Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatuses, and systems for reducing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in a patient to either prevent or treat open-angle glaucoma. Heat is applied to the trabecular meshwork in the patient's eye without damaging proteins in the trabecular meshwork. The application of heat to the trabecular meshwork has the effect of relaxing or loosening protein clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork, which are either reducing or obstructing of the outflow of aqueous humor, thereby increasing the patient's IOP and causing ocular hypertension (OHT). By loosening or relaxing clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork, the outflow path for aqueous humor is increased or restored, which can lower IOP and either prevent or treat glaucoma. Force may also be applied to the patient's eye to apply pressure to the trabecular meshwork to further assist in the loosening or relaxing of clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork.

Abstract: A system for a closed circuit forced hot air warmer of patient beds and blankets with improved sterility has a patient mattress or blanket microprocessor controlled warmer that circulates heated air in a closed system without releasing warmed air into the area surrounding the patient or into the operating room. The system helps to avoid the exposure of patients and hospital workers in the operating room to possible infecting microbes carried in unsterile turbulent air currents related to the release of air from non-closed systems. The machinery and flexible hoses of the system are initially sterilized by a microprocessor controlled antimicrobial mist generator. The system does not discharge jets of warmed air due to the closed circuit arrangement. Turbulent air flow previously produced in the vicinity of the patient by high velocity air jets is eliminated. An ambient, quiescent condition accorded by closed circuit heating prevents infection of patients and operating room personnel by microbe migration.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a thermal property of tissue includes a base unit with one or more energy source and at least two, preferably detachable, leads. The distal end of each lead, which is introduced into the tissue to be treated, has at least two longitudinally spaced temperature measuring elements to measure surrounding tissue temperature and at least two longitudinally spaced electrode surfaces for applying current to the tissue. Each distal end is also provided with an element which uses energy emitted by the sources of energy to heat up the surrounding tissue. The base unit has computing elements, current generating elements for generating an alternating current, and conductance determining elements for determining the tissue conductance between pairs of electrode surfaces based on the alternating current applied by the current generating elements to the tissue. Methods for using the device and leads for use in the device are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for focused remodeling and downsizing the volume of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, body contouring, and tightening skin tissue, using controlled heating of the targeted areas on the body. Electromagnetic energy heats skin layers or tissues to achieve an aesthetic effect. The electromagnetic energy may be applied via an applicator without touching the skin. A spacer of insulating or dielectric material may be provided between the applicator and the skin.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for removing heat from subcutaneously disposed lipid-rich cells are disclosed. In selected embodiments, suction and/or heat removal sources are coupled to an applicator. The applicator includes a flexible portion and a rigid portion. The rigid portion includes a thermally conductive plate and a frame coupling the thermally conductive plate and the flexible portion. An interior cavity of the applicator is in fluid communication with the suction source, and the frame maintains contiguous engagement between the heat removal source and the thermally conductive plate.

Abstract: A nerve tissue stimulator configured for contacting to or insertion in the body of a subject to stimulate a tissue therein, said probe comprising: (a) a support configured for contacting to or positioning adjacent a tissue of said subject; (b) at least one thermoelectric device (TED) on said support and positioned for thermally stimulating said nerve tissue.

Abstract: A clinical grid electrode system for seizure control through local cooling, mapping brain function and me provision of reversible functional ablation. The system includes a modular, scalable, cooling and sensing array composed of a plurality of cooling sensing elements. The system also includes a control system to which die cooling and sensing array is coupled for providing for control and monitoring of die cooling sensing elements making up the cooling and sensing array.

Abstract: Home-use applicators for non-invasively removing heat from subcutaneous, lipid-rich cells via phase change coolants, and associated devices, systems and methods. A device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an applicator releasably positionable in thermal communication with human skin, and a coolant vessel having a coolant. The device further includes a heat transfer conduit operatively coupled to the applicator and housing a heat transfer fluid that is isolated from fluid contact with the coolant. A heat exchanger is operatively coupled between the coolant vessel and the heat transfer conduit to transfer heat between the heat transfer fluid and the coolant, and a fluid driver is operatively coupled to the heat transfer conduit to direct the heat transfer fluid between the applicator and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a textile fabric made of a fleece comprising a super absorbing activation, to a method for producing the textile fabric, to a covering surrounding the textile fabric, to a cooling system using the covering and to a covering designed as a cooling item.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical device that may include a catheter body having proximal and distal portions, a fluid injection lumen disposed within elongate body, and a guidewire lumen disposed within the elongate body. A tip portion defining a cavity in fluid communication with the fluid injection lumen may be coupled to the distal end of the guidewire lumen, and an expandable element may be coupled to the distal portion of the catheter body and to the tip portion, such that the expandable element is in fluid communication with the fluid injection lumen. A shaping element may at least partially surround the expandable element, where the shaping element is configurable in a first geometric configuration and a second geometric configuration.

Abstract: An assembly for preventing and treating skin dermatitis includes an air flow conditioning module positioned in the output air flow increasing or decreasing the temperature of the generated air flow as received from the fan responsive to a received control signal, a temperature sensor positioned in the output air flow sensing a current temperature of the output air flow as conditioned by the air flow conditioning module, an air flow conditioning control module is coupled to the air flow conditioning module and the temperature sensor for generating the control signal, and air flow conditioning control module that has a definable temperature range of the output airflow and for receiving the sensed current temperature from the temperature sensor, comparing the current temperature to the defined temperature range, and generating the control signal to provide the generated air flow at the nozzle is within the defined temperature range.

Abstract: Improvements applied to a textile product, and more particularly wherein the improved product is a woven textile product—fabric containing bioceramic microparticles embedded into the fibers thereof with high capacity of irradiation in the infrared region, provided to be used both in humans and animals, more particularly the invention is related to a textile product containing bioceramic microparticles with high capacity of infrared irradiation which, in contact with the heat of the human body, is capable of transmitting infrared radiation in the range between 3 ?m and 14.8 ?m, preferentially in the 14.8 micron range, said infrared radiation at this wavelength being capable of regulating the blood microcirculation, as the result of its high protection, the blood microcirculation being the nervous center of human and/or animal metabolism.

Abstract: Methods for cerebral cooling are described. Cooling assemblies include elongate tubular members, a reservoir containing a pressurized fluid, and a manifold connecting the reservoir and elongate tubular members. After insertion of the elongate tubular members into the patient's nostrils, a pressurized fluid is delivered onto a surface of the patient's nasal cavity through a plurality of ports in the elongate tubular members. The delivery of the fluid causes cooling by direct heat transfer through the nasopharynx and hematogenous cooling through the carotids and the Circle of Willis.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a brain cooling and spinal cord cooling system, device or mechanism for use in military helmets, and in an adapted format in non-military helmets. The system is comprised of an inflatable pad, or a set of interconnected pads, attached to the interior surface of the helmet, together with a series of valves that allow cooling gases to be delivered from a high pressure canister. The use of different cooling gases permits the achievement and maintenance of cooling of the brain for 24 to 96 hours at a mild (36° C.) or moderate (33° C.-35° C.) brain hypothermia, which is 1.5° C.-4.5° C. below the core temperature.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices used to treat eyelids, meibomian glands, ducts, and surrounding tissue are described herein. In some embodiments, an eye treatment device is disclosed, which includes a scleral shield positionable proximate an inner surface of an eyelid, the scleral shield being made of, or coated with, an energy-absorbing material activated by a light energy, and an energy transducer positionable outside of the eyelid, the energy transducer configured to provide light energy at one or more wavelengths, including a first wavelength selected to heat the energy-absorbing material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for non-invasive anatomical and systemic cooling, fluid removal and/or energy removal. The present invention provides for removal of fluid and cooling of various bodily fluid-containing spaces or surfaces, such as mucus-containing spaces or surfaces via delivery of a dry fluid not including a coolant into or upon the mucus-containing space or surface. Exposure of mucus to the dry fluid yields evaporation of body fluid, removal of energy, cooling of the anatomical feature, and systemic cooling. Therefore, therapeutic hypothermia may be achieved for neuroprotection of various organs after ischemic insult, like the brain after cardiac arrest. Similarly, excess fluid removal is achievable for treatment of cardiogenic shock or other conditions that cause significant fluid build-up, especially in cases of compromised renal function.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for mitigating insulin resistance in a human subject by contacting one or more regions of the neck, the supraclavicular, and the interscapular regions of the human subject with a part of a cooling device, wherein the part of the cooling device has a temperature at about 15 or less Celsius degrees; cooling the one or more regions of the neck, the supraclavicular, and the interscapular regions of the human subject for a cooling period of at least 15 minutes; and performing previous two steps daily for about 14 or more days. The devices and methods may also be used to preventing, delaying or treating type 2 diabetes in a human subject or activating brown fat without incurring a sympathetic nerve-mediated cold feeling in a human subject.

Abstract: Systems for removing heat from a subject's subcutaneous lipid-rich regions, such as tissue, organs, cells, and so forth, are described herein. In various embodiments, the system includes a treatment device and a controller for controlling a treatment process. The controller is configured to detect and compensate for an interruption in the treatment process.

Abstract: The following description relates generally to self-heated consumer spa products heated by means of a prolonged exothermic chemical reaction for various therapeutic and/or spa applications for applying heat to portions of a person's body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating and/or cooling assembly such as a heat pad. The assembly includes a plurality of modules articulated together by connection means so that the assembly can be manipulated by a user to adopt a desired profile. At least one of the modules contains a thermal store in the form of a solid, liquid or gel responsive to heating or cooling externally applied to the assembly so that the solid, liquid or gel is heated or cooled, respectively, and remains in a heated or cooled state for a prolonged period of time after the externally applied heating or cooling is removed.