Thermoregulatory device with absorbent material
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a thermoregulatory device. The device has a first layer, a second layer, an enclosure, an inlet and a liquid absorbing material. The first layer has a first interior surface, and a first exterior surface. The second layer has a second interior surface and a second exterior surface. The enclosure is formed by sealing and/or attaching the first interior surface to the second interior surface. The inlet directs a liquid into the enclosure. The liquid absorbing material is positioned (a) at and/or near an aperture that allows a liquid to contact the liquid absorbing material; or (b) on the first exterior surface that is of a material that allows the liquid to contact the liquid absorbing material. In addition, the application is directed a method of using the thermoregulatory device to transfer the liquid's thermal energy from the enclosure to a patient's skin.
1. A thermoregulatory device comprising a first layer having a first interior surface, a first exterior surface and an aperture that extends from the first interior surface to the first exterior surface;
a second layer having a second interior surface and a second exterior surface;
an enclosure formed by sealing and/or attaching the first interior surface to the second interior surface;
an inlet directs a liquid into the enclosure;
a liquid absorbing material positioned within said enclosure at and/or near the aperture.
2. The thermoregulatory device of claim 1 wherein the liquid absorbing material is a sodium polyacrylate compound.
3. The thermoregulatory device of claim 1 wherein when the liquid contacts the liquid absorbing material the liquid absorbing material expands creating a liquid trapped absorbing material.
4. The thermoregulatory device of claim 3 wherein the liquid trapped absorbing material plugs the aperture and is exposed to the first interior surface and the first exterior surface.
5. The thermoregulatory device of claim 3 wherein the liquid trapped absorbing material is a conduit for the thermal energy of the liquid, not trapped in the absorbing material and contained in the enclosure, to pass through to a patient's skin.
6. The thermoregulatory device of claim 1 wherein the liquid has a predetermined temperature.
7. The thermoregulatory device of claim 6 wherein the predetermined temperature can be normothermic to a patient's present temperature, hypothermic to the patient's present temperature, and/or hyperthermic to the patient's present temperature.
8. The thermoregulatory device of claim 1 wherein the first layer and the second layer are discrete materials.
9. The thermoregulatory device of claim 8 wherein the discrete materials are the same material selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, metallic materials, woven materials, foam material, non-woven materials and combinations thereof.
10. The thermoregulatory device of claim 8 wherein the discrete materials are different materials selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, metallic materials, woven materials, foam material, non-woven materials and combinations thereof.
11. The thermoregulatory device of claim 1 wherein the enclosure contains a channel.
12. The thermoregulatory device of claim 11 wherein the channel is perforated.
13. The thermoregulatory device of claim 1 wherein the thermoregulatory device is shaped in a design selected from the group consisting of a blanket; a design to fit on a patient's neck, head, hand, foot, thigh, thorax, back, forehead, face, spine, abdomen, and combinations thereof; a mattress; a cushion; and combinations thereof.
14. A thermoregulatory device comprising a first layer having a first interior surface, a first exterior surface and an aperture that extends from the first interior surface to the first exterior surface;
a second layer having a second interior surface and a second exterior surface;
an enclosure formed by sealing and/or attaching the first interior surface to the second interior surface;
an inlet directs a liquid into the enclosure;
a liquid absorbing material positioned at and/or near the aperture, wherein when the liquid contacts the liquid absorbing material the liquid absorbing material expands creating a liquid trapped absorbing material, and wherein the liquid trapped absorbing material plugs the aperture and is exposed to the first interior surface and the first exterior surface.
15. The thermoregulatory device of claim 14 wherein the liquid absorbing material is a sodium polyacrylate compound.
16. The thermoregulatory device of claim 14 wherein the liquid has a predetermined temperature.
17. The thermoregulatory device of claim 16 wherein the predetermined temperature can be normothermic to a patient's present temperature, hypothermic to the patient's present temperature, and/or hyperthermic to the patient's present temperature.
18. The thermoregulatory device of claim 14 wherein the first layer and the second layer are discrete materials.
19. The thermoregulatory device of claim 18 wherein the discrete materials are the same material selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, metallic materials, woven materials, foam material, non-woven materials and combinations thereof.
20. The thermoregulatory device of claim 18 wherein the discrete materials are different materials selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, metallic materials, woven materials, foam material, non-woven materials and combinations thereof.
21. The thermoregulatory device of claim 14 wherein the enclosure contains a channel.
22. The thermoregulatory device of claim 21 wherein the channel is perforated.
23. The thermoregulatory device of claim 14 wherein the thermoregulatory device is shaped in a design selected from the group consisting of a blanket; a design to fit on a patient's neck, head, hand, foot, thigh, thorax, back, forehead, face, spine, abdomen, and combinations thereof; a mattress; a cushion; and combinations thereof.
24. A thermoregulatory device comprising a first layer having a first interior surface, a first exterior surface and an aperture that extends from the first interior surface to the first exterior surface;
a second layer having a second interior surface and a second exterior surface;
an enclosure formed by sealing and/or attaching the first interior surface to the second interior surface;
an inlet directs a liquid into the enclosure;
a liquid absorbing material positioned at and/or near the aperture, wherein when the liquid contacts the liquid absorbing material the liquid absorbing material expands creating a liquid trapped absorbing material, and wherein the liquid trapped absorbing material is a conduit for the thermal energy of the liquid, not trapped in the absorbing material and contained in the enclosure, to pass through to a patient's skin.
25. The thermoregulatory device of claim 24 wherein the liquid absorbing material is a sodium polyacrylate compound.
26. The thermoregulatory device of claim 24 wherein the liquid has a predetermined temperature.
27. The thermoregulatory device of claim 26 wherein the predetermined temperature can be normothermic to a patient's present temperature, hypothermic to the patient's present temperature, and/or hyperthermic to the patient's present temperature.
28. The thermoregulatory device of claim 24 wherein the first layer and the second layer are discrete materials.
29. The thermoregulatory device of claim 28 wherein the discrete materials are the same material selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, metallic materials, woven materials, foam material, non-woven materials and combinations thereof.
30. The thermoregulatory device of claim 28 wherein the discrete materials are different materials selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, metallic materials, woven materials, foam material, non-woven materials and combinations thereof.
31. The thermoregulatory device of claim 24 wherein the enclosure contains a channel.
32. The thermoregulatory device of claim 31 wherein the channel is perforated.
33. The thermoregulatory device of claim 24 wherein the thermoregulatory device is shaped in a design selected from the group consisting of a blanket; a design to fit on a patient's neck, head, hand, foot, thigh, thorax, back, forehead, face, spine, abdomen, and combinations thereof; a mattress; a cushion; and combinations thereof.