an air pocket-type massage device which, when massaging particularly the calves among parts of the body of a user, can flexibly respond to changes in the user's height by means of changing the position of a massage module by means of a position adjusting means and on the basis of the changes in the user's height.

A thermal pad for controlling a patient's temperature includes first and second chambers defined between interior and exterior layers. The first chamber circulates a temperature controlled fluid from a first inlet to a first outlet. The second chamber is in fluid communication with a port and a plurality of holes defined in the interior layer. Pressurized gas supplied to the second chamber is vented onto the patient to control the microclimate between the patient's skin and the thermal pad. An additional third chamber is provided in some embodiments that urges the thermal pad into contact with the patient when subjected to negative gauge pressure. In other embodiments, a negative gauge pressure chamber is allowed to partially inflate in order to urge the thermal pad into contact with the patient.

A method for determining gases proportions to obtain an inhalable medical gaseous composition consisting of a first noble gas, a second noble gas, and oxygen, in order to reach a body temperature value, including determining a proportion of first or second noble gas depending on predetermined parameters, such as the body temperature value and an inhalation temperature value, the determining further including determining, for the inhalation temperature value, two body temperature theoretical values for the first and second noble gas modeled by reference regression lines, calculating a difference between both body temperature theoretical values, calculating a difference between body temperature value and any one of the body temperature theoretical values, calculating a ratio representing proportion of first or second noble gas in the inhalable medical gaseous composition.

A balloon catheter is used in a closed-loop heat exchange system for manipulating the temperature of a patient. The balloon catheter is positioned in the stomach of the patient, and then expanded with a heat exchange fluid delivered through a lumen formed in the shaft of the catheter. The balloon catheter comes into contact with the wall of the stomach, and the stomach substantially conforms around the expanded balloon catheter. The heat exchange fluid is allowed to flow continuously into and out of the balloon catheter. Heat is exchanged between the balloon catheter and the stomach so as to controllably alter the temperature of at least a portion of the patient. Anti-shivering mechanisms and automatic control based on temperature feedback from the patient may be used in connection with the heat exchange system.

A system for a closed circuit forced hot air warmer of patient beds and blankets with improved sterility has a patient mattress or blanket microprocessor controlled warmer that circulates heated air in a closed system without releasing warmed air into the area surrounding the patient or into the operating room. The system helps to avoid the exposure of patients and hospital workers in the operating room to possible infecting microbes carried in unsterile turbulent air currents related to the release of air from non-closed systems. The machinery and flexible hoses of the system are initially sterilized by a microprocessor controlled antimicrobial mist generator. The system does not discharge jets of warmed air due to the closed circuit arrangement. Turbulent air flow previously produced in the vicinity of the patient by high velocity air jets is eliminated. An ambient, quiescent condition accorded by closed circuit heating prevents infection of patients and operating room personnel by microbe migration.

A warming device for perioperative use includes a clinical garment and a convective thermal blanket supported on an inside surface of the clinical garment. A mechanism may be provided to releasably attach the thermal blanket to the clinical garment.

The present disclosure includes devices, systems and related methods useable for controlling a patient's body temperature by endovascular heat exchange as well as body surface heat exchange.