CERVICAL COLLAR
A cervical collar that facilitates therapeutic hypothermia is provided and includes a cooling device having a front portion and a back portion fixedly coupled to the front portion on one side and removably coupled to the front portion on an opposite side. A fastening device removably couples the back portion to the front portion on the opposite side. The cooling device induces hypothermia in at least a portion of a patient. A sensor is provided that measures a physical characteristic of the patient.
1 . A system for heating or cooling, comprising:
a temperature modulation material capable of raising or lowering a temperature of a portion of a bodily region of a user; and
a wearable device configured to retain the temperature modulation material within an interior of the wearable device, wherein the wearable device can be removably applied to a portion of the bodily region of the user, thereby altering a temperature of the portion of the bodily region of the user via contact of the wearable device with the portion of the bodily region.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is retained in a container in the wearable device.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a pack integrated into the wearable device forms or contains the temperature modulation material.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is held by a cover configured to be interposed between the temperature modulation material and the user.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature indicator configured to provide an indication of a temperature of the temperature modulation material.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is configured to indicate that the temperature modulation material has a temperature that provides adequate warming or cooling to the user.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is configured to indicate that the temperature modulation material is approaching a temperature that does not provide adequate warming or cooling to the user.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is configured to indicate that the temperature modulation material has a temperature that does not provide adequate warming or cooling to the user.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a liquid material circulated through the wearable device.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a gas material circulated through the wearable device.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a solid material retained in the wearable device.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device comprises an outer surface and an inner surface which retain the temperature modulation material therebetween.
13 . A wearable device comprising:
an outer surface and an inner surface having a retaining space formed therebetween;
a temperature altering substance retained within the space between the outer surface and the inner surface, wherein the wearable device is fixable to a user and configured to contact a target body region of the user when worn by the user; and
wherein the temperature altering substance retained in the space between the outer surface and the inner surface affects blood flowing through the target body region thereby altering a temperature of the blood flowing through the target body region.
14 . The wearable device of claim 12 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a liquid material circulated through the wearable device
15 . The wearable device of claim 12 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a gas material circulated through the wearable device.
16 . The wearable device of claim 12 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a solid material retained in the wearable device.
17 . A method of modulating body temperature or a user, comprising:
placing a wearable device on a bodily region of the user; supplying a temperature modulation material to the wearable device such that the wearable device retains the temperature modulation material; selectively contacting at least one target bodily region of the user with the wearable device; and
holding or fixing the wearable device to the at least one target body region until a target body temperature of the user is reached.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a liquid or a gas, and wherein the method further comprises a step of adjusting a flow rate of the temperature modulation material.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the temperature modulation material is a pack, and wherein the method further comprises a step of replacing the temperature modulation material with a new pack.
20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising a step of determining a temperature of the temperature modulation material is not adequate to provide cooling or heating to the user prior to adjusting the flow rate of the temperature modulation material.