The present invention relates to a heating and/or cooling assembly such as a heat pad. The assembly includes a plurality of modules articulated together by connection means so that the assembly can be manipulated by a user to adopt a desired profile. At least one of the modules contains a thermal store in the form of a solid, liquid or gel responsive to heating or cooling externally applied to the assembly so that the solid, liquid or gel is heated or cooled, respectively, and remains in a heated or cooled state for a prolonged period of time after the externally applied heating or cooling is removed.

A method and system in accordance with particular embodiments includes applying a substance onto skin of a human subject. A method for treating a subject's skin includes applying a hydrogel to the skin which contains the substance. The hydrogel and the skin are cooled using a cooling applicator to treat tissue via the cooling treatment by either freezing or not freezing tissue.

A heat pack using supercooled aqueous salt solution that resists premature activation at low temperatures is disclosed. The heat pack comprises two sheets that are bonded together to form a laminated sheet. The heat pack has a first and second compartment. A frangible seal separates the two compartments. One of the compartments contains a supercooled aqueous salt solution. The salt solution contains 15 to 25 percent glycerin by mass.

Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to a stabilization and cooling apparatus having a stabilizing structure with at least one inflatable chamber, the stabilizing structure configured to become semi-rigid upon inflation of the at least one inflatable chamber. A cooling structure is integrated with the stabilizing structure and includes a single-use cooling element and a thermally conductive material in thermal communication with the single-use cooling element. The apparatus also has an actuator configured to cause inflation of at least one inflatable chamber.

A fertility-enhancing cooling seat for lowering temperatures of human testicles so as to increase sperm quality and quantity. The cooling seat includes: a top flexible portion and a base portion; a bottom flexible portion coupled to the top flexible portion, the bottom flexible portion forming a seal with the base portion, portions of the bottom flexible portion and portions of the top flexible portion defining isolated cooling cells with cooling-cell volumetric spaces; a phase-change material located in the cooling-cell volumetric spaces, the phase-change material configured to change from a solid phase to a liquid phase at a first temperature and that is configured to change from a liquid phase to a solid phase at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. At least one of the isolated cooling cells defines a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the other of the cooling cells.

A heating device has a receiving space for holding water and a flexible wall. An inorganic phase change material for at least temporarily controlling a temperature of the water is disposed in the receiving space. The phase change material has a property of absorbing energy during an endothermic phase transition when warmed by the water and releasing energy in the form of heat during an exothermic phase transition. The phase change material may partially or completely undergo the endothermic phase transition when hot water is poured into the receiving space. The phase change material is disposed in a housing formed as a flexible film composed of a polymer material. An actuating means for triggering the exothermic phase transition is in fluid communication with the phase change material.

There is described an apparatus for heating or cooling a material to be heated or to be cooled. The apparatus includes: a first compartment for containing the material to be heated or to be cooled; and a second compartment containing a phase change material, wherein the phase change material is either for generating heat to heat the first compartment or absorbing heat to cool the first compartment when undergoing a phase change. There are further described various different activating arrangements for activating a change of phase of the phase change material.

A nucleation device for changing a phase of a heat storage material from a liquid state to a solid state includes a plurality of substrates in close contact with each other in the heat storage material, and a pressing part that presses a portion of the plurality of substrates so as to elicit a change in the state of close contact of the plurality of substrates.

There is described an apparatus for heating or cooling a material to be heated or to be cooled. The apparatus includes: a first compartment for containing the material to be heated or to be cooled; and a second compartment containing a phase change material, wherein the phase change material is either for generating heat to heat the first compartment or absorbing heat to cool the first compartment when undergoing a phase change. There are further described various different activating arrangements for activating a change of phase of the phase change material.

A nucleation device for changing a phase of a heat storage material from a liquid state to a solid state includes a plurality of substrates in close contact with each other in the heat storage material, and a pressing part that presses a portion of the plurality of substrates so as to elicit a change in the state of close contact of the plurality of substrates.