Cold therapy device and method

A coolant heat exchange assembly that supplies chilled thermal fluid to a control unit having a thermal fluid supply coupler coupled to an inlet of a pump therein, the pump having a discharge coupled to a thermal body wrap through an umbilical tube assembly, wherein the pump circulates thermal fluid to absorb heat and return through the umbilical tube assembly to a thermal fluid return coupler, the coolant heat exchange assembly comprising:

• a coolant tank for containing coolant, and having a heat exchanger disposed therein for circulating thermal fluid therethrough, wherein said heat exchanger includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold with plural heat exchange tubes disposed therebetween, and further including a thermal fluid outlet riser coupled to said outlet manifold and passing through said coolant tank to a thermal fluid outlet coupler located exterior of said coolant tank, which is selectively connectable to the thermal fluid supply coupler for providing chilled thermal fluid thereto upon operation of the pump;
• a thermal fluid reservoir having a thermal fluid inlet coupler that is selectively connectable to the thermal fluid return coupler for receiving thermal fluid therefrom, and having a thermal fluid outlet drain coupled to said inlet manifold for delivering thermal fluid thereto, and having a vacuum relief valve for venting air into said thermal fluid reservoir to prevent formation of a vacuum in the thermal fluid reservoir, and wherein
• said heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger molding portion and a second heat exchanger molding portion, which are cooperatively formed to define opposing halves of said plural heat exchange tubes when assembled together in clamshell fashion.