EQUINE CRYOTHERAPY BOOT
The present disclosure provides an equine therapy boot and methods of attaching the equine therapy boot to a lower extremity of a horse leg and hoof. The equine therapy boot includes an upper portion and a lower portion and an attachment means for securing the upper portion to the lower portion. The upper portion includes a fluid containment area for holding a thermal control fluid in proximity to a portion of the horse leg selected to receive treatment.
1 . A thermal equine boot comprising:
a sleeve comprising an outer layer to encircle a lower portion of an equine leg, the sleeve comprising a fastening device along a longitudinal seam for removeably closing the seam;
a fluid chamber formed between the outer layer and the lower portion of the equine leg;
a fill port to introduce a thermal control fluid into the fluid chamber; and
a support structure to secure the thermal equine boot to the equine leg in a fashion that allows.
2 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , further comprising an inner layer coupled to an outer layer.
3 . The thermal equine boot of claim 2 , further comprising a lower portion to encircle a hoof of the equine leg wherein the lower portion encloses the hoof.
4 . The thermal equine boot of claim 2 , wherein the lower portion is detachably attached to the sleeve.
5 . The thermal equine boot of claim 2 , wherein the lower portion further comprises a structure to isolate the hoof from the thermal control fluid.
6 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , further comprising a semi-porous layer facing the equine leg when the thermal equine boot is secured to the equine leg.
7 . The thermal equine boot of claim 6 , wherein the semi-porous layer is configured to seep the thermal control fluid at a predetermined rate.
8 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , further comprising an insulated layer facing away from the equine leg when the thermal equine boot is secured to the equine leg.
9 . The thermal equine boot of claim 8 , wherein the insulated layer and the outer layer are integrated into a same structure.
10 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , wherein the thermal control fluid comprises an ice water mixture.
11 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to measure a thermal condition of one of the thermal control fluid and the equine leg.
12 . The thermal equine boot of claim 11 , further comprising a communication interface coupled to the sensor, to report the thermal condition to a control system.
13 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic storage for storing multiple value associated with the thermal condition.
14 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , further comprising a structure to couple the thermal equine boot to a secondary stimulation source.
15 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , further comprising an additional sack to provide a cryogenic therapy to an area smaller than the size of the sleeve.
16 . The thermal equine boot of claim 1 , further comprising a replaceable liner situated between the inner layer and the equine leg.
17 . A method of providing thermal treatment to a horse leg, the method comprising the steps of:
securing an upper portion or an equine therapy boot around a portion of a horse leg selected to receive treatment;
securing a lower portion or an equine therapy boot around a hoof corresponding with the portion of the horse leg to receive treatment;
securing the lower portion to the upper portion;
sealing a thermal control fluid in a containment area in the upper portion of the equine thermal therapy boot.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of replacing the thermal control fluid when a measured characteristic of the thermal control fluid drops below a predetermined threshold.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of allowing the thermal control fluid to seep from the containment area at a predetermined rate.
20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of stimulating the horse leg with a secondary stimulation.