Cryotherapy device

An apparatus for manipulating core body temperature of a human, the apparatus comprising:

• a liquid carrier vessel comprising an opening and adapted to receive a liquid, the liquid carrier vessel having an inlet and an outlet;
• a splash guard for covering the majority of the opening of the liquid carrier vessel and for resting thereon a human extremity having an exposed glabrous skin surface, wherein the splash guard is removable;
• a chiller for cooling the liquid received in the liquid carrier vessel and for maintaining the liquid at a predetermined temperature;
• a jet in the vessel inlet for discharging the liquid, or a combination of the liquid and air into the liquid carrier vessel;
• an air valve for controlling the amount of air flowing through the jet;
• a pump configured to suck the liquid from the liquid carrier vessel via the vessel outlet into a suction side of the pump and propel the liquid out of a pressure side of the pump into the liquid carrier vessel through the vessel inlet via the chiller to create a jet stream within the liquid carrier vessel at the predetermined temperature, wherein the splash guard comprises an aperture to allow the jet stream to contact the exposed glabrous skin surface during operation of the apparatus, and wherein the aperture of the splash guard is located directly above the jet;
• a first conduit interconnecting the vessel outlet with the suction side of the pump;
• a second conduit interconnecting the chiller with the pressure side of the pump;
• a third conduit interconnecting the chiller with the jet;
• and
• a fourth conduit interconnecting the jet with the air valve.

A method for manipulating core body temperature of a human using an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a liquid carrier vessel comprising an opening and adapted to receive a liquid, the liquid carrier vessel having an inlet and an outlet;
• a splash guard for covering the majority of the opening of the liquid carrier vessel and for resting thereon a human extremity having an exposed glabrous skin surface, wherein the splash guard is removable;
• a chiller for cooling the liquid received in the vessel and for maintaining the liquid at a predetermined temperature;
• a jet in the vessel inlet for discharging the liquid, or a combination of the liquid and air into the liquid carrier vessel;
• an air valve for controlling the amount of air flowing through the jet;
• and
• a pump configured to suck the liquid from the liquid carrier vessel via the vessel outlet into a suction side of the pump and propel the liquid out of a pressure side of the pump into the liquid carrier vessel through the vessel inlet via the chiller to create a jet stream within the liquid carrier vessel at the predetermined temperature, wherein the splash guard comprises an aperture to allow the jet stream to contact the exposed glabrous skin surface during operation of the apparatus, and wherein the aperture of the splash guard is located directly above the jet;
• the method comprising:
• placing the splash guard over the opening of the liquid carrier vessel before or after the liquid carrier vessel is filled with the liquid;
• inserting the removable plug into the aperture of the splash guard;
• checking the air valve is fully closed;
• turning on the pump to circulate the liquid wherein the flow rate of the liquid discharged by the jet is such that the liquid does not reach the splash guard;
• removing the plug from the splash guard to expose the aperture of the splash guard;
• resting the human's extremity on the splash guard such that an exposed glabrous skin surface is located over the aperture of the splash guard;
• and
• opening the air valve to increase the flow rate of the liquid being discharged from the jet such that the liquid reaches the exposed glabrous skin surface.

A system for manipulating core body temperature of a human, the system comprising:

• a device comprising:
• a liquid carrier vessel comprising an opening and adapted to receive a liquid, the liquid carrier vessel having an inlet and an outlet;
• a splash guard for covering the majority of the opening of the liquid carrier vessel and for resting thereon a human extremity having an exposed glabrous skin surface, wherein the splash guard is removable;
• a chiller for cooling the liquid received in the vessel and for maintaining the liquid at a predetermined temperature;
• a jet in the vessel inlet for discharging the liquid, or a combination of the liquid and air into the liquid carrier vessel;
• an air valve for controlling the amount of air flowing through the jet;
• and
• a pump configured to suck the liquid from the liquid carrier vessel via the vessel outlet into a suction side of the pump and propel the liquid out of a pressure side of the pump into the liquid carrier vessel through the vessel inlet via the chiller to create a jet stream within the liquid carrier vessel at the predetermined temperature, wherein the splash guard comprises an aperture to allow the jet stream to contact the exposed glabrous skin surface during operation of the apparatus, and wherein the aperture of the splash guard is located directly above the jet;
• and
• a glove comprising a hole configured to expose the glabrous skin surface of a human hand.