Therapeutic treatment device having a heat transfer element and a pump for circulating a treatment fluid therethrough
First Claim
1. A therapeutic treatment device for heating or cooling a treatment region of the body with a nonambient temperature treatment fluid comprising:
- a heat transfer element having an element port;
a passive fluid reservoir for retaining a nonambient temperature treatment fluid;
a fluid flow line having two ends, a first end in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir and a second end in fluid communication with said element port; and
a pump in fluid communication with said fluid flow line for driving treatment fluid from said fluid reservoir to said heat transfer element via said fluid flow line at a pumping flow rate when said pump is activated; and
means in fluid communication with said heat transfer element for leaking back treatment fluid from said heat transfer element to said fluid reservoir when said pump is inactivated at a leak-back flow rate substantially less than said pumping flow rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device is provided for therapeutically treating a desired region of a patient'"'"'s body with a nonambient temperature treatment fluid circulated through a pliant heat transfer element positioned on the treatment region. In accordance with one embodiment, the device has a fluid inlet line supplying the treatment fluid to the heat transfer element from a fluid reservoir, and a fluid outlet line returning the treatment fluid to the fluid reservoir from the heat transfer element. The inlet and outlet lines are enclosed within a unitary sheath and a manual bulb pump is provided for driving the nonambient temperature treatment fluid between the reservoir and the heat transfer element. In accordance with another embodiment, fluid drive is provided by a motor-driven submersible pump positioned in the reservoir. Temperature control of the heat transfer element is enabled by adjusting the fluid flow rate therethrough. In accordance with yet another embodiment, the device has a pump and a single fluid flow line. A network of valves and fittings are provided in the fluid flow line to enable alternate fluid flow from the reservoir to the heat transfer element and from the heat transfer element to the reservoir.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A therapeutic treatment device for heating or cooling a treatment region of the body with a nonambient temperature treatment fluid comprising:
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a heat transfer element having an element port; a passive fluid reservoir for retaining a nonambient temperature treatment fluid; a fluid flow line having two ends, a first end in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir and a second end in fluid communication with said element port; and a pump in fluid communication with said fluid flow line for driving treatment fluid from said fluid reservoir to said heat transfer element via said fluid flow line at a pumping flow rate when said pump is activated; and means in fluid communication with said heat transfer element for leaking back treatment fluid from said heat transfer element to said fluid reservoir when said pump is inactivated at a leak-back flow rate substantially less than said pumping flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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2. A therapeutic treatment device as recited in claim wherein said pump is a manually compressible elastic bulb positioned in said fluid flow line having a pump inlet port and a pump outlet port.
- 3. A therapeutic treatment device as recited in claim wherein said leak-back means comprises a leak-back valve positioned at said pump outlet port permitting flow of treatment fluid at said pumping flow rate in the direction of said heat transfer element and permitting flow of treatment fluid in the direction of said fluid reservoir at said leak-back flow rate.
Specification