Scalp cooling cap cover

Abstract

A cover for a heat exchanger cap, the cover being provided with one or more internal straps, the or each internal strap being connected to one or more control elements located externally of the cover. The control element or elements being operable, when the heat exchanger cap is located on a patient's skull and the cap cover is located on the heat exchanger cap, to increase or decrease the pressure applied by the or each internal strap to the cap cover.

Description

[0001] Scalp Cooling Cap Cover

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention is concerned with covers for scalp cooling caps for application to the head of persons undergoing chemotherapy or a similar treatment in which the patient may suffer from the loss of hair.

[0004] Background to the Invention

[0005] Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) / hair-loss is widely recognised as one of the most traumatic side-effects of chemotherapy treatment. Without treatment CIA affects 3.5 million patients worldwide and over 67,000 in the UK annually.

[0006] It is known to cool the head of a patient during chemotherapy in order to reduce the extent and / or likelihood of hair loss by means of vasoconstriction. The cooling is effected by means of a heat exchanger cap comprising a layer of material which defines a passageway through which a heat transfer fluid may flow. The heat exchanger cap is kept securely in place on a patient’s head by means of a cap cover which applies a pressure to the heat exchanger cap to ensure that the heat exchanger cap is maintained as close to the scalp as possible, maintaining as much contact as possible to increase the amount of cooling of the patient’s scalp. The cap cover has a mechanism to compress the heat exchanger cap onto the scalp to achieve improved contact and fit, allowing an even fit to the heat exchanger cap which is essential for effective scalp cooling to reduce hair loss.

[0007] W02020 / 097601 discloses cap cover with one or two securing mechanisms located on the outside of the cap cover. The or each securing mechanism comprises a securing line and some form of tightening arrangement. Statements of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a cover for a heat exchanger cap, the cover being provided with one or more internal straps, the or each internal strap being connected to one or more control elements located externally of the cover, the control element or elements being operable, when the heat exchanger cap is located on a patient’s skull and the cap cover is located on the heat exchanger cap, to increase or decrease the pressure applied by the or each internal strap to the cap cover.

[0009] Accordingly, the cap cover’s internal fitting can be dynamically adjusted to secure the heat exchanger cap against the patient’s scalp via external pull cords or other control elements. Downward compression is achieved through external fastening / pulling mechanisms which control internal straps, allowing the patient to exert downward pressure on the inner cooling cap closer to the scalp and, therefore, improving fit and reducing contact variability.

[0010] Upon fastening, an inner cap which is pressed closer to the scalp leaves an air space between the mechanism and the outer cap cover of the wearer. This leaves an air gap for insulation.

[0011] Preferably, the cover is made of a soft, flexible material. More preferably, the helmet comprises of three layers, an inner layer for biocompatibility, middle for insulation and outer for cleanability. The inner layers may be a brushed nylon, the middle layer an open cell polyester polyurethane foam and the outer layer which is a polyurethane. For instance, the outer layer may be made of PU Bistretch (flame laminated).

[0012] Preferably, the straps are made of an elasticate material.

[0013] The control element or elements may be in the form of toggles which are connected to the straps by internal cords. Preferably, the cords are made of a non-elastic material, such as nylon.

[0014] Preferably, the cover includes two spaced apart straps. More preferably, the two straps extend laterally over the longitudinally extending centreline of the scalp.

[0015] Preferably, the cover includes bindings securable together below the chin. For instance, the bindings may be provided with hook and loop fastening elements to allow them to be secured together.

[0016] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a cover configured to be used with a heat exchanger cap, the cover being provided with one or more internal straps, the or each internal strap being connected to one or more control elements located externally of the cover, the control element or elements being operable, when the heat exchanger cap is located on a patient’s skull and the cap cover is located on the heat exchanger cap, to increase or decrease the pressure applied by the cover and / or each internal strap.

[0017] In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus including a heat exchanger cap and a cover for the heat exchanger cap, the cover being provided with one or more internal straps, the or each internal strap being connected to one or more control elements located externally of the cover, the control element or elements being operable, when the heat exchanger cap is located on a patient’s skull and the cap cover is located on the heat exchanger cap, to increase or decrease the pressure applied by the or each internal strap to the cap cover.

[0018] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] The accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0020] Figure 1 shows the interior of a cap over in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the cap cover of Figure 1;

[0021] Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the cap cover of Figure 1 being adjusted by a patient;

[0022] Figure 4 is a front view of the cap cover of the cop cover of Figure 1 located on a patient’s head;

[0023] Figure 5 shows the straps and control elements on a patient’s head in the absence of the main body of the cap cover;

[0024] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the cap cover of Figure 1 including the patient’s head;

[0025] Figure 7 is a side view of the cap cover of Figure 1 in position on a patient’s head;

[0026] Figure 8 is an exploded view of the straps and control elements on a patient’s head in the absence of the main body of the cap cover;

[0027] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the cap cover of Figure 1 showing the the straps and control elements; and

[0028] Figure 10 is a further view of the straps and control elements of the cap cover of Figure 1.

[0029] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0030] The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] A cap cover 1 is for use with a heat exchange cap for application to the head of a person undergoing chemotherapy or a similar treatment in which the patient may suffer from the loss of hair. Cap 1 includes an outer fabric in the form of a helmet- shaped insulating layer 3 which comprises an inner nylon layer, a TPU foam middle layer and an outer layer which is PU Bi-stretch (flame laminated).

[0032] Integral with layer 3 are nylon bindings 5 which are provided with hook and loop fastening elements and allow the cap cover to be secured around the patient’s head with the bindings 5 fastened together below the chin by elements 7.

[0033] Located adjacent the inner surface of layer 3 are two straps 9, in the form of elongate bands made of an elasticate / elastic material, which form part of an arrangement to compress the heat exchange cap onto the patient’s scalp to achieve improved contact therebetween. The arrangement further includes nylon cord loops 11, made of non-elastic Nylon Paracord, attached to each end of straps 9, each cord loop 11 having attached thereto a toggle stopper 13 and a cord pull clip 15. Toggle stoppers 13 allow the intensity of the downward force on the heat exchange cap to be adjusted and the toggle clips 15 facilitate good tactile grip as well as a visual indicator to the patient.

[0034] The toggle stoppers 13 extend from the cord loops 9 through eyelets 17 in layer 3 so that the cord pull clips 15 are located on the exterior of layer 3. This arrangement of straps which in use are located between the cap cover and the heat exchange cap and control elements located on the outside of the cap cover enable the patient to adjust to his or her satisfaction the downward pressure on the heat exchange cap, achieving both a good fit and reducing contact variability.

[0035] In general, the internal mechanism, including the straps 9, are positioned to target regions of the scalp in order to improve contact during the cooling procedure. The mechanism is adjustable to target areas of the scalp which are difficult to cool. Tightening is in place to achieve as close a fitting as possible to an individual scalp shape. A strap may be positioned to extend laterally beyond the crown region of the scalp. Such a strap may pass in between the vertex and frontal hairline region of the scalp.

[0036] The cord extending between from the inner straps to the exterior of the cap cover are made of non-elastic Nylon Paracord.

[0037] The above described cap cover facilitates self-administrating adjustability for a patent, providing control to suit his or her comfort for their duration of treatment.

[0038] The outer cord which comes out of the eyelets may have a first securing mechanism provided through the toggles, and a second securing mechanism provided by the integrated chin strap.

[0039] The shape of a patient's scalp can present issues for fitting of the heat exchange cap. The cap may be provided in various sizes to accommodate cranial anthropometric variation. However, a cap cover in accordance with the present may reduce the number of sizes of heat exchange cap which are required.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cover for a heat exchanger cap, the cover being provided with one or more internal straps, the or each internal strap being connected to one or more control elements located externally of the cover, the control element or elements being operable, when the heat exchanger cap is located on a patient’s skull and the cap cover is located on the heat exchanger cap, to increase or decrease the pressure applied by the or each internal strap to the cap cover.

2. A cover according to Claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a helmet made of a soft, flexible material.

3. A cover according to Claim 2, wherein the helmet comprises an inner nylon layer, a TPU foam middle layer and an outer layer which is a polyurethane.

4. A cover according to Claim 3, wherein the outer layer is made of PU Bistretch (flame laminated).

5. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the straps are made of an elasticate material.

6. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control element or elements are toggles which are connected to the straps by internal cords.

7. A cover according to Claim 6, wherein the cords are made of a non-elastic material.

8. A cover according to Claim 7, wherein the cords are made of nylon.

9. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, wherein there are two spaced apart straps.

10. A cover according to Claim 9, wherein the straps extend laterally over the longitudinally extending centreline of the scalp.

11. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, wherein straps are positioned to target regions of the scalp in order to improve contact during use of the heat exchanger cap.

12. A cover according to Claim 11, wherein the control elements are operable to enable targeting of areas of the scalp which are difficult to control.

13. A cover according to Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the straps are tightenable to achieve as close a fitting as possible to an individual scalp shape.

14. A cover according to any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein a strap is positioned to extend laterally beyond the crown region of the scalp.

15. A cover according to Claiml4, wherein the strap passes in between the vertex and frontal hairline region of the scalp.

16. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover includes bindings securable together below the chin.

17. A cover according to Claim 16, wherein the bindings are provided with hook and loop fastening elements to allow them to be secured together.

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