Cryocabin Fluid Distribution Control for Individual Cold Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional whole-body cryotherapy devices lack adjustability in temperature, velocity, and coolant flow direction, leading to inadequate thermal shock responses due to varying individual cold tolerance and inefficient cooling, which can result in decreased treatment effectiveness and increased risk of cold injury.
Innovation Solution
An electrically operated whole-body cryocabin arrangement with a method for real-time adjustment of cooling fluid distribution based on user-specific data, including speed and direction of fluid flow, to maintain skin surface temperature within a range of 0 to −1°C, using an open-top cabin with fluid circulation units and vaporizer devices to deliver an aqueous-based solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cryotherapy devices use fixed temperature and coolant flow parameters, then the device structure remains simple, but the treatment effectiveness decreases due to varying individual cold tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of coolant flow parameters (temperature, velocity, direction) during the treatment cycle based on real-time skin temperature measurements. The system transitions from static fixed parameters to dynamic adaptive parameters, allowing the coolant distribution to change continuously throughout the treatment process to match individual patient responses and maintain optimal thermal shock conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor skin surface temperature and feed this information back to the control unit. The control unit processes this feedback and adjusts coolant flow parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to individual patient cold tolerance and maintains treatment effectiveness while managing device complexity through automated control.
2Temperature
If coolant flow velocity is increased to achieve thermal shock response, then cooling effectiveness improves, but the risk of cold injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor skin surface temperature and provide real-time feedback to the control unit. When skin temperature approaches the thermal shock threshold (0 to −1°C), the system automatically adjusts coolant flow velocity and direction to prevent excessive cooling. This feedback mechanism maintains the therapeutic thermal shock response while preventing cold injury by keeping skin temperature within the safe therapeutic range.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes coolant flow parameters (velocity, direction, temperature) during the treatment cycle based on real-time skin temperature measurements. Instead of using fixed high-velocity coolant flow that could cause injury, the system adjusts parameters to maintain skin temperature within the optimal 0 to −1°C range, achieving thermal shock without exceeding safe limits.
3Temperature
If cryogenic liquids are used to achieve extreme temperatures below −100°C, then thermal shock response is achieved, but the risk of cold injury and treatment safety decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses coolant temperatures in the range of −15°C to −40°C, which is significantly warmer than conventional cryogenic liquids (below −100°C). By changing the temperature parameter and compensating with dynamic flow velocity and direction control, the system achieves the necessary thermal shock response (skin temperature 0 to −1°C) while dramatically improving treatment safety and reducing cold injury risk.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time temperature monitoring and feedback control enable the system to achieve effective thermal shock response using warmer coolant temperatures. The feedback mechanism ensures that skin surface temperature reaches the therapeutic range (0 to −1°C) through controlled coolant application, eliminating the need for extreme cryogenic temperatures and associated safety risks.
4Reliability
If electric cooling aggregates are used instead of cryogenic liquids, then treatment safety improves, but cooling power becomes insufficient to generate thermal shock response
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a pneumatic coolant delivery system that propels coolant through nozzles using compressed air pressure. This allows the system to deliver coolant at high velocities (5-15 m/s) and controlled directions, achieving effective heat transfer and thermal shock response using relatively warm coolant temperatures (−15°C to −40°C), thereby maintaining treatment safety while sufficient cooling power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts coolant flow velocity, direction, and temperature during the treatment cycle to optimize cooling efficiency. By varying these parameters in real-time based on skin temperature feedback, the system achieves effective thermal shock response using moderate cooling power, eliminating the need for extreme cryogenic temperatures while maintaining adequate cooling effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for precise control of cooling fluid distribution, ensuring uniform cold-induced thermal shock response across the body, enhancing treatment efficiency and safety by accommodating individual cold sensitivity, and achieving therapeutic effects at higher temperatures than conventional methods, reducing the risk of cold injury.
Implementation Method 1
Cryotherapy treatment aims at inducing, in the persons' skin and an underlying (soft) tissue, a thermal (cold) shock response
Implementation Method 2
intake and recirculation of said cooling fluid by fluid circulation units
Implementation Method 3
delivery of an aqueous-based solution into the cabin by a number of vaporizer devices
Data Source
AI summary
The invention pertains to a method for operating a cryocabin arrangement 100 with an open-top cabin 10, a cooling unit 20 and a number of fluid circulation units 30. The method comprises receiving user-specific data comprising at least temperature indications measureable, by a number of sensor devices, at skin surface of the user upon delivery of cooling fluid 201 into the cabin via the cooling unit followed by intake and recirculation of said cooling fluid by fluid circulation units, which further return recirculated cooling fluid 301 inside said cabin, and based on said user-specific data, selectively adjusting distribution of said cooling fluid 201, 301 inside the cabin, in terms of at least speed and/or direction of a fluidic flow, to a predetermined level during an operation cycle.