Produits et services

Thermotherapy apparatus for medical purposes

Abrégé

Embodiments of the invention include a method and a device for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal by applying a desired pressure to extremities of a mammal. The device generally includes a pliant body element that is adapted to receive a portion of an extremity of the mammal therein, and then apply a pressure to a portion of the extremity when a pressure is provided to a region in which the extremity is positioned within the pliant body element. By evacuating the region in which the extremity is enclosed, a contact surface area between the extremity of a mammal and the pliant body element is increased, due to the external atmospheric pressure acting on the pliant body element against the skin of the extremity of the mammal. The application of pressure assures that sufficient contact and thermal heat transfer (heating or cooling) is provided to the extremity of the mammal.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61H 9/00 - Massages pneumatiques ou hydrauliques
• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain
• A61F 7/02 - Compresses ou cataplasmes procurant de la chaleur ou du froid
• B29C 65/04 - Chauffage diélectrique, p. ex. soudage par haute fréquence
• B29L 31/00 - Autres objets particuliers

Abrégé

Embodiments of the invention include a method and a device for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal by applying a desired pressure to extremities of a mammal. The device generally includes a pliant body element that is adapted to receive a portion of an extremity of the mammal therein, and then apply a pressure to a portion of the extremity when a pressure is provided to a region in which the extremity is positioned within the pliant body element. By evacuating the region in which the extremity is enclosed, a contact surface area between the extremity of a mammal and the pliant body element is increased, due to the external atmospheric pressure acting on the pliant body element against the skin of the extremity of the mammal. The application of pressure assures that sufficient contact and thermal heat transfer (heating or cooling) is provided to the extremity of the mammal.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61H 9/00 - Massages pneumatiques ou hydrauliques
• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain
• A61F 7/02 - Compresses ou cataplasmes procurant de la chaleur ou du froid
• B29C 65/04 - Chauffage diélectrique, p. ex. soudage par haute fréquence
• B29L 31/00 - Autres objets particuliers

Abrégé

Embodiments of the invention include a method and a device for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal by applying a desired pressure to extremities of a mammal. The device generally includes a pliant body element that is adapted to receive a portion of an extremity of the mammal therein, and then apply a pressure to a portion of the extremity when a pressure is provided to a region in which the extremity is positioned within the pliant body element. By evacuating the region in which the extremity is enclosed, a contact surface area between the extremity of a mammal and the pliant body element is increased, due to the external atmospheric pressure acting on the pliant body element against the skin of the extremity of the mammal. The application of pressure assures that sufficient contact and thermal heat transfer (heating or cooling) is provided to the extremity of the mammal.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61F 7/02 - Compresses ou cataplasmes procurant de la chaleur ou du froid
• A61H 9/00 - Massages pneumatiques ou hydrauliques
• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain
• B29C 65/04 - Chauffage diélectrique, p. ex. soudage par haute fréquence
• B29L 31/00 - Autres objets particuliers

Abrégé

Devices and methods for transferring heat with a portion of a mammal are provided. Embodiments of the subject devices include a negative pressure element configured to apply negative pressure to a portion of a mammal and a heat transfer element positioned within the negative pressure element. The disclosed devices and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain

Abrégé

Systems, kits and methods for transferring heat with a portion of a mammal are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a negative pressure device configured to apply negative pressure to a portion of a mammal, and a temperature modulation device configured to contact the portion of the mammal under negative pressure in a manner sufficient to transfer heat with the contacted portion of the mammal, e.g., either remove heat or introduce heat into the contacted portion of the mammal. The disclosed systems and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain
• A61F 7/02 - Compresses ou cataplasmes procurant de la chaleur ou du froid
• A61F 7/10 - Sacs réfrigérants, p. ex. sacs à glace

Abrégé

Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein generally include methods and/or devices for increasing blood flow, controlling the vasodilatation of a patient's vascular structure, regulating the temperature of a portion of a mammal, and for improving various interventional procedures and/or therapeutic techniques. The device may also include one or more access ports, or apertures, that allow access to portions of the mammal's extremity to allow interventional type medical devices, therapeutic devices, surgical support equipment or patient monitoring devices to have access to the extremity on which a body element is disposed. The device may also be configured to allow other supporting components, which may include IV or other catheters, a means of accessing to a portion of the extremity positioned inside the temperature regulating device. In one configuration the device comprises flexible materials that are adapted to conform to the surface of the extremity disposed in the device when a vacuum pressure is applied to an internal region of the device.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain
• A61F 7/08 - Bassinoires, coussinets ou tapis chauffantsBouillottes

Produits et services

medical devices, namely, electrically operated thermoregulation apparatus for controlling core body temperature

Abrégé

Embodiments of the invention include a method and a device for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal by applying a desired pressure to extremities of a mammal. The device generally includes one or more collapsible and pliant body elements, capable of expanding from a first volume into an expanded second volume so the device can receive a portion of an extremity of the mammal therein and then be reduced from the expanded second volume into a pressurized third volume to conformably enclose the portion of the extremity. One or more thermal exchange units can be positioned in the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements. Accordingly, the temperature of the extremity of a mammal can be regulated by providing a heated or cooled fluid medium or electric thermal energy to the one or more thermal exchange units. Next, by evacuating the region in which the extremity is enclosed the contact surface area between the extremity of a mammal and the one or more thermal exchange units is increased, due to the external atmospheric pressure acting on the pliant body elements against the skin of the extremity of the mammal. The application of pressure assures that sufficient contact and thermal heat transfer (heating or cooling) is provided to the extremity of the mammal.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain

Abrégé

A method and device for increasing blood flow by applying positive pressure to extremities of a mammal and/or controlling the temperature of the mammal. The device includes one or more collapsible and pliant body elements capable of expanding and flexibly applying pressurized compression forces to the extremity of the mammal by attaching one or more pressure-applying gas plenums as close to the extremity as possibly. The flexible extremity device can be used independently or can be used in conjunction with thermal pads disposed to the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements. Alternatively, the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements can be manufactured into thermal pads.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61H 7/00 - Dispositifs de pétrissage par succionDispositifs non prévus ailleurs pour masser la peau par frottement ou brossage

Abrégé

A method and apparatus for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), lower extremity edema, and other associated medical conditions by adjusting the temperature of the muscles of a foot or a leg, and/or applying vacuum or negative pressure to increase blood flow. A human extremity such as a leg is exposed to a negative pressure environment and/or a thermally controlled environment within a medical device. In one aspect, the device is portable. A thermal exchange unit and, optionally, a vacuum or negative pressure unit, are provided to increase blood flow and vasodilation. The device can be programmed by a controller in a manner to stimulate the muscles of the extremity to reduce pooling of blood therein.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain
• A61H 9/00 - Massages pneumatiques ou hydrauliques

Abrégé

A method and apparatus for adjusting body core temperature are provided. The apparatus comprises an appendage chamber that is adapted to be disassembled from a heat exchange element. In one aspect, the appendage chamber is disposable. The appendage chamber provides a negative pressure environment for a patient's appendage placed therein. An appendage is heated and exposed to a negative pressure environment within the apparatus to efficiently raise or maintain the body core temperature of the patient.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61F 7/00 - Appareils de chauffage ou de refroidissement pour traitement médical ou thérapeutique du corps humain