Modifying humidity and convection to glabrous tissue to control metabolism
AssigneeCore Thermal, Inc.
InventorMark L. Swyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for affecting metabolism, such as the treatment of metabolic syndrome are disclosed. A method for treating metabolic syndrome can include one or more of the steps including identifying a region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue; positioning the region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue into an enclosed chamber; adjusting the relative humidity of the enclosed chamber sufficient to create a physiologic metabolic effect; and activating a convection fan within the chamber to promote heat transfer from the glabrous tissue. The method need not involve altering the temperature within the enclosed chamber.
Claims20
A system for modulating glabrous tissue of a patient, comprising:
- a chamber configured to receive a portion of the patient comprising the glabrous tissue;
- a compressor configured to supply a gas to an interior of the chamber sufficient to transfer heat away from the glabrous tissue, the gas having a relative humidity of less than about 35%;
- a patient port operably connected to the chamber, the patient port configured to allow insertion of the portion of the patient into the chamber and a seal to be formed;
- a fan configured to direct gas to the glabrous tissue;
- and
- a controller configured to adjust the relative humidity of the gas,
- wherein the system is not configured to alter a temperature or pressure of the interior of the chamber.
A method for treating a patient, comprising:
- inserting a portion of the patient comprising glabrous tissue into a patient port operably connected to a chamber, the patient port forming a seal;
- supplying a gas to an interior of the chamber sufficient to transfer heat away from the glabrous tissue, the gas having a relative humidity of less than about 35%;
- and
- directing gas to the glabrous tissue by a fan,
- wherein the method does not alter a temperature or pressure of the interior of the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.