Apparatus for thermal therapy treatment of a selected region of the body of a human or of an animal and method of operating said apparatus
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12409061-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for use in the thermal therapy treatment of a selected region of the body of a human or of an animal, in particular for use in the treatment of tissue damage after surgical interventions, of injuries, of inflammations and of chronic diseases of the rheumatic type, and in particular for assisting chemotherapeutic treatments, comprising a temperature control device which is provided in order to control a temperature of a temperature control fluid, and a heat transfer device which is arranged to transfer heat to the selected region of the body, wherein the temperature control device is connected, in a fluid conducting manner, to the heat transfer device, and is further arranged to temper the heat transfer device with a heat transferring temperature control fluid flowing through the heat transfer device, and with a control device which is connected to the temperature control device and to the heat transfer device, wherein the control device is arranged to control the temperature control device, in order to cause the heat transfer device to be at least partially at an approximately uniform temperature in the region of a contact surface between the heat transfer device and the selected region of the body to be temperature controlled. The invention further relates to a method of operating the device.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a device for thermal therapy treatment of a selected region of the body of a human or of an animal. The device is provided in particular for use in the treatment of tissue damage after surgical interventions, injuries, inflammations, and chronic diseases of the rheumatic type, and in particular for assisting chemotherapeutic treatments. A temperature control device controls the temperature of a temperature control fluid and is connected, in a fluid conducting manner, to a heat transfer device arranged to transfer heat to the selected region.
The temperature control device tempers the heat transfer device with a heat transferring temperature control fluid flowing through the heat transfer device. A control device is connected to the temperature control device and to the heat transfer device and is arranged to control the temperature control device so that the heat transfer device is at least partially at an approximately uniform temperature in the region of a contact surface between the heat transfer device and the selected region to be temperature controlled.
A pressure device is included so that the pressure unit subjects the heat transfer unit to a pressure and at least partially increases a contact pressure at the selected region. The pressure unit comprises a body of elastic material adapted to at least partially increase a contact pressure of the heat transfer device on the selected region, and the entire volume of the pressure unit is made of the elastic material.
In a further embodiment, the pressure device further comprises a support device made of low flexibility material and a connecting device with at least one fixing element, constructed to at least partially reach around the pressure device and exert supporting forces onto the pressure device in a deployed for use condition. The pressure unit comprises either at least one pressure chamber with predetermined or variable internal pressure configured to increase contact pressure, or a body constructed entirely of elastic material configured to increase contact pressure.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Both independent claims center on maintaining an approximately uniform temperature at a contact surface using a connected temperature control device and heat transfer device, while incorporating a pressure device to increase contact pressure and maintain effective contact.
Temperature-controlled heat transferring fluid for approximately uniform contact-surface temperature
A temperature control device controls a temperature of a temperature control fluid and is connected, in a fluid conducting manner, to a heat transfer device arranged to transfer heat to the selected region of the body; a control device controls the temperature control device to cause the heat transfer device to be at least partially at an approximately uniform temperature in the region of a contact surface between the heat transfer device and the selected region to be temperature controlled.
Elastic pressure unit for increasing contact pressure at the heat transfer interface
A pressure device comprising at least one pressure unit and a support device, wherein the pressure unit is attached to the support device and is provided so as to at least partially subject the heat transfer unit to a pressure; the pressure unit comprises a body of an elastic material adapted to at least partially increase a contact pressure of the heat transfer device on the selected region, wherein the pressure unit has a volume and the entire volume of the pressure unit is made of the elastic material.
Low-flexibility support and connecting/fixing mechanism for deployed pressure device
The pressure device further comprises a support device of low flexibility material and, around the selected region, a connecting device with at least one fixing element; the connecting device reaches around the pressure device and exerts supporting forces onto the pressure device which at least partially contribute to fixing the pressure device in a deployed for use condition to the selected region of the body.
Pressure unit with either pressure chamber internal pressure or fully elastic pressure body
The pressure unit comprises at least one pressure chamber having predetermined or variable internal pressure and configured to at least partially increase a contact pressure of the heat transfer device on the selected region, or the pressure unit comprises a body constructed entirely of an elastic material configured to at least partially increase a contact pressure of the heat transfer device on the selected region.
Across both independent claims, the core inventive concept is a thermal-therapy device that tempers a connected heat transfer device using a temperature-controlled fluid to achieve an approximately uniform contact-surface temperature, combined with a pressure device structured to increase contact pressure and support a maintained deployed condition at the selected region.
Stated Advantages
Maintain the heat transfer device at least partially at an approximately uniform temperature in the region of a contact surface between the heat transfer device and the selected region of the body to be temperature controlled.
Increase a contact pressure of the heat transfer device on the selected region of the body.
At least partially contribute to fixing the pressure device in a deployed for use condition to the selected region of the body.
Documented Applications
Treatment of tissue damage after surgical interventions.
Treatment of injuries.
Treatment of inflammations.
Treatment of chronic diseases of the rheumatic type.
Assisting chemotherapeutic treatments.
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