Heating/Cooling Therapy System
A thermal therapy system includes at least one Peltier device having a heating side and a cooling side; a cold fluid channel adjacent the cooling side of the at least one Peltier device, and a hot fluid channel adjacent the heating side of the at least one Peltier device. A controllable cooling fluid pump in fluid communication with the cold fluid channel drives cooling fluid to an applicator pad, and an independently-controllable heating fluid pump in fluid communication with the hot fluid channel drives hot fluid to the applicator pad.
1 . An electrical cooling/heating system comprising:
at least one Peltier device having a heating side and a cooling side;
a cold fluid channel adjacent the cooling side of the at least one Peltier device;
a hot fluid channel adjacent the heating side of the at least one Peltier device;
a cooling fluid pump in fluid communication with the cold fluid channel;
a heating fluid pump in fluid communication with the hot fluid channel;
a flexible pad having an application side, an insulation side and a continuous liquid flow channel, the continuous liquid flow channel having an inlet and an outlet;
an intake fluid path having an end connected to the inlet and fed from each of the cooling fluid pump and the heating fluid pump; and
a return fluid path having an end connected to the outlet and splitting to connect with each of the cold fluid channel and the hot fluid channel.
2 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 1 further comprising a first temperature sensing device in the intake fluid path.
3 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 2 further comprising a second temperature sensing device in the return fluid path.
4 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 2 further comprising a controller responsive to the first temperature sensing device for controlling any of the cooling fluid pump, the heating fluid pump and/or the at least one Peltier device.
5 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 4 further comprising a heat sink adjacent the hot fluid channel and a fan operable for cooling the heat sink.
6 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 5 , wherein the controller may further respond to the first temperature sensing device by adjusting operation of the fan.
7 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 3 , further comprising a controller responsive to the first temperature sensing device and the second temperature sending device for controlling any of the cooling fluid pump, the heating fluid pump and/or the at least one Peltier device.
8 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 1 wherein the intake fluid path is unidirectional.
9 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 8 , wherein each branch of the intake fluid path, one for the cooling fluid pump and one for the heating fluid pump, includes a one-way valve.
10 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible pad is detachable from the intake and return fluid paths.
11 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 10 , further comprising a first self-sealing valved connector comprised of a male connector part and a female connector part for connecting the intake fluid path to the inlet.
12 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 11 , further comprising a second self-sealing valved connector comprised of a male connector part and a female connector part for connecting the return fluid path to the outlet.
13 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 1 , wherein the cold fluid channel comprises a serpentine channel adjacent the cooling side of the at least one Peltier device.
14 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 1 further comprising an insulator pad, and a securable strap coupled to the insulator pad, and configured to secure the insulator pad against the flexible pad.
15 . A flexible applicator pad for application of thermal therapy, the pad comprising:
an application side and an opposing side;
a continuous liquid flow channel, the channel having an inlet and an outlet;
a self-sealing inflow connector coupled to the inlet;
a self-sealing outflow connector at the outlet; and
a liquid sealed within the continuous liquid flow channel.
16 . The flexible applicator pad of claim 15 , further comprising an insulation layer on the opposing side.
17 . An electrical cooling/heating system comprising:
a heating and cooling means for heating a first stream of liquid to produce a hot stream, and cooling a second stream of liquid to produce a cool stream; and
a pump means for independently driving each of the hot stream and the cool stream, and for producing a single stream of liquid to an applicator pad, wherein the single stream of liquid is selected from one of the hot stream, the cool stream, or a mixture of the hot and cool stream.
18 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 17 , wherein the heating and cooling means comprises a Peltier device having a heating side and a cooling side, a hot channel coupled to the heating side, and a cold channel coupled to the cooling side.
19 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 17 , wherein the heating and cooling means comprises:
a heating Peltier device having a heating side;
a hot channel coupled to the heating side of the Peltier device;
a cooling Peltier device separate from the heating Peltier device, the cooling Peltier device having a cooling side; and
a cold channel coupled to the cooling side.
20 . The electrical cooling/heating system of claim 17 , wherein the pump means comprises:
a hot pump in fluid communication with the heating and cooling means to drive the hot stream; and
a cold pump in fluid communication with the heating and cooling means to drive the cool stream.