Peripheral Tissue Heating for Therapeutic Core Temperature Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The thermoregulatory system in mammals is unable to maintain core temperature within a set range in certain circumstances, and there is a need for methods to override this system to alter body temperature for therapeutic or prophylactic reasons, particularly in cases of medical emergencies like brain ischemia or hypothermia.

Innovation Solution

The use of systems and methods that apply heat or cooling to peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue to increase or maintain perfusion of blood in glabrous tissue, allowing for controlled alteration of core body temperature through vasodilation or vasoconstriction of arteriovenous anastomoses, using devices such as heating elements, cooling devices, and negative pressure application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the thermoregulatory system is allowed to operate normally, then core body temperature is maintained within a narrow range, but the system cannot respond to therapeutic needs requiring temperature alteration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecore temperature maintenanceVSAvoidtherapeutic temperature adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local heating to peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue (opposite to conventional core heating) to indirectly alter core temperature. By heating peripheral areas like the neck or extremities, the system triggers thermoregulatory responses that ultimately change core temperature, thereby achieving therapeutic temperature control while preserving normal thermoregulatory function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If heat is applied to peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue, then blood perfusion in glabrous tissue increases, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue as an intermediary target. Instead of directly heating core tissues or inserting catheters into blood vessels, the system applies heat to peripheral areas (neck, extremities) that serve as mediators to trigger systemic thermoregulatory responses, thereby simplifying the overall system configuration while maintaining high heat transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If negative pressure is applied to glabrous tissue, then blood perfusion increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow volumeVSAvoidpressure application mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs negative pressure (vacuum) applied to glabrous tissue to enhance blood perfusion. By creating a pressure gradient through pneumatic means, the system increases blood flow volume to the tissue without requiring complex surgical interventions or invasive catheterization, thereby managing device complexity through the use of established pneumatic principles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Enables rapid and efficient alteration of body temperature, facilitating therapeutic hypothermia or warming, thereby reducing mortality and morbidity in medical emergencies and improving thermal comfort by enhancing convective heat transfer between the skin and core.

Implementation Method 1

The applied heat increases or maintains perfusion of blood in the glabrous tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVasodilation:

Implementation Method 2

applying heat to peripheral thermoregulatory control tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

enhancing convective heat transfer between the skin and core

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

vasodilation or vasoconstriction of arteriovenous anastomoses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVasoconstriction:

Implementation Method 5

Negative pressure can also be applied to the glabrous tissue. The negative pressure can be used to increase or maintain perfusion of blood in the glabrous tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS9549844B2Altering temperature in a mammalian body

Publication Date: 2017.01.24 BOARD OF RGT THE UNIV OF TEXAS SYST

AI summary

The present application relates to systems and methods for altering temperature in a mammalian body. Optionally, the systems and methods can be used to lower or raise core body temperature of a mammalian subject. Optionally, the systems and methods can be used to lower or raise the temperature of glabrous skin of a mammalian subject.