Methods and apparatus for adjusting body core temperature

• US 7,160,316 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AVAcore Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynatherm Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Fisher, H. Lawson, Titsworth, Loren D., Hickerson, Barry, Kane, John Roy, Hamilton, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, III; Henry M
• Application Number:
  US10/948,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 607 96-114, 128/898, 2 8/2
• US Class Current: 607/111
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0036 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0045 Foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/023 Rooms for the treatment of patients at over- or under-pressure or at a variable pressure

Abstract

A method and apparatus for adjusting body core temperature are provided. The apparatus comprises an appendage chamber that is adapted to be disassembled from a heat exchange element. In one aspect, the appendage chamber is disposable. The appendage chamber provides a negative pressure environment for a patient'"'"'s appendage placed therein. An appendage is heated and exposed to a negative pressure environment within the apparatus to efficiently raise or maintain the body core temperature of the patient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for regulating a body core temperature, comprising:

a heat exchange element; and

an appendage chamber adapted to be disassembled from the heat exchange element and having an appendage seal attached thereon, the appendage chamber comprising;

an upper housing and a lower housing, wherein a lower surface of the upper housing of the chamber is attached to an upper surface of the lower housing of the chamber, and a lower surface of the lower housing of the chamber is attached to an upper surface of the heat exchange element;

a first gasket between the lower surface of the upper housing of the chamber and the upper surface of the lower housing of the chamber; and

a second gasket between the lower surface of the lower housing of the chamber and the upper surface of the heat exchange element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the appendage chamber is disposable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the appendage chamber comprises an acrylic material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange element comprises one or more protruding portions that are received by one or more recessed regions in the appendage chamber such that the heat exchange element and the appendage chamber are attached.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the heat exchange element comprises an actuator adapted to retract the one or more protruding portions of the heat exchange element from the one or more recessed regions in the appendage chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange element comprises a vacuum port and a vacuum sensor port.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange element is attached to a source of a heat exchange medium in a closed loop configuration.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower housing defines an aperture adapted to receive a portion of the heat exchange element therethrough.

9. An apparatus for regulating a body core temperature, comprising:

a heat exchange element; and

an appendage chamber having an appendage seal attached thereon, the appendage chamber comprising an upper housing and a tower housing, wherein the upper housing comprises a strap adapted to hold an appendage disposed in the apparatus on the heat exchange element, and wherein the appendage chamber is adapted to be disassembled from the heat exchange element.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the appendage chamber is disposable.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the appendage chamber comprises an acrylic material.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the heat exchange element comprises one or more protruding portions that are received by one or more recessed regions in the appendage chamber such that the heat exchange element and the appendage chamber are attached.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the heat exchange element further comprises an actuator adapted to retract the one or more protruding portions of the heat exchange element from the one or more recessed regions in the appendage chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the heat exchange element comprises a vacuum port and a vacuum sensor port.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the heat exchange element is attached to a source of a heat exchange medium in a closed loop configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lower housing defines an aperture adapted to receive a portion of the heat exchange element therethrough.

17. An apparatus for regulating a body core temperature, comprising:

a heat exchange element, wherein the heat exchange element maintains an impression of a hand to hold an appendage disposed in the apparatus on the heat exchange element; and

an appendage chamber having an appendage seal attached thereon, wherein the appendage chamber is adapted to be disassembled from the heat exchange element, and the appendage chamber comprises an upper housing and a lower housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the appendage chamber is disposable.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the appendage chamber comprises an acrylic material.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heat exchange element comprises one or more protruding portions that are received by one or more recessed regions in the appendage chamber such that the heat exchange element and the appendage chamber are attached.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the heat exchange element further comprises an actuator adapted to retract the one or more protruding portions of the heat exchange element from the one or more recessed regions in the appendage chamber.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heat exchange element comprises a vacuum port and a vacuum sensor port.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heat exchange element is attached to a source of a heat exchange medium in a closed loop configuration.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the lower housing defines an aperture adapted to receive a portion of the heat exchange element therethrough.

25. An apparatus for regulating a body core temperature, comprising:

a heat exchange element, wherein the heat exchange element is coated with a substance with adhesive properties to hold an appendage thereon; and

an appendage chamber having an appendage seal attached thereon, wherein the appendage chamber is adapted to be disassembled from the heat exchange element, and the appendage chamber comprises an upper housing and a lower housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the appendage chamber is disposable.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the appendage chamber comprises an acrylic material.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the heat exchange element comprises one or more protruding portions that are received by one or more recessed regions in the appendage chamber such that the heat exchange element and the appendage chamber are attached.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the heat exchange element comprises an actuator adapted to retract the one or more protruding portions of the heat exchange element from the one or more recessed regions in the appendage chamber.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the heat exchange element comprises a vacuum port and a vacuum sensor port.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the heat exchange element is attached to a source of a heat exchange medium in a closed loop configuration.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the lower housing defines an aperture adapted to receive a portion of the heat exchange element therethrough.

33. A method of regulating a body core temperature, comprising:

deploying an appendage chamber from a collapsed state;

placing an appendage in an apparatus comprising the appendage chamber having an appendage seal attached thereon and a heat exchange element;

heating the appendage; and

exposing the appendage to negative pressure.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the negative pressure is between about 0 and about 85 mm Hg below ambient pressure.

35. A method of regulating a body core temperature, comprising:

applying a heat conductive paste to an appendage;

placing the appendage in an apparatus comprising an appendage chamber having an appendage seal attached thereon and a heat exchange element;

heating the appendage; and

exposing the appendage to negative pressure.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the negative pressure is between about 0 and about 85 mm Hg below ambient pressure.

37. A method of regulating a body core temperature, comprising:

applying a topical vasodilator to an appendage;

placing the appendage in an apparatus comprising an appendage chamber having an appendage seal attached thereon and a heat exchange element;

heating the appendage; and

exposing the appendage to negative pressure.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the negative pressure is between about 0 and about 85 mm Hg below ambient pressure.