Compression and thermoregulation device

A method for providing compression and optional heating or cooling to a body part, comprising the steps of:

• providing a device for heating or cooling a body part, the device including:
• a body having an elongate treatment cavity into which a body part can be placed for treatment,
• a first chamber having an inlet and an outlet for a heating or cooling fluid, wherein the first chamber is formed by a space between an inner wall in the form of a cylindrical surface and an outer wall in the form of a cylindrical surface,
• wherein the inner wall forms the external boundary of at least part of the treatment cavity, whereby heating or cooling fluid in the first chamber heats or cools a body part in the treatment cavity,
• and wherein the treatment cavity is open at both ends so that in use a body part can be placed into one end of the treatment cavity and emerge from the other end,
• additionally comprising a second chamber at least partially surrounding the first chamber and having an inlet and an outlet for a pressurising fluid, whereby putting said fluid under pressure in the second chamber compresses the first chamber into the body part,
• placing a body part in said treatment cavity,
• causing a pressurising fluid to flow into the second chamber in order to compress the first chamber against the body part, and
• causing a heating or cooling fluid to flow into the first chamber in order to heat or cool the body part,
• wherein the pressure of the pressurising fluid is equal to or greater than the pressure of the heating or cooling fluid.

A device for heating or cooling a body part, including:

• a body having an elongate treatment cavity into which a body part can be placed for treatment,
• a first chamber having an inlet and an outlet for a heating or cooling fluid, wherein the first chamber is formed by a space between an inner wall in the form of a cylindrical surface and an outer wall in the form of a cylindrical surface, wherein the inner wall forms the external boundary of at least part of the treatment cavity, whereby heating or cooling fluid in the first chamber heats or cools a body part in the treatment cavity, and wherein the treatment cavity is open at both ends so that in use a body part can be placed into one end of the treatment cavity and emerge from the other end,
• a second chamber at least partially surrounding the first chamber and having an inlet and an outlet for a pressurising fluid, whereby putting said fluid under pressure in the second chamber compresses the first chamber into the body part,
• a sleeve into which the body can be housed in use, which sleeve is formed of at least two sections having different physical properties, whereby in use the section with the most appropriate physical property can be aligned with a specific part of the body to be treated, and
• wherein the first chamber includes an open-celled foam.