# US 2018/0021166 A1 · Thermoregulation system and method

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- Number: US 2018/0021166 A1
- Document ID: US20180021166A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/516,826
- Filed: 2015-07-21
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-31
- Assignees: Physiolab Technologies Limited
- Applicants: Physiolab Technologies Limited
- Inventors: Nicholas Rose
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021166A1

## CPC

- A61F 7/0053: {Cabins, rooms, chairs or units for treatment with a hot or cold circulating fluid}
- A61F 7/0085: {Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids}
- A61H 33/0095: {Arrangements for varying the temperature of the liquid}
- A61F 2007/0054: {with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water}
- A61F 2007/0069: {with return means}
- A61F 2007/0091: {inflatable}
- 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

Disclosed is a thermoregulation system, including an output port (54), an input port (62), a thermoregulation fluid supply system, an output pump (52) for pumping thermoregulation fluid out through the output port, an input pump (64) for pumping thermoregulation fluid in through the input port, and a pressure control system. The pressure control system is for selectively operating a pressurising element of a personal thermoregulation pack to apply a pressure independently of operation of the input (64) and output (52) pumps.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16

A thermoregulation system including:
a. an output port configured to be coupled to an input of a personal thermoregulation pack,
b. an input port configured to be coupled to an output of the personal thermoregulation pack,
c. a thermoregulation fluid supply system configured to supply thermoregulation fluid to the output port,
d. an output pump configured to pump the thermoregulation fluid from the output port,
e. an input pump configured to pump the thermoregulation fluid into the input port, and
f. a pressure control system configured to pressurize a pressurizing element of the personal thermoregulation pack, wherein the pressurization of the pressurizing element is independent of the pumping of the input and output pumps.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The thermoregulation system of claim 16 wherein each of the input and output pumps is configured to pump the thermoregulation fluid at a rate independent of the other of the input and output pumps.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The thermoregulation system of claim 16 wherein the system is configured to independently control:
a. a pressure with which a coupled personal thermoregulation pack is pressed against a user,
b. a flow rate of the thermoregulation fluid to the output port,
c. a flow rate of the thermoregulation fluid into the input port, and
d. a temperature of the thermoregulation fluid exiting the output port.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The thermoregulation system of claim 16 wherein the pressure control system includes:
a. a pressure fluid outlet port configured to be coupled to the pressurizing element of the personal interface pack, and
b. a pressure fluid pump configured to pump pressure fluid into and/or out of the pressure fluid outlet port.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The thermoregulation system of claim 16 further including a temperature control unit configured to provide the thermoregulation fluid at a predetermined thermoregulation temperature.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The thermoregulation system of claim 20 wherein the temperature control unit is configured to control the temperature of the provided thermoregulation fluid independently of:
a. a pressure with which a coupled personal thermoregulation pack is pressed against a user,
b. a flow rate of the thermoregulation fluid to the output port, and
c. a flow rate of the thermoregulation fluid into the input port.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The thermoregulation system of claim 20 further including a temperature control unit bypass conduit configured to be selectively activated to cause the thermoregulation fluid pumped into the input port to be directed to the output port without passing through the temperature control unit.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The thermoregulation system of claim 22 further including a temperature control unit bypass pump:
a. coupled to the temperature control unit bypass conduit, and
b. configured to pump the thermoregulation fluid along the temperature control unit bypass conduit and through the thermoregulation pack.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The thermoregulation system of claim 20 wherein:
a. the temperature control unit includes:
(1) a hot fluid supply configured to supply hot thermoregulation fluid,
(2) a cold fluid supply configured to supply cold thermoregulation fluid,
b. the output pump is configured to selectively pump:
(1) hot thermoregulation fluid from the hot fluid supply,
(2) cold thermoregulation fluid from the cold fluid supply, and
(3) a mixture of hot thermoregulation fluid from the hot fluid supply and cold thermoregulation fluid from the cold fluid supply,
from the output port,
c. the input pump is configured to selectively pump the thermoregulation fluid into the input port to:
(1) the hot fluid supply,
(2) the cold fluid supply, and
(3) both the hot fluid supply and the cold fluid supply.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The thermoregulation system of claim 16 further including a personal interface pack configured to couple to the input port and to the output port.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The thermoregulation system of claim 16 further including a system control unit configured to:
a. operate the output pump to pump the thermoregulation fluid from the output port, and
b. operate the input pump to pump the thermoregulation fluid into the input port.

### Claim 27 (depends on 16)

The thermoregulation system of claim 16 further including:
a. a hot fluid supply configured to supply hot thermoregulation fluid,
b. a cold fluid supply configured to supply cold thermoregulation fluid,
c. an output fluid path conveying hot thermoregulation fluid from the hot fluid supply and cold thermoregulation fluid from the cold fluid supply through the output pump and the output port,
d. an input fluid path conveying thermoregulation fluid from the input port through the input pump,
e. a first bypass fluid path extending:
(1) from a location along the input fluid path between the input port and the input pump,
(2) to a location along the output fluid path between the output pump and the output port.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The thermoregulation system of claim 27 further including a bypass pump situated along the first bypass fluid path, whereby the bypass pump may convey thermoregulation fluid pumped into the input port to the output port without passing through the input pump.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The thermoregulation system of claim 27 further including a second bypass fluid path extending:
a. from a location along the input fluid path downstream from the first bypass fluid path and upstream from the input pump,
b. to a location along the output fluid path downstream from the output pump and upstream from the first bypass fluid path.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The thermoregulation system of claim 29 further including a third bypass fluid path extending:
a. from a location along the input fluid path downstream from the input pump,
b. to a location along the output fluid path upstream from the output pump.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The thermoregulation system of claim 30 wherein each of the second and third bypass fluid paths include at least one valve therealong, wherein the valves are configured to selectively allow or prohibit flow of thermoregulation fluid between the input fluid path and the output fluid path.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The thermoregulation system of claim 29 further including:
a. a first valve connecting the second bypass fluid path to the input fluid path, and
b. a second valve connecting the second bypass fluid path to the output fluid path.

### Claim 33 (depends on 16)

A method of operating the thermoregulation system of claim 16, the method including the steps of:
a. pumping the thermoregulation fluid from the output port,
b. pumping the thermoregulation fluid into the input port, and
c. pressurizing the pressurizing element of the personal thermoregulation pack.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 wherein the thermoregulation fluid is pumped from the output port to provide a desired volume of thermoregulation fluid to the personal thermoregulation pack before pressurizing the pressurizing element of the personal thermoregulation pack.