Low-temperature bed

Abstract

The invention relates to a low-temperature bed (1) comprising at least one base body (2) placed on the ground, provided with at least one accommodation chamber (3) for floating liquid and at least one upper opening (4) for access to the accommodation chamber (3), the low-temperature bed comprising a device (8) for treating hypothermia of a user, the cryotherapy device comprises at least one holding and covering element (9) associated with the upper opening (4) and adapted to hold the user in the lying position, the holding and covering element (9) being provided with at least one refrigeration flap (10) that can be wrapped around at least a portion of the user's body for cryotherapy of the user's body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a cryogenic bed. BACKGROUND

[0002] So far, the practice of thermal type cosmetic treatments, i.e. the exposure of the patient's body to heating agents or cooling agents, possibly even in combination, is well known and increasingly popular.

[0003] Within the scope of the present disclosure, reference is mainly made to body thermal treatments involving the use of cooling agents, in particular cryogenic treatments.

[0004] Cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, is based on the therapeutic properties of cold and is used both in the medical field and in the purely cosmetic field.

[0005] In the medical field, cryotherapy is used to treat contractures or injuries of the musculoskeletal system, or diseases affecting the skin.

[0006] In the cosmetic field, cryogenic treatments are widely used because, from a psychophysiological point of view, they give the user beneficial effects and improve the level of firmness of the muscles and / or the skin.

[0007] Many of the beneficial effects of cryogenic treatments include slowing down skin aging and improving control over body weight and water retention.

[0008] Generally, cryogenic cosmetic treatments involve the complete or partial immersion of the user's body in a bath containing cooling elements, such as ice in the form of ice cubes and / or ice water.

[0009] Alternatively or in combination, the cooling elements can consist of liquid nitrogen sprayed onto the body of the person being treated.

[0010] However, cryogenic treatments carried out in the manner just mentioned have some drawbacks, mainly related to the difficulties encountered in their execution.

[0011] In particular, in order to be able to carry out cryogenic treatments optimally, it is necessary to implement a series of procedures that are auxiliary to the treatment itself, which are implemented both before and after the actual treatment.

[0012] First of all, the user who wants to undergo a cryogenic treatment must undress in order to avoid wetting the clothes once immersed in the refrigerant liquid or fluid.

[0013] After the treatment, since the skin of the person being treated is wet, it is necessary to dry the skin before allowing the user to put on their clothes.

[0014] It is easy to understand that the implementation of these procedures that are auxiliary to the treatment is both time-consuming and laborious.

[0015] This situation can even discourage the user from accepting a known type of cryotherapy, especially when they have little time available for the treatment.

[0016] In this regard, it is important to highlight that in the case of athletes who use cryotherapy to relieve cramps and / or relax the muscles after physical activity, it is preferable to perform the treatment immediately after the physical activity, in order to maximize the beneficial effects of the cryotherapy on the athlete's body.

[0017] The fact that the treatment must be prepared by undressing lengthens the time between the physical activity and the immersion in the bath, reducing the beneficial effects of the cryotherapy on the body, thus discouraging athletes from accepting this type of treatment.

[0018] Furthermore, not all users like the skin to be in direct contact with the cryogenic liquid or gas, much less the fact that this practice is actually dangerous for the safety of the user. SUMMARY

[0019] The main purpose of the present invention is to design a cryotherapy bed that allows to facilitate cryotherapy by simplifying and accelerating the performance of the cryotherapy.

[0020] Within the scope of this purpose, the present invention aims to design a cryotherapy bed that allows to reduce the number and / or duration of any operations performed in preparation for the treatment itself or at the end of the treatment.

[0021] Another purpose of the present invention is to design a cryotherapy bed that is able to meet the needs of the user, in particular in terms of saving time to obtain the same psychophysiological benefits as a result of the treatment.

[0022] As part of this purpose, it is an object of the present invention to design a cryotherapy bed that allows the user to fully immerse himself / herself in the treatment without having to go through other operations, such as undressing and dressing, or without having to have the cryogenic fluid in direct contact with their skin.

[0023] Furthermore, it is another purpose of the present invention to design a cryotherapy bed that makes cryotherapy particularly attractive to different types of users, for example, athletes who need a quick treatment to relieve any cramps and / or muscle-skeletal fatigue caused by physical exercise, or users who have little time available for the treatment.

[0024] It is another purpose of the present invention to design a cryotherapy bed that is able to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within a framework of simplicity, reasonableness, ease of use and use efficiency, as well as affordability.

[0025] The aforementioned purposes are achieved by a cryotherapy bed having the characteristics of claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Further features and advantages of the present application will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a hypothermia bed, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a hypothermia bed according to the present application;

[0028] Figure 2 is an exploded axonometric view of a hypothermia bed according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] With particular reference to these drawings, reference number 1 generally indicates a hypothermia bed.

[0030] The bed 1 comprises at least one base body 2 placed on the ground, provided with at least one containing chamber 3 of a flotation liquid and at least one upper opening 4 for accessing the containing chamber 3.

[0031] The base body 2 comprises a resting element 5 having a substantially parallelepiped configuration and arranged to rest on the ground.

[0032] The base body 2 comprises at least one containing element 6, 7 associated above the resting element 5, substantially hollow and internally defining the containing chamber 3.

[0033] In particular, the containing element 6, 7 comprises a substantially flat bottom wall 6 associated with the resting element 5 and arranged substantially horizontally, and a plurality of side walls 7 associated with the bottom wall 6 and arranged substantially perpendicularly to the bottom wall 6.

[0034] The side walls 7 define the upper opening 4 at the top.

[0035] The upper opening 4 has a substantially rectangular configuration.

[0036] Preferably, the flotation liquid is water.

[0037] According to the present application, the bed 1 comprises a hypothermia treatment device 8 for a user, comprising at least one holding and covering element 9 associated with the upper opening 4 and adapted to hold the user in a lying position.

[0038] The holding and covering element 9 is provided with at least one cooling fin 10 which can be wrapped around at least one portion of the user's body to perform a hypothermia treatment of the user's body.

[0039] The holding and covering element 9 is arranged to be placed at least partially on the edge of the upper opening 4 and partially on the flotation liquid.

[0040] Conveniently, the retaining and covering element 9 is associated with the upper opening 4 by plug-in connection means.

[0041] Preferably, the connection means comprises a frame-like element which is associated with the holding and covering element 9 and can be coupled with the upper opening 4 in a dimensionally matched manner.

[0042] In detail, the frame-like element and the upper opening 4 define an interlocking coupling.

[0043] Preferably, the holding and covering element 9 is at least partially made of plastic material.

[0044] Conveniently, the plastic material used to manufacture the retaining and covering element 9 is flexible and waterproof to floating liquids.

[0045] When the bed 1 is in use, the user lies on the retaining and covering element 9 and floats on the flotation fluid.

[0046] At the same time, the user arranges the cooling fins 10 around at least a portion of his or her body so as to cover at least a portion of the body; this enables the latter to benefit evenly from the cryogenic treatment.

[0047] The special technical means of providing the bed 1 with the retaining and covering elements 9 allow the user to undergo cryogenic treatment without their skin coming into direct contact with the refrigerant fluid.

[0048] This way, users do not need to undress before undergoing cryogenic treatment, nor do they need to dry their skin even after the treatment.

[0049] Likewise, the fact of floating the retaining and covering element 9 on the flotation liquid allows the user of the bed 1 to benefit from the relaxing effect caused by the flotation when lying on the liquid.

[0050] Advantageously, the refrigeration fin 10 comprises at least one cooling coil 11 through which at least one refrigerant fluid can flow and which extends over at least a portion of the refrigeration fin 10 .

[0051] The user's body in contact with the cooling fins 10 is cooled by the refrigerant fluid flowing through the cooling coil 11 .

[0052] Specifically, as will be described in detail below, the refrigerant fluid is at a predetermined temperature lower than the user's body temperature. When the refrigerant fluid comes into contact with the user's body, it heats up by absorbing heat from the user's body, thereby cooling the user's body and receiving hypothermia treatment.

[0053] Advantageously, the cooling coil 11 has a longitudinal extension that is substantially parallel to the user's body.

[0054] Preferably, in use, the cooling coil 11 lies on a substantially horizontal plane.

[0055] With specific reference to the embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, the cooling coil 11 almost spans the entire surface of the refrigerating fin 10, so as to substantially contact the entire body of the user in use.

[0056] In detail, the cooling coil 11 is not arranged in a position where a portion of the refrigerating fin 10 can be positioned in contact with the head of the user in use.

[0057] In this way, it is possible to avoid direct contact between the refrigerating fin 10 and the head of the user, which is known to be more delicate and sensitive to temperature variations.

[0058] Advantageously, the refrigerating fin 10 comprises at least one containing compartment 17 adapted to house the cooling coil 11.

[0059] In other words, the cooling coil 11 cannot be directly accessed from the outside.

[0060] The fact of arranging the cooling coil 11 in the containing compartment 17 prevents the direct contact of the body of the user with the cooling coil 11, thus increasing the comfort perceived by the user him / herself.

[0061] In fact, the cooling coil 11 is usually a tubular body made of plastic material, the direct contact of which with the body of the user can be unpleasant.

[0062] Therefore, in order not to generate discomfort in contact with the body of the user, the cooling coil 11 is placed inside the containing compartment 17.

[0063] For example, the plastic material used to make the cooling coil 11 is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU).

[0064] Furthermore, the fact of placing the cooling coil 11 inside the containing compartment 17 protects it from any external physical agents that could damage it.

[0065] Preferably, the refrigerating fin 10 comprises at least one first sheet element 12 and at least one second sheet element 13, which are mutually coupled to define the containing compartment 17

[0066] In fact, the edges of the sheet elements 12, 13 are associated with each other so that the sheet elements themselves define, internally, an empty volume that houses the cooling coil 11.

[0067] For example, the edges of the sheet elements 12, 13 are heat-sealed to each other.

[0068] Advantageously, the bed 1 comprises heat treatment means 14 suitable to cool the refrigerant fluid and to send the refrigerant fluid to the cooling coil 11 at a predetermined temperature.

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment of the bed 1, the refrigerant fluid is in liquid state.

[0070] In the present case, the refrigerant fluid is water.

[0071] However, it cannot be excluded from the scope of the present disclosure that the refrigerant fluid can be in gaseous state.

[0072] The predetermined temperature is the temperature value considered optimal in order to achieve the maximum benefit to the user's body when performing the cryotherapy.

[0073] Advantageously, the predetermined temperature value can be changed depending on the result to be achieved and / or in relation to the user's preferences.

[0074] In detail, the predetermined temperature is comprised between -10°C and 10°C, preferably between -5°C and 8°C, even more preferably between 4°C and 6°C.

[0075] Generally, the predetermined temperature brought by the refrigerant fluid is comprised between 4°C and 6°C; in fact, it can be noted that the user's body exposed to temperatures in this range provides a satisfactory comfort and excellent results in terms of quality of the cryotherapy.

[0076] Preferably, the heat treatment means 14 comprise treatment means of the refrigerant fluid which perform a refrigeration cycle on the refrigerant fluid to bring it to the predetermined temperature.

[0077] The heat treatment means 14 are connected in fluid operating manner to the cooling coil 11 and preferably comprise pumping means suitable to move the refrigerant fluid from the treatment means into the cooling coil 11.

[0078] With specific reference to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the heat treatment means 14 are arranged externally to the base body 2.

[0079] In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the heat treatment means 14 are built-in in the base body 2.

[0080] Conveniently, the bed 1 comprises at least one management and control unit configured so as to be able to monitor the heat treatment means 14 and to maintain the refrigerant fluid at the predetermined temperature.

[0081] Preferably, the heat treatment means 14 comprise a temperature sensor (not shown in the figures) suitable to detect the temperature of the refrigerant fluid.

[0082] The management and control unit (not shown in the figures) is operatively connected to the temperature sensor suitable to send the detected temperature value to the management and control unit.

[0083] In more detail, the management and control unit is programmable with a predefined temperature value and is operatively configured to compare the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor with the predetermined temperature value.

[0084] In the event that the management and control unit detects a difference between the detected temperature value and the predetermined temperature value, the heat treatment device 14 is activated to change the detected temperature value to substantially coincide with the predetermined temperature value.

[0085] In this way, it is possible to control the temperature of the refrigerant fluid sent to the cooling coil 11 so that the refrigeration fins 10 are at a predetermined temperature, thus being able to ensure the efficiency of the cryotherapy.

[0086] Conveniently, the holding and covering element 9 comprises at least two refrigeration fins 10, which in use are opposite each other with respect to the user's body and are adapted to wrap the body by overlapping each other.

[0087] With particular reference to the embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, the holding and covering element 9 comprises two refrigeration fins 10.

[0088] Precisely, the holding and covering element 9 comprises a central portion 15 located between the refrigeration fins 10, which is arranged to be placed on the free surface of the floating liquid through the upper opening 4.

[0089] The central portion 15 is adapted to support the user's body from below.

[0090] The central portion 15 has a substantially rectangular conformation and extends longitudinally along a longitudinal development axis substantially parallel to the bottom wall 6.

[0091] The central portion 15 has a surface extension substantially coinciding with the area of the upper opening 4.

[0092] The refrigeration fins 10 are arranged opposite with respect to the median plane passing through the holding and covering element 9.

[0093] In more detail, the edges of the refrigeration fins 10 are associated with the central portion 15; this means that the refrigeration fins 10 are associated with the two side edges 16 of the central portion 15, which are arranged opposite each other and extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal development axis of the central portion 15.

[0094] Conveniently, the refrigeration fins 10 extend substantially along the entire length of the side edges 16.

[0095] Preferably, during use of the bed 1, the user lies on the central portion 15 so that the longitudinal axis of his / her own body substantially coincides with the longitudinal development axis of the central portion 15 and by overlapping the cooling fins 10, the cooling fins 10 are arranged on his or her own body, wrapping the body inside the containment and covering element 9.

[0096] The provision of two cooling fins 10, each equipped with a respective cooling coil 11, makes it possible to achieve a synergic combination of thermal parameters which ensures a physiological response and benefits very similar to those obtainable during the execution of known types of hypothermia treatment, i.e. in which immersion and direct contact with the refrigerant fluid are provided.

[0097] In detail, these thermal parameters include the coefficient of heat transfer between the user's body and the cooling fins 10, the coefficient of immersion of the user's body and the percentage of contact between the user's skin and the cooling fins 10; the combination of the above parameters makes it possible to ensure a satisfactory body feeling comparable to that of the well-known hypothermic immersion treatments.

[0098] Furthermore, the fact of having two cooling coils 11 makes it possible to increase the level of heat exchange between the user's body and the refrigerant fluid; in fact, the recirculation of the refrigerant fluid inside the cooling coils 11 ensures a constant operating temperature during the treatment of the body surface.

[0099] Also, the presence of the cooling fins 10 and the relative cooling coils 11 placed on the user's body increases the total weight of the mass placed on the containment and covering element 9 compared to the case in which these cooling fins 10 are not present.

[0100] In this way, it is possible to increase the degree of immersion of the user in the floating liquid, thus improving the well-being perceived by the same user.

[0101] Furthermore, in these conditions, it is possible to increase the degree of adhesion of the containment and covering element 9 to the user's body, which is determined by the hydrostatic response of the floating liquid.

[0102] The fact of providing two cooling fins 10 makes it possible to maximize the effects of the hypothermia treatment.

[0103] Preferably, the floating liquid has a predetermined temperature.

[0104] In other words, the temperature of the floating liquid is comprised between -10°C and 10°C, preferably between -5°C and 8°C, even more preferably between 4°C and 6°C.

[0105] The fact of bringing the floating liquid to the predetermined temperature also allows the central portion 15 of the holding and covering element 9 to be cooled, so that the part of the user's body placed on the same central portion 15 can be directly cooled.

[0106] In practice, the entire holding and covering element 9 is cooled, the user being completely wrapped in the cooling body, to increase the effects and benefits of the cryogenic treatment.

[0107] Conveniently, the bed 1 comprises refrigeration means adapted to cool the refrigerant liquid to the predetermined temperature.

[0108] According to a preferred embodiment of the bed 1, the refrigeration means coincide with the thermal treatment means 14.

[0109] In this case, the treatment means perform a refrigeration cycle on the floating liquid to bring it to the predetermined temperature, and the pumping means move the refrigerated floating liquid from the treatment means themselves to the containment chamber 3.

[0110] According to an alternative embodiment of the bed 1, the refrigeration means are separate from the thermal treatment means 14 and comprise refrigeration means adapted to perform a refrigeration cycle on the floating liquid and a pump adapted to move the cold refrigerated floating liquid from the refrigeration means to the containment chamber 3.

[0111] The management and control unit is operatively connected to the refrigeration means and regulates their operation, similarly to the regulation of the thermal treatment means 14, so that the floating liquid sent to the containment chamber 3 is kept at the predetermined temperature.

[0112] The operation of the bed 1 according to the present application is as follows.

[0113] Initially, the thermal treatment means 14 and the refrigeration means are activated to bring the refrigerant fluid and the floating fluid to the predetermined temperature.

[0114] At the same time, the management and control unit compares the detected temperatures of the refrigerant fluid and the floating liquid with the predetermined temperature and takes action on the thermal treatment means 14 and / or the refrigeration means to make these values substantially coincide.

[0115] The user places himself / herself on the holding and covering element 9 and wraps the refrigeration flaps 10 around his / her own body.

[0116] In practice it has been determined that the described invention achieves the intended purposes.

[0117] First of all, using a holding and covering element equipped with two refrigeration flaps, it is possible to speed up and simplify the execution of the cryogenic treatment, since it reduces the frequency and duration of any operations to be performed in preparation for the treatment or at the end of the treatment.

[0118] In fact, thanks to the presence of the retaining and covering elements, the user undergoes cryogenic treatment without their skin coming into direct contact with the refrigerant fluid.

[0119] This way, users do not need to undress before undergoing cryogenic treatment, nor do they need to dry their skin even after the treatment.

[0120] This also results in a significant reduction in the overall time a user must spend undergoing a cryotherapy treatment.

[0121] In this way, the bed according to the invention allows for the performance of cryogenic treatments required by a wide range of users, including athletes, who require rapid treatment of any contractures and / or musculoskeletal fatigue resulting from physical exercise.

[0122] Furthermore, the fact of placing the retaining and covering element on the floating liquid allows the user of the bed to benefit from the relaxation effect caused by the flotation when lying on the liquid.

[0123] Likewise, use of a bed according to the present invention eliminates any risks faced by the user from immersing the body in cold water and / or exposing it to cryogenic gases such as liquid nitrogen.

Claims

1. A cryogenic bed (1) comprising at least one base (2) placed on the ground, said base (2) being provided with at least one receiving chamber (3) for a floating liquid and at least one upper opening (4) for accessing said receiving chamber (3), It is characterized by: The bed (1) comprises a cryogenic treatment device (8) for a user, the cryogenic treatment device (8) comprising at least one holding and covering element (9) associated with the upper opening (4), the holding and covering element (9) being adapted to hold the user in a lying position, the holding and covering element (9) being provided with at least one cooling fin (10) capable of being wrapped around at least a portion of the user's body to perform cryogenic treatment on the user's body.

2. The bed (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least one refrigeration fin (10) comprises at least one cooling coil (11) through which at least one refrigerant fluid can flow and which extends over at least a portion of the refrigeration fin (10).

3. Bed (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one refrigeration fin (10) comprises at least one receiving compartment (17) adapted to receive the cooling coil (11).

4. The bed (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The at least one refrigeration fin (10) comprises at least one first sheet element (12) and at least one second sheet element (13), which are coupled to each other to define the receiving compartment (17).

5. Bed (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The bed (1) comprises a heat treatment device (14) adapted to cool the refrigerant fluid and send it to the cooling coil (11) at a predetermined temperature.

6. The bed (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The heat treatment device (14) is arranged outside the base body (2).

7. The bed (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The heat treatment device (14) is built into the base body (2).

8. Bed (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The bed (1) comprises at least one management and control unit configured to monitor the heat treatment device (14) and to maintain the refrigerant fluid at the predetermined temperature.

9. Bed (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that Said predetermined temperature is comprised between -10°C and 10°C, preferably between -5°C and 8°C, even more preferably between 4°C and 6°C.

10. Bed (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The holding and covering element (9) comprises at least two of the cooling fins (10) which, in use, are arranged opposite each other relative to the body of the user and are adapted to wrap the body by overlapping each other.

11. Bed (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The holding and covering element (9) comprises a central portion (15) located between the cooling fins (10) and arranged to rest on the free surface of the floating liquid through the upper opening (4), the central portion (15) being suitable for supporting the user's body from below.

12. Bed (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The buoyant liquid has the predetermined temperature.

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