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US 9,039,747 B2Granted
Thermal therapy device
OwnerJoseph Francis Nebolon, Sarah Joan Gardnerinventors
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Abstract
A thermal therapy device comprising a flexible, water-impermeable container containing a plurality of discrete, non-water-soluble hydrophillic absorbers, a hydrating liquid mixture comprising water, means for physically separating at least two adjacent absorbers thereby providing a means for preventing clumping, and a plurality of insulating members. The means for preventing clumping maintaining the pliability of the device in a frozen state after prolonged and extend cycles of freezing/thawing. A rigid storage container is also provided.
Claims14
A thermal therapy device comprising:
- a flexible, water-impermeable container conformable to the configuration of a therapy site of a user's body;
- a plurality of discrete, non-water-soluble, hydrophillic absorbers;
- a hydrating liquid mixture comprising water;
- a plurality of barrier particulates that prevent clumping of said hydrophillic absorbers when in a freezing environment,
- wherein individual ones of said plurality of barrier particulates are positioned between at least two adjacent individual ones of said plurality of hydrophilic absorbers during a liquid-to-solid phase transition of said water in said freezing environment;
- and,
- wherein the pliability of said container containing said plurality of hydrophilic absorbers, said liquid mixture, and said plurality of barrier particulates preventing clumping, is maintained over prolonged and extended cycles of freezing/thawing.
4 more elements
A thermal therapy kit comprising:
- a flexible, water-impermeable container containing:
- a plurality of discrete, non-water-soluble hydrophillic hydrophilic absorbers,
- a hydrating liquid mixture comprising water,
- a plurality of barrier particulates that prevent clumping of said hydrophilic absorbers when in a freezing environment,
- wherein individual ones of said plurality of barrier particulates are positioned between at least two adjacent individual ones of said plurality of hydrophilic absorbers during a liquid-to-solid phase transition of said water in said freezing environment;
- a plurality of insulating members;
- an openable rigid storage container comprising of one or a plurality of sidewalls;
- and,
- an exterior surface, and an interior surface defining an interior cavity having a volume;
- said volume being substantially equal to an expanded as-used frozen volume of said flexible, water-impermeable container when in said freezing environment;
- and
- wherein said flexible, water-impermeable container is positionable into said interior cavity, and wherein said storage container comprises a rigid housing to protect said flexible, water-impermeable container when in said freezing environment.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.