Method and apparatus for scalp thermal treatment

• US 10,512,587 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Quisenberry, Tony, Balachandran, Niran, McSpadden, Sam K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sippel, Rachel T
• Application Number:
  US15/784,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20180055721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0029 Arm or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0039 Leg or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/106 for the lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0092 Cuffs therefor

Abstract

A head wrap includes a body. A first arm extends from the body. A second arm extends from the body oppositely from, and shares a common axis with, the first arm. A center section extends from the body generally perpendicular to the first arm and the second arm. A first panel and a second panel extend from the first arm. A third panel and a fourth panel extending from the second arm. A fluid bladder is defined by the body, the first arm, the second arm, the center section, the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel. A compression bladder is disposed outwardly of the fluid bladder and coextensive with the fluid bladder. A first fluid port is fluidly coupled to the fluid bladder and a second fluid port is fluidly coupled to the fluid bladder.

Claims

1. A head wrap for conforming to a wearer'"'"'s scalp, the head wrap comprising:

a first layer formed of a flexible material and adapted to be placed in contact with the wearer'"'"'s scalp, the first layer comprising a first-layer perimeter;

a second layer adjacent to the first layer, the second layer comprising a second-layer perimeter that is bonded to the first-layer perimeter;

a plurality of second bonds joining the first layer to the second layer, the plurality of second bonds being formed interior of the first-layer perimeter and the second-layer perimeter; and

wherein, in use, the first layer and the second layer define a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm defining a common axis bisecting a longitudinal portion of the first arm and the second arm, and a plurality of rounded projections extending upwardly from each of the first arm and the second arm on the same side of the common axis as a center rounded projection, the first arm, the second arm, the plurality of rounded projections and the center rounded projection being selectively foldable from a generally flat configuration to overlap into a three-dimensional configuration to conform to the wearer'"'"'s head such that the center rounded projection overlaps one of the first and second arms.

2. The head wrap of claim 1, comprising:

a first fluid port fluidly coupled to a fluid bladder defined by the first layer and the second layer; and

a second fluid port fluidly coupled to the fluid bladder.

3. The head wrap of claim 2, wherein the first fluid port and the second fluid port are formed between the first layer and the second layer.

4. The head wrap of claim 1, comprising:

a third layer adjacent to the second layer, the third layer comprising a third-layer perimeter that aligns with and is bonded to the first layer perimeter and the second-layer perimeter;

a compression bladder defined between the second layer and the third layer; and

wherein, in use, the third layer is selectively foldable from a generally flat configuration into a three-dimensional configuration to conform to the wearer'"'"'s head.

5. The head wrap of claim 4, comprising a compression port fluidly coupled to the compression bladder.

6. The head wrap of claim 5, wherein the compression port is disposed between the second layer and the third layer.

7. The head wrap of claim 4, comprising a first fluid port and a second fluid port that penetrate the third layer and are sealed to the second layer.

8. The head wrap of claim 4, comprising a fourth layer adjacent to the third layer, the fourth layer being bonded to the third layer to provide compression at select locations on the wearer'"'"'s scalp.

9. The head wrap of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second bonds define a plurality of flow paths through a fluid bladder and limit an amount of heat-transfer fluid contained in the fluid bladder.

10. A head wrap for conforming to a wearer'"'"'s head, the head wrap comprising:

a body;

a first arm extending longitudinally from the body along a common axis defined longitudinally through and bisecting a longitudinal portion of the first arm and a second arm;

the second arm extending longitudinally from the body oppositely from, and sharing the common axis with, the first arm;

a center rounded projection extending from the body generally perpendicular to the first arm and the second arm;

a first rounded projection extending from the first arm on the same side of the common axis as the center rounded projection;

a fourth rounded projection extending from the second arm on the same side of the common axis as the center rounded projection;

a fluid bladder defined by the body, the first arm, the second arm, and the center rounded projection; and

a first fluid port formed in the body and fluidly coupled to the fluid bladder and a second fluid port formed in the body and fluidly coupled to the fluid bladder;

a second rounded projection extending from the first arm on the same side of the common axis as the center rounded projection;

a third rounded projection extending from the second arm on the same side of the common axis as the center rounded projection; and

the center rounded projection overlapping one of the first and second arms, in use.

11. The head wrap of claim 10, wherein:

the first rounded projection extends at an angle relative to the common axis; and

the second rounded projection is angled relative to the common axis in a direction generally opposite the first rounded projection.

12. The head wrap of claim 10, wherein:

the third rounded projection extends at an angle relative to the common axis; and

the fourth rounded projection is angled relative to the common axis in a direction generally opposite the third rounded projection.

13. The head wrap of claim 10, comprising a compression bladder disposed outwardly of the fluid bladder and coextensive with the fluid bladder.

14. A method of using a head wrap to conform to a wearer'"'"'s head, the method comprising:

applying a body of the head wrap to an occipital region of a wearer'"'"'s scalp;

coupling a first arm that extends from the body to a second arm that extends from the body, the second arm extending along a common axis bisecting a longitudinal portion of the first arm and the second arm;

coupling a first rounded projection that extends from the first arm to a fourth rounded projection that extends from the second arm, the first rounded projection and the fourth rounded projection extending from the first arm on the same side of the common axis as a center rounded projection;

coupling a second rounded projection that extends from the first arm to a third rounded projection that extends from the second arm, the second rounded projection and the third rounded projection extending from the second arm on the same side of the common axis as the center rounded projection;

coupling the center rounded projection that extends from the body to at least one of the first arm and the second arm, the center rounded projection overlapping at least one of the first arm and the second arm; and

circulating a heat-transfer fluid through a fluid bladder via a first fluid port and a second fluid port.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising applying a compressed gas to a compression bladder via a compression port.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising:

placing a cap on the wearer'"'"'s head over the head wrap;

adjusting the cap via selective adjustable connection of a plurality of tabs, the plurality of tabs being aligned with a sagittal line of the wearer'"'"'s scalp; and

securing the cap.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the securing the cap comprises utilizing at least one of a cap securement device and a chin portion.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising at least one of cooling and heating the scalp via application of the heat-transfer fluid.