Abstract: Therapeutic application of mild to moderate hypothermia in a medical procedure has been found to provide benefits to patients. For example, application of mild hypothermia in the auditory pathway can prevent functional hearing loss post cochlear implant surgery. Devices have been conceived and reduced to practice that apply localized cooling to a small area such as the basal or middle turn of the cochlea. The devices include a cooling tip with at least one thermo-conductive surface. A heat-transporting fluid is circulated through the cooling tip. After absorbing heat, the heat-transporting fluid may be controllably cooled with a thermoelectric cooling device.

Abstract: The invention provides for a system for controlling a therapeutic pad having a data storage medium. The system for controlling has means for reading and/or writing the data of the data storage medium of the therapeutic pad, and means for implementing an operational procedure depending on the data of the storage medium of the therapeutic pad. Further, a method for controlling a therapeutic pad having a data storage medium is provided. The method has the steps of reading and/or writing the data of the data storage medium of the therapeutic pad, and implementing operational procedure depending on the data of the storage medium of the therapeutic pad. Furthermore, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product has one or more computer readable media having computer executable instructions for performing the steps of the method as discussed hereinbefore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a life cradle device for the purpose of inducing therapeutic hypothermia in neonates suffering from birth asphyxia. The device essentially consists of a rigid outer skeleton which could be fitted with removable mattresses containing form stable organic phase change materials effecting instant and sustained cooling. Multiple compartments of different phase change material composition functional at different temperatures are arranged in layers to replicate cooling performances as in conventional cascading systems. The device is also designed to have thermo-chromic indicators with an option of probes for automation control techniques. The device may also be fitted with thermostat controlled infant radiant warmer to automatically switch on when the infant is cooled down below requirement as a safety consideration.

Abstract: A therapeutic device is provided that utilizes a microprocessor-controlled assembly having a heater and a ceramic plate which emits a Far Infrared wavelength of 8-10 microns and a Terahertz frequency vibration that flows throughout and deep into the human body. The Far Infrared heat energy produced by the therapy device stimulates the flow of internal energy in a person resulting in many therapeutic benefits.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thermo-regulation device for treating an area with in need of thermal regulation. The invention includes a device configured to be fitted over an area in need of thermal regulation; wherein a plurality of cells are integral to the covering body, each cell is equipped with at least one of a plurality of reactants. Each cell of the present invention is in one configuration joined to a neighboring cell by a destructible barrier. The reactants are configured to produce a thermal event when combined with at least one other reactant.

Abstract: A thermal pack (10) for therapeutic treatment of a mammal that includes a bladder (12, 4) and a separator element insert (22). The bladder (12, 14) is formed of a pair of superposed sheets (12, 14) of flexible, heat conductive liquid impermeable polyurethane material and includes an inlet (18) and an outlet (20). The sheets (12, 14) are welded together at a central spine (17) and along a series of branches (16) so as to provide a turning, tortuous fluid passageway therein. The separator element insert (22) is received within the fluid passageway and provides a fluid conveying track that extends throughout the fluid passageway from the inlet (18) to the outlet (19) to maintain the sheets (12, 14) in spaced apart relationship to mitigate restrictions in fluid flow when the pack (10) is flexed out of the plane of the sheets (12, 14).

Abstract: A self-heating warming blanket includes a pliable outer shell forming a liquid impermeable enclosure. A heat generation layer disposed inside the enclosure has a plurality of liquid permeable heater compartments containing an exothermic reactant. The blanket also has a heater activation system including a sealed bladder containing an activator liquid inside the enclosure. An activation strip extends from outside the outer shell into the enclosure. One segment of the strip is an unsealing segment connected to the bladder. Another segment of the strip is a handle segment outside the outer shell. Pulling on the handle segment opens the bladder and releases the activator liquid into the enclosure where at least a portion of it permeates at least one heater compartment and combines with the exothermic reactant contained therein to initiate an exothermic chemical reaction that heats the warming blanket.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable body warmer that makes it possible to suppress scattering of moisture contained in the exothermic composition from the outer bag, and thereby ensure a desired exothermic duration of the exothermic composition when the disposable body warmer is kept in an unused state for a long period of time. The disposable body warmer is structured such that an exothermic composition that contains moisture and generates heat by contact with air is enclosed in one or more air-permeable inner bags, which are accommodated in an airtight outer bag. The outer bag comprises two accommodation units that are partitioned from each other and capable of containing the one or more inner bags. The one or more inner bags each comprise at least one enclosure unit capable of enclosing the exothermic composition, and are accommodated in each accommodation unit in a manner such that at least one of the enclosure units is overlaid with another enclosure unit.

Abstract: An artificial hypothalamus system for regulating body temperature for a human can include monitoring data from a plurality of sensors. The sensor data can be used in a control system to optimize temperature regulation in real time through a feedback loop. The feedback loop can include monitoring the sensor data, evaluating a predetermined set of fuzzy rules using the data, and combining the output of the fuzzy rules to produce a precise value. The precise value can correspond to an output level for various temperature regulation devices, and a signal can be transmitted based on the precise value to activate the temperature regulation devices to a corresponding level of output.

Abstract: This invention is a sleep environment control system which uses wearable technology with physiological sensors to predict when a person will have a hot flash and to proactively provide localized cooling or accelerated airflow for that person for a limited time to alleviate the adverse effects of that hot flash. In an example, a physiological sensor can be a body temperature sensor, skin conductance sensor, or EEG sensor. This system can reduce interruptions of a person's sleep due to hot flashes and improve their quality of life.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a subject suffering from cancer. A nanoparticle (22) includes an inner core (30) that comprises a phase-change material that is configured to absorb latent heat of fusion by undergoing a phase change. An outer layer (32) disposed around the inner core includes a plurality of nano-spheres (34) of at least one metal, and a plurality of molecules (38) of a substance that binds preferentially with cancerous cells relative to non-cancerous cells. The nanoparticle has a volume of at least 65,000 nm3 and is elongatable into an ellipsoid, such that, when the nanoparticle is maximally elongated, each of the semi-axes defined by the ellipsoid is greater than 5 nm, and at least two of the semi axes of the ellipsoid are less than 30 nm. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A dry eye treatment device and method of use are disclosed for applying heat to the exterior surface of an eyelid to treat dry eye symptoms which can be caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). More specifically, a user operable main unit and hand piece are provided that allow the user to heat his/her or another patient's eyelids to a desired temperature, which can effectively and efficiently raise the temperature at the meibomian glands sufficient to melt, loosen, or soften occlusions or obstructions in the meibomian glands, thereby restoring natural secretory function to the meibomian glands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal shield 1 for at least partly surrounding a newborn infant by the shield 1 to protect it from undesired cooling or heating. The shield 1 comprises a first layer 3 and a second layer 4 both of a transparent material, which layers 3,4 are joined so that there is at least one air containing pocket 5 between the layers 3,4. When the thermal shield 1 is in use, the mutual arrangement of the first and second layers 3,4 allows the at least one pocket to be deformable to an amount necessary for establishment of acoustic contact between the skin of the infant 10 and an acoustic transducer 11 placed on an outer surface of the second layer 4. In some embodiments of the thermal shield, the at least one air containing pocket 5 is air tight, and acoustic contact can be established over an area of at least 1 cm2.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) energy is transmitted through the application of a RF signal to an external RF energy interface, where the RF signal oscillates at a frequency in an energy transmission band. The transmitted RF energy is received at an implanted medical device, and energy derived from the received RF energy is stored in a direct current (DC) energy storage component of the device. A therapeutic output signal is generated from the stored energy and delivered by the implantable medical device to a patient through one or more electrodes. The therapeutic output signal is configurable to provide either one of RF stimulation therapy and RF ablation therapy, and comprises pulses of an RF signal oscillating at a frequency in a therapy band that is greater than the energy transmission band.

Abstract: A device (1) for delivering mist to the human face is capable of targeting different kinds of mist to different zones of the human face. To this end, the device (1) comprises different nozzle sets, wherein each of the different nozzle sets serves for letting out a different kind of mist, and wherein each of the different nozzle sets is positioned in a zone (7, 10) of the device (1) corresponding to a zone of the human face to be treated by means of the mist delivered by the nozzle set concerned during operation of the device (1). By having an appropriate number and positioning of the nozzles (2, 3, 4, 5), facial zones can be treated separately, wherein it is possible to realize optimal skin treatment per facial zone.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette of any one of several disclosed variations is attached to the circulatory conduits of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within one of various described re-usable control units. The control units include a heater/cooler device, a user input device, and a processor connected to receive input from various sensors around the body and the system. The heater/cooler device may be thermoelectric to enable both heating and 15? cooling based on polarity. A temperature control scheme for ramping the body temperature up or down without overshoot is provided.

Abstract: This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

Abstract: A cerebral protection system generally includes an array of cold packs, an insulating cover, and optionally a set of trays. The cold pack contains two reactive materials separated by a rupturable membrane. When the first reactive material and the second reactive material are mixed, an endothermic reaction occurs. The system can be used to induce hypothermia in selected regions of the brain when used.

Abstract: A catheter includes a working fluid supply path communicating with a source of working fluid. The catheter also includes a working fluid return path communicating with the working fluid supply path to return working fluid from the supply path to the source of working fluid. At least one of the paths is contained in a distal heat exchange region of the catheter, where the distal heat exchange region includes first and second helical paths and is made of a shape memory material.

Abstract: An enclosure or plenum that supports a looped pump tube is hingedly connected to a framed thin-walled heat exchange bag through which working fluid from an intravascular heat exchange catheter flows. The frame with bag can be inserted between cold plates to exchange heat with the working fluid flowing through the bag. With the framed bag between the plates, the looped pump tube from the enclosure or plenum is receivable in the raceway of a peristaltic pump, which pumps working fluid through the system.