Thermal cushion and device comprising such a cushion

Abstract

The inventive heating cushion consists of a system of blocs (1) which comprise a thermal material, are separated by interstices (8) containing a deformable thermal material (10), are connected by joints provided with elastic solid bodies which are fixed to the blocs and form said deformable thermal material and/or elastic membranes (7) which are fixed to the blocs (1) and are tensioned for compressing a deformable body arranged in the interstices (8) and/or the joints (6) which are permeable to a fluid contained in the interstices.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to thermal cushions and to their use. STATE OF THE ART [0002] The hospital sector and ambulatory medicine are major users of thermal cushions, in particular for external thermal regulation and in order to relieve pain or in various therapies such as for example cryotherapy. [0003] Indeed, it is known that the application of cold can relieve pain (headaches, migraine, toothaches, muscular or inflammatory pains, etc.) or encourage the resorption of hematomas, edemas and the healing of accidental or surgical wounds. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,230 proposes a coolant cushion that uses the latent heat of fusion of a solid substance. During this fusion phase, the temperature remains constant. The cushion comprises a layer of insoluble and hydrophilic gel in a sealed and flexible envelope. An inert and flexible substrate (for example fibres or a fabric), immersed in the gel, serves to strengthen the mechanical resistance of the cushion and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0070] In another variant of the embodiment described above, a panel is articulated to the shell and sized in such a way that it can form, together with the shell, a hermetic chamber comprising the thermal cushion. In this variant of the device according to the invention, the thermal cushion and the shell form an integral part of a hermetic case used for handling the device. By using a panel that is suitably insulated, the device thus designed allows to maintain predetermined thermal properties. In t

Problems solved by technology

This known cushion has the drawback of being difficult and expensive to produce, its performances are weak and its applications limited.

These known cushions nevertheless have the drawback of requiring an expensive gel and their manufacture is delicate and costly.

On the other hand, it has the drawback of a short working life since the production of cold does not result from the latent heat of fusion but from the gradual reheating of the gel.

Moreover, the productivity of the cushion (the production of cold or the extraction of calories per unit of time) is

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