Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a surface

• US 6,648,904 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burke, James III, Altshuler, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON III, HENRY M
• Application Number:
  US09/996,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20030100936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 601/20, 601/19, 601/15, 607/96, 607/147, 492/46
• US Class Current: 607/96
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0063 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0087 Hand-held applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0089 Chemotherapy developing heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0098 ways of manufacturing heating or cooling devices for therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0292 using latent heat produced or absorbed during phase change of materials, e.g. of super-cooled solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/108 Cold packs, i.e. devices to be cooled or frozen in refrigerator or freezing compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/005 for cooling the radiator
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0668 : Apparatus adapted for operation in a moist environment, e.g. bath or shower
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 : Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0617 : Hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/871 : with environmental regulation means

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the temperature of a surface to preheat or precool the surface, to heat or cool the surface to effect a therapeutic treatment or to post-heat or post-cool the surface. A roller, preferably mounted to a handle, is provided which contains a material which is heated or cooled prior to treatment as appropriate so as to undergo a phase change and is then rolled over the surface the temperature of which is to be controlled, gradually undergoing a phase change to return to its initial state as it is rolled over the surface to effect the desired heating or cooling of the surface. The roller preferably has a large internal surface area in contact with the material undergoing the phase change.

Claims

1. A device for cooling a surface including:

a roller formed of a material having good heat transfer properties, said roller having an external surface and a plurality of internal channels formed therethrough, each of said channels having internal walls adapted to be in contact with a medium undergoing a heat absorbing phase change; and

a handle which, when connected to the roller, facilitates the rolling of the roller over the surface to be cooled.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the roller is formed of a metal.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said external surface is cylindrical.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said external surface has a plurality of faces.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said faces are substantially flat.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said medium is in each of said channels, and wherein said heat absorbing phase change of the medium is from solid to liquid.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said medium is at least primarily water.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said roller has an axis and each of said channels extends substantially parallel to said axis.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said roller has opposed ends, and including an end cap attachable to seal each end.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said handle attaches to said end caps.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said medium is sealed in said roller.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a temperature sensor for said external surface.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said temperature sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensitive strip affixed to said external surface, a characteristic of which varies with temperature, and a thermocouple embedded in said external surface.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12 including a display for said temperature sensor.

15. A device for controlling the temperature of a surface including:

a roller formed of a material having good heat transfer properties, said roller having an external surface and a plurality of channels extending therethrough, each of said channels having internal walls adapted to be in contact with a heat transfer medium which undergoes a phase change at a temperature close to the temperature at which the surface is to be controlled, which phase change results in one of the generation of heat if the temperature of the surface is to be raised and the absorption of heat if the temperature of the surface is to be lowered; and

a handle which, when connected to the roller, facilitates the rolling of the roller over the surface the temperature of which is to be controlled.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the roller is formed of a metal.

17. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said external surface is cylindrical.

18. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said external surface has a plurality of faces.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein said faces are substantially flat.

20. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said heat transfer medium is in each of said channels, and wherein said heat absorbing phase change of the medium is from solid to liquid.

21. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the heat generating phase change is from liquid to solid.

22. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said roller has opposed ends, and including an end cap attachable to seal each end.

23. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said medium is sealed in said roller.

24. A device as claimed in claim 15 including a temperature sensor for said external surface.

25. A device as claimed in claim 24 wherein said temperature sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensitive strip affixed to said external surface, a characteristic of which varies with temperature, and a thermocouple embedded in said external surface.

26. A device as claimed in claim 24 including a display for said temperature sensor.

27. A method for controlling the temperature of a patient'"'"'s skin including:

providing a roller having a material contained therein and in contact with internal walls of a plurality of channels formed in the roller, which material is in a state which causes the roller to be at a temperature close to the temperature to which the patient'"'"'s skin is to be controlled; and

rolling the roller over a surface of the patient'"'"'s skin at a rate so as to bring the skin surface to the controlled temperature, the material selectively undergoing a state change as the roller is being rolled over the skin surface.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the material is initially in a solid frozen state and undergoes a gradual change to a liquid state during said rolling step, the surface of the patient'"'"'s skin being cooled during said rolling step.

29. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the material is initially in a heated liquid state and undergoes a gradual change to a solid state during said rolling step to heat the surface of the patient'"'"'s skin.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein said rolling step is performed under pressure resulting in at least some massaging of the patient'"'"'s skin.

31. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein, during said providing step, first and second rollers are provided, each having a material therein which is in a different state, the material in the first roller heating the first roller and the material in the second roller cooling the second roller;

and wherein, during said rolling step, said first and second rollers are alternately rolled over an area of the patient'"'"'s skin.

32. A roller adapted for use in a device for controlling a surface'"'"'s temperature, the roller having an external surface and a plurality of internal channels, each said channel being sealed to seal therein a heat transfer medium which undergoes a phase change at a temperature close to the temperature at which the surface is to be controlled and having walls adapted to be in contact with said heat transfer medium.