Devices and methods for therapeutic heat treatment

• US 9,937,072 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carewave Medical, Inc
• Original Assignee: Carewave Medical, Inc
• Inventors: Chabal, Charles, Dunbar, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Kaitlyn
• Application Number:
  US14/075,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20140194958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0024 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0094 using a remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0295 for heating or cooling or use at more than one temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling

Abstract

Devices and methods for providing therapeutic heating are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the system includes a device body configured to provide heat to a portion of skin. The device body also includes a low-level heating region and a high-level heating area. The low-level heating region provides a continuous amount of heat at a first temperature, and the high-level heating area provides an intermittent amount of heat at a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

Claims

1. A method of applying heat to a living body, the method comprising:

applying a constant heat to a first area of the body by a first heating element at a first temperature; and

applying intermittent heat to a second area of the body by a second heating element at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, wherein a plurality of cycles of the intermittent heat are applied during applying the constant heat.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second temperature is generally within 42°

C. and 55°

C.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second temperature is about 0.1°

C. to 25°

C. higher than the first temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second area of the body includes a plurality of discrete regions located around and between the first area of the body.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first area of the body is generally U-shaped and the second area of the body includes a plurality of discrete regions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the constant heat is generated by a chemical reaction.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the intermittent heat is provided by a power source.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are carried by a car seat.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are connected to an adapter configured to draw electrical power from a car.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are carried by a vest.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are carried by a glove.

12. A method of exciting thermal receptors in a living organism, the method comprising:

heating a first portion of skin with a generally constant heat at a first temperature; and

heating a second portion of skin with a burst of heat at a predetermined second temperature above the first temperature, wherein the burst of heat starts and ends while heating the first portion of skin with the generally constant heat.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the burst of heat is provided from an electrical source.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined second temperature is generally within 42°

C. and 55°

C.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined second temperature is about 0.1°

C. to 25°

C. higher than the first temperature.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the second portion of skin includes a plurality of discrete areas having sizes selected from a group consisting of about 1 mm², about 9 mm², or about 1600 mm².