# US 2017/0281402 A1 · Modifying humidity to glabrous tissue for the treatment of migraine and other conditions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0281402 A1 - Document ID: US20170281402A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/625,912 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-07 - Assignees: Core Thermal, Inc. - Applicants: Core Thermal, Inc. - Inventors: Mark L. Swyer; Iain Hueton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281402A1 ## CPC - A61F 7/0085: {Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids} - A61F 7/0053: {Cabins, rooms, chairs or units for treatment with a hot or cold circulating fluid} - A61F 7/02: Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling - A61H 9/0057: {Suction (suction kneading A61H7/008)} - A61H 33/06: Artificial hot-air or cold-air baths; Steam or gas baths or douches, e.g. sauna or Finnish baths {(artificial climate rooms A61G10/02)} - A61H 35/00: Baths for specific parts of the body {(electric circuits therefor A61H33/005; specific components therefor A61H33/60)} - A61H 35/006: {for the feet} - A61F 2007/0002: {Head or parts thereof} - A61F 2007/0036: {Hand} - A61F 2007/0045: {Foot} - A61F 2007/0047: {Sole} - A61F 2007/0057: {of gas, e.g. air or carbon dioxide} - A61F 2007/0076: {remote from the spot to be heated or cooled} - A61F 2007/0239: {using vacuum} - A61F 2007/0258: {with a fluid permeable layer} - A61H 2201/0207: heated - A61H 2201/0214: cooled - A61H 2201/025: by direct air flow on the patient's body - A61H 2201/5084: Acceleration sensors - A61H 2205/065: Hands - A61H 2230/045: used as a control parameter for the apparatus - A61H 2230/105: used as a control parameter for the apparatus - A61H 2230/305: used as a control parameter for the apparatus (A61H2230/045 takes precedence) - A61H 2230/505: used as a control parameter for the apparatus - A61H 2230/605: used as a control parameter for the apparatus - 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) - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract Systems and methods for improving or preventing a condition, such as the treatment of pain syndromes and migraine headaches are disclosed. A method for treating pain can include one or more of the steps including identifying a region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue; positioning the region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue into an enclosed chamber; adjusting the relative humidity of the enclosed chamber sufficient to create a physiologic effect. The method need not involve altering the temperature within the enclosed chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for stimulating glabrous tissue of a patient, comprising: a housing surrounding an enclosed chamber; a humidifer configured to supply humidified air to the chamber sufficient to minimize heat loss from the glabrous tissue, the humidifed air having a relative humidity of between about 90% and about 99%; and a patient port operably connected to the chamber and configured to house a region of the skin surface of a patient comprising the glabrous tissue, the patient port being configured to reversibly create an air-tight seal upon isolation of the region of the skin surface with respect to an interior of the chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the humidifier is operably connected to the enclosed chamber via a conduit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, configured to have a first state in which the humidifier delivers humidified air via the conduit to the interior of the chamber; and a second state in which the conduit is disconnected from the chamber and humidified air remains sealed within the interior of the chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to adjust the relative humidity of the humidified air into the chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the humidity within the chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a display configured to provide information regarding the humidity within the chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system does not comprise a heating or cooling element to alter the temperature of the interior of the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to prevent the removal of no more than about 0.1 kcal of heat from the glabrous tissue in a period of time that is less than about 1 hour. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to decrease adiponectin levels of the patient by at least about 5% after about 1 hour relative to the pre-treatment adiponectin levels of the patient. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the relative humidity based upon receiving information from a sensor conveying physiologic information about the patient. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, configured to apply a positive pressure to the interior of the chamber of between about 1.25 atm and about 2.5 atm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an oxygenator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is at least partially in the shape of a shoe configured to be worn by the subject to treat plantar glabrous tissue of the patient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is at least partially in the shape of a mitt configured to be worn by the subject to treat palmar glabrous tissue of the patient. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is at least partially in the shape of a headgear configured to be worn by the subject to treat forehead glabrous tissue of the patient. ### Claim 16 A method for treating a patient, comprising: identifying a region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue; positioning the region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue into an enclosed chamber, isolating the region of the patient from the remainder of the patient; and applying a gas having a preselected first relative humidity at room temperature selectively to a region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue within the enclosed chamber, wherein the first relative humidity is greater than about 90% and less than about 100%. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the region of the patient comprises glabrous tissue only includes intact, wound-free skin. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of discontinuing applying the gas, wherein the gas remains trapped within the chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein discontinuing applying the gas comprises detaching a conduit from a quick-connect port on the chamber, whereby the relative humidity within the chamber remains greater than about 90% and less than about 100% by virtue of the trapped gas. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of maintaining the region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue within the chamber for at least about 30 minutes after the detaching step, thereby continuing to expose the glabrous tissue to a relatively high humidity environment.