Apparatus for therapeutic cooling and warming of a body portion of a human or mammal
AssigneeOasis Medical Solutions
InventorWilliam R. Mandel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
At least one thermoelectric assembly controlled by a microprocessor and disposed on a thermal conduction pad configured to conduct energy to and from the thermoelectric assembly and adjacent the treatment area positioned with removable electronics and a breathable liner. The hot intensity, cold intensity and time delay between sequences can also be selected as well as alternating temperature sequences with both vibration and tension monitoring to promote blood flow and speed up healing.
Claims26
An apparatus for treating pain in an area of a human body by creating a series of temperature patterns on a surface of the body over a treatment area, said apparatus comprising:
- a thermal conduction member;
- at least one thermoelectric means for producing a temperature change in response to an electrical input disposed on said thermal conduction member, wherein said thermoelectric means comprises Peltier-effect means;
- a metallic member interposed between said thermoelectric means and said thermal conduction member;
- at least one heat sink member disposed on said thermoelectric means;
- electronic controller means connected to said thermoelectric means for controlling said thermoelectric means such that said thermoelectric means creates changeable temperature patterns on said treatment area;
- said electronic controller means adapted to be connected to a portable power source;
- wherein said electronic controller means comprises a programmable microcomputer configured to generate pulse trains at various power levels and with various modulation patterns thereby controlling one of a group consisting of:
- time of warm temperature by said thermoelectric means, time of cold temperature by said thermoelectric means, intensity of warm temperature by said thermoelectric means, and intensity of cold temperature by said thermoelectric means;
- a synchronization assembly coupled to the microcomputer and adapted to communicate with said at least one thermoelectric means;
- and
- therapy control means connected to said electronic controller means for controlling the time and intensity of a temperature produced by said thermoelectric means before reversing a temperature gradient for said thermoelectric means,
- wherein said synchronization assembly is further adapted to communicate with a second thermoelectric means and said at least one thermoelectric means, thereby generating alternating temperature patterns to promote blood flow in the treatment area.
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A method of treating pain in a portion of a human body by creating a series of temperature patterns on a surface of the body over a treatment area, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a thermal conduction member on the surface of the body over the treatment area, the thermal conduction member having at least one thermoelectric means disposed thereon and at least one heat sink member disposed on said thermoelectric means;
- (b) controlling said thermoelectric means via electronic controller means to create changeable temperature patterns on a treatment area, said electronic controller means and thermoelectric means adapted to be connected to a portable power source;
- (c) controlling said electronic controller means via therapy control means thereby controlling a time and intensity of a temperature produced by said thermoelectric means before reversing a temperature gradient for said thermoelectric means;
- and
- (d) monitoring at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
- compression of thermal conduction member on the body surface different than that of said thermal conduction member through a tension monitoring assembly comprised of an optical and optical interruption means;
- duration of a selected temperature of said thermoelectric means;
- and intensity of a selected temperature of said thermoelectric means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.