Portable therapeutic cooling system

• US 7,637,931 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huntleigh Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Heaton, Keith Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Roy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, KAITLYN ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US11/175,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 607/107, 607/104, 607/109
• US Class Current: 607/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0057 of gas, e.g. air or carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0233 connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments A61F2007/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling

Abstract

A disposable portable therapeutic cooling system that utilizes convective cooling and re-circulated air to efficiently, safely, and effectively cool the head and body of the patient, clothed or not, after a life-threatening health event, such as a cardiac arrest or stroke.

Claims

1. A portable therapeutic cooling system, comprising:

a thermal control unit;

an output device coupled to the thermal control unit;

a temperature sensor communicating with the thermal control unit and the output device;

a cooling source connected to the thermal control unit and the output device;

an air blower electrically connected to the thermal control and the output device; and

a pressure sensor connected to the thermal control unit and the output device;

wherein the thermal control unit is adapted to control the temperature in the output device;

wherein the cooling source is compressed gas in a compressed gas container;

wherein the compressed gas container is connected to a proportional valve; and

wherein the proportional valve is connected to a dilution device.

2. The portable therapeutic cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger connected to the cooling source and thermal control unit, and to the output device.

3. The portable therapeutic cooling system of claim 2, wherein the compressed gas-container is connected to a proportional valve, which is connected to the thermal control unit and adapted to proportion the amount of compressed gas released from the compressed gas container to the output device based on input from the thermal control unit.

4. The portable therapeutic cooling system of claim 3, wherein the compressed gas is liquid.

5. The portable therapeutic cooling system of claim 1, wherein the output device is selected from the group consisting of a unitary head and body suit adapted to enclose a patient, a hood adapted to enclose a patient'"'"'s head, or a body suit adapted to enclose a patient'"'"'s body.

6. The portable therapeutic cooling system of claim 1, wherein the output device is disposable.

7. The portable therapeutic cooling system of claim 1, wherein the output device is inflatable.