Cooling device and method

Abstract

A device for providing cooling to a body is disclosed. The device operates in response to a measured change in temperature of the body's skin surface over a predetermined period of time or manually in response to a perceived or anticipated change in body temperature by the user. The device includes a controller, a temperature sensor, a power source, a thermoelectric cooler, and a heat absorbing reservoir containing a phase change material. The thermoelectric cooler has a heat absorbing surface engageable with the body to be cooled and a heat rejecting surface engaged with the heat absorbing reservoir. The controller is operatively connected to the temperature sensor, the power source, and the thermoelectric cooler and activates the cooler when the temperature sensor provides signals indicative of a predetermined rate of temperature change or in manual mode by user. A method of treating hot flashes with the device is also disclosed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 773,945, filed Feb. 16, 2006, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a device that provides cooling to a body in response to a measured, sensed or anticipated change in the temperature of the body. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Hot flashes are sudden increases in core and surface body temperature and are perceived as intense increases in body temperature that are characteristically manifested by nearly instant flushing, sweating, dizziness, nausea, palpitations, and diaphoresis. Hot flashes can disrupt sleep, interfere with mental concentration and adversely affect the quality of life. Hot flashes are characterized by a sudden onset of warmth in the face, neck and chest. Hot flashes may occur many times per day and several times per hour. Hot flashes typicall...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The heat absorbing reservoir may be removably mounted on the heat rejecting surface of the thermoelectric cooler to allow for rapid replacement.

Problems solved by technology

Hot flashes can disrupt sleep, interfere with mental concentration and adversely affect the quality of life.

Hot flashes typically pass within minutes, but can be debilitating until their passage and during a complete recovery period that can last up to 30 minutes.

However, increasingly, women are reluctant to undertake this therapy because of a number of clinical trials that have indicated a significant correlation between HRT and an increased incidence of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer.

For this reason, many women have shunned HRT, leaving them with few effective alternatives for treating or controlling their hot flashes.

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