The present invention provides a cold solution and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The cold solution can comprise liquid and/or solid ice particles. In one embodiment, the method comprises delivering a cold solution to target tissue where the target tissue can be fat tissue located in one or more of an airway, a neck, a thorax, a diaphragm, a face, or an abdomen.

Methods, systems and devices for reducing anxiety, including increasing relaxation and/or calm. In some variations these methods may include reducing anxiety, increase relaxation and/or calm by non-invasive temperature regulation of the frontal cortex prior to and/or during sleep. The subject may have an anxiety disorder, or may not have a diagnosed anxiety disorder.

Methods are provided for reducing body fat, volume of fat pads, and/or lipoma(s) in a subject. The methods as provided herein may include injecting a fat-sculpting liquid into a treatment region of the subject, wherein the fat-sculpting liquid has a temperature of −25° C. to 10° C. when injected and is substantially free of frozen particulates. The methods for reducing body fat in a subject may further include injecting a fat-sculpting liquid comprising saline and benzyl alcohol into a treatment region of the subject, wherein the fat-sculpting liquid has a temperature of −15° C. to 5° C. when injected and is substantially free of frozen particulates.

Disclosed herein is a medical pad for exchanging thermal energy between a targeted temperature management (TTM) fluid and a patient. The pad can include a central pad and a plurality of extension pads coupled with the central pad, where the extension pads extend away from right and left lateral sides of the central pad and where each of the central pad and the plurality of extension pads includes a fluid containing layer configured for circulation of a TTM fluid therein. A method can include removing a portion of the hydrogel liner and placing a remaining portion of the hydrogel liner between the hydrogel layer and the patient. The method can also include rotating and folding one or more of the extension pads to defeat the thermal energy exchange of the rotated and folded extension pads.

A thermal control unit for controlling a patient's temperature includes a fluid outlet for delivering temperature-controlled fluid to a patient, a pump, a heat exchanger, and a controller that automatically pauses thermal treatment of the patient prior the patient reaching a target temperature. During the pause, the controller assesses a reaction of the patient and changes a temperature of the fluid only inside the thermal control unit if the patient is likely to reach the target temperature without further thermal treatment. However, if the patient is unlikely to reach the target temperature without further thermal treatment, the controller restarts the thermal treatment. The controller may pause thermal treatment again prior to reaching the target temperature and assess the patient's reaction. In some embodiments, the controller may selectively include and exclude a fluid reservoir in a circulation channel within the thermal control unit.

A thermal pad is adapted to be placed in physical contact with a patient and to receive temperature controlled fluid from a thermal control unit. The temperature controlled fluid circulates through the thermal pad and controls the patient's temperature. The thermal pad includes first and second sheets that are sealed together about their periphery to define a fluid chamber there between. A fluid inlet and fluid outlet are fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber. In some embodiments, a filter sheet is sandwiched between the first and second sheets and arranged such that fluid entering the fluid inlet must pass through the filter sheet before exiting out of the fluid outlet. A plurality of bonds may be included that seal the first and second sheets together at a plurality of locations. In some embodiments, a non-sheet filter is positioned within the fluid chamber and filters the circulating fluid.

A sealing member for providing a seal between fluid connectors includes a tubular member defining a lumen extending between a first end and a second end. The tubular member may receive a first connector via the first end and a second connector via the second end, and includes an annular wall extending between a first annular portion adjacent the first end and a second annular portion adjacent the second end. The first annular portion may engage the first connector, and the second annular portion may engage the second connector. When a pressure within the lumen is negative, atmospheric acting inward on the annular wall compresses the sealing member to define a contact force between the second annular portion and the second connector sufficient to define a fluid seal between the sealing member and the second connector.

Temperature control device for use in fluid-based hyper/hypothermia systems, comprising a connection unit for connecting the device to a local power network, and a fluid temperature control unit for heating or cooling a fluid. The device includes a power supply unit, by which electrical consuming components of the fluid temperature control unit are supplied with power, and which effects supply of the electrical consuming components with direct current.

The invention provides fluid warming apparatus comprising: a fan; a heater, the fan and the heater being configured to generate a heated fluid flow having a principle flow direction and an inhomogeneous temperature distribution in a distribution direction perpendicular to the said principle flow direction; and a plurality of temperature sensors offset from each other in the said distribution direction, wherein at least two of the temperature sensors are configured to measure temperatures of respective portions of the heated fluid flow having different temperatures.

Selectively controllable apparatus for insertion into an ear canal, and related methods of use and operation for behavioral control. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a body configured for insertion into an ear canal. In one variant, the body includes one or more thermal mechanisms which enable selective increase or decrease of temperature of at least portions of the ear canal so as to implement behavioral control of the user, such as to mitigate cravings for food, alcohol, narcotics, or other potentially deleterious substances. In one variant, a mild nausea or pre-nausea condition is created within the user according to a time-temperature profile so as to induce the aforementioned behavioral modification.