Localized liquid therapy and thermotherapy device
View Patent ↗A device for directly applying thermotherapeutic liquid to an area upon the surface of an afflicted patient, and methods of use thereof, are described. In particular, a device for apply water-based liquid at a therapeutic temperature directly to an afflicted area in order to create a localized hyperthermia, is presented. The afflicted area may be either on the skin of the patient, or subcutaneous. The device is also effective for disinfection, irrigation, lavage, and the like, when employing a suitable solution. The liquid may also have a mild oxidizing effect, which, if greater upon afflicted than upon non-afflicted cells, would enhance the therapeutic effect in conjunction with the therapy herein described.
1. An apparatus for treating an afflicted area of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a reservoir;
a temperature-controlled liquid stored in the reservoir;
an applicator having a cavity formed between an inner surface of the applicator and the afflicted area of the patient, the applicator being fluidly connected to the reservoir and positioned adjacent the afflicted area, wherein the applicator is formed from a dressing material adapted to support a vacuum; and
a negative pressure pump fluidly connected to the applicator to draw the temperature-controlled liquid from the reservoir through the applicator and return the temperature-controlled liquid to the reservoir.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller operably connected to the reservoir to regulate a temperature of the temperature-controlled liquid.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a liquid heater exposed to the temperature-controlled liquid and operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller is operable to regulate power to the liquid heater so that the temperature-controlled liquid is heated.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a liquid heater operable to heat the temperature-controlled liquid prior to application to the afflicted area to induce a localized hyperthermia in the afflicted area after application of the heated temperature-controlled liquid to the afflicted area.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to cause the temperature-controlled liquid to be cooled prior to application to the afflicted area.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cooled temperature-controlled liquid is operable to induce a localized hypothermia in the afflicted area after application of the cooled temperature-controlled liquid to the afflicted area.
7. A device for applying therapeutic liquid to an afflicted area of a patient comprising:
a supply means for supplying a therapeutic liquid;
a return means for returning the therapeutic liquid to the supply means;
a control means for thermally regulating the therapeutic liquid;
an applicator fluidly connected between the supply means and the return means, the applicator being adapted to be secured about the afflicted area to support a vacuum; and
liquid movement means for moving and re-circulating the therapeutic liquid through the supply means, the applicator, and the return means.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic liquid is a water-based, temperature controlled liquid.
9. The device of claim 7 , wherein further comprising:
a liquid heater operable to heat the therapeutic liquid.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the liquid heater is operable to induce a localized hyperthermia in the afflicted area after application of the heated therapeutic liquid to the afflicted area.
11. The device of claim 7 , wherein the control means is operable to cool the therapeutic liquid.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the cooled therapeutic liquid is operable to induce a localized hypothermia in the afflicted area after application of the cooled therapeutic liquid to the afflicted area.
13. The device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a liquid storage means for providing the therapeutic liquid to the supply means and for accepting the therapeutic liquid from the return means.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the liquid movement means is positioned within the liquid storage means.
15. The device of claim 7 , wherein the liquid movement means generates a negative pressure at the applicator to drain the afflicted area, secure the applicator against the afflicted area, and provide negative pressure wound therapy to the afflicted area.
16. The device of claim 7 , wherein the liquid movement means is a negative pressure pump positioned to draw the therapeutic liquid through the applicator.
17. The device of claim 7 , wherein the liquid movement means is a negative pressure collection container.
18. The device of claim 7 , wherein the liquid movement means is a pump positioned to apply positively pressured therapeutic liquid to the afflicted area.
19. A method of treating an afflicted area of a patient comprising:
positioning an applicator adapted to support a vacuum over the afflicted area of the patient;
thermally regulating a temperature of a liquid;
moving the liquid through the applicator such that the liquid contacts the afflicted area of the patient and creates a vacuum adjacent the afflicted area; and
recirculating the liquid through the applicator after the liquid has passed through the applicator.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
measuring the temperature of the liquid.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein thermally regulating the temperature further comprises heating the liquid.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein thermally regulating the temperature further comprises cooling the liquid.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein moving the liquid through the applicator further comprises applying a negative pressure to the applicator to draw the liquid through the applicator.
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein moving the liquid through the applicator further comprises applying a positive pressure to the liquid to push the liquid through the applicator.
25. An apparatus for treating an afflicted area of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a reservoir;
a temperature-controlled liquid stored in the reservoir;
an applicator having a cavity formed between an inner surface of the applicator and the afflicted area of the patient, the applicator being fluidly connected to the reservoir and positioned adjacent the afflicted area; and
a negative pressure pump fluidly connected to the applicator to draw the temperature-controlled liquid from the reservoir through the applicator and return the temperature-controlled liquid to the reservoir;
wherein the temperature-controlled liquid is cooled prior to application to the afflicted area.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising:
a controller operably connected to the reservoir to regulate a temperature of the temperature-controlled liquid.
27. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the cooled temperature-controlled liquid induces a localized hypothermia in the afflicted area after application of the cooled temperature-controlled liquid to the afflicted area.
28. A device for applying therapeutic liquid to an afflicted area of a patient comprising:
a supply means for supplying a therapeutic liquid;
a return means for returning the therapeutic liquid to the supply means;
a control means for thermally regulating the therapeutic liquid, wherein the therapeutic liquid is cooled;
an applicator fluidly connected between the supply means and the return means, the applicator being adapted to be secured about the afflicted area; and
a negative pressure pump positioned to draw therapeutic liquid through the applicator from the supply means to the return means.
29. The device of claim 28 , wherein the therapeutic liquid is a water-based, temperature controlled liquid.
30. The device of claim 28 , wherein the cooled therapeutic liquid is operable to induce a localized hypothermia in the afflicted area after application of the cooled therapeutic liquid to the afflicted area.
31. The device of claim 28 , further comprising:
a liquid storage means for providing the therapeutic liquid to the supply means and for accepting the therapeutic liquid from the return means.
32. The device of claim 31 , wherein the negative pressure pump is positioned within the liquid storage means.
33. The device of claim 28 , wherein the negative pressure pump generates a negative pressure at the applicator to drain the afflicted area, and secure the applicator against the afflicted area.
34. The device of claim 28 , wherein the negative pressure pump is a negative pressure collection container.
35. The device of claim 28 , further comprising: a pump positioned to apply positively pressured therapeutic liquid to the afflicted area.
36. A method of treating an afflicted area of a patient comprising:
positioning an applicator over the afflicted area of the patient;
thermally regulating a temperature of a liquid, wherein thermally regulating the temperature comprises cooling the liquid;
applying a negative pressure to the applicator to draw the liquid through the applicator such that the liquid contacts the afflicted area of the patient; and
recirculating the liquid through the applicator after the liquid has passed through the applicator.
37. The method of claim 36 , further comprising:
measuring the temperature of the liquid.
38. The method of claim 37 , further comprising: applying a positive pressure to the liquid to push the liquid through the applicator.