Thermal Device
Devices and methods that provide consistent skin side temperature comprising a primary insulative material disposed on a skin side of a thermal source; wherein the device provides a rate of change in temperature of less than about 0.8 are disclosed. Also included are methods of providing improved skin health, and methods of providing passive skin side temperature control.
1 . A device that provides a consistent skin side temperature comprising:
a primary insulative material disposed on a skin side of a thermal source;
wherein said device provides a rate of temperature change of less than about 0.8.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device provides a rate of temperature change of less than about 0.7.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein said device provides a rate of temperature change of less than about 0.5.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device provides and maintains a skin side temperature below about 43° C.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device provides and maintains a skin side temperature between about 36° C. and about 42° C.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device provides and maintains a skin side temperature between about 39° C. and about 42° C.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device provides a skin side temperature of said device of at least about 36° C. within about 5 minutes of initiation of heating.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device provides a skin side temperature between about 39° C. and about 42° C. within less than about 30 minutes of initiation of heating.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device provides a skin side temperature between about 39° C. to about 42° C. within less than about 15 minutes of initiation of heating.
10 . The device of claim 1 wherein said device provides and maintains a skin side temperature between about 39° C. and about 42° C. for up to about 24 hours.
11 . The device of claim 1 wherein said primary insulative material is selected from the group consisting of: foam, non-woven, sponge, glass wool, fiberglass, and combinations thereof.
12 . The device of claim 1 wherein said primary insulative material has a thickness of from about 1/64 inch to about 1 inch.
13 . The device of claim 1 wherein said primary insulative material has a thickness of from about 1/32 inch to about ½ inch.
14 . The device of claim 1 wherein said primary insulative material has a thickness of from about 1/16 inch to about ⅜ inch.
15 . The device of claim 1 wherein said thermal source is chosen from the group consisting of single use sources, reusable sources, heat of crystallization sources, particulate exothermic compositions, electrical sources, and combinations thereof.
16 . The device of claim 1 wherein said thermal source comprises at least one heat cell comprising a particulate exothermic composition.
17 . The device of claim 16 wherein said at least one heat cell is formed in a unified structure comprising at least two opposed surfaces, wherein at least one surface is air permeable, and wherein said particulate exothermic composition is disposed between said two opposing surfaces.
18 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a top layer disposed on a top side of said thermal source.
19 . The device of claim 18 wherein said top layer is a non-woven material.
20 . The device of claim 18 wherein said top layer is a material chosen from the group consisting of: nylon, rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polypropylene, celluloses, wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal, ramie, and combinations thereof.
21 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a skin side layer.
22 . The device of claim 21 wherein said skin side layer is a non-woven material.
23 . The device of claim 21 wherein said skin side layer is a material selected from the group consisting of: nylon, rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polypropylene, celluloses, wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal, ramie, and combinations thereof.
24 . The device of claim 21 wherein said primary insulative material is disposed between said thermal source and said skin side layer.
25 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a second insulative material disposed on a top side of said thermal source.
26 . The device of claim 24 further comprising a top layer disposed on a top side of said second insulative material.
27 . The device of claim 25 wherein said second insulative material is selected from the group consisting of: foam, non-woven, sponge, glass wool, fiberglass, spray-on materials, air laid materials, and combinations thereof.
28 . The device of claim 1 further comprising an additional component selected from the group consisting of aromatic compounds, skin treatment compounds, pharmaceutical compounds, therapeutic compounds, vitamins, and combinations thereof.
29 . The device of claim 1 wherein said device conforms to contours of a user's body and provides uniform pressure and fit to said skin.
30 . A method of providing consistent skin side temperature of thermal devices during use comprising:
applying to skin of a user a device comprising a primary insulative material disposed on a skin side of a thermal source; wherein said device provides a rate of temperature change of less than about 0.8.
31 . The method of claim 30 comprising providing a rate of temperature change of less than about 0.7.
32 . The method of claim 30 comprising providing a rate of temperature change of less than about 0.5.
33 . The method of claim 30 comprising maintaining said skin side temperature at less than about 43° C.
34 . The method of claim 30 comprising maintaining said skin side temperature between about 36° C. and about 42° C.
35 . The method of claim 30 comprising maintaining said skin side temperature between about 39° C. and about 42° C.
36 . The method of claim 30 comprising maintaining said skin side temperature between about 39° C. and about 42° C. for up to about twenty-four hours.
37 . The method of claim 30 comprising providing a skin side temperature of said device between about 39° C. and about 42° C. within less than about 30 minutes of initiation of heating.
38 . The method of claim 30 comprising providing a skin side temperature of said device between about 39° C. and about 42° C. in less than about 15 minutes of initiation of heating.
39 . The method of claim 30 comprising providing a skin side temperature of said device of about 36° C. within about 5 minutes of initiation of heating.
40 . A method of providing improved skin health comprising: applying to skin of a user a device comprising a primary insulative material disposed on a skin side of a thermal source; wherein said device provides a rate of temperature change of less than about 0.8.
41 . The method of claim 40 wherein said device conforms to contours of a user's body and provides uniform pressure and fit to said skin.
42 . A method of providing passive skin side temperature control comprising: applying to skin of a user a device comprising a primary insulative material disposed on a skin side of a thermal source; wherein said device provides a rate of temperature change of less than about 0.8.