26509 results about "Heat transfer" patented technology

A working end of a surgical instrument that carries first and second jaws for delivering energy to tissue. In a preferred embodiment, at least one jaw of the working end defines a tissue-engagement plane that contacts the targeted tissue. The cross-section of the engagement plane reveals that it defines (i) a first surface conductive portion or a variably resistive matrix of a temperature-sensitive resistive material or a pressure-sensitive resistive material, and (ii) a second surface portion coupled to a fixed resistive material that coupled in series or parallel to a voltage source together with the first portion. In use, the engagement plane will apply active Rf energy to ohmically heat the captured tissue until the point in time that a controller senses an electrical parameter of the tissue such as impedance. Thereafter, the controller switches energy delivery to the second surface portion that is resistively heated to thereby apply energy to tissue by conductive heat transfer.

A shower head formed by stacking a shower base, a gas diffusion plate, and a shower plate and supplying material gas and oxidizer gas to a wafer on a loading table through a first gas diffusion part and a second gas diffusion part formed in both faces of the gas diffusion plate, first gas outlets formed in the shower plate and communicating with a first gas diffusion space, and second gas outlets formed in the shower plate and communicating with a second gas diffusion space. A plurality of heat transfer columns fitted closely to the lower surface of the shower base are installed in the first gas diffusion part so that portions therebetween can form the first gas diffusion space, and radiant heat from the loading table is transmitted by the heat transfer columns in the thickness direction of the shower head.

The present invention provides a heat transfer assembly that, when coupled to an object, is capable of keeping the object at a uniform elevated temperature while removing large amounts of heat from an external source. The assembly may be contained in a pedestal for use in a UV-cure chamber. The heat transfer assembly includes a heating element to control the wafer temperature and a cooling element to remove incident IR heat from the wafer and pedestal. A heat resistant layer having a calibrated heat resistance is located between the heating and cooling elements and between the wafer and the cooling elements. The heat resistant layer is able to sustain high temperature gradient from the wafer to the coolant so that the coolant does not boil while permitting enough heat to be conducted away from the wafer to maintain the desired set-point temperature.

A shower head is provided, in a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, to face a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon. The shower head includes: a facing surface that faces the mounting table to supply a gas to the substrate in a form of shower through a plurality of gas injection holes formed on the facing surface; an opposing surface provided opposite to the facing surface; and a plurality of bar-shaped heat transfer columns standing on the opposing surface. Here, the heat transfer columns have varying lengths and/or thicknesses to adjust heat capacities thereof. The heat transfer columns are made of one of aluminum, stainless steel, and copper.

A shower head structure (26) includes a shower head main body (78) of a one-piece structure formed in a generally cup shape and having a bottom wall (78A) provided with a plurality of gas injection holes (30A, 30B) formed therein and a side wall (78B) rising from a peripheral portion of the bottom wall. A plurality of gas diffusion chamber forming plates (82A-82C) are housed in the shower head main body (78). A through-hole is formed in a head mounting frame (76) disposed on a ceiling of a processing vessel (24). An upper portion of the side wall (78B) of the shower head main body (78) is inserted into the through-hole, so that a part of the side wall (78B) is exposed to the exterior of the processing vessel. A cooling mechanism (84) is disposed at the upper end portion of the side wall (78B). Heat transfer between the cooling mechanism (84) and the bottom wall (78A) is enhanced, so that the temperature of the bottom wall (78A) can be controlled at a proper value, thereby preventing any adhesion of an unnecessary film onto the bottom wall (78A).

A method of treating a brain disorder by heat transfer from brain tissue comprising the steps of surgically cutting a heat transfer aperture into a patient's skull, thereby exposing a predetermined portion of patient's brain; surgically implanting into said heat transfer aperture a heat pump having one or more electrical sensor elements and one or more temperature sensor elements; surgically implanting a heat transfer management unit in a body cavity of said patient such that a micro controller of the heat transfer management unit is connected to one or more activity sensor elements and one or more temperature sensor elements contacting brain tissue and connecting the heat transfer management unit to said heat pump via a lead bundle. Optionally, the heat transfer unit may be located external to the patient's body. Responsive to signals from one or more activity or temperature sensor elements, mathematical algorithms of the heat transfer management unit determine abnormal brain activity, causing the heat pump to remove heat from the brain tissue into a heat sink, thereby cooling the predetermined portion of the patient's brain. This technique utilizes acute hypothermia by means of a Peltier cooler or similar device to cool the brain temperature to reduce or prevent seizure initiation and/or propagation. The method may be used in association with brain stimulation and/or drug application to acutely avoid the occurrence of a seizure episode.

Apparatus and methods for cooling and/or heating selected regions within a body are described herein. An implantable system is used to cool or heat nerve bodies down to about 15° C. to diminish nerve impulses. In one embodiment, the system can include an implantable unit containing a pumping mechanism and/or various control electronics. The system has a cooling element. The cooling element can be a Peltier junction or a catheter through which hot or cold fluid flows. The heated portion of the Peltier junction can be cooled by a liquid heat transfer medium which absorbs the heat from the junction and dissipates the heat elsewhere.

A catheter includes a sealed multi-lumen heat transfer extension designed to internally circulate a coolant, and thereby cool tissue or fluid surrounding the catheter. The heat transfer extension includes a tube having a distally positioned region that coils about the tube's longitudinal axis. The tube houses multiple lumens running longitudinally along the tube. These lumens include one or more supply lumens and one or more return lumens. A distal fluid exchange reservoir resides at the tube's tip, for the purpose of redirecting fluid from the supply lumen(s) to the return lumen(s). The heat transfer extension may include a shape memory structure causing the heat transfer extension to vary its shape according to temperature. Namely, the extension assumes a coiled shape under predetermined shape-active temperatures, and it assumes a non-coiled shape under other predetermined shape-relaxed temperatures. The catheter also includes an interface having supply and return lines to provide coolant to the heat transfer extension, and remove coolant returning therefrom. To connect the supply/return lines with the supply/return lumens, the invention may include a fluid transfer housing. Optionally, one or more of the lumens may be configured as flow-through lumens to exchange fluids with the patient.

A method is provided of localizing a drug action where the drug is present throughout a vascular system. The localization occurs to within a volume of blood in a blood vessel, the vascular system having an initial temperature substantially within a first temperature range. A temperature-specific enzyme is delivered throughout a vascular system including a volume of blood in a blood vessel, the temperature-specific enzyme having a working temperature within a prespecified temperature range that does not substantially overlap the first temperature range. A heat transfer element is delivered to a blood vessel in fluid communication with the volume of blood. The temperature of the heat transfer element is adjusted such that the volume of blood in the blood vessel is heated or cooled to the prespecified temperature range. In this way, the action of the temperature-specific enzyme is substantially limited to the volume of blood heated or cooled. In an alternative embodiment, the temperature-specific enzyme is localized to the volume of blood in the blood vessel, and the heat transfer element is disposed in fluid communication with the volume of blood in the blood vessel. The enzyme localization may occur by way of direct injection or by way of injection through a lumen of a catheter. The injection lumen of the catheter may be disposed at least partially adjacent or in combination with the heat transfer element and its associated inlet and outlet lumens.

A memory device with improved heat transfer characteristics. The device first includes a dielectric material layer; first and second electrodes, vertically separated and having mutually opposed contact surfaces. A phase change memory element is encased within the dielectric material layer, including a phase-change layer positioned between and in electrical contact with the electrodes, wherein the lateral extent of the phase change layer is less than the lateral extent of the electrodes. An isolation material is positioned between the phase change layer and the dielectric layer, wherein the thermal conductivity of the isolation material is lower than the thermal conductivity of the dielectric material.

Disclosed is a method for detecting a leak in a closed loop heat transfer system comprising monitoring the pressure of the heat transfer composition inside said heat transfer system, wherein a drop in pressure indicates a leak. Also disclosed is a heat transfer system comprising an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an expander and a device for measuring internal system pressure. The system pressure measuring device is disposed inside the closed loop heat system. The internal system pressure measuring means may be located either between the evaporator and the condenser, between the expander and the evaporator, between the compressor and the condenser, or between the condenser and the expander.

Devices and methods for the treatment of skin conditions and lesions are disclosed herein. A compact hand held device that can be safely used by those suffering from skin conditions, such as acne, warts, cold blisters, blemished skin, or fine wrinkles. The devices employ the application of ultrasound energy and heat for the treatment of skin conditions and lesions. Typically, the peak temperatures employed are about 40° C. to about 70° C. by the devices, are achieved in less than about 20 second, and maintained for less than about 40 second. Ultrasound absorption and thermal conduction transfers heat from the device to the skin and causes a biological response that accelerates acne clearing, treats blemished skin, itching, or fine wrinkles. The total heat transferred is low enough to prevent burns.

A device and a method of use for treating a medical disorder by surgically implanting into a patient at least one sensor element capable of detecting and conveying cell signals: attaching a management unit such that a micro controller of the management unit is connected to at least one sensor element; and connecting the management unit via a lead bundle to at least one treatment device. The treatment device may be an electrical stimulation device, a magnetic stimulation device, a heat transfer device, or a medication delivery device. Responsive to signals from the one or more sensor elements, mathematical algorithms of the management unit use wavelet crosscorrelation analysis to prompt delivery of at least one treatment modality, such heat transfer, current pulses, magnetic stimulation or medication. The medical disorder may arise from the brain, central nervous system or organs and tissues outside of the central nervous system.

A selective organ heat transfer device with deep irregularities in a turbulence-inducing exterior surface. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments, each having a turbulence-inducing exterior surface. A flexible joint connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. The flexible joint may be a rubber tube or a metal tube of a predetermined thickness. An inner lumen is disposed within the heat transfer segments. The inner lumen is capable of transporting a pressurized working fluid to a distal end of the heat transfer element.

A pedestal assembly and method for controlling temperature of a substrate during processing is provided. In one embodiment, the pedestal assembly includes a support member that is coupled to a base by a material layer. The material layer has at least two regions having different coefficients of thermal conductivity. In another embodiment, the support member is an electrostatic chuck. In further embodiments, a pedestal assembly has channels formed between the base and support member for providing cooling gas in proximity to the material layer to further control heat transfer between the support member and the base, thereby controlling the temperature profile of a substrate disposed on the support member.