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Publication Number
US-11771586-B2
Publication Date
2023-10-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for an improved Contrast Therapy Device that delivers alternating heated and chilled temperature fluids to a contrast thermal therapy pad. Mitigation processes maintain water temperature in hot water tanks and cold water tanks in order to keep water temperatures in the respective tanks from drifting beyond a desired setpoint range when the system switches a therapy state from a cooling cycle to a heating cycle or from heating cycle to a cooling cycle. Thermal shock is reduced to the fluid tanks. Mitigation techniques include delaying actuation of a return path flow, such as via a diverting solenoid. Mitigating delay can be a static time delay based upon one or both of: a volume of water in a therapy pad and related volume and rate of flow; and meeting a threshold transition temperature for return fluid temperature.
Core Innovation
The core invention is a contrast therapy apparatus configured to provide controlled therapeutic treatments using a thermal pad with a fluidic channel having an input port and an output port and a thermally-transmissive outer covering. The apparatus includes a control unit with a fluid channel output port coupled to the input port of the thermal pad fluidic channel, and a fluid channel input port coupled to the output port of the thermal pad fluidic channel. One or both of a hot-fluid circulation loop and a cold-fluid circulation loop are coupled to the thermal pad fluidic channel through the input and output ports, with a pump to provide fluid flow in at least one loop.
A key aspect of the control unit is hot and cold transition delay control using diverting valves and a cold to hot transition delay period, with corresponding hot cycle behavior. Diverting valves are operative to cause hot fluid to flow out of a hot fluid reservoir and into the thermal pad, and flow out of the thermal pad into a cold fluid reservoir during a cold to hot transition delay period.
The apparatus also mitigates thermal shock and temperature drift during cycle switching by delaying return-path actuation and by using returning-fluid temperature information. Return-side diverting valves are actuated based on measured return-fluid temperature reaching a predetermined threshold, and/or based on the measured return-side temperature change meeting a predetermined rate of change. Additional system features described include alternating heated and chilled fluid circulation and a controller using temperature feedback from temperature sensors.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a contrast therapy apparatus that provides controlled therapeutic treatments by circulating hot and cold fluids through a thermal pad, using diverting valves with cold-to-hot transition delay periods and a return-path diverting delay strategy. It includes apparatus-level temperature-profile control with hot and cold circulation loops, pumps, and a processor that executes instructions. Main inventive features are: bidirectional fluid coupling between the control unit and the thermal pad, hot and/or cold circulation loops with pumps, predetermined temperature-profile delivery under processor control, and diverting valve sequencing with transition delay periods for cold-to-hot transitions.
Thermal pad fluidic channel with hot/cold fluid temperature-profile control
A thermal pad having a fluidic channel with an input port and an output port and a thermally-transmissive outer covering, wherein a control unit provides to the thermal pad a fluid flow having a predetermined temperature profile executed by a processor coupled to memory.
Bidirectional coupling between control unit ports and thermal pad ports with circulation loops
A fluid channel output port coupled to the input port of the thermal pad fluidic channel and a fluid channel input port coupled to the output port of the thermal pad fluidic channel, with one or both of a hot-fluid circulation loop coupled to the output port and the input port and a cold-fluid circulation loop coupled to the output port and the input port.
Pump-driven hot and/or cold fluid circulation for controlled therapeutic treatments
A pump to provide fluid flow in at least one of the hot-fluid circulation loop and the cold-fluid circulation loop to circulate fluid through the thermal pad.
Diverting valves sequencing using a cold-to-hot transition delay period
One or more diverting valves operative to cause hot fluid to flow out of a hot fluid reservoir and into the thermal pad, and flow out of the thermal pad into a cold fluid reservoir during a cold to hot transition delay period, and to cause hot fluid to flow out of the hot fluid reservoir and into the thermal pad, and flow out of the thermal pad into the hot fluid reservoir during a hot cycle that follows the cold to hot transition delay period.
Return-side diverting delay actuation using returning-fluid temperature threshold
Determining one or more hot-to-cold or cold-to-hot transition delay times by measuring the temperature of returning fluid and actuating return-side diverting valves when the measured return-side temperature reaches a predetermined threshold.
Return-side diverting delay actuation using returning temperature rate of change
Determining either the hot-to-cold or cold-to-hot transition delay period by measuring the temperature of returning fluid and actuating return-side diverting valves when the measured return-side temperature change meets a predetermined rate of change.
Overall claim coverage centers on delivering a predetermined temperature profile to a thermal pad using hot and cold circulation loops and pumps under processor control, sequencing hot/cold routing with cold-to-hot transition delay periods, and coordinating return-side diverting valve actuation using returning-fluid temperature information.
Stated Advantages
Mitigates thermal shock during cycle switching.
Reduces temperature drift during cycle switching.
Provides rapid switching using solenoid-valved manifold.
Improves efficiency and reduces clearance time by using separate hot and cold loops.
Enables removing fluid from the wrap using Venturi suction without compressed air or vacuum.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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