EP0794750A1 - Piece de vetement pour bain sans immersion - Google Patents

Piece de vetement pour bain sans immersion

Info

Publication number
EP0794750A1
EP0794750A1 EP95901025A EP95901025A EP0794750A1 EP 0794750 A1 EP0794750 A1 EP 0794750A1 EP 95901025 A EP95901025 A EP 95901025A EP 95901025 A EP95901025 A EP 95901025A EP 0794750 A1 EP0794750 A1 EP 0794750A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
patient
water
reservoir
garment
absorbent material
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95901025A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0794750A4 (fr
Inventor
Victorio C. Rodriguez
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority claimed from PCT/US1994/012113 external-priority patent/WO1996013234A1/fr
Publication of EP0794750A1 publication Critical patent/EP0794750A1/fr
Publication of EP0794750A4 publication Critical patent/EP0794750A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates to a method and equipment therefor to provide treatment for health care patients suffering from either acute hypothermia (excessively depressed body temperature) or acute hyperthe ⁇ nia
  • thermia condition a non-standard term used here to refer to either or both hypothermia and hyperthermia
  • thermia condition is a manifestation or symptom of an abnormal medical condition or where the thermia condition is accompanied by another abnormal medical condition.
  • prudent treatment of such abnormal medical condition contraindicates the use of drug therapy to achieve normal body temperature or to achieve normal body temperature without the use of drugs.
  • Hypothermia is a condition of depressed or subnormal body temperature; hypothermia may be treated by using medication or it may be treated by exposing the patient to a hyperthermic (warmer than normal body temperature) environment. Some might refer to the latter treatment as hyperthermia, but we caution to avoid this usage.
  • Hyperthermia is a condition of elevated body temperature; hyperthermia may be treated by using medication or it may be treated by exposing the patient to a hypothermic (cooler than normal body temperature) environment. Some might refer to the latter treatment as hypothermia, but we caution also to avoid this usage.
  • 1,004,192, issued in 1911 to J. T. Phelan teaches a cooling apparatus comprising a coolant-filled cooling pipe with closed ends connected to an elevated receptacle for liquid coolant and ice.
  • the pipe is placed adjacent to the body and especially underneath the neck and surrounding the head of the supine patient. As the coolant in the pipes becomes warm, it will be replaced by cold coolant.
  • Phelan makes no suggestion that the liquid is not fully contained within the apparatus, nor can the patient using Phelan's invention be mobile.
  • the present invention does not define a closed circuit for the flow of a thermal fluid; rather, the fluid—water—is distributed to an absorbent portion of the garment that provides greater dispersion of the water for contact with the skin of the patient over a substantial portion of the body, exceeding 30 percent thereof.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,572,188 issued in 1986 to S. D. Augustine et al., teaches apparatus for controlling body temperature by means of a temperature-controlled gas mixture (usually air) supplied to an inflatable cover through which it circulates and which also serves as a plenum or manifold to transmit the temperature controlled gas to the body surfaces, thereby to thermally bathe the body in the gas.
  • a temperature-controlled gas mixture usually air
  • air supplied to an inflatable cover through which it circulates and which also serves as a plenum or manifold to transmit the temperature controlled gas to the body surfaces, thereby to thermally bathe the body in the gas.
  • the venting of the temperature-controlled gas in large quantity into the room in which the patient is being treated will thermally bathe the entire room and its other occupants in the temperature-controlled gas mixture.
  • the present invention uses water as a thermal medium; the use of water as a medium has little effect on the atmosphere in the room.
  • Garments of various types have been used in the past to treat thermia patients and others who require external heating or cooling of their body.
  • the following patents bear on this topic but all include a closed-circuit through which a fluid is passed for either heating or cooling. In these patents, no direct contact between the coolant or the heating fluid is taught.
  • the processes all involve sensible heat transfer, but that transfer involves a contained fluid that is circulated through the garment and cooled by external equipment before returning to the garment.
  • These patents include: U.S. Patent No. 3,507,321, Palma, 1970;
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,118,946, Tubin, 1978 teaches a garment, which could be a vest, containing in one extended compartment a viscous liquid heat transfer medium and the a second extended and vented compartment in close contact with the first and through which a compressed gas is continuously and controllably released to create a cooling effect wherein heat is extracted from said heat transfer medium for cooling the body over which said garment is worn.
  • No direct physical contact is made between the heat transfer medium and the wearer, nor between the pressurized gas and the wearer.
  • the present invention requires the intimate physical contact between the skin of the wearer and the heat transfer medium, which is water, for sensible heat exchange directly therewith.
  • U.S. Patent No. 7,738,119, Zafred, 1988 teaches a vest-like garment having a manifold and numerous porous tubes between an insulating garment lining and an insulating exterior garment wall. Liquid carbon dioxide is ejected into the manifold to deposit solid carbon dioxide in it and the porous tubes. Gradually, the solid carbon dioxide (i.e., "dry ice”) sublimates to carbon dioxide gas that escapes through the porous tubes, the sublimation process absorbing heat, some of which comes from the body of the wearer of the garment.
  • dry ice sublimates to carbon dioxide gas that escapes through the porous tubes, the sublimation process absorbing heat, some of which comes from the body of the wearer of the garment.
  • the temperature of the sublimation of carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure is -78.5 degrees Celsius—thus the need for the insulating lining of the vest of the Zafred invention and the inadvisability of using such a garment on an individual who may be incapacitated and unable to react if exposed to such severely cold temperatures that could injure body tissue.
  • the garment of this teaching has a felt exterior that is wetted by water from reservoirs variously located on the garment and a waterproof lining to keep the wearer dry.
  • pumps are present to return excess spent liquid to the reservoirs for re-use. Cooling is accomplished by evaporative cooling and heat must be transferred through the thickness of the waterproof lining and the thickness of the felt, as evaporation takes place substantially only at the outer surface thereof.
  • the present invention makes every effort to uniformly wet the torso of the patient directly with water at or near the normal temperature of the human body. Evaporative cooling is moderated in the best mode by covering the wet absorbent web material with a waterproof outer cover. The present invention can be used to treat hypothermia as well as hyperthermia. Another vest incorporating evaporative cooling is taught in U.S. Patent No. 4,580,408, Stuebner, 1986.
  • This vest is designed for motorcycle riders and provides physical protection as well as evaporative cooling.
  • a water absorbing layer provides water to an air cooling layer through which air is forced by the rapid motion of the wearer through the ambient air. The effect is evaporative cooling of the wearer.
  • the water absorbing layer acts as a reservoir and is placed next to the skin. Heat passes from the wearer to the water in the absorbing layer, through to the air permeable layer where it is removed by evaporative cooling. This is also a case where more heat may be coming from the ambient air than is coming from the wearer, as the sport is often engaged in under temperature conditions in the 85- to 100-degree F range.
  • the present invention relies on sensible heat transfer and evaporative cooling is substantially moderated by the use of the waterproof outer covering of the best mode.
  • the present invention can be used to treat hypothermia as well as hyperthermia.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,125,865, Bemelman, 1964 teaches a blouse-like water-permeable garment having a coolant reservoir at the neck to which are attached a plurality of water-permeable fibers affixed to the cloth of the garment by water-impermeable glue means, thereby to distribute water uniformly over the exterior of the garment for evaporative cooling thereof without wetting the fabric of the garment.
  • the teachings are quite clear on the fact that the fabric of the garment be not wetted and be exposed between the strips of adhered water-permeable fibers and that the glue means be of a material that conducts heat well.
  • the present invention thoroughly wets the skin of the wearer, thereby to better conduct heat away from the skin.
  • Evaporative cooling is moderated in the best mode of the present invention by a water-impermeable outer fabric shell.
  • the present invention will be seen as different from the prior art discussed above.
  • the present invention relates to treatment of either hypothermia or hyperthermia using much the same method for each.
  • Applicant is not so naive as to believe that treating fever cases by administering a simple sponge bath with tepid water or even with alcohol or alcohol-water mixtures is new or novel medicine.
  • sponge bath therapy performs better than anti-pyretic drug therapy because, as is known, anti-pyretic drugs lower body temperature by inhibiting prostaglandins.
  • Prostaglandins play a critical role in the immune response and other defensive mechanisms that are activated in the defense of the body against infection, so it is reasoned that inhibiting them is counterproductive to the healing process.
  • Conventional sponge bath therapy for fever is not commonly used because it is labor intensive and is therefore used only in cases of extreme emergency.
  • It is a further object of this invention to provide such apparatus comprising a water supply capable of delivering a water flow, an absorbent web that distributes said water flow throughout the extent thereof and thereby to an extensive area of the surface of the body of said patient over which said web is worn in vest-like fashion, thereby to make good thermal contact between said water and said patient.
  • It is a further object of this invention to provide such apparatus comprising a water-resistant vest-like garment under which said absorbent web is worn, thereby to moderate evaporative cooling of the absorbent web and with it the patient.
  • It is a further object of this invention to provide such apparatus comprising a water-resistant vest-like garment to which said absorbent web is attached to the inside thereof.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a vest-like garment of the present invention made of an absorbent material.
  • Figure 2 illustrates the plan for the garment shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the garment of Figure 1 with an overgarment that prevents evaporative cooling.
  • Figure 4 illustrates the plan for a preferred mode wherein absorbent panels attach to an overgarment.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a cross-section view of the article shown in Figure 4 taken along the line 5-5.
  • Figure 6 illustrates a cross-section view of details from Figure 5.
  • an ambulatory or non-ambulatory thermia patient is fitted with a size-adjustable vest-like garment having an absorbent layer to be placed against and covering at least 30-percent of the skin of the thermia patient.
  • the absorbent layer and the underlying skin of the thermia patient is to be kept moist with water at or near the normal temperature of the human body. Neither cold water nor hot water should be used. Although evaporation from the absorbent layer is best minimized by reducing air currents about the layer, some evaporation is bound to occur, so additional water at or near body temperature must be added to the absorbent layer.
  • the heat transfer between the patient and the water held by the absorbent layer ameliorates the thermia condition.
  • FIG. 1 shows a vest-like garment 10 made of an absorbent material and having one or more refillable water reservoirs 20 21 22 mounted about the yoke of the garment.
  • Each reservoir has a filler opening 25 with a substantially water-tight cap, details of which will be later proffered.
  • Each reservoir also has a weep hole 26 near a portion thereof that is lowest when the garment is worn. As the garment is worn, water will slowly flow from the weep hole and onto a portion of the absorbent material to replenish any water lost by evaporation from the absorbent layer.
  • the material of the absorbent layer is selected to have excellent wicking properties, thereby to readily receive the water flow and to distribute it over the area of the absorbent layer. For the simple garment illustrated in Figure 1, 100-percent cotton terry cloth is preferred for the absorbent material.
  • a suitable garment 10 for use as shown in Figure 1 can be easily manufactured from a single flat piece of absorbent material.
  • the plan for such a garment is shown in Figure 2.
  • the adjustable fastening tabs 30 illustrated in Figure 1 and in subsequent figures utilize hook-and-loop materials, typically referred to by the brand name VELCRO.
  • the garment of Figures 1 and 2 is intended to be worn in an environment wherein evaporative heat loss from the wetted garment is moderated. This would be true in a humid atmosphere with little or no draft.
  • An overgarment 40 would be desirable in most environments, especially where mechanical or natural forces circulate the air effectively.
  • the overgarment must be of a non-absorbent material that would also prevent drafts from reaching the wetted absorbent material.
  • a waterproof overgarment is required to prevent soaking the bed linens while reducing evaporative heat loss, although a waterproof underlayment could do the former, but not the latter.
  • a preferred embodiment combines the concepts of the overgarment and the absorbent material of the previously described absorbent garment.
  • One such example of the preferred embodiment is shown laid out in plan form in Figure 4.
  • This example provides an overgarment 42 with pockets 44 for holding warm water reservoirs 20 and means 48 for attaching absorbent panels 50 on the inside thereof.
  • the overgarment be made from a waterproof fabric.
  • a woven nylon fabric that is coated with butyl rubber on both the inside and the outside surfaces has been found suitable and has been used in a working model, although the search for more economical materials is continuing.
  • FIG 4 shows the location of the several water reservoirs 20 in pockets on both the front and the back of the garment.
  • Each pocket has a cutout 45 at the bottom thereof to allow the reservoir to be exposed to the absorbent panels that attach to the inside of the overgarment.
  • Each reservoir has a weep hole 26 through the wall thereof in the area exposed by the pocket cutouts. Tests have shown that the placement of the reservoir on the back yoke of the garment places it high enough on the back of the patient that it does not interfere with the comfort of a typical reclining patient.
  • the absorbent panels 50 are attached at multiple points 48 to the inside of the overgarment 42.
  • hook-and-loop fabric tabs i.e., VELCRO
  • the absorbent panels for use in the overgarment of Figure 4 have been cut from 100-percent cotton terry cloth. Samples were also made up as shown in Figure 5, using panels comprising multiple layers of paper toweling and was found totally suitable for disposable absorbent panels. For this use, paper toweling of a particular brand was found especially well suited because of its strength when wet, its high absorbency, and its excellent wicking characteristics; that brand is BOUNTY, made by Procter & Gamble Co. , of Cincinnati, Ohio, incorporated in the state of Ohio. In such a configuration, the absorbent panels may be disposable while the overgarment may be laundered, sterilized (if need be), and re-used.
  • FIG 5 one can see that multiple layers 52 of absorbent material makes up the absorbent panels 50, of which one example is shown.
  • the absorbent panel attaches to the inside of the overgarment 42 by means of VELCRO tabs 54.
  • the water reservoir 20 is held within the pocket 44.
  • the filler opening 25 of each reservoir extends through an opening in the overgarment to provide for easy access for filling and refilling the reservoir.
  • the reservoir found most suitable is a bag-like thin walled flexible thermoplastic bladder with a screw-capped filler opening.
  • Each reservoir also has a weephole 26 to permit water flow from the reservoir and onto the absorbent panel. In the best mode, the flexible walls of the reservoir collapse as the water drains from the reservoir, thus obviating any means for venting air into the reservoir and making the weephole the only egress for the water after the filler opening is capped.
  • Figure 6 illustrates in detail the joining of the filler opening to the reservoir and further illustrates how the filler opening of the best mode projects through the wall of the garment to allow filling while the garment is being worn.
  • a wall of the reservoir 20 has a hole through it into which a screw-cap fitting 60 is placed and permanently affixed.
  • the screw-cap fitting may then be inserted through a matching opening in the fabric of the garment 42 from the inside to the outside to present the filler opening on the exterior of the garment.
  • the filler opening is then capped with a removable cap, a screw cap 62 being shown in the drawing.

Landscapes

  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé de traitement de l'hypothermie ou de patients souffrant d'hypothermie. Le procédé consiste à maintenir le buste du patient en contact étroit avec une substance absorbant l'humidité (50). Cette substance est contenue dans une pièce de vêtement en forme de veste (10) munie d'une alimentation en eau permettant de maintenir humide la substance absorbante (50) pour favoriser l'échange thermique entre le patient et l'eau. Selon une réalisation, le refroidissement dû à l'évaporation est maintenu dans des limites acceptables au moyen d'un surtout protecteur en matière étanche (40).
EP95901025A 1994-11-01 1994-11-01 Piece de vetement pour bain sans immersion Withdrawn EP0794750A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1994/012113 WO1996013234A1 (fr) 1993-09-27 1994-11-01 Piece de vetement pour bain sans immersion

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0794750A1 true EP0794750A1 (fr) 1997-09-17
EP0794750A4 EP0794750A4 (fr) 1998-11-04

Family

ID=22243177

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95901025A Withdrawn EP0794750A4 (fr) 1994-11-01 1994-11-01 Piece de vetement pour bain sans immersion

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0794750A4 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2710008A (en) * 1952-03-20 1955-06-07 Jensen Lee Compress
US3587578A (en) * 1968-08-28 1971-06-28 Chattanooga Pharmacal Co Pack for applying therapeutic moist heat

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2710008A (en) * 1952-03-20 1955-06-07 Jensen Lee Compress
US3587578A (en) * 1968-08-28 1971-06-28 Chattanooga Pharmacal Co Pack for applying therapeutic moist heat

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9613234A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0794750A4 (fr) 1998-11-04

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