Therapeutic nonambient temperature fluid circulation system

• US 5,330,519 A
• Filed: 07/30/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Breg Incorporated (Breg Acquisition Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Breg Incorporated (Breg Acquisition Corp.)
• Inventors: Mason, Jeffrey T., Mason, Bradley R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mollo, Jeanne M.
• Application Number:
  US08/100,047
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 602/13, 602/14, 128/24 R, 128/24.1, 128/64, 128/DIG. 20, 607/96, 607/104, 607/108
• US Class Current: 607/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0274 the walls being reduced to spot connections, e.g. spot welds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/05816 Inflatable splints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories

Abstract

A device is provided for therapeutically treating a desired region of a patient'"'"'s body with a nonambient temperature fluid which is circulated through a pad having a tortuous fluid pathway which is positioned on the treatment region. The device has fluid inlet and outlet lines, each having an end connected to the pad and an opposite end positioned in a reservoir containing the nonambient temperature fluid, thereby providing fluid communication between the pad and the reservoir, and enabling continuous circulation of the fluid therebetween. Fluid drive is provided by a submersible pump at the end of the fluid inlet line in the reservoir. Temperature control of the pad is enabled by an in-line valve and temperature monitor positioned in the outlet line.

Claims

1. A device for therapeutically treating a desired portion of the body of a patient with a nonambient temperature therapeutic treatment fluid comprising:

a pad positionable on the desired portion of the body, said pad having a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, and a continuous pad flowpath from said inlet port to said outlet port for circulation of a nonambient temperature therapeutic treatment fluid therethrough;

a fluid inlet line having two ends, a first inlet end in fluid communication with a therapeutic treatment fluid source and a second inlet end connected to said fluid inlet port;

a fluid outlet line having two ends, a first outlet end in fluid communication with the fluid source and a second outlet end connected to said fluid outlet port;

means for driving a therapeutic treatment fluid through said pad flowpath; and

means for maintaining a fluid back pressure in said pad flowpath.

2. A device for treating the body with a nonambient temperature fluid as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid back pressure maintaining means is a flow restriction positioned downstream of said pad flowpath.

3. A device for treating the body with a nonambient temperature fluid as recited in claim 2, wherein said flow restriction has a smaller inside diameter than said fluid inlet line.

4. A device for treating the body with a nonambient temperature fluid as recited in claim 3, wherein said inside diameter of said flow restriction is adjustable to selectively determine the fluid back pressure in said pad flowpath.

5. A device for treating the body with a nonambient temperature fluid as recited in claim 3, wherein said inside diameter of said flow restriction is adjustable to selectively determine the flow rate of the therapeutic treatment fluid through said pad flowpath.

6. A device for treating the body with a nonambient temperature fluid as recited in claim 1, further comprising means positioned in said fluid inlet line or said fluid outlet line for measuring the temperature of the therapeutic treatment fluid in said respective fluid line.