Support apparatus with localized cooling of high-contact-pressure body surface areas
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for supporting a body while selectively cooling areas of the body in contact with the apparatus, comprising:
- a cooling layer;
a layer of compressible, thermally insulating material disposed over the cooling layer;
a surface on the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material;
a thermally conductive material disposed in the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material and acting between the cooling layer and the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material;
the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material being responsive to pressure exerted against the surface for providing a thermal resistance between the surface and the cooling layer that varies inversely with the pressure; and
means for maintaining the cooling layer at a predetermined temperature that is below normal human body temperature.
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Abstract
A focal cooling apparatus includes a cooling, or heat sinking, layer over which a layer of compressible, thermally insulating material is disposed. The layer of compressible, thermally insulating material has a surface for supporting a portion of a human (or animal) body. The layer of compressible, thermally insulating material responds to pressure exerted against the surface by exhibiting a thermal resistance between the surface and the cooling layer that varies inversely with the pressure. Means are provided for maintaining the cooling layer at a predetermined temperature below normal human temperature.
84 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting a body while selectively cooling areas of the body in contact with the apparatus, comprising:
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a cooling layer; a layer of compressible, thermally insulating material disposed over the cooling layer; a surface on the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material; a thermally conductive material disposed in the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material and acting between the cooling layer and the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material; the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material being responsive to pressure exerted against the surface for providing a thermal resistance between the surface and the cooling layer that varies inversely with the pressure; and means for maintaining the cooling layer at a predetermined temperature that is below normal human body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A support pad for supporting a sitting or supine human body, comprising:
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a cooling layer; a layer of compressible, thermally insulating material disposed over the cooling layer; a surface on the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material; a thermally conductive material disposed in the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material and acting between the cooling layer and the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material; the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material being responsive to pressure exerted against the surface for providing a thermal resistance between the surface and the cooling layer that varies inversely with the pressure; and a support pad supporting the cooling layer such that the cooling layer is between the support pad and the layer of compressible, thermally insulating material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification