Magnetorheological elastomer and magnetorheological fluid for clinical wrap
AssigneeStryker Corporation
InventorsGregg Taylor, Alexey Titov, Hieu Phan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reinforcing clinical wrap is provided with integral thermal management. The clinical wrap includes a fluid circuit for a heat transfer medium to circulate between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A shape conforming medium is disposed within a portion of the clinical wrap providing selective reinforcement support of the portion of the clinical wrap to conform to a surface of a patient. Non-limiting examples of the shape conforming medium may include a magnetorheological elastomer, a magnetorheological elastomer, a magnetorheological foam, a UV curable resin, and a phase change material.
Claims13
A reinforcing clinical wrap with integral thermal management, the clinical wrap comprising:
- a fluid inlet;
- a fluid outlet;
- a first set of channels providing a fluid circuit for a heat transfer medium to circulate between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
- a second set of channels providing fluid communication through a portion of the clinical wrap configured to interface with a patient, the second set of channels being shaped to selectively maintain the clinical wrap in a configuration to immobilize at least a portion of the patient;
- and
- a shape conforming medium disposed in the second set of channels providing selective reinforcement support of the portion of the clinical wrap to conform to a surface of a patient, and wherein the shape conforming medium comprises a magnetorheological fluid and exhibits a variable viscosity in response to exposure to a magnetic field, the clinical wrap being configured to wrap around a body portion of a patient.
A system for stabilizing a patient with a reinforcing clinical wrap having integral thermal management, the system comprising:
- a clinical wrap comprising:
- a fluid circuit for circulating a heat transfer medium between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
- a set of channels providing fluid communication through a portion of the clinical wrap configured to interface with the patient, the set of channels being shaped to selectively maintain the clinical wrap in a configuration to immobilize at least a portion of the patient;
- and
- a shape conforming medium disposed in the set of channels configured to provide selective reinforcement support of the portion of the clinical wrap to conform to a surface of a patient when a magnetic field is generated,
- the clinical wrap being configured to wrap around a body portion of a patient;
- a heat exchanger configured to maintain a predetermined temperature of the heat transfer medium;
- and
- a controller configured to selectively activate a generation of the magnetic field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.