Therapeutic wrap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional therapeutic wraps experience inconsistent heat transfer due to fluid warming as it passes through the wrap, leading to fluctuations in temperature and discomfort for patients, with increased flow rates or lower inlet temperatures required to maintain effectiveness, which can cause discomfort or injury.
Innovation Solution
A therapy wrap with a variable thermal insulating layer positioned along the fluidic channels, featuring different insulating members with varying thickness and thermal resistivity to manage temperature deltas, ensuring consistent heat transfer and patient comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the inlet temperature is lowered to maintain heat transfer effectiveness, then cooling performance is improved, but patient comfort decreases and injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements localized thermal insulation at the inlet region and along fluidic channels, creating different thermal characteristics in different zones. This allows the inlet fluid to be maintained at a lower temperature for effective heat transfer while preventing excessive cooling at the body interface through strategic insulation placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal insulating members are positioned in advance along the fluidic channels to prevent excessive heat transfer from occurring. This beforehand cushioning approach protects the patient from potential injury by ensuring that even if inlet fluid is very cold, the insulation prevents direct excessive cooling of the body tissue.
2Stability of the object's composition
If thermal insulation is added to prevent fluid warming, then temperature consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible thermal insulating members that can conform to the wrap structure, maintaining temperature consistency without requiring rigid or complex insulation systems. These thin, flexible insulating layers integrate smoothly into the existing wrap design, minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal insulating members are positioned within or alongside the existing fluidic channels and wrap layers, nesting the insulation function within the current structure. This nesting approach adds temperature stability functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity or requiring separate independent systems.
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 wrap provides efficient and consistent heat transfer over the treatment surface, reducing the need for significant temperature adjustments and minimizing the risk of injury, while maintaining patient comfort by insulating the fluid path effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal insulating layer affixed to the fluid bladder and having a shape dimensioned and configured to correspond to a perimeter of the bladder, the thermal insulating layer comprising a thermal insulating member extending along the at least one fluidic channel
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
Temperature-controlled therapy wrap for treatment of at least a portion of an animate body including a fluid bladder including an inlet, an outlet, and at least one fluidic channel connecting the inlet to the outlet; and a thermal insulating member on the fluid bladder only directly adjacent the inlet and extending along the at least one fluidic channel. The therapy wrap may be adapted to compensate for a temperature delta in the wrap. The therapy wrap may include an insulating layer of one or more insulating members. The insulating layer is dimensioned and configured to have different coefficients of heat transfer. The insulating layer may have varying thicknesses and materials to achieve varying heat transfer rates. Also disclosed is a method of administering a temperature-controlled treatment to an anatomical body part.