Thermotherapy application and control system

A valve unit for connecting an applicator for applying thermotherapy to a part of the human or animal body to a control system, the valve unit comprising:

• a housing to be received within the connector of the applicator;
• and an agitating body movably coupled to the housing for imparting movement to the thermal energy transfer fluid in the enclosure.

A heat exchanger for varying the thermal energy of a thermal energy transfer fluid to be circulated through an applicator for applying thermotherapy to a part of the human or animal body, the heat exchanger comprising:

• a casing defining a flow path for a thermal energy transfer fluid;
• and a heat sink having a plurality of irregularly positioned and/or irregularly shaped projections which extend into the flow path for the thermal energy transfer fluid;
• wherein in use, the irregularly positioned and/or irregularly shaped projections disturb the flow of the thermal energy transfer fluid through the flow path to create turbulent, non-laminar fluid flow.

A control system for controlling an applicator for applying thermotherapy to a part of the human or animal body, the control system comprising:

• a connector for connecting the control system to the applicator connector;
• an electrical current source for energizing the electrically responsive supporting layer;
• and a controller for controlling the properties of current flowing from the current source.