PORTABLE PATIENT TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20100152821A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otivio AS
• Original Assignee: Thermonor AS
• Inventors: Land, Nils Henrik, Rein, Erling Bekkestad
• Granted Patent: US 8,657,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide devices and methods for the in situ or in transit adjustment of the core body temperature of a patient. Devices according to some embodiments include a control unit and pressure chamber adapted to apply a pulsating negative pressure to a limb of the patient. An adjustment temperature applied during the application of the pulsating pressure can heat or cool the patient as necessary. Devices and methods disclosed herein can provide for efficient heating and/or cooling of a patient. In addition, devices and methods provide such functionality in a portable device that can be manually carried by an individual.

Claims

1. A portable device for in situ or in transit adjustment of a core body temperature of a patient, the device comprising:

a thermal transfer sleeve adapted to receive a limb of the patient such that the thermal transfer sleeve is in contact with the limb;

a pressure chamber comprising (a) a substantially rigid casing adapted to receive the limb and thermal transfer sleeve, and (b) a heat transfer element adapted to apply an adjustment temperature within the casing; and

a control unit connectable to the pressure chamber and adapted, when connected to the pressure chamber, to alternatingly introduce a negative pressure to the pressure chamber during a negative pressure period and release the negative pressure from the pressure chamber to restore the pressure chamber to approximately atmospheric pressure during an atmospheric pressure period,

wherein the thermal transfer sleeve, pressure chamber, and control unit are configured to fit within a carrying case such that the portable device and the carrying case can be manually carried by an individual.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the limb is an arm.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein when the thermal transfer sleeve has received the limb, the thermal transfer sleeve is in skin-tight contact with the limb.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer sleeve comprises a wettable material formed to receive the limb, the wettable material adapted to be wetted with a liquid.

5. The portable device of claim 4, wherein when the limb and thermal transfer sleeve are installed within the pressure chamber, substantially all of the liquid within the pressure chamber is contained within the thermal transfer sleeve.

6. The portable device of claim 4, wherein the wettable material is a high-absorbency material.

7. The portable device of claim 4, wherein the liquid is water.

8. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the control unit and pressure chamber when connected, comprise a substantially closed system in that (a) introducing the negative pressure to the pressure chamber comprises transferring an amount of air from the pressure chamber to the control unit and (b) releasing the negative pressure from the pressure chamber comprises transferring substantially the same amount of air from the control unit to the pressure chamber.

9. The portable device of claim 1, wherein during operation substantially all air flow caused by the introduction and release of the negative pressure is contained within the control unit and the pressure chamber.

10. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a portable housing having first and second chambers and a connector input for providing fluid connection to the pressure chamber, the second chamber being substantially air impermeable;

a pump coupled to the portable housing and being (a) in fluid communication with the second chamber and (b) adapted to displace air from the second chamber;

a valve coupled to the housing and adapted to alternatingly connect the connector input with the first chamber and the second chamber;

a controller adapted to control (a) the pump and valve, thereby controlling the introduction and the release of the negative pressure to and from the pressure chamber and (b) the adjustment temperature applied within the pressure chamber; and

a power supply coupled to the portable housing and adapted to supply power to the pump, the valve, the controller, and the heating/cooling element.

11. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the casing is anatomically formed to substantially conform to the limb.

12. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the limb is an arm and the casing is formed to substantially conform to the arm, the casing comprising a narrower wrist portion disposed between wider hand and forearm portions.

13. The portable device of claim 11, wherein the casing is expandable to facilitate insertion of the limb.

14. The portable device of claim 13, wherein the casing is hinged along one side edge and expandable in that it is openable along an opposed side edge.

15. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the opposed side edge includes one or more alignment members proximate the opposed side edge adapted to prevent misalignment during opening and closing of the casing.

16. The portable device of claim 13, the pressure chamber further comprising:

a substantially elastic outer shell positioned about an exterior surface of the casing, the outer shell adapted to bias the casing closed, yet to allow for expansion of the casing to facilitate insertion of the limb.

17. The portable device of claim 16, wherein the outer shell comprises Neoprene.

18. The portable device of claim 1, the pressure chamber further comprising an extension feature providing for extension of the pressure chamber thereby allowing a larger portion of the limb to be received.

19. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer element comprises:

a mitten positioned inside the casing adapted to contact the thermal transfer sleeve when the limb and thermal transfer sleeve are received in the casing; and

one or more thermoelectric devices installed within the mitten and adapted to thermally communicate with the limb when the limb and thermal transfer sleeve are received in the casing.

20. The portable device of claim 19, wherein the mitten comprises Neoprene.

21. The portable device of claim 19, wherein the heat transfer element further comprises a temperature sensor connected with thermal control circuitry for regulating the adjustment temperature.

22. The portable device of claim 1, the pressure chamber further comprising:

a seal element adapted to seal the pressure chamber about the limb when the limb is received by the pressure chamber.

23. The portable device of claim 22, wherein the seal element comprises a cuff comprising a stretchable material.

24. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising the carrying case.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of alternatingly introducing and releasing the negative pressure comprises introducing the negative pressure for approximately 10 seconds and releasing the negative pressure for approximately 7 seconds.

25. A portable device for the adjustment of a core temperature of a patient, the portable device comprising:

a thermal transfer sleeve, adapted to receive a limb of the patient and to be wetted such that the thermal transfer sleeve is in contact with a surface of the limb and air between the thermal transfer sleeve and the surface is minimized;

a pressure chamber, adapted to receive the limb and the thermal transfer sleeve and to apply an adjustment temperature to the limb via the thermal transfer sleeve; and

a control unit connectable to the pressure chamber and adapted, when connected to the pressure chamber, to alternatingly introduce a negative pressure to the pressure chamber during a negative pressure period and release the negative pressure from the pressure chamber to restore the pressure chamber to approximately atmospheric pressure during an atmospheric pressure period,

wherein, when the limb and the thermal transfer sleeve are inserted into the pressure chamber substantially all of any liquid within the pressure chamber is carried by the thermal transfer sleeve.

26. The portable device of claim 25, wherein the thermal transfer sleeve comprises a pre-wet sleeve.

27. The portable device of claim 25, wherein the control unit comprises:

a portable housing having first and second chambers and a connector input for providing fluid connection to the pressure chamber, the second chamber being substantially air impermeable;

a pump coupled to the portable housing and being (a) in fluid communication with the second chamber and (b) adapted to displace air from the second chamber;

a valve coupled to the housing and adapted to alternatingly connect the connector input with the first chamber and the second chamber;

a controller adapted to control (a) the pump and valve, thereby controlling the introduction and the release of the negative pressure to and from the pressure chamber and (b) the adjustment temperature applied within the pressure chamber; and

a power supply coupled to the portable housing and adapted to supply power to the pump, the valve, the controller, and the heating/cooling element.

28. The portable device of claim 27, wherein the pump outlet is in fluid communication with the first chamber.

29. The control unit of claim 27, wherein the first chamber is substantially air impermeable.

30. The control unit of claim 29, further comprising an escape valve mounted within the portable housing for periodically relieving an excess pressure build-up from the first chamber.

31. The portable device of claim 25, wherein the control unit is connectable to the pressure chamber by a length of flexible tubing.

32. A portable device for in situ or in transit adjustment of a core body temperature of a patient, the portable device comprising:

a portable pressure chamber adapted to receive a limb of the patient;

a thermal transfer means for receiving the limb of the patient, facilitating insertion of the limb into the portable pressure chamber, and, when inserted into the portable pressure chamber with the limb, carrying substantially all of any liquid within the portable pressure chamber;

a temperature adjustment means for applying an adjustment temperature to the thermal transfer means and thereby to the limb when the thermal transfer means and the limb are inserted into the portable pressure chamber; and

a pressure application means for alternatingly introducing a negative pressure about the limb and thermal transfer means during a negative pressure period and releasing the negative pressure to restore atmospheric pressure about the limb during an atmospheric pressure period when the thermal transfer means and the limb are inserted into the portable pressure chamber.

33. The portable device of claim 32, wherein the pressure application means alternatingly introduces and removes the negative pressure about the limb in a substantially square-wave fashion.

35. A method for in situ or in transit adjustment of a core body temperature of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a portable temperature management system configured to fit within a carrying case such that the carrying case and portable temperature management system can be manually carried by an individual, the portable temperature management system comprising (i) a thermal transfer sleeve, (ii) a pressure chamber comprising a substantially rigid casing and a heat transfer element within the casing, and (iii) a control unit connectable to the pressure chamber;

installing the thermal transfer sleeve about a limb of the patient;

inserting the limb having the thermal transfer sleeve installed thereon into the casing such that the limb is substantially sealed from external conditions;

activating the control unit, thereby (i) activating the heat transfer element to apply an adjustment temperature within the casing and (ii) alternatingly introducing a negative pressure within the pressure chamber and releasing the negative pressure from the pressure chamber.

34. The portable device of claim 35, wherein the portable device further comprises a carrying case, the portable pressure chamber, thermal transfer means, temperature adjustment means, and pressure application means being configured to fit within a carrying case such that the portable device and the carrying case can be manually carried by an individual.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the adjustment temperature is between 38.0°

C. and 43.5°

C.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the adjustment temperature is 43.0°

C.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the adjustment temperature is between 20.0°

C. and 25.0°

C.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the adjustment temperature is 23.0°

C.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of alternatingly introducing and releasing the negative pressure comprises introducing the negative pressure for approximately 10 seconds.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of alternatingly introducing and releasing the negative pressure comprises releasing the negative pressure for approximately 7 seconds.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein the negative pressure is between −

20 mmHg and −

80 mmHg (−

2.7 kPa and −

10.7 kPa).

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the negative pressure is −

40 mmHg (−

5.3 kPa).