Phase-change methods for cooling glabrous skin
OwnerJacob Brian Budnitzinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The device provides a portable means of lowering human core body temperature by cooling the blood that circulates through glabrous skin. The device is fundamentally comprised of a container and a non-toxic, organic, phase-change material, such as oleic acid, selected because it transitions from a solid to liquid phase between 8 and 20° C., and preferably between 10 to 15° C. This phase-change material acts as a heatsink when placed in contact with glabrous skin thereby allowing the device to absorb heat from the circulating blood. The cooled blood then circulates through the body, lowering core body temperature. The status of the phase-change can be observed, often through transparent container walls, and the device is thermally recharged as needed.
Claims17
A method of removing excess body heat from a human subject, said method comprising:
- obtaining a device comprising at least one flexible container, wherein at least one of said flexible containers further comprises a single organic phase-change material, said organic phase-change material selected to undergo a solid to liquid phase-change at a temperature between 8 to 20° C.;
- wherein said single organic phase-change material is a non-toxic organic phase-change material consisting essentially of oleic acid;
- cooling said device at a temperature below said phase-change temperature until at least a majority of said organic phase-change material has transitioned to a solid phase;
- placing said device directly against a glabrous skin of said human subject using only elastic force;
- and allowing said organic phase-change material to transition from said solid phase to a liquid phase, thus absorbing at least some excess body heat from said human subject.
(canceled)
A method of removing excess body heat from a human subject, said method comprising:
- obtaining a device comprising at least one transparent flexible container, wherein at least one of said flexible containers further comprises a single, non-toxic, organic phase-change material, said organic phase-change material selected to undergo a solid to liquid phase-change at a temperature between 8 to 20° C.;
- wherein said organic phase-change material consists essentially of oleic acid;
- cooling said device at a temperature below said phase-change temperature until at least a majority of said organic phase-change material has transitioned to a solid phase;
- placing said device directly against a glabrous skin of said human subject using only elastic force;
- and allowing said organic phase-change material to transition from said solid phase to a liquid phase;
- thus absorbing at least some excess body heat from said human subject;
- observing a phase-change status of said organic phase-change material through said transparent flexible container, and determining when all or substantially all of said organic phase-change material has transitioned to a liquid phase;
- when all or substantially all of said organic phase-change material has transitioned to said liquid phase, then removing said device from said glabrous skin of said human subject.
(canceled)
A method of removing excess body heat from a human subject, said method comprising:
- obtaining a device comprising at least one transparent flexible container, wherein at least one of said flexible containers further comprises a single non-toxic, organic phase-change material, said organic phase-change material selected to undergo a solid to liquid phase-change at a temperature between 8 to 20° C.;
- wherein said organic phase-change material consists essentially of oleic acid;
- using a freezing module and a refrigerator to cool said device at a temperature below said phase-change temperature until at least a majority of said organic phase-change material has transitioned to a solid phase;
- placing said device inside a sleeve configured to hold a human hand and placing said device directly against the glabrous skin on a palm of said human subject using only elastic force;
- and allowing said organic phase-change material to transition from said solid phase to a liquid phase;
- thus absorbing at least some excess body heat from said human subject;
- observing a phase-change status of said organic phase-change material through said transparent flexible container, and determining when all or substantially all of said organic phase-change material has transitioned to a liquid phase;
- when all or substantially all of said organic phase-change material has transitioned to said liquid phase, then removing said device from said glabrous skin of said human subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.