Heat treatment device
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorKevin Anthony Pezzi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat treatment device with a handle portion, a tip portion, a power source, and a heating element. The tip portion is heatable to a desired temperature and can be positioned against an affected area for therapeutic treatment. The device can also have control circuitry that can adjust a current flowing to the heating element to regulate the treatment temperature.
Claims51
A heat treatment device for therapeutically treating an affected area of a patient using heat, the device comprising:
- a body comprising a handle portion and a tip portion coupled to the handle portion;
- a power source supported by the body;
- at least one heating element in electrical communication with the power source, the heating element configured to heat the tip portion to a desired temperature;
- and
- control circuitry supported by the body of the device, the control circuitry being configured to adjust a current flowing to the at least one heating element when the device is in use to maintain the tip portion at the desired temperature;
- wherein the tip portion is heatable to the desired temperature and positionable against the affected area for therapeutic treatment thereof.
A heat treatment device for therapeutically treating an affected area of a patient using heat, the device comprising:
- a body comprising a handle portion, a tip portion coupled to the handle portion, and a fluid channel extending through the handle portion to the tip portion such that the handle portion is in fluid communication with the tip portion,
- a power source supported by the body;
- at least one heating element disposed in the handle portion, the at least one heating element being in electrical communication with the power source such that the at least one heating element is configured to heat a fluid disposed within the fluid channel;
- a pump supported by the handle portion, the pump being configured to urge fluid through the fluid channel from the handle portion toward the tip portion of the device;
- and
- control circuitry supported by the body of the device, the control circuitry being configured to adjust a current flowing to the at least one heating element when the device is in use;
- wherein the at least one heating element is configured to heat a fluid disposed in the fluid channel of the handle portion and the pump is configured to facilitate transfer of the fluid toward the tip portion of the device to heat the tip portion to a desired temperature.
A replaceable tip portion for a heat treatment device for therapeutically treating an affected area of a patient using heat, the tip portion comprising:
- a connector portion comprising an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path, the connector portion being configured to engage with a respective connector portion of the heat treatment device for mounting the replaceable tip portion on the heat treatment device and fluidly interconnecting the inlet flow path with a respective device fluid source and the outlet flow path with a device fluid receptacle;
- and
- a contacting portion positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the inlet flow path for facilitating the thermal transfer from a fluid to an external surface of the contacting portion to enable heat treatment of an affected area by placing the contacting portion thereagainst;
- wherein the replaceable tip portion can be replaceably mounted onto the heat treatment device for performing heat therapy on the affected area.
A replaceable tip portion for a heat treatment device for therapeutically treating an affected area of a patient using heat, the tip portion comprising:
- a connector portion and a contacting portion, the connector portion being configured to engage with a respective connector portion of the heat treatment device for mounting the replaceable tip portion on the heat treatment device;
- and
- a heating element being in thermal communication with the contacting portion and being in electrical communication with the connector portion for heating the contacting portion to a desired temperature;
- wherein the replaceable tip portion can be mounted onto the heat treatment device for performing heat therapy on the affected area of the patient and subsequently removed therefrom.
A method of therapeutically treating an affected area of a patient with heat, the method comprising:
- allowing a tip of a heat applicator device to reach a desired temperature of about 105 degrees Fahrenheit to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit;
- applying the tip against the affected area at an applied pressure;
- maintaining the tip against the affected area for a therapeutically effective period of time;
- and
- removing the tip from against the affected area of the patient.
A method for thermal treatment of an affected area of a patient using a heat treatment device, the affected area defining a width, the method comprising:
- selecting a tip portion for the heat treatment device from a plurality of tip portions each having a unique size such that the size of the tip portion is selected to generally correspond to the width of the affected area, wherein the tip portion comprises a first connector;
- connecting the first connector of the tip portion to a second connector of a body portion of the heat treatment device;
- heating the tip portion to a desired temperature;
- and
- positioning the tip portion against the affected area, thereby thermally treating the affected area.
A heat treatment system for therapeutically treating an affected area of a patient using heat, the system comprising:
- a heat treatment device comprising a handle portion, a tip portion coupled to the handle portion, a fluid channel extending through the handle portion to the tip portion such that the handle portion is in fluid communication with the tip portion, a power source supported by the handle portion and being electrically connected to at least one heating element such that the at least one heating element is configured to heat a fluid disposed within the fluid channel for heating the tip portion to a desired temperature, and control circuitry supported by the body of the device, the control circuitry being configured to adjust a current flowing to the at least one heating element when the device is in use;
- and
- a base station comprising a power connection and a fluid connection, the power connection configured to recharge the power source of the heat treatment device, the fluid connection being interconnectable with the heat treatment device to provide fluid to the fluid channel of the heat treatment device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.