# US 2014/0155964 A1 · Thermal pack for therapeutic treatment and insert therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155964 A1 - Document ID: US20140155964A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/118,860 - Filed: 2012-05-21 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-19 - Assignees: Gioco Limited - Inventors: Mike Saggers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155964A1 ## CPC - A61F 7/02: Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling - A61F 7/0097: {Blankets with active heating or cooling sources (warming mats A61F7/08)} - A61F 2007/0054: {with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water} - A61F 2007/0056: {for cooling} - A61F 2007/0273: {with openings in the walls between the compartments serving as passageways for the filler} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A thermal pack (10) for therapeutic treatment of a mammal that includes a bladder (12, 4) and a separator element insert (22). The bladder (12, 14) is formed of a pair of superposed sheets (12, 14) of flexible, heat conductive liquid impermeable polyurethane material and includes an inlet (18) and an outlet (20). The sheets (12, 14) are welded together at a central spine (17) and along a series of branches (16) so as to provide a turning, tortuous fluid passageway therein. The separator element insert (22) is received within the fluid passageway and provides a fluid conveying track that extends throughout the fluid passageway from the inlet (18) to the outlet (19) to maintain the sheets (12, 14) in spaced apart relationship to mitigate restrictions in fluid flow when the pack (10) is flexed out of the plane of the sheets (12, 14). The separator element insert (22) includes a series of deflector ribs (36, 38, 40, 42, 44) along the fluid conveying track that deflect fluid flow away from the separator element insert (22) and into the fluid passage way along at each turn of the fluid passageway. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal pack for therapeutic treatment of a mammal, the pack comprising a flexible, heat conductive liquid impermeable bladder and a separator element, the bladder comprising an inlet, an outlet and a pair of superposed sheets secured together so as to provide a turning fluid passageway therein, the separator element being received within the fluid passageway and comprising a fluid conveying track that extends throughout the fluid passageway substantially from the inlet to the outlet to maintain the superposed sheets in spaced apart relationship at least in the vicinity of the track to mitigate restrictions in the fluid flow through the passageway when the pack is flexed, in use, out of the plane of the superposed sheets, wherein the separator element comprises one or more deflectors along the fluid conveying track that deflect fluid flow away from the separator element and/or into the fluid passageway along at least one of the turns of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A thermal pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one deflector comprises a turn guide that directs fluid flow around the at least one turn of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A thermal pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the turn guide is located adjacent an internal portion of the turn of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A thermal pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the separator element further comprises a central rib which cooperates with the turn guide to provide a curved fluid channel for fluid to flow therein and around the curve of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A thermal pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the deflectors is shaped and/or orientated to cause fluid flow along the fluid conveying track to be deflected toward the centre of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A thermal pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separator element comprises a tortuous strip of flexible material having a base and wherein the deflectors comprise ribs which are upstanding from the base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A thermal pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separator element includes one or more continuous channels each of which extends along at least a part of the track. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A thermal pack as claimed in claim 7, wherein a single channel extends along part of the centre of the track. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A thermal pack as claimed in claim 7, wherein a single channel extends along part of the track between the centre and one edge thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A thermal pack according to claim 1 wherein the fluid conveying track is symmetrical about its longitudinal centre line along a portion thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) A thermal pack according to claim 6, wherein at least some of the ribs are arcuate in form. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A thermal pack according to claim 11, wherein the arcuate ribs are disposed adjacent to the edges of the track and wherein a centrally extending rib is disposed between spaced pairs of arcuate ribs and wherein the each pair of arcuate ribs together with the centrally extending rib creates restricted passages at spaced locations along the track. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A thermal pack according to claim 11, wherein the arcuate ribs are orientated to deflect the flow of fluid into the fluid passageway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An insert for incorporation in a thermal pack according to any preceding claim 1, wherein the insert comprises the separator element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1, 14) A thermal pack according to claim 1, wherein the separator element as defined in claim 14 is present and secured in position within the fluid passageway at one or more locations to one or both of the superposed sheets.