Pre and Post Anesthetic Cooling Device and Method

Abstract

The present disclosure comprises a pre and post anesthetic cooling apparatus, system, and method for using thereof. In an embodiment, an anesthetic cooling device comprises a wand comprising a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, a thermoelectric module disposed within the wand having a cold side and a hot side, a TEM heat exchanger disposed within wand and connected to the hot side of the thermoelectric module, wherein a coolant circulates into the TEM heat exchanger through a wand inlet and out of the TEM heat exchanger through a wand outlet, a tip located at the distal end of the wand and connected to the TEM heat exchanger through a thermal conductor; wherein thermal energy is transferred from the tip to the coolant via the thermal conductor and the TEM heat exchanger.

Claims

1. An anesthetic cooling device comprising: a wand comprising a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end; a thermoelectric module disposed within the wand having a cold side and a hot side, a TEM heat exchanger disposed within wand and connected to the hot side of the thermoelectric module, wherein a coolant circulates into the TEM heat exchanger through a wand inlet and out of the TEM heat exchanger through a wand outlet; a tip located at the distal end of the wand and connected to the TEM heat exchanger through a thermal conductor; wherein thermal energy is transferred from the tip to the coolant via the thermal conductor and the TEM heat exchanger.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising: an external coolant chiller comprising an inlet; an outlet; a pump; a power source; a reservoir; and a second heat exchanger; wherein the pump circulates coolant from the wand outlet, through the second heat exchanger, and into the TEM heat exchanger via the wand inlet; and wherein the second heat exchanger lowers the temperature of the coolant.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the external coolant chiller further comprises a second thermoelectric module.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second thermoelectric module comprising a hot side and a cold side; wherein the cold side of the second thermoelectric module is connected to the hot side of the thermoelectric module.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the tip reaches a temperature of below 0 C.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the tip is interchangeable.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the TEM heat exchanger is connected to the hot side of the thermoelectric module via a heat spreader.

9. A method of anesthetic cooling comprising: contacting a patient's tissue with a tip located at the distal end of a wand; transferring thermal energy, using a thermoelectric module, from the tip to a TEM heat exchanger, wherein the TEM heat exchanger is connected to a hot side of the thermoelectric module; and circulating a coolant into the TEM heat exchanger through a wand inlet and out of the TEM heat exchanger through a wand outlet; wherein the thermal energy is transferred from the tip to the TEM heat exchanger through a thermal conductor, wherein the thermal conductor is connected to the tip and to a cold side of the thermoelectric module.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising: circulating the coolant from the wand outlet to an inlet of an external coolant chiller; reducing the temperature of the coolant using a second heat exchanger located within the external coolant chiller; and circulating the coolant to the wand inlet of the TEM heat exchanger; wherein the external coolant chiller comprises an outlet, a pump, a power source, and a reservoir.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a second thermoelectric module is used to transfer the thermal energy from the tip to a TEM heat exchanger.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the external coolant chiller further comprises a second thermoelectric module.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the tip reaches a temperature of below 0 C.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the tip is interchangeable.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature of the tip using a temperature sensor located within the wand.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the TEM heat exchanger is connected to the hot side of the thermoelectric module via a heat spreader.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows:

[0062] FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective see through view of a thermoelectric anesthetic cooling device wand including the tip, the heat pipe/vapor chamber, or solid metal thermal conductor running along the length of the device, the thermoelectric plates in parallel, and specialized TEM heat exchanger, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0063] FIG. 2 depicts a see through view of a thermoelectric anesthetic cooling device wand including the tip, the heat pipe/vapor chamber, or solid metal thermal conductor running along the length of the device, the thermoelectric plates in parallel, and specialized TEM heat exchanger, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0064] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of a thermoelectric anesthetic cooling device wand including the tip, the heat pipe/vapor chamber, or solid metal thermal conductor running along the length of the device, the thermoelectric plates in parallel, and specialized TEM heat exchanger, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0065] FIG. 4 depicts a side perspective view of a specialized TEM heat exchanger in the body of the wand, along with the channels, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0066] FIG. 5 depicts a top perspective view of a specialized TEM heat exchanger in the body of the wand, along with the channels, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0067] FIG. 6 depicts a see through perspective view of a specialized TEM heat exchanger in the body of the wand, along with the channels, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0068] FIG. 7 depicts a transverse perspective view of the front end of the specialized TEM heat exchanger in the body of the wand, TE module, and heat pipe/vapor chamber, or solid metal thermal conductor;

[0069] FIG. 8 depicts a top perspective view of the pathway through the TEM heat exchanger connected to the heat spreader, base plate, thermoelectric plate(s), and heat pipe/vapor chamber or solid metal thermal conductor, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0070] FIG. 9 depicts a top perspective view of the external combo liquid chiller with thermoelectric plates, fluid reservoir, pump, power controller, thermoelectric controller, and anesthetic cooling device holder, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0071] FIG. 10 depicts a top perspective of the cooling cradle plate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0072] FIG. 11 depicts a top perspective of the anesthetic cooling device inside cooling cradle plate, thermoelectric unit, fins, and fan, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0073] FIG. 12 depicts a cross-sectional view of a solid metal cooling device sitting inside a modified cooling cradle plate, thermoelectric unit, fins, and fan, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0074] FIG. 13 depicts a top perspective view of the housing with the external chiller, fluid reservoir, pump, power controller, and thermoelectric controller inside. Connected to and on top is the wand of the anesthetic cooling device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0075] Further features and advantages of the disclosure, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 1-14. Although the disclosure is described in the context of an intra-oral thermoelectric cooling device, the present disclosure includes devices, systems, and methods for use on any tissue.

[0076] In an embodiment of the present invention, a specialized loop coolant block is used. The anesthetic cooling device of the present invention provides transient nerve cooling block of the peripheral nervous system. The anesthetic cooling device of the present invention allows for temperature control cooling of the skin/epidermis or mucous membrane/mucosa, to alleviate pain associated with medical treatment such as injections, curettage, pulp vitality, and skin ablation applied to the human body.

[0077] The anesthetic cooling device of the present invention provides a novel and efficient heat transfer path from the device to the ambient environment. The parts and mechanism of how heat is removed from the cooling device, specifically from the thermal conductor in the handle to outside the device are disclosed herein. The present invention utilizes a novel specialized TEM heat exchanger coupled directly or indirectly through heat spreaders to the thermal conductor. The TEM heat exchanger can have one or more loops originating from the inlet and ending at the outlet.

[0078] The TEM heat exchanger 60 represents the first stage of cooling conducting from external coolant chiller (as depicted in FIG. 9) contacting the hot side of thermal electric cooling modules 22. Thermal electric cooling modules are the second stage of cooling heat spreader 18, thermal conductor 12, and the device tip 10 to the target temperature.

[0079] In another exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective view of the anesthetic cooling device 4. The anesthetic cooling device wand's tip 10 within the head 92 located on the distal end 93 of the cooling device 4 can be removable with varying sizes, shapes, and lengths and is in thermal contact with the distal end 7 of thermal conductor 12. A thermistor 14 can be coupled to the thermal conductor within the neck 94 of the wand 4. In some embodiments, the thermal conductor 12 comprises a heat pipe, a vapor chamber, and/or a solid metal thermal conductor.

[0080] A proximal gripping end 96 is used by a clinician to hold the anesthetic cooling device wand 4. The anesthetic cooling device wand 4 comprises body 95 including handle 96, distal head end 92, and proximal end 97. Distal head end 93 comprises head section 92, and a neck section 94. Distal head end 93 is sized and configured to be inserted into the mouth of a patient. In one embodiment, head section 92 comprises a thermoelectric plate that allows a user to cool a patient's tissues. In an alternative embodiment, the thermoelectric plates are in the proximal gripping end 96 and can be stacked in parallel or cascaded along the thermal conductor 12. In one embodiment, handle 96 comprises a thickness of approximately 15 mm to approximately 50 mm, and in one or more embodiments, a thickness of approximately 14 mm to approximately 40 mm. In general, dimensions for handle 96 are used that provide comfort for a user (i.e., a clinician). In one embodiment, neck section 94 and head section 92 are smaller in diameter than handle 96 and comprise a thickness of approximately 1 mm to approximately 30 mm. In one embodiment, head section 92 that interfaces with patient's tissues comprises a diameter of approximately 2 to approximately 30 mm, neck section 94 comprises a diameter of approximately 20 mm to 80 mm; and handle 96 is approximately 10 mm to approximately 30 mm wide and is approximately 100 mm to 250 mm long.

[0081] In one or more embodiments, the exterior surface of device body 95 includes one or more coatings to protect the surface and/or facilitate cleaning and/or sterilization of the cooling device 4. The device body 95, the shell surrounding the components, can be a polymer for insulation and/or a suitable thermally conductive material such as aluminum. In another embodiment, the body surrounding the TEM heat exchanger 60 and spreader 18 is a conductive metal for adjunctive heat removal.

[0082] In one embodiment, anesthetic cooling device 95 comprises an electronic assembly (not shown) located within body 95 and provides a user interface, e.g., timer buttons and timing indicator lights.

[0083] The proximal end 97 of the thermal conductor 12 is attached to cooling modules 22 in the handle 96. In some embodiments, the cooling module comprises a thermoelectric cooling module that utilizes, for example, the Peltier effect to cool certain components. Proximal cooling from the thermoelectric cooling module 22 transfer thermal energy (heat) from the tip 10 through the thermal conductor 12 to the thermoelectric module 22. The heat from the thermoelectric module 22 is transferred to the TEM heat exchanger 60.

[0084] FIG. 2 depicts the wand tip 10 coupled to the thermal conductor 12. In an embodiment, the thermal conductor 12 is coupled to the thermoelectric module 22. The hot side of the thermoelectric module 22 is coupled to the TEM heat exchanger 60. The TEM heat exchanger 60 is coupled to the inlet 80 and outlet tubes 82. In some embodiments, wires connected to the thermoelectric module(s) are enclosed within tubing 26 coupled to the distal end of the wand 4.

[0085] FIG. 3 depicts a thermoelectric anesthetic cooling device wand 4 with tip 10 attached to thermal conductor 12, which runs along a length of the device 4. The thermoelectric module 22 is oriented with the cold side facing the thermal conductor 12 and the hot side facing the specialized liquid loop heat exchanger 60. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric module 22 comprises a single thermoelectric plate. In other embodiments, the thermoelectric module 22 comprises a plurality of thermoelectric plates oriented in a stacked, series, or parallel configuration. The specialized TEM heat exchanger 60 is coupled to the inlet 80 and outlet tubes 82.

[0086] In some embodiments, the tip 10 is removable and interchangeable. In such an embodiment, a clinician or user can readily interchange tips 10 with different sizes and shapes for different applications. For example, in an embodiment where the wand 4 may be used to anesthetize the tissue before an injection, the tip 10 can be bulbous and concave, making it easier for the clinician to apply it to the desired area. In another embodiment where the wand 4 is used to cool a tooth and its interior during a root canal to reduce inflammation, the tip 10 would be long and conical with a pointed end, i.e., spike-like, to allow the clinician to place the tip 10 inside of the orifice of the tooth. In some embodiments, the tip 10 is interchangeable. In other embodiments, the entirety of the head section 92 (along with the tip 10) are interchangeable.

[0087] FIGS. 4-6 depict the thermoelectric module heat exchanger (or TEM heat exchanger) 60 in different configurations. In some embodiments, the TEM heat exchanger 60 comprises a piece of heat-conductive metal, e.g., copper or aluminum, that comprises passageways through which coolant passes. In some embodiments, the bottom of the TEM heat exchanger 60 comprises thermo-conductive block 42 that interfaces directly with of the thermoelectric module 22.

[0088] In an exemplary embodiment, the channeled loop 500 traverses the heat exchanger 60 starting from the inlet 62 and terminating at the outlet 64. In some embodiments, fasteners are used to plug the outside portions 600 enclosing the loop 500 in the heat exchanger 60. Holes 601 through the block allow for coupling the specialized TEM heat exchanger 60 to the wand 95.

[0089] In an embodiment, a heat spreader 18 (as depicted in FIG. 8) can be disposed between the thermal conductor 12 and cold side of the thermoelectric modules 22. In another embodiment, a heat spreader 18 can be disposed in between the hot side of the thermoelectric module 22 and the TEM heat exchanger 60 to allow the TEM heat exchanger to be located posteriorly to the thermoelectric modules. In another embodiment, a plurality of thermoelectric modules 22 are stacked. In some embodiments, thermal paste or thermal pads between the thermoelectric module 22 and the heat exchanger 60 improves the heat transfer between the two surfaces. The hot side of the thermoelectric module 22 heats the heat exchanger 60, and the liquid from the inlet tube 80 into the inlet 62 absorbs the heat as it flows through the channeled loop 500, through the outlet 64 into the outlet tube 82, then into an external chiller as depicted in FIGS. 9 and 13. As a result, the TEM heat exchanger 60 transfers thermal energy from the hot side of the thermoelectric module 22 to the coolant circulating through the heat exchanger 60.

[0090] Coolant circulates through tubes 80, 82 to transfer heat from the wand of the anesthetic cooling device 4 to the external chiller 114 (FIG. 9), which then transfers the thermal energy into the ambient environment through, for example, a liquid-to-air heat exchanger. Exemplary coolants include liquid water, air, and alcohol; however, any type of coolant may be used without departing from the contemplated embodiments.

[0091] In an embodiment of the present invention, coolant is circulated through the system to cool a patient's tissue by transferring heat from the tissue to ambient air using a closed system. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the liquid chiller 114 circulates coolant from the wand 4 through tube 82 into the reservoir 114 and is chilled by thermoelectric plates 110 with fans and fins 100. The reservoir may have a divider 112 that allows the coolant to contact the thermoelectric cooling plates 110. After being cooled by thermoelectric plates 110, the coolant is circulated to outlet 118 by pump 120, 126 and is circulated into tubing 80 towards the wand 4 of the anesthetic cooling device. The wand can reside in a cradle 128 located on cooling unit. In some embodiments, wheels 140 are used to move the unit around easily within a room. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric cooler controller 122 can be integrated with the thermoelectric module chiller, reservoir, and pump with power display 123 and timer 124. In some embodiments, the coolant chiller may also use air compressor (not shown).

[0092] FIG. 10 depicts the cooling cradle 200 with screw holes 202. In some embodiments, the cooling cradle 200 comprises a solid metal block.

[0093] FIG. 11 depicts the cooling cradle 200 attached to the thermoelectric module 212 by way of screw holes 202. In an embodiment, the cooling cradle 200 is attached to the top of the thermoelectric module 212 that is coupled to fins 214 and/or fans 216. The wand 4 can be enclosed with a metal plate on top and on the bottom using hinges 210.

[0094] In another exemplary embodiment and with reference to FIG. 12, a solid metal wand 400 is partially covered by plastic or other insulating material 402. In the depicted embodiment, the want 400 interfaces with the cradle 200 disposed within metal plate 404, which is coupled to thermoelectric module 406 and fins 410 and/or fans 412 with four legs 420 for stability.

[0095] In another exemplary embodiment, FIG. 13 depicts operative components of the present disclosure, i.e., the external chiller, fluid reservoir, pump, power controller, and thermoelectric controller, integrated into one external unit. The wand of the anesthetic cooling device 4 is attached through tubes 80, 82 and cable 26 that can sit on top of the external box of the anesthetic cooling device. In some embodiments, a timer may be a button or switch in the cooling device, or a foot pedal that is wired or remote with the external unit.

[0096] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the methodologies and techniques described herein are implemented using the anesthetic cooling device to anesthetize tissues for injections, curettage, ablation, and for pulp testing. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the TEM heat exchanger comprises an efficient means for heat removal within the anesthetic cooling device. The disclosure has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the disclosure can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the disclosure should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.