Apparatus and methods for primary hyperhidrosis treatment

Abstract

An apparatus for primary hyperhidrosis treatment, comprising: a treatment surface adapted to contact at least one patient body part; at least one thermal module, wherein the at least one thermal module is adapted to change a temperature at the treatment surface; and a thermal controller, wherein the thermal controller is configured to: receive a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile; and adjust over time, using the thermal module, the temperature of at least one portion of the treatment surface, based on the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PRIMARY HYPERHIDROSIS TREATMENTCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 715,926 filed on November 4, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to medical devices and more specifically, it pertains to apparatus and methods for primary hyperhidrosis treatment.BACKGROUND

[0003] Primary hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable sweating, typically affecting localized areas such as the palms, soles of the feet, underarms, and sometimes the face. This condition can be debilitating for patients, significantly impacting their quality of life by causing social embarrassment, emotional distress, and even physical discomfort. Despite the prevalence of this condition, effective treatment remains a challenge, and patients often resort to a variety of medical and technological interventions to manage their symptoms.

[0004] Current treatment options for primary hyperhidrosis fall into several categories, including topical treatments, oral medications, injections, electrical therapies, and surgical interventions. Topical antiperspirants, which contain active ingredients like aluminum chloride, provide temporary relief but are often ineffective for severe cases. They also carry the risk of skin irritation, limiting their long-term use. Oral medications, particularly anticholinergics, work by blocking nerve signals that trigger sweating, but their systemic nature often leads to unwanted side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, and dizziness. These medications are not targeted to specific areas, reducing their overall effectiveness in treating localized sweating.

[0005] Another common treatment method involves the use of botulinum toxin (Botox) injections, which temporarily block the nerves responsible for sweat gland activation. While effective for some patients, Botox requires repeated sessions every few months and can be both painful and expensive. Additionally, the procedure may causecomplications like muscle weakness in the treated area.

[0006] Non-surgical approaches such as iontophoresis and microwave therapy offer alternative solutions for managing excessive sweating. Iontophoresis involves using electrical currents to reduce sweat production, primarily in the hands and feet, but it demands frequent and time-consuming treatments to maintain results. Similarly, microwave therapy targets and destroys sweat glands in the underarms, though its application is limited to that area and may cause discomfort or recovery issues post-treatment.

[0007] For more severe cases, surgical interventions such as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) have been developed. ETS involves cutting or clamping the sympathetic nerves responsible for triggering excessive sweating. While this option can provide long-term relief, it carries significant risks, including compensatory hyperhidrosis, where patients experience excessive sweating in other areas of the body. This side effect is often more severe than the original condition. Surgical removal of sweat glands, particularly in the underarms, is another invasive option but is generally limited in scope and carries the potential for scarring and infection.

[0008] Overall, current treatments for primary hyperhidrosis are fraught with deficiencies, including temporary relief, side effects, high costs, and in some cases, permanent unintended consequences. Many patients are dissatisfied with the existing solutions, which either fail to provide sufficient relief or require frequent and inconvenient maintenance. This has created a strong demand for new, more effective treatments that can target specific areas of excessive sweating, minimize side effects, and offer long-lasting relief without invasive procedures.

[0009] It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that overcomes the challenges noted above.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0010] A summary of several example embodiments of the disclosure follows. This summary is provided for the convenience of the reader to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments and does not wholly define the breadth of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodimentsand is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. For convenience, the term “certain embodiments” may be used herein to refer to a single embodiment or multiple embodiments of the disclosure.

[0011] Certain embodiments disclosed herein include an apparatus for primary hyperhidrosis treatment. The apparatus comprises: a treatment surface adapted to contact at least one patient body part; at least one thermal module, wherein the at least one thermal module is adapted to change a temperature at the treatment surface; and a thermal controller, wherein the thermal controller is configured to: receive a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile; and adjust over time, using the thermal module, the temperature of at least one portion of the treatment surface, based on the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile.

[0012] Certain embodiments disclosed herein include a method for use by a thermal controller for primary hyperhidrosis treatment. The method comprises: receiving a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile; and adjusting overtime, using a thermal module, a temperature of at least one portion of a treatment surface, based on the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0013] In the drawing:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram representation of an illustrative apparatus for primary hyperhidrosis treatment, according to an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows three-dimensional view of the illustrative apparatus of FIG. 1 for primary hyperhidrosis treatment;

[0016] FIG. 3 shows three-dimensional view of an illustrative apparatus for primary hyperhidrosis treatment according to another embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 4 FIG. 4 which shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the illustrative apparatus of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative thermal controller of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for use in providing primary hyperhidrosis treatment, e.g., using the illustrative apparatus of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an illustrative temperature graph, according to an embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 8 shows a front view of an illustrative apparatus for primary hyperhidrosis treatment having an upper cover, according to another embodiment; and

[0022] FIG. 9A-9B show a front view of an illustrative treatment surface that is elastic, according to an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] It is important to note that the embodiments disclosed herein are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed embodiments. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.

[0024] The apparatus for primary hyperhidrosis treatment includes a treatment surface; at least one sensor that is adapted to sense the temperature at the treatment surface; at least one thermal module that is adapted to change the temperature at the treatment surface; at least one input / output (I / O) device; a thermal controller that is configured to: receive a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile; generate a notification when the temperature at the treatment surface reaches to a predetermined threshold value; monitor the temperature at the treatment surface; and adjust the temperature at the treatment surface based on the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile.

[0025] Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a block diagram representation of illustrative apparatus 100 for primary hyperhidrosis treatment, according to an embodiment. The apparatus 100 consists of at least a treatment surface 110, at least one sensor 120, a thermal module 130, an input / output (I / O) interface 140, an I / O device145 and a thermal controller 150.

[0026] The treatment surface 110 may be made of a metal such as, aluminum, copper, etc., or any other material which have high conductivity for both hot and cold temperatures. The treatment surface 110 is designed to allow placement of patient hands or feet on top of the treatment surface 100 to treat primary hyperhidrosis, using temperature-based technique, as further discussed herein.

[0027] The sensor(s) 120 may include at least one temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature at the treatment surface 110. According to further embodiment, the sensors 120 may also include at least one of a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, an optical sensor, a load sensor, a combination thereof, and the like.

[0028] The thermal module 130 is a component designed to manage heat by either generating or dissipating it. The input / output (I / O) interface 140 may be configured to allow wired and / or wireless communication coupling to external components.

[0029] The I / O device 145 may be used for receiving inputs from a user / patient or from another device, e.g., a smartphone. The I / O device 145 may include for example, a display, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a pedal, a microphone, a combination thereof, and the like. It should be noted that the I / O device 145 may be an external device, e.g., a smartphone that is used for communicating with the thermal controller 150, insert user inputs, display outputs, e.g., treatment data, and the like.

[0030] The thermal controller 150 may include hardware alone or software that executes on hardware which designed to execute temperature-based treatment protocols by controlling the different components of the apparatus 100. The thermal controller 150 is further described in greater details herein below with respect to FIG. 4.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the sensors 120, the thermal module 130 and the I / O interface 140 are connected to the thermal controller 150. The sensors 120, that may be connected to the treatment surface 110, or placed in proximity to the treatment surface 110, are used for capturing in real-time the state of the treatment surface 110. The real-time state may include the temperature at the treatment surface, whether the patient hands / feet are touching the treatment surface or not, and the like. The thermal module 130 is connected to the treatment surface 110, or placed in proximity to the treatment surface 110, such that the thermal module 130 manages heat by eithergenerating or dissipating it from the treatment surface 110. The I / O interface 140 is communicatively connected to the thermal controller 150 on one end and to an I / O device 145, e.g., a touchscreen, on a second end. Thus, user inputs may be received using the I / O device 145 and outputs, such as, treatment duration, current temperature, etc., may be shown on the I / O device 145.

[0032] Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which shows a front right isometric view of an illustrative apparatus 100 for primary hyperhidrosis treatment. According to one embodiment, the treatment surface 110 is designed to allow patients to put their hands / feet on top of the treatment surface 110 to treat primary hyperhidrosis. In accordance with the disclosure, a temperature-changing technique is employed to treat primary hyperhidrosis. More specifically, the primary hyperhidrosis treatment involves exposing an area to be treated, such as at least a portion of the hands or the feet, to low temperatures through direct contact of the area to be treated with the treatment surface.

[0033] The primary hyperhidrosis treatment is implemented in two main phases. The first phase is the cold exposure phase during which the temperature at the treatment surface 110 is decreased to cool the patient’s hands / feet, wherein each of at least one decreased temperature is maintained at the treatment surface 110 for a predetermined period of time based on a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile. During the second phase, called the thawing phase, the temperature at the treatment surface 110 increases to allow thawing of the different tissues that were cooled in the cold exposure phase, wherein each of at least one increased temperature is maintained at the treatment surface 110 for a predetermined period of time based on the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile.

[0034] For example, in the cold exposure phase, the temperature of the treatment surface 110 may be reduced to as low as -10°C for a predetermined period, while in the thawing phase, the temperature of the treatment surface 110 may be raised to up to 30°C. It should be noted that cold environments have a physiological impact on nerve conduction speed. Specifically, because acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for activating sweat glands, is inhibited for extended periods when exposed to lower temperatures, exposing body parts to a low temperature by the treatment surface 110 slows down nerve transmission which is facilitated by acetylcholine, i.e., nerveconduction speed is reduced, resulting in primary hyperhidrosis treatment being achieved, i.e., a reduction in overall sweat production at the treated body part.

[0035] While mean skin temperature affects sweating through central mechanisms, the sweat rate is also influenced by local temperature of the sweat gland via peripheral mechanisms. For example, local heating increases sweat rate, while local cooling reduces it. Possible mechanisms by which local temperature affects sweating may include the impact of temperature on neurotransmitter release. That is, local heating augments the release of acetylcholine for a given neural stimulus, while local cooling attenuates neurotransmitter release and / or affects the sensitization or desensitization of the receptors on sweat glands in response to lower temperatures.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the temperature at the treatment surface 110 is increased and decreased according to the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile. That is, the same surface is impacted by the temperature change.

[0037] In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 further includes a housing 170. The housing 170 is utilized to contain and secure the different components of the apparatus 100.

[0038] According to further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the treatment surface 110 consists of two different areas. The first area 110-1 is designed to allow patient to put their hands / feet during the first phase, i.e., cold exposure phase. The second area 110-2 is designed to allow the patient to put their hands / feet during the second phase, i.e., the thawing phase. Thus, the desired temperature of the second phase may already be set at the second area when the first phase is completed. This enables, advantageously, the treatment duration to be reduced.

[0039] In an embodiment, the I / O device 145, of FIG. 2 and 3, is implemented as a touchscreen which may be used to receive user (e.g., patient, caregiver, etc.) inputs, display outputs such as, treatment data such as treatment duration, current phase, current temperature, instructions to the user, and the like. It should be noted that the apparatus 100 may include several I / O devices such as a display, a keyboard for inserting use inputs, a pedal for activating the apparatus, and so on.

[0040] Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the apparatus 100 for primary hyperhidrosis treatment. Accordingto one embodiment, the thermal module 130 is placed beneath or within the treatment surface 110. One or more sensors, such as, the sensors 120-1 and 120-2, are placed in proximity to the treatment surface 110, and adapted to sense and measure the temperature at the treatment surface 110. At least one thermal module, e.g., the thermal module 130, is positioned beneath the treatment surface 110. The thermal module 130 is adapted to change the temperature at the treatment surface 110, according to a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile. At least one I / O device 145, e.g., a touchscreen, may be positioned above the treatment surface 110.

[0041] The thermal controller 150 is utilized to receive temperature adjustment treatment profiles, generate notifications for the user, monitor the temperature at the treatment surface, adjust the temperature at the treatment surface based on the temperature adjustment profile, and so on. It should be noted that the housing 170, of FIG. 2 and 3, is utilized to store therein the sensors 120, the thermal module 130, the thermal controller 150, and the like. In addition, the treatment surface 110 and the I / O device 145 may be connected to the outer walls of the housing 170.

[0042] Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which depicts a schematic block diagram of an illustrative thermal controller 150, according to an embodiment. The thermal controller 150 includes a processing circuitry 510 coupled to a memory 520, a storage 530, a network interface 540 and a connectivity module 550. In an embodiment, the components of the thermal controller 150 may be communicatively connected via a bus 560.

[0043] The processing circuitry 510 may be realized as one or more hardware logic components and circuits. For example, and without limitation, illustrative types of hardware logic components that can be used include field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), Application-specific standard products (ASSPs), system-on-a-chip systems (SOCs), GPUs, general-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), and the like, or any other hardware logic components that can perform calculations or other manipulations of information.

[0044] The memory 520 may be volatile, e.g., RAM, etc., non-volatile, e.g., ROM, flash memory, etc., or a combination thereof. In one configuration, computerreadable instructions to implement one or more embodiments disclosed herein may be stored in the storage 530.

[0045] In another embodiment, the memory 520 is configured to store software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean any type of instructions, whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. Instructions may include code, e.g. , in source code format, binary code format, executable code format, or any other suitable format of code. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry 510, cause the processing circuitry 510 to perform the various processes described herein.

[0046] The storage 530 may be magnetic storage, optical storage, and the like, and may be realized, for example, as flash memory or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information.

[0047] The network interface 540 allows the thermal controller 150 to communicate with one or more web sources, electronic devices that are connected to the web, and the like. For example, the network interface 540 allows the thermal controller 150 to receive data, temperature adjustment treatment profiles, and so on, from web sources, user devices, and the like. In addition, the network interface 540 allows the thermal controller 150 to send data, notifications, etc. to one or more user devices, e.g., smartphone of a patient.

[0048] The connectivity module 550 may include for example, wired or wireless communication, such as but not limited to, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), and the like. The connectivity module 550 allowing the thermal controller 150 to send and receive data, temperature adjustment treatment profiles, and so on, to and from different devices using, for example, Bluetooth technology.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method 600 for use in providing primary hyperhidrosis treatment, e.g., using the illustrative apparatus 100, according to an embodiment. According to one embodiment, the method 600 may be executed by a thermal controller 150, e.g., the thermal controller 150 of FIG. 5.

[0050] At S610, a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile is received by the thermal controller 150 from, for example, a web source, a smartphone, a designated application. The temperature adjustment treatment profile may be previouslygenerated by an expert, caregiver, etc.

[0051] According to an embodiment, the temperature adjustment treatment profile may include at least a first phase which includes exposing the patient hands / feet to low temperatures. At this cold exposure phase, the temperature at the treatment surface 110 is decreased to cool the patient’s hands / feet, for a predetermined period of time, according to a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile.

[0052] In an embodiment, S610 also includes activating the thermal module 130 to set the initial desired temperature at the treatment surface 110 before the patient hands / feet are placed on top of the treatment surface 110.

[0053] At S620, a notification is generated when the temperature at the treatment surface 110 reaches to a predetermined threshold value. That is, the sensors 120 are used for measuring the temperature at the treatment surface 110 and notifying the patient when the temperature has reached to the initial predetermined level, so that the patient can place their hands only when the temperature is set, to improve the user experience.

[0054] At S630, the temperature at the treatment surface 110 is monitored by the thermal controller 150, using the measurements received from the sensors 120. Monitoring the temperature using the sensors facilitates accurate determination, in real-time, of the temperature at the treatment surface itself rather than at the thermal module 130.

[0055] At S640, the temperature at the treatment surface is adjusted in real-time based on the predetermined temperature adjustment profile. For example, the predetermined temperature adjustment profile indicates that at the first period of the cold exposure phase the temperature should be 0°C and it should last 3:00 minutes, the temperature at the second period should be -3°C and it should last 2:45 minutes, the temperature at the third period should be -10°C and it should last 1 :30 minutes and then the second phase, i.e., the thawing phase, begins. Then, at the first period of the second phase the temperature should be 15°C and it should last 4:00 minutes, at the subsequent period the temperature should be 30°C and it should last 5:00 minutes. According to another embodiment, the temperature at the treatment surface is adjusted in real-time based on the predetermined temperature adjustment profile and the measurementsreceived from the sensors 120 in real-time.

[0056] Reference is now made to FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an illustrative temperature graph 700, according to an embodiment. As previously noted, the primary hyperhidrosis treatment, described herein, includes two main phases. The first phase is the cold exposure phase during which the temperature at the treatment surface 110 is decreased to cool the patient’s hands / feet, wherein each of at least one decreased temperature is maintained at the treatment surface 110 for a predetermined period of time based on a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile. During the second phase, called the thawing phase, the temperature at the treatment surface 110 increases to allow thawing of the different tissues that were cooled in the cold exposure phase, wherein each of at least one increased temperature is maintained at the treatment surface 110 for a predetermined period of time based on the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile

[0057] For example, at the initial period 705 the thermal module is activated by the thermal controller and starts decreasing the temperature at the treatment surface, according to a predetermined temperature adjustment profile. The example predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile indicates that there are two phases, the cold exposure phase, represented by periods 710 and 720, and the thawing phase, represented by periods 730 and 740.

[0058] In the cold exposure phase, during period 710 the temperature should be -5°C for 2:00 minutes and during period 720 the temperature should be -10°C for 5:00 minutes. Then, in the thawing phase, during period 730 the temperature should be 12°C for 3:00 minutes, and during the final period 740 the temperature should be 30°C for 4:00 minutes. As previously noted, that cold environments have a physiological impact on nerve conduction speed. Specifically, because acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for activating sweat glands, is inhibited for extended periods when exposed to lower temperatures, exposing body parts to a low temperature by the treatment surface 110 slows down nerve transmission which is facilitated by acetylcholine, i.e., nerve conduction speed is reduced, resulting in primary hyperhidrosis treatment being achieved, i.e., a reduction in overall sweat production at the treated body part. The purpose of the thawing phase is to help the patient to recover from their exposure to thelow temperatures.

[0059] It should be noted that when there are two areas at the treatment surface, as shown in FIG. 3, the cold exposure phase may be executed using a first area in which the temperature is reduced, while the second area is used for executing the thawing phase in which the temperature is increased. Thus, the desired temperature of the second phase may already be set at the second area when the first phase is completed. This enables, advantageously, the treatment duration to be reduced.

[0060] FIG. 8 shows a front view of an illustrative apparatus for primary hyperhidrosis treatment having an upper cover, according to another embodiment. According to one embodiment, the upper cover 160 is designed to partially cover the upper end of the treatment surface while allowing patient body part(s), e.g., hands / feet to fit in. The upper cover is adapted to preserve the temperature, produced by the thermal module, at the treatment surface.

[0061] FIGs. 9A-9B show a front view of an illustrative treatment surface 910 that is elastic, according to an embodiment. The treatment surface is elastic in the sense that it is deformable from an initial shape when pressure is applied thereto, e.g., when a patient’s body part touches or presses against the elastic treatment surface it may conform its shape at least somewhat to that of the body part, and it may return substantially to its original shape once the body part is removed therefrom. The elastic treatment surface 910 is designed to allow fuller contact between the treatment surface 910 and the patient’s body parts, e.g. the patient’s fingers and the patient’s fingers’ sides in order to improve efficiency of the treatment, and correspondingly for the feet or other body parts.

[0062] The elastic treatment surface is made of an elastic material which have high conductivity for both hot and cold temperatures. The treatment surface 910 is designed to allow placement of patient hands or feet on top of the treatment surface 910 to treat primary hyperhidrosis, using temperature-based technique as further discussed herein.

[0063] Thus, when the patient’s hands / feet are being pressed against the elastic treatment surface 910, the shape of the elastic treatment surface 910 is adjusted to the patient’s hands / feet, such that the elastic treatment surface 910 covers the fingers andthe fingers’ sides. The advantage of the elastic treatment surface is that treatment is achieved for a broader area of the patient’s hands / feet.

[0064] For example, when the patient places their hands on top of the elastic treatment surface 910, their fingers are pressed against the elastic treatment surface such that each finger, e.g., the finger 930, creates a concave shape which covers each finger from the bottom and from both sides, of each finger. The finger 930, for example, creates a concave shape having a first side 115, a second side 113 and a bottom end 114, through which the changed temperatures are transferred to the fingers.

[0065] The present disclosure provides several advantages over existing treatment modalities for primary hyperhidrosis. The disclosed apparatus operates in a non-invasive and pain-free manner and does not rely on pharmacological or neurotoxic agents, thereby avoiding systemic side effects associated with oral medications or botulinum toxin injections. Furthermore, unlike surgical procedures such as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), the disclosed solution does not involve irreversible nerve alteration or carry the risk of compensatory sweating. The treatment can be precisely controlled, is highly localized to the intended anatomical region, and may be autonomously adapted to the patient’s physiological response in real time, which enables improved safety, comfort, and long-term efficacy.

[0066] In addition, the disclosed apparatus and method are not limited solely to primary hyperhidrosis. They may also be applied to other medical conditions involving abnormal thermoregulatory or autonomic nervous system responses that manifest as excessive or stress-induced sweating of the hands or feet, such as certain forms of asthma or allergy-related sympathetic activation, or other anxiety-triggered physiological disorders. Accordingly, the disclosed solution provides a versatile platform capable of addressing a broader class of peripheral neurophysiological disorders beyond mere sweat gland hyperactivity.

[0067] It is important to note that the embodiments disclosed herein are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed embodiments. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singularelements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.

[0068] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosed embodiment and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e. , any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

[0069] It should be understood that any reference to an element herein using a designation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, these designations are generally used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements may be employed there or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner. Also, unless stated otherwise, a set of elements comprises one or more elements.

[0070] As used herein, the phrase “at least one of’ followed by a listing of items means that any of the listed items can be utilized individually, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be utilized. For example, if a system is described as including “at least one of A, B, and C,” the system can include A alone; B alone; C alone; 2A; 2B; 2C; 3A; A and B in combination; B and C in combination; A and C in combination; A, B, and C in combination; 2A and C in combination; A, 3B, and 2C in combination; and the like.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for primary hyperhidrosis treatment, comprising: a treatment surface adapted to contact at least one patient body part; at least one thermal module, wherein the at least one thermal module is adapted to change a temperature at the treatment surface; and a thermal controller, wherein the thermal controller is configured to: receive a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile; and adjust over time, using the thermal module, the temperature of at least one portion of the treatment surface, based on the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one input / output (I / O) device, wherein the thermal controller is further configured to generate, using the at least one I / O device, a notification when the temperature of the portion of the treatment surface reaches a predetermined threshold value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being adapted to sense the temperature at the at least one portion of the treatment surface; wherein the thermal controller is further configured to adjust the temperature of the at least one portion of the treatment surface in real-time based on a temperature of the at least one portion of the treatment surface as sensed by the at least one sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned in proximity to the treatment surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermal module is positioned beneath the treatment surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the treatment surface is at least partially elastic.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprises an upper cover, wherein the upper cover partially covers the treatment surface while allowing at least one patient body part to fit between the treatment surface and the upper cover, the upper cover being arranged to preserve the temperature at the treatment surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the primary hyperhidrosis treatment comprises two phases, a first treatment phase includes adjusting the temperature of the at least one portion of the treatment surface to temperatures that are below a predetermined value and a second treatment phase includes adjusting the temperature of the at least one portion of the treatment surface to temperatures that are above a predetermined value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the treatment surface includes at least two portions, and wherein a first portion of the at least two portions is used during the first treatment phase and a second portion of the at least two portions is used for the second treatment phase.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprises: a housing, wherein the housing contains the treatment surface, the thermal module, and the thermal controller.

11. A method for use by a thermal controller for primary hyperhidrosis treatment, comprising: receiving a predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile; and adjusting over time, using a thermal module, a temperature of at least one portion of a treatment surface, based on the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: generating, using at least one input / output (I / O), a notification when the temperature at the treatment surface reaches a predetermined threshold value.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the temperature at the at least one portion of the treatment surface is performed in real-time and is based on a temperature of the at least one portion of the treatment surface as sensed by at least one sensor.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined temperature adjustment treatment profile causes the primary hyperhidrosis treatment is arranged to adjust the temperature of the treatment surface according to two treatment phases, a first treatment phase includes adjusting the temperature of the at least one portion of the treatment surface to temperatures that are below a predetermined value and a second treatment phase includes adjusting the temperature of the at least one portion of the treatment surface to temperatures that are above a predetermined value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the treatment surface includes at least two portions, and wherein a first portion of the at least two portions is used during the first treatment phase and a second portion of the at least two portions is used for the second treatment phase.

Images