Indirectly Cooled Cryotherapy Apparatus with Recirculating Air System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-person cryotherapy devices suffer from inconsistent temperature distribution and safety hazards due to direct nitrogen cooling, which fails to provide uniform and controlled cold exposure, and are inadequate for varying patient anthropometric and morphological characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An indirectly cooled cryotherapy device with a recirculating air system using a liquid nitrogen heat exchanger for uniform temperature distribution, adjustable cooling intensity, and customizable protocols based on patient characteristics, ensuring safe and effective cryotherapy treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If direct liquid nitrogen cooling is used, then cooling intensity is high, but temperature distribution becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary cooling system where liquid nitrogen cools a heat exchanger (intermediary object) rather than directly contacting the patient. The heat exchanger transfers cold to the air in the chamber, which then uniformly cools the patient. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by decoupling the high-intensity cooling source from direct patient contact, enabling both high cooling intensity and uniform temperature distribution.
2Temperature
If direct nitrogen gas flow is used, then cooling effect is strong, but safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses air as an intermediary between the liquid nitrogen cooling source and the patient. The liquid nitrogen cools the heat exchanger, which then cools the air in the chamber. This air intermediary eliminates direct nitrogen contact with the patient, removing safety hazards while preserving the cooling effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a controlled inert atmosphere by using nitrogen for cooling purposes only (indirectly through the heat exchanger) while maintaining air as the patient environment. This separates the inert nitrogen from direct patient exposure, eliminating asphyxiation and cold burn hazards while maintaining the necessary cooling function.
3Ease of operation
If fixed cooling protocol is used, then device operation is simple, but adaptability to individual patients decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic protocol adjustment capabilities where treatment parameters (temperature, duration, flow rate) can be customized based on patient characteristics such as body mass index, age, and medical condition. The system allows real-time modification of cooling intensity and chamber atmosphere composition, transforming a static device into an adaptive system that responds to individual patient needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables customization by allowing adjustment of multiple parameters including nitrogen flow rate, chamber temperature, and treatment duration based on patient-specific factors. This parameter flexibility resolves the contradiction by enabling both simple operation (through pre-set protocols) and high adaptability (through customizable parameters).
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
The solution provides consistent and controlled cryotherapy treatments by ensuring even temperature distribution and customizable protocols, enhancing safety and efficacy by accounting for individual patient characteristics, thus improving the overall therapeutic outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
an indirectly cooled single-occupancy cryotherapy device or multi-person cryotherapy chamber where chilled air is re-circulated through a therapy chamber and re-cooled by a liquid nitrogen heat exchanger
Data Source
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AI summary
A cryotherapy apparatus including a heat exchanger, a cryotherapy chamber, cryogenic nitrogen supply and exhaust conduits to and from the heat exchanger, an air return conduit to flow warmed air from the cryotherapy chamber to the heat exchanger, an air supply conduit to flow chilled air from the heat exchanger to the cryotherapy chamber, a variable speed fan to cause flow of air through a loop including the air supply and return conduits, the heat exchanger, and the cryotherapy chamber, and a controller programmed to control the flow rate of air by regulating the speed of the variable speed fan according to a treatment protocol; and a method of delivering cryotherapy according to a customized treatment protocol taking into account one or more of: a patient's treatment goals, a customization factor, a personalization factor, and an adaptation factor.