1046 results about "Bulk temperature" patented technology

Apparatus and methods for treating a target tissue by delivering a fluid at a defined temperature to a patient's body. An apparatus of the invention includes a fluid delivery unit for delivering fluid in at least close proximity to the target tissue, an aspiration unit for withdrawing the fluid, and a fluid source unit for providing the fluid at the defined temperature. A method of the invention includes forming a void in at least close proximity to the target tissue, and circulating a preheated fluid through the void, wherein the target tissue undergoes adjustment from body temperature to a treatment temperature due to heat exchange between the fluid and the target tissue.

An apparatus and method for metabolic cooling and insulation of a user in a cold environment. In its preferred embodiment the apparatus is a highly flexible composite material having a flexible matrix containing a phase change thermal storage material. The apparatus can be made to heat or cool the body or to act as a thermal buffer to protect the wearer from changing environmental conditions. The apparatus may also include an external thermal insulation layer and/or an internal thermal control layer to regulate the rate of heat exchange between the composite and the skin of the wearer. Other embodiments of the apparatus also provide 1) a path for evaporation or direct absorption of perspiration from the skin of the wearer for improved comfort and thermal control, 2) heat conductive pathways within the material for thermal equalization, 3) surface treatments for improved absorption or rejection of heat by the material, and 4) means for quickly regenerating the thermal storage capacity for reuse of the material. Applications of the composite materials are also described which take advantage of the composite's thermal characteristics. The examples described include a diver's wet suit, ski boot liners, thermal socks, gloves and a face mask for cold weather activities, and a metabolic heating or cooling blanket useful for treating hypothermia or fever patients in a medical setting and therapeutic heating or cooling orthopedic joint supports.

A touch sensing catheter having a strain sensor assembly that may resolve the magnitude and direction of a force exerted on a distal extremity of the catheter, the strain sensor assembly being substantially insensitive to bulk temperature changes. A deformable structure having a plurality of optical fibers associated therewith that are strained by the imposition of a contact force transferred thereto. The optical fibers cooperate with the deformable structure to effect variable gap interferometers, such as Fabry-Perot resonators, that vary in operative length when a force is exerted on the deformable structure. The strain sensor assembly is rendered insensitive to bulk temperature changes by matching the coefficient of thermal expansion of the deformable body with that of the optical fibers. The strain sensor assembly may also be configured to mitigate the effects of thermal gradients using various thermal isolation techniques.

A method and apparatus is provided for determining an effective thermal mass of a patient. The effective thermal mass is employed to determine a gain factor used in a feedback control system controlling patient temperature. The method begins by inducing hypothermia or hyperthermia in at least a selected portion of the patient with a device having a heat transfer surface. Next, power is transferred between the device and the patient. A change in temperature over time, which arises in the selected portion of the patient, is measured while performing the step of inducing hypothermia or hyperthermia. Finally, an effective thermal mass is calculated based on the measured power and the measured temperature change over time.

The present invention relates to regulating the temperature of a desired medium that is applied to the exterior surface of a mammal. These devices have been used in the past but not with the ability to control the temperature of the desired medium in a predetermined ratio to the temperature of the mammal. With such control, the present invention decreases the change of discomforting the patient when the patient's temperature is being brought to a set point temperature body temperature.

The present invention is directed to a body temperature controlling system comprising at least one member receiving a flow of gas from at least one blower in communication with said at least one member, said at least one member directing said flow of gas onto a wearer thereof.

The present invention generally relates to a device for applying a pulsating pressure to a local region of the body and applications thereof. The device may be used to increase the blood flow in a local region of the body, and in preferred embodiments provides a device for regulating the core body temperature of a patient.

Systems and methods for accurate temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including inducing hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette attached to the circulatory flow lines of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within a control unit. A temperature measurement scheme for obtaining body core temperature is provided, including methods of obtaining and analyzing temperature data to provide feedback to the control unit for use in controlling the heating and cooling of the heat exchange medium so as to heat or cool a patient to a desired target temperature.

An apparatus for adjusting the body temperature of a patient comprises an enclosure defining an interior space for receiving at least a portion of a patient's body therein. The enclosure is adapted for substantially sealingly enclosing the portion of the patient's body within the interior space with the enclosure. Heat transfer liquid may then be circulated through the interior space of the enclosure via an inlet and an outlet for flow over the patient's body in direct liquid contact therewith to promote heat transfer between the patient's body and said heat transfer liquid. The heat transfer liquid may be either warmer or cooler than the patient's body temperature, to either warm or cool the portion. Controlled cooling may be employed to induce therapeutic hypothermia, while controlled warming may be employed to counteract unintended hypothermia. The apparatus further comprises a portable control unit that includes a liquid delivery system, a power source, a control system and a user interface for powering and controlling the liquid delivery system.

An approach to noninvasively, remotely and accurately detect core body temperature in a warm-blooded subject, human or animal, via thermal imaging. Preferred features such as the use of in-frame temperature references, specific anatomical target regions and a physiological heat transfer model help the present invention to overcome pitfalls inherent with existing thermal imaging techniques applied to physiological screening applications. This invention provides the ability to noninvasively, remotely and rapidly screen for diseases or conditions that are characterized by changes in core body temperature. One human application of this invention is the remote screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), since fever is a common, early symptom. Other diseases and conditions that affect the core body temperature of humans or animals may also be noninvasively and remotely detected with this invention.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for remote sensing and/or monitoring utilizing a sensing device, such as may be implemented in a patch that can be placed on or affixed to a subject, where the sensing device includes multiple sensors. For example, one embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless human temperature skin patch providing accurate measurement of human temperature from a sensing device applied to the skin and even in the presence of differing ambient temperature. In such an embodiment, the patch can include, for example, a flexible, breathable bandage or adhesive strip or pad to affix the sensing device to a patient. The sensing device can include multiple sensors such as two or more temperature sensors that can be used to accurately determine the patient's core body temperature from the measured temperature at the skin.

The Ice Belt To Reduce Body Temperature is a belt made of a turned out strip of flexible material of amble width and length to gird the waist from the midriff down, contains pocket-like receptacles on its innermost body-contacting side for the placement of flexible ice bags, and is secured around the waist by a connecting means. The Ice Belt to Reduce Body Temperature is a new concept of belts intended for sports, exercise and safety because the Ice Belt To Reduce Body Temperature provides the wearer with the comfort of a lower body temperature when exposed to high climatic conditions. In fact, most belts pertaining to the prior art are designed to promote sweating—a symptom of high body temperature—rather than reduce sweating. Therefore, the Ice Belt helps to lessen the risk of the user acquiring heat exhaustion when exposed to high climatic conditions.

The system comprises one or more sensor devices, where each sensor device is capable of measuring a temperature at a known location of a body of a human or other animal. Each sensor transmits a temperature measurement value and sensor identification to a monitor device. The monitor device receives the temperature measurement value and sensor identification, and computes an adjusted temperature value based upon the position of the measuring sensor, body age, and time of day. The adjusted temperature value is tested for alarm conditions and displayed for use by a caretaker.

Devices and methods to heat and cool human beings, including inducing and maintaining hypothermia in human patients. Methods include inducing hypothermia to treat ischemic events, including heart attack and stroke, to limit damage caused by the ischemic event. Methods can include: using the lungs for heat exchange; using cooled gases for ventilation; using helium in the ventilation gas mixture, using medications to control reflex heat production; and injecting a perfluorocarbon mist into the gas stream to increase the cooling rate. The high thermal conductivity and diffusivity of helium results in greater inspired gas temperature equalization toward body temperature. Due to the latent heat of vaporization, addition of even small quantity of phase-change perfluorocarbon dramatically increases the heat carrying capacity of the respiratory gases. Hypothermia may be terminated by discontinuing the medications and warming the patient using a warmed helium-oxygen mixture.

A catheter system for controlling the body temperature of a patient by modifying the temperature of blood flowing within a blood vessel of the patient. The catheter system comprises a catheter body having a heat exchange region in contact with the blood; and a temperature probe having a distal end that extends from the catheter body, thereby monitoring the temperature of blood flowing within the blood vessel.

Cardiovascular parameters of a patient undergoing a procedure involving general anesthesia are maintained by controlling the patient's body temperature. Such control involves the use of a garment enveloping substantial portions of the patient's body and utilizing a heating/cooling regime taking into consideration the heat transfer dynamics of the body.

Body temperature measurements are obtained by scanning a thermal radiation sensor across the side of the forehead over the temporal artery. A peak temperature measurement is processed to compute an internal temperature of the body as a function of ambient temperature and the sensed surface temperature. The function includes a weighted difference of surface temperature and ambient temperature, the weighting being varied with target temperature through a minimum in the range of 96° F. and 100° F. The radiation sensor views the target surface through an emissivity compensating cup which is spaced from the skin by a circular lip of low thermal conductivity.