Back to results
US 12,661,257 B2Granted
Thermal performance optimization in a thermal therapy device
AssigneeAvent, Inc.
InventorsMark H. Lowe, Bryan D. Huff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rapid contrast therapy system can provide cold, heat/hot/warm (hereafter referred to as “hot”), and/or rapid contrast therapy, which involves rapidly alternating between cold therapy and hot therapy. The system can circulate cold or hot fluid, such as water, through a hose, into a therapy wrap, and then back to the fluid reservoirs of the system. The system can utilize a vapor compression system or other chiller technology to cool the cold water reservoir, and immersion heaters can be used to heat the hot water reservoir.
Claims20
A system for providing rapid contrast therapy, the system comprising:
- a cold reservoir configured to hold a cold liquid, the cold reservoir including a first liquid level sensor to measure a level of the cold liquid and a first temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the cold liquid;
- a hot reservoir configured to hold a hot liquid, the hot reservoir including a second liquid level sensor to measure a level of the hot liquid and a second temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the hot liquid;
- a return valve for directing return flow from a therapy device to the hot reservoir and the cold reservoir;
- a return temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the return flow from the therapy device;
- and
- a controller directing operation of the return valve to control the return flow from the therapy device to the cold and hot reservoirs, wherein the controller is configured to:
- responsive to determining that the level of the cold liquid and the hot liquid are within a target liquid level range, direct the return flow to one of the cold reservoir or the hot reservoir having a closest temperature with the temperature of the return flow, and
- responsive to determining that the level of either the cold liquid or the hot liquid falls below a lower limit of the target liquid level range, direct the return flow to a corresponding one of the cold reservoir or the hot reservoir.
5 more elements
A method of operating a rapid contrast therapy device, the method comprising:
- measuring liquid levels of both a cold liquid within a cold liquid reservoir and a hot liquid within a hot liquid reservoir of the rapid contrast therapy device;
- determining whether the measured liquid levels are within a target liquid level range;
- and
- controlling, via a return valve, a return flow of liquid from a therapy wrap of the rapid contrast therapy device to at least one of the cold liquid reservoir or the hot liquid reservoir to minimize thermal pollution of hot water from entering the cold liquid reservoir or cold water from entering the hot liquid reservoir upon return from the therapy wrap, wherein:
- responsive to determining, by a controller, that the level of the cold liquid and the hot liquid are within a target liquid level range, the return flow is directed to one of the cold liquid reservoir or the hot liquid reservoir having a closest temperature with a temperature of the return flow, and
- responsive to determining, by the controller, that the level of either the cold liquid or the hot liquid falls below a lower limit of the target liquid level range, the return flow directed to a corresponding one of the cold liquid reservoir or the hot liquid reservoir.
3 more elements
A controller for a rapid contrast therapy device, the controller comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to:
- measure liquid levels of both a cold liquid within a cold liquid reservoir and a hot liquid within a hot liquid reservoir of the rapid contrast therapy device;
- determine whether the measured liquid levels are within a target liquid level range;
- and
- control a return valve of the rapid contrast therapy device to direct a return flow of liquid from a therapy wrap of the rapid contrast therapy device to at least one of the cold liquid reservoir or the hot liquid reservoir, wherein responsive to determining, by a controller, that the level of the cold liquid and the hot liquid are within a target liquid level range, the return flow is directed to one of the cold liquid reservoir or the hot liquid reservoir having a closest temperature with the temperature of the return flow, and responsive to determining, by the controller, that the level of either the cold liquid or the hot liquid falls below a lower limit of the target liquid level range, the return flow is directed to a corresponding one of the cold liquid reservoir or the hot liquid reservoir.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.