Wearable cooling and / or heating apparatus

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing cooling and / or heating to a body part that can be particularly effective athletic performance enhancement, medical therapy, or outdoor recreational activities, providing personalized temperature control and comfort, and relief from adverse effects arising from chemotherapy treatments.

Description

WEARABLE COOLING AND / OR HEATING APPARATUSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application serial no.63 / 733,154 field on December 12, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUNDFIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure relates to cooling and / or heating one or more parts of the body. More precisely, the present application relates to an apparatus and system for controlling a device for continuous cooling and / or heating of one or more parts of the body.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0002] Cooling and / or heating body parts has many therapeutic uses. For example, cooling can effectively treat acute injuries by reducing pain and inflammation. It can also be used to relieve pain for tendinitis, arthritis, and neuropathy, for example. Likewise, heating can be used to relieve conditions such as stiff joints, arthritis, trigger finger, inflammation, Raynaud's, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Sometimes the cooling and / or heating also incorporates cyclical pressure, to increase circulation, which facilitates inflammation reduction and healing.

[0003] These techniques are for transient application, typically 20 minutes or less, of cold or hot, to avoid tissue damage. Because of that, there is no need for normal human function, for example walking (when cooling / heating feet) or using a phone (when cooling / heating hands), while using the device, and the wearable portion of these devices is typically bulky.

[0004] Accordingly, a device that allows safe, continuous cooling and / or heating temperatures, for long periods of time, such as several hours is desired.SUMMARY

[0005] Accordingly, the object of the present disclosure is to provide a device for cooling and / or heating one or more parts of the body that allows the user to function normally while cooling and / or heating. The device of one or more embodiments can be used in several applications, for example for pain relief or cooling on the day of chemotherapy to prevent chemotherapy -induced peripheral neuropathy.

[0006] The present invention provides a system for supplying temperature-controlled fluid to a garment worn by a user. The system comprises a portable cooling and / or heating unit, a heat exchange article, and tubing connecting the unit and the article in a fluid-tight manner. The heat exchange article comprises two or more layers, with channels positioned within at least one of the layers. These channels allow the fluid to flow through and circulate to different regions of the heat exchange article, thereby transferring heat between the temperature-controlled fluid and the adjacent body regions of the user.

[0007] In one embodiment, the system is designed to cool the region of the user's body adjacent to the channels by circulating cooled fluid. Alternatively, the system can heat the region by circulating heated fluid. The heat exchange article can be in the form of a glove or mitten for the hand or a sock or booty for the foot. In another embodiment, the system can be provided in the form of a blanket designed and configured to cover one or more portions of the body. For instance, in a blanket configuration, a central portion can provide heat to the user while at the periphery coolant can be provided through channels or tubes, as is described herein. Thus, cooling and / or heating at the periphery and / orcenter of the blanket configuration can be provided with options of cycling heating and cooling in different parts of the blanket as needed or desired by the user.

[0008] To facilitate optimal temperature control, the sy stem may include sensors positioned within the cooling and / or heating unit and / or the heat exchange article. These sensors monitor various parameters, such as the temperature of the fluid, flow rate, or other relevant factors. A control unit, integrated into the cooling and / or heating unit, receives the data from the sensors and adjusts the parameters if they deviate from predetermined setpoints.

[0009] The heat exchange article can comprise multiple layers, with the channels positioned in the middle layer. Alternatively, the channels can be distributed across different layers to facilitate even fluid distribution. The channels are flexible and adjustable to accommodate various hand or foot sizes, ensuring a comfortable fit for the user.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the system includes multiple sets of channels connected to separate ports. These channels can be positioned in different layers of the heat exchange article, allowing for efficient fluid flow and heat transfer. A manifold may also be integrated into the heat exchange article to guide the fluid to multiple channels located in different regions, such as finger regions in a glove or toe regions in a shoe, sock or booty. In one embodiment, the heat exchange article is in the form of a blanket that includes multiple channels so that control of the temperature in different parts of the blanket can be independently provided, for example heat in the center and cool at the periphery.

[0011] The system can be used in various applications, including but not limited to athletic performance enhancement, medical therapy, or outdoor recreational activities. It provides personalized temperature control and comfort to the user, and / or pain relief orcooling on the day of chemotherapy to treat, attenuate and / or prevent chemotherapy- induced peripheral neuropathy contributing to an improved user experience.

[0012] Note that this summary section does not specify every embodiment and / or incrementally novel aspect of the present disclosure or claimed invention. Instead, this summary only provides a preliminary discussion of different embodiments and corresponding points of novelty. For additional details and / or possible perspectives of the invention and embodiments, the reader is directed to the Detailed Description section and corresponding figures of the present disclosure as further discussed below.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a cooling and / or heating glove depicting a layered configuration with channels included in one or more layers.

[0015] FIG. 2 is an overview of flow of cooling and / or heating liquid through a heat exchange article as described herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that followsmay include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact.

[0017] In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and / or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or configurations discussed. Further, spatially relative terms, such as “top,” “bottom,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

[0018] Cooling and / or heating devices and / or cooling and / or heating units as used herein includes devices and / or units that can provide a cooling effect and a heating effect. In other embodiments, the device and / or unit provides only a cooling effect or only a heating effect. In still further embodiments, the cooling and / or heating can include cycling of different cooling temperatures, different heating temperatures, or both cooling and heating temperatures to the subject using one or more devices or employing one or more of the methods described and embodied herein.,

[0019] The order of discussion of the different steps as described herein has been presented for clarity’s sake. In general, these steps can be performed in any suitable order. Additionally, although each of the different features, techniques, configurations,etc. herein may be discussed in different places of this disclosure, it is intended that each of the concepts can be executed independently of each other or in combination with each other. Accordingly, the present invention can be embodied and viewed in many different ways.

[0020] The present invention provides a system for supplying temperature-controlled fluid to a garment worn by a user. The system comprises a portable cooling and / or heating unit, a heat exchange article, and tubing connecting the unit and the article.

[0021] The heat exchange article can be designed to be worn on a specific region of the user's body, such as the hand or foot. In one embodiment, the heat exchange article is in the form of a glove or mitten for the hand. In another embodiment, the heat exchange article is in the form of a sock or booty for the foot. In other embodiments, a garment or apparel that is worn by a user can be a shirt or pant like garment, and can incorporate one or more tubes that carry fluid within the tubes to one or more desired regions of the garment. Incorporating the tubes within and / or on a surface of the structure of the garment allows the user to be comfortable wearing the garment while also keeping the tubes close to the user’s body to optimize the effects of the fluid flowing therein.

[0022]

[0023] The article comprises two or more layers, with channels positioned within at least one of the layers. A blanket configuration is also envisioned herein that can cover at least a portion or multiple portions of the body and provide cooling and / or heating in different areas of the blanket aligned with various body parts based on the needs or requirements of the user.

[0024] The article comprises an inner layer, an outer layer, and one or more middle layers. The channels are positioned within the middle layer or in two or more middle layers and allow the fluid to flow through and circulate to different regions of the article.

[0025] The channels are designed to accommodate various hand or foot sizes and permit movement of the user's body region. This ensures a comfortable fit and optimal temperature control.

[0026] The tubing is structurally connected to both the portable cooling and / or heating unit 110 and the heat exchange article. The tubing provides a fluid pathway, allowing fluid to flow between the unit and the article in a fluid-tight manner. Importantly, the fluid entering the heat exchange article and the fluid exiting the article flow through different channels, enhancing the efficiency of temperature control.

[0027] To regulate the temperature of the fluid, the portable cooling and / or heating unit is equipped with appropriate control mechanisms. The unit can cool and / or heat the fluid based on user preferences or environmental conditions. The sensors monitor various parameters, such as the temperature of the fluid, flow rate, or other relevant factors. This data is transmitted to the control unit, which adjusts the parameters if they deviate from predetermined setpoints.

[0028] In certain embodiments, the system includes multiple sets of channels connected to separate ports. For example, the heat exchange article can include at least two sets of channels connected to separate inlet and outlet ports 1. These channels may be positioned in different layers of the heat exchange article, allowing for efficient fluid flow and heat transfer.

[0029] To this end, Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a heat exchange article glove that uses a thermoelectric solution to decrease or increase the temperature of a circulating fluid, such as water, to cool and / or heat a portion of a user’s body. It is within the spirit and scope of the present invention that any fluid that can be heated or cooled can be used as a circulating fluid. The device is a portable device which means for example that userscan easily carry the device or wear it, allowing them to freely move around in daily life and transport it to different locations, all while cooling and / or heating.

[0030] As is shown in Fig. 1, the glove is composed of four layers on each side where two of the layers, separated by another layer, included channels for the passage of the thermoelectric solution. The upper and lower layers in each layered configuration are the inside and outside of the glove depicted. The upper and lower layers may be made of materials designed for the user’s comfort and / or with aesthetic design(s). The two sets of channels in the layers of the top and bottom layered structure are to deliver the thermoelectric solution to the glove in one layer while in the other different layer the flow of the theremoelectric solution is out of the glove. Thus, by providing two circuits for fluid flow facilitates energy efficiency as the impact of cooling and / or heating liquid leaving the glove, which will be relatively less cool or hot, is attenuated on the liquid entering the glove.

[0031] In one embodiment of the glove configuration, the glove is designed not specifically as flat article as is typical of wearable gloves but in a configuration mimicking or aligning with the fingers, knuckles, palm and other potions of the hand when in a natural state of rest. For instance, in this embodiment, the finger portions of the glove and as a result the palm portion have an inward curvature. The curvature in particular may be more flat than curved, more curved than flat but that the curvature and alignment of the device, in the glove configuration, between a flat open hand and a closed fist.

[0032] This provision of different entrances and exits is schematically shown in FIG. 2 with the upper (back) and lower (palm) of an exemplary glove configuration with arrows depicting the flow of fluid in and out of the glove through different layers.

[0033] The portable cooling and / or heating unit configured to control a temperature of a fluid that circulates through the cooling and / or heating unit can include a housing that can include a user interface display for displaying information to the user. The user interface can include input elements and output elements. Examples of input elements may include microphones, keypads, touchscreens, sensors, etc. Examples of output elements may include speakers, one or more display screens, and tactile devices.

[0034] In an embodiment, the user interface can be used for controlling temperature setpoint and viewing current temperature of the circulating liquid. The user interface display can, for example, report the temperature of the patient’s skin, report the set point for the coolant and the actual coolant temperature, provide information such as an on / off status, a time completed / remaining associated with the treatment of the body part, power status such as battery life, as well as visually displaying any notifications to the user such as any errors associated with the operation of the device. The device can also provide any of the above discussed information with an audio message.

[0035] According to an embodiment, input elements such as control buttons can be included that allow the user to control various functions of the device in conjunction with the user interface display or separately therefrom. For example, the buttons can allow the user to power on or power off the device. Further, the user can utilize the buttons to increase or decrease a temperature of the fluid flowing through the system, and to scroll through various functions of the device.

[0036] According to embodiments of the invention, the device includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet extending through the housing, which respectively allow a fluid to flow into the housing and out from the housing to circulate the fluid through the device and to the article to be worn by the user via tubing, described in further detail below.

[0037] The device can use a temperature controller that either heats or cools the fluid circulating through the system. For example, a thermoelectric assembly is provided, which employs Peltier elements to manage the temperature of circulating fluid used to cool / warm the user’s body parts, such as hands and feet. Embodiments of the device can use any known device that can raise or lower the temperature of a fluid that circulates through a system.

[0038] A sensor can be provided, which senses the temperature of the circulating fluid. The sensor can be a thermistor, for example. It should be appreciated that a plurality of sensors can be located in the device and / or any part of the device, for example parts that are worn by the user to detect for example the temperature of the fluid.

[0039] The device 1 can include a controller for controlling the various functions of the device. For example, a TEC controller is provided, which is an electronic instrument or component that for example can output current and voltage information / data to the thermoelectric assembly while being controlled from the feedback it is receiving from any sensor, for example the temperature sensor. Therefore, in one or more embodiments of the invention, the device, for example via the controller, can interface electrically with one or more electrical sensors provided with the item to be worn by the user, for example one or more gloves or boots discussed later.

[0040] The TEC controller may include a processor. The processor can be implemented as one or more integrated circuits (e.g., one or more single core or multicore microprocessors and / or microcontrollers), and is used to control the operations of cooling and / or heating device. The processor can execute a variety of programs in response to program code or computer-readable code stored in memory, and can maintain multiple concurrently executing programs or processes. For example, the controller can include a feedback control system such that the sensed parameters by thefeedback control system can be used to adjust the characteristics of the treatment, for example fluid temperature and fluid flow rate, performed by the cooling and / or heating device. The device allows for a safe, continuous cooling and / or heating temperatures, for long periods of time, such as several hours is desired. In an embodiment, the device can also provide cooling and / or heating temperatures via the flow of fluid through the system, intermittently for any period of time. In an embodiment, a pump is used to circulate liquid from the thermoelectric assembly to subsystems that are designed to cover a specific body part, like gloves and boots, and accessories, discussed in more detail later.

[0041] In an embodiment, a pump speed adjustment and motor control is a subsystem that can include a potentiometer and motor controller that can be used to change the flow rate of the fluid through the system, that is the flow rate of the fluid from the device to the assembly covering the body part.

[0042] In an embodiment, a power supply is provided. The power supply can be an electrical device that supplies electric power to an electrical load, ensuring that controlled voltage and sufficient current are provided to the system.

[0043] An AC power cord 17 can be utilized to transmit power from a wall outlet to the power supply, via a power entry module. The power supply performs the AC / DC conversion. As an alternative power supply, a car adapter can provide an interface to an electric outlet or adapter in a motor vehicle. It should be appreciated that any known device that supplies power can be utilized in the various embodiments of the invention.

[0044] According to one or more embodiments of the invention, a rechargeable battery can be included with the device. When the device detects that it is not plugged into either AC or DC power, the rechargeable battery powers the device. When the device is plugged into AC or DC power, the battery can recharge.

[0045] As discussed above, the housing can include a controller connected to for example a user interface display for displaying information to the user. The user interface can be used for controlling temperature setpoint and viewing current temperature of the circulating liquid. Utilizing the controller of the device, the desired temperature can be set to a set point, and then the user can adjust the temperature up or down, for comfort after the circulation of the fluid has begun if desired. Also, the user can for example, set the amount of time required to attain the set point, and the amount of time required to reach room temperature at the end of treatment. Also, in one or more embodiments, the systems of the present invention can be set for continuous flow of the fluid for treatment or can be set for intermittent flow of the fluid for treatment.

[0046] In an embodiment, the controller of the device includes a feed-back loop so that the device can automatically adjust to change the temperature or flow rate of the circulating fluid to achieve a desired temperature at the skin surface for example.

[0047] In a further embodiment, the device can be instructed to control parameters of the treatment, such as fluid temperature, to go to a set target point, and then the user can adjust the temperature thereafter. Further, upper and / or lower limits can be set for how far the user can adjust the parameter, such as temperature, to adjust for comfort while keeping the temperature within an efficacious range for certain applications or treatments.

[0048] The device can be housed in a portable container or bag, such as a backpack for easy transport by the user. For example, in one embodiment the container or bag has one or more handles, shoulder straps and / or wheels. In another embodiment, the portable container or bag can include a clip, hook or similar to enable attaching the container or bag to a walker, wheelchair or other similar mobility assisting devices.

[0049] While embodiments of the invention of the device can cool and / or heat any portion of a user’s body, described herein is the use of the device to cool and / or heat multiple body parts, as an example, one or both hands and / or one or both feet. For all body parts, the design must necessarily incorporate the ability to use that body part in normal functioning while being treated by the device.

[0050] The system for heating or cooling one or more parts of the body can include a glove that will interface directly with the device via the inlet and the outlet by way of a fluid pathway that includes one or more tubes and one or more connectors. It should be appreciated that the device according to one or more embodiments of the invention can include more than one set of inlets and outlets connected with respective tubes in order to for example, allow the user to treat one or both hands with one or two gloves and / or treat one or both feet with one or two boots as discussed later, utilizing the device at the same time for the one or more parts of the body.

[0051] The one or more tubes are connected with the device at one end while connected to the glove at another end. The one or more tubes are of a sufficient length to allow them to connect with the device while the user is wearing the glove and avoid the tube length to be under excessive tension, or a nuisance to the user performing normal tasks.

[0052] The tubes can connect to the glove at connectors. The connectors can include seals to prevent leaking of the fluid entering or exiting the glove. Tube is securely connected to the glove via the connector so as to provide an inlet path for flow of fluid into glove. Tube is securely connected to the glove via the connector so as to provide an outlet path for the flow of fluid out of the glove.

[0053] In an embodiment, the fluid flowing into the glove can initially flow into an inlet bladder or reservoir to temporarily collect the fluid before the fluid is transported though the glove. Thereafter, the fluid can be delivered to the base of the user's hand.travel to the fingertips, and flow into an outlet bladder or reservoir, which then flows to the outlet tube, and then returns to the device. In embodiments of the invention, it should be appreciated that the interior of the glove can include any number of reservoirs and / or bladders that can be utilized to help at least temporarily store or hold fluid that is being pumped through the glove.

[0054] The glove can resemble winter gloves in shape for example, and include capacitive material on finger-tips to allow the user to use a touch screen device throughout treatment. In an example, the gloves could have all fingers and thumbs separate, or for example, all fingers together with the thumb separate, such as a mitten, or any combination thereof.

[0055] In an embodiment, the glove can also include a barrier near the base of the glove to help provide insulation. The outer base of the glove can include a strain relief feature and a location to place company logo and / or labelling.

[0056] In an embodiment, the flow of fluid into the glove can flow to a manifold-like structure that can separate the fluid across one or more fluid pathways, for example fluid flow channels. In embodiments, valves can be utilized in any of the structure of the invention to control the flow of fluid in one or more regions of the device and the article(s) to be worn by the user.

[0057] In the example of the winter glove structure, different fluid flow channels can be utilized to dispense fluid through the respective separate channels to each of the fingers of the glove. The flow channels are for example, tubes that guide the flow of fluid within the glove.

[0058] In the example of a mitten type glove, one or more flow channels can be positioned along the thumb region of the glove, while one or more channels can be directed to the region of the glove having the remaining fingers of the user. It is withinthe spirit and scope of the invention to have any number of channels provided within the glove to facilitate the flow of fluid to any desired region of the glove. Additionally, the channels can have any size or shape, which are the same or different from the other channels in the glove. For example, the thumb region of the glove can have a larger or smaller sized channel than the channels 26 positioned in other regions of the glove.

[0059] Within the glove, the separate channels can run along the back and / or front of the user’s fingers. Alternatively, the channels can spiral around the user’s fingers. The size and shape of the channels is not limited and the position of the channels can be at any location within the glove to provide cooling and / or heating from the fluid to desired regions of the glove 20.

[0060] In an embodiment, the glove can include one or more pockets of a substance that is able to be heated or cooled, such as a gel. The pockets can be positioned in areas adjacent to one or more of the channels to provide an even distribution of the cooling and / or heating from the fluid flowing in the channels.

[0061] After the fluid flows in and / or around the region of one or more fingers, the fluid can flow out into a bladder and / or reservoir before proceeding to the outlet tube. Alternatively, after the fluid flows in and / or around one or more fingers, the fluid from each of the channels can merge directly into the outlet tube and exit the glove.

[0062] In an embodiment, the design of the one or more bladders and / or reservoirs could be different. For example, one bladder could have cooling only on a portion of the hand, for example the back or palm without the fingers. A further bladder could have a different design, for example have one compartment with separations such as quilting, or coiled tubing.

[0063] In an embodiment, the systems and devices of the invention can be programmed to control the fluid during treatment so that the fluid travels in the tubing to an extremepart of the body being treated, the fluid can then be released into an open bladder and / or reservoir. Subsequently, the fluid could then be controlled, via the controller and a pump and / or valves along the tubing for example, to flow or drain back into tubing to return the fluid back to the chiller / heater. Thus, the fluid flows through the system via a combination of closed and open fluid travel.

[0064] In an embodiment of the invention, the flow of fluid can be controlled by the control systems of the invention to utilize one or more pumps and / or one or more manifolds or valves for example, to release the fluid to tubing that is positioned near or adjacent to the most sensitive areas of the one or more parts of the body getting treatment. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can provide fluid flow to one or more regions of the glove or boot while limiting fluid flow to one or more other regions of the glove or boot.

[0065] In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, wearing the glove while actively cooling and / or heating using the features of device, a user is able to use her / his hands for example, to use an electronic device, eat or drink, or read a book, without impacting the cooling and / or heating process.

[0066] In an embodiment, the cooling and / or heating device can be used with one or more boots that will interface directly with the cooling and / or heating device via inlet and outlet tubing and connectors, which can be similar to the tubing and connectors used for the gloves. These tubes will have a length that allows them to connect with the cooling unit while a user is wearing each boot, and avoid the tube length to be under excessive tension, or a nuisance to the user performing normal tasks. The tubes will connect to the boots at an inlet and outlet to one or more bladders / reservoirs that will deliver fluid towards for example the base of the user’s foot, and one or more channels in the boot will allow the fluid to travel to the region of one or more toes and to the tip ofeach toe, and return back towards the boot outlet to return to the cooling and / or heating device.

[0067] In an example, the boot can also include a base that allows the bottom of the user’s foot to be in contact with a boot bladder, but avoid putting their weight on the bladder, for example though use of one or more support structures, for example one or more mini columns that maintain structure when a user’s weight is on it.

[0068] In an embodiment, fluid will enter the boots in a similar manner as the gloves, entering the boot inlet and travelling to a manifold-like component and splitting in several directions to cover one or more desired regions of the user’s foot, for example in a curtain-like manner, and proceeding to the base of the boot, and travelling to the bladder outlet and returning to the cooling and / or heating device. As with the glove, the bladder can be on one or both sides of the boot, and the bladder design may be different or the same on the two sides.

[0069] Wearing the boots while actively cooling and / or heating, a user is able to use her / his feet for example, walk short distances without impacting the cooling and / or heating.

[0070] In one or more embodiments of the invention, the devices, systems and structures of the invention can control the temperature of each body part that is being treated independently. For example, if both hands are being treated, the temperature of the fluid flowing through each glove can be different from each other. Accordingly, embodiments can include separate fluid flow paths, tubes, coolant, reservoirs, and / or controller systems for each glove. In accordance with these advantageous features, for example, dominant and non-dominant hands can be at different starting points and may need different levels of cooling and / or heating to attain the same target temperature point.

[0071] In one embodiment, the user device can be communicatively connected via a network, to a second electronic device, such as a server, that is a networked device. The devices can be connected via a wired or a wireless network. The connection between, for example, the user device and the server can preferably be via the wireless network. In one embodiment, the user device can be responsible for obtaining data from the cooling and / or heating device and transmitting the data over the communication network to the networked device.

[0072] An application may be installed or accessible on the user device, for executing the methods described herein and control the operations of the cooling and / or heating device. The application may also be integrated into an operating system (OS) of the user device. The user device can be any electronic device such as, but not limited to, a mobile device. The mobile device may comprise any electronic device that may be transported and operated by a user, which may also provide remote communication capabilities to a network. Examples of remote communication capabilities include using a mobile phone (wireless) network, wireless data network (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G or similar networks), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, or any other communication medium that may provide access to a network such as the Internet or a private network. Examples of mobile devices include mobile phones (e.g., cellular phones), PDAs, tablet computers, net books, laptop computers, personal music players, hand-held specialized readers, wearable devices (e.g., watches), vehicles (e.g., cars), a smart-television, an interactive screen, an loT (Internet of things) device, or the like. The mobile device may comprise any suitable hardware and software for performing such functions, memory, and may also include multiple devices or components (e.g., when a device has remote access to a network by tethering to another device - i.e., using the other device as a relay - both devices taken together may be considered a single mobile device).

[0073] For example, the user device can be a mobile phone in possession of the user of the cooling and / or heating device. The cooling and / or heating device can monitor via various sensors, parameters of the treatment performed by the cooling and / or heating device and save the obtained information and / or data. The obtained information and / or data can be stored for example in memory' provided with the device, a peripheral device, or transmitted to the cloud and stored. For example, the obtained information and / or data may be stored in the memory provided with the device in an event that it is not saved to the cloud or a remote server. The obtained information and / or data may include specific performance data which may be used, for example, during troubleshooting should the cooling and / or heating device fail during operation and needs to be fixed. In addition to or alternatively, the device can transmit the obtained information and / or data to the user device to be stored therein or sent to the cloud. The user device can receive the data from the cooling and / or heating device and analyze the received data, or the cooling and / or heating device can also be communicatively connected to the networked device and the cooling and / or heating device can transmit the data to the networked device. The user device can also be configured to transmit data and instructions to the cooling and / or heating device. For example, as discussed above, the cooling and / or heating device can include a plurality of sensors to detect for example, a temperature of the fluid, a fluid flow rate, a temperature of the user’s skin, possible fluid leakage, etc. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention, the user can monitor and / or control and / or adjust the various parameters and / or settings and / or functioning of the cooling and / or heating device by way of the user device. That is, the user interface of the user device can include any combination of input and output elements to allow a user to interact with and invoke the functionalities of the cooling and / or heating device.

[0074] In an embodiment, the networked device can also transmit data and instructions to the user device to relay to the cooling and / or heating device or transmit directly to the cooling and / or heating device.

[0075] The device can include a port on any external surface of the housing of the device, for example the front surface, so that a cable can be attached thereto, with the other end of the cable being connected to a computer to control and / or adjust each parameter, function, system, and / or methods of embodiments of the invention, in addition to the User Interface Display, and the user device. This allows someone to adjust user parameters or adjust any additional programming of parameters.

[0076] In embodiments, the computer can be a desktop, laptop, or server. The computer can perform the functions of the cooling and / or heating device, and / or the user device and / or the networked device.

[0077] The computer includes a CPU which performs the processes described herein.The process data and instructions may be stored in memory. These processes and instructions may also be stored on a storage medium disk such as a hard drive (HDD) or portable storage medium or may be stored remotely. Further, the claimed advancements are not limited by the form of the computer-readable media on which the instructions of the inventive process are stored. For example, the instructions may be stored on CDs, DVDs, in FLASH memory, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, hard disk or any other information processing device with which the computer communicates, such as a server or computer.

[0078] Further, the claimed advancements may be provided as a utility application, background daemon, or component of an operating system, or combination thereof, executing in conjunction with CPU and an operating system such as Microsoft®Windows®, UNIX®, Oracle ® Solaris, LINUX®, Apple macOS® and other systems known to those skilled in the art.

[0079] In order to achieve the computer, the hardware elements may be realized by various circuitry elements, known to those skilled in the art. For example, CPU may be a Xenon® or Core® processor from Intel Corporation of America or an Opteron® processor from AMD of America, or may be other processor types that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the CPU may be implemented on an FPGA, ASIC, PLD or using discrete logic circuits, as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize. Further, CPU may be implemented as multiple processors cooperatively working in parallel to perform the instructions of the inventive processes described above.

[0080] The computer also includes a network controller, such as an Intel Ethernet PRO network interface card from Intel Corporation of America, for interfacing with a network. As can be appreciated, the network can be a public network, such as the Internet, or a private network such as LAN or WAN network, or any combination thereof and can also include PSTN or ISDN sub-networks. The network can also be wired, such as an Ethernet network, or can be wireless such as a cellular network including EDGE, 3G, 4G, 5G wireless cellular systems. The wireless network can also be WiFi®, Bluetooth®, or any other wireless form of communication that is known.

[0081] The computer further includes a display controller, such as a NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX or Quadro® graphics adaptor from NVIDIA Corporation of America for interfacing with the display, such as a Hewlett Packard® HPL2445w LCD monitor. A general purpose I / O interface can interface with a keyboard and / or a mouse as well as an optional touch screen panel on or separate from the display. A general purpose I / Ointerface also connects to a variety of peripherals including printers and scanners, such as an OfficeJet® or DeskJet® from Hewlett Packard.

[0082] A general purpose storage controller can connect a storage medium disk with a communication bus, which may be an ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI, or similar, for interconnecting all of the components of the computer.

[0083] The cooling and / or heating device can be transported by the user in a manner that allows the user to use their hands and to not be impeded by the weight, size, or operation of the cooling and / or heating device. The cooling and / or heating device architecture will include provisions to evenly distribute the weight and volume of the system. The cooling and / or heating device 1 will connect to the user’s body in an ergonomic way, and account for users of various shapes, size and physical abilities.

[0084] The user should be able to carry the cooling and / or heating device with them and not be impeded by it when sitting, standing, laying down, sleeping, riding in a motor vehicle, and walking around. It should also not affect their ability to set up for or receive chemotherapy treatment. For example, the device may be provided within a container or bag that has one or more handles, shoulder straps and / or wheels. In another embodiment, a clip, hook or similar can be included to enable attaching the container or bag to a walker, wheelchair or other similar mobility assisting devices.

[0085] In one or more embodiments of the invention, there are several device interfaces that provide for the proper function of the cooling and / or heating device. For example, electrical adapters / connections. There can be several electrical connections required to ensure the cooling and / or heating device receives power for as long as desired. For example, these connections are as follows: battery to cooling and / or heating device, AC adapter to cooling and / or heating device, and car power adapter to cooling and / or heating device.

[0086] Further, there is a method to connect the gloves and / or boot subsystems to the cooling and / or heating device, as well as a method to connect the gloves and / or boots subsystem tubing to the actual glove or boot, for example Swagelok. The connection is easy to make, and each connecting end is similarly coded, such as with the same color or the same basic shape.

[0087] There is an interface the user can access at all times to control the cooling and / or heating device and ensure it is running in a way that is comfortable for the user. This mechanism, device or controller will be easily accessible by the user during operation and will not restrict or impede the user in any way.

[0088] In the preceding description, specific details have been set forth, such as a particular geometry of a processing system and descriptions of various components and processes used therein. It should be understood, however, that techniques herein may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details, and that such details are for purposes of explanation and not limitation. Embodiments disclosed herein have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similarly, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. Nevertheless, embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. Components having substantially the same functional constructions are denoted by like reference characters, and thus any redundant descriptions may be omitted.

[0089] Various techniques have been described as multiple discrete operations to assist in understanding the various embodiments. The order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Indeed, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment.Various additional operations may be performed and / or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.

[0090] Those skilled in the art will also understand that there can be many variations made to the operations of the techniques explained above while still achieving the same objectives of the invention. Such variations are intended to be covered by the scope of this disclosure. As such, the foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limiting. Rather, any limitations to embodiments of the invention are presented in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1.A system for supplying temperature controlled fluid to a garment worn by a user, the system comprising: a portable cooling and / or heating unit configured to control a temperature of a fluid that circulates through the cooling and / or heating unit; a heat exchange article to be worn by a user comprising two or more layers, channels within the heat exchange article positioned in at least one of the two or more layers, the channels configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough to circulate the fluid to one or more regions of the heat exchange article transferring heat between the temperature controlled fluid flowing through the channel and the region of the user’s body adjacent the channel; and tubing structurally connected to each of the portable cooling and / or heating unit and to the heat exchange article, the tubing providing a fluid pathway to allow fluid to flow between the portable cooling and / or heating unit and the heat exchange article in a fluid-tight manner such that the fluid entering the heat exchange article and the fluid exiting the heat exchange article flow through different channels.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is cooled to cool the region of the user’s body adjacent the channel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is heated to heat the region of the user’s body adjacent the channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange article is in the form of a glove or mitten configured to be worn on a user’s hand.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange article is in the form of a sock or booty configured to be worn on a user’s foot.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the portable cooling and / or heating unit and the heat exchange article includes one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more parameters of the portable cooling and / or heating unit and the heat exchange article, wherein the portable cooling and / or heating unit includes processing circuitry configured to: receive, from the one or more sensors, the one or more monitored set of parameters, determine whether the one or more monitored set of parameters is within a predetermined range of a parameter setpoint, and upon determining the one or more monitored set of parameters is not within the predetermined range of the parameter setpoint, adjust a value of the one or more monitored set of parameters.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising three or more layers and wherein the channels are positioned in the middle layer.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising three or more layers and wherein the fluid entering the heat exchange article and the fluid exiting the heat exchange article flow through different channels and positioned in different layers.

9. The system of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the channels are flexible and adjustable to accommodate various hand or foot sizes and permit movement of the region of the user’s body.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more monitored set of parameters includes a temperature of the fluid flowing through at least one of the cooling and / or heating unit, the heat exchange article, and the tubing.

11. The system of claim 1 , comprising a first set of layers including three or more layers joined together as a first portion and a second set of layers including three or morelayers joined together as a second portion, the first portion and the second portion are structurally joined and configured to accommodate the region of the user’s body, the first set and second set of layers each comprises at least two sets of channels, a first set of channels is connected to a first port operably connected to the portable cooling and / or heating unit in which fluid enters the heat exchange article, and a second set of channels is connected to a second port operably connected to the portable cooling and / or heating unit in which fluid exits the heat exchange article.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of channels and the second set of channels are positioned in different layers of the first set of layers, the second set of layers, or both.

13. The system of Claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors are positioned within the heat exchange article.

14. The system of Claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors are positioned within the cooling and / or heating apparatus.

15. The system of Claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors are positioned within the heat exchange article and within the cooling and / or heating apparatus.

16. The system of Claim 6, wherein of the monitored parameters is a temperature of the fluid flowing through the system, wherein the processing circuitry configured to increase or decrease the temperature of the fluid upon a determination that the temperature is not within the predetermined range.

17. The system of Claim 6, wherein one of the monitored parameters is a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the system, wherein the processing circuitry configured to increase or decrease the flow rate of the fluid upon a determination that the flow rate is not within the predetermined range.

18. The system of Claim 6, further comprising a manifold positioned with the heat exchange article, the manifold configured to guide the fluid flowing into the heat exchange article to a plurality' of the channels positioned in at more than one region of the heat exchange article.

19. The system of Claim 18, wherein the heat exchange article is a glove and wherein a plurality of channels are positioned in a respective plurality of finger regions of the glove.

20. The system of Claim 18, wherein the heat exchange article is a shoe, sock or booty' and wherein a plurality of channels are positioned in a respective plurality of toe regions of the shoe or booty.

21. The system of claim 1, designed for various applications such as athletic performance enhancement, medical therapy, or outdoor recreational activities, providing personalized temperature control and comfort.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange article is flat, or configured to be in the shape of the region of the user’s body to which the heat exchange article is worn, for example, a glove that has a concave surface to be positioned on the palm of a hand and a convex surface to be positioned on the back of the hand; or a shoe, sock or booty that a curvature on a bottom surface to be positioned on the bottom of a foot and / or a curvature to be positioned with the surface / top portion of the foot.

23. A method for controlling a body temperature of a region of a body, the method comprising: providing the system of claim 1 to a subject to don on one or more regions of a body; and determining with one or more sensors, one or more parameters associated with the region of the body;determining whether the one or more monitored set of parameters is within a predetermined range of a parameter setpoint; and upon determining the one or more monitored set of parameters is not within the predetermined range of the parameter setpoint, adjusting a value of the one or more monitored set of parameters with the system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein one of the one or more set of parameters is a temperature of a fluid, the fluid flowing between a cooling and / or heating unit configured to control a temperature of a fluid that circulates through the cooling and / or heating unit and a heat exchange article worn by the user on a part of the body of the user.

25. A method of providing pallative care to a subject in need thereof, such as a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy, the method comprising donning a heat exchange article to one or more regions of the body, such as one or more hands and / or one or feet, wherein the heat exchange article comprises two or more layers and that is operably connected to a portable cooling and / or heating unit configured to control a temperature of a fluid that circulates through the cooling and / or heating unit; channels within the heat exchange article positioned in at least one of the two or more layers, the channels configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough to circulate the fluid to one or more regions of the heat exchange article transferring heat between the temperature controlled fluid flowing through the channel and the region of the user’s body adjacent the channel; tubing structurally connected to each of the portable cooling and / or heating unit and to the heat exchange article, the tubing providing a fluid pathway to allow fluid to flow between the portable cooling and / or heating unit and the heat exchange article in a fluid-tight manner such that the fluid entering the heat exchange article and the fluid exiting the heat exchange article flow through different channels; andengaging the portable cooling and / or heating unit to provide the fluid to flow through the channels of the heat exchange article.

Images