GB2417423A

GB2417423A - Inflatable therapeutic cooling device for wearing on the body

Info

Publication number: GB2417423A
Application number: GB0419240A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roozbeh Mahmid
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-28
Filing date: 2004-08-28
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Also published as: GB0419240D0

Abstract

A wearable therapeutic device which comprises chambers, pumps and valves. Preferably the device has multiple chambers, some being filled with a fluid such as air and others being filled with a viscous substance or gel. Fluid may be pumped into the fluid chambers (A, fig 4) causing them to expand and distort the adjacent viscous-filled chambers (B, fig 4) to effect pressure against the body part. The device may be cooled by refrigeration, physical or chemical means. The device may have a textured lining to prevent slippage and straps and may be made from any suitable material. Pressure and/or cooling may be achieved by manual, automatic or digital means. The device may be in the form of a hat for cooling and applying pressure to the head to alleviate migraine.

Description

Therapeutic Device The invention relates to a therapeutic device of the

type which may be worn over an affected part of the body to bring pain relief to the wearer.

The therapeutic effects of cooling and pressure in reducing the sensation of pain are well known. There are many products in the market consisting of pads which after refrigeration can be placed across the forehead, around the neck or the wrists to bring comfort to these areas.

Migraine sufferers, for instance, are known to use a cold compress often consisting of a bag of ice or frozen peas and / or wrap a cloth around their head to produce a comforting effect and reduce the sensation of pain. However, relief is short lived and gives way to discomfort as the water from the compress trickles down the face, head and neck of the wearer. In addition, the cloth can only apply inconsistent pressure and to only part of the scalp.

The invention comprises a device, adapted to be worn over a part of a body, with the means to bring presssure and apply a cooling effect to it. The preferred embodiment comprises fluid chambers, chambers filled with gel or a viscous material and the means for pumping fluid into the fluid chambers so that, in use, the chambers which contain a gel or viscous substance may be distorted to press against the body part. The terms gel throughout this description is intended to encompass any viscous substance which can be used in the ways described.

Likewise the fluid chambers may carry any fluid, such as air, to facilitate the necessary processes to cause distortion of the chambers.

This invention is specifically designed to combine the therapeutic effects of pressure and cold in a controlled way across the affected part of the body which, in a preferred embodiment, is the whole of the scalp bringing comfort to the migraine and headache sufferer. The preferred device is intended to be worn over the head like a hat. The degree of pressure is controlled by the user and the pressure control mechanisms may include a pump similar to that used in blood pressure monitors used by health professionals.

Although in the preferred embodiment the temperature of the device is controlled by the length of time it is left in the fridge or freezer, other means may be employed such as the adaptation and use of chemical and / or physical principles.

This description is intended to cover any such device whether it employs manual or automatic means of operation and control, including the use of electronic and digital processing.

The chambers of the device are preferrably made of a manmade substance such as rubber, latex or plastics. The precise choice of material largely depends on weight, durability, flexibility and comfort.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a visual representation of the device as it may be worn Figure 2 shows a cross section through the device showing its structure in some detail.

Figure 3 shows a cross section through a chamber to demonstrate an alternative structural arrangement.

Figure 4 shows a cross section through the device when inflated and worn by a user Figure 5 represents the preferred chamber arrangement externally expressed on the device.

Figure 6 shows two of the possible ways in which the chambers and airflow may be arranged As shown in figure 1 the device comprises several sections including; a pump (a) feeding air through a flexible tube (b) into the air chambers within the hat like part (c) of the device to be worn over the head. Also at lease one valve valve (d) is included to allow the air to escape as the device is deflated. A strap (e) may also be included the give the user the option to further secure the device.

As can be seen in figure 2 the outer wall (a) of the device is relatively rigid but is flexible enough to allow the device to be folded for refrigeration. This means the device will be easily accommodated in most refrigerators. The walls (b) between the chamber strips (e) will also be thick and durable as they will be under a great deal of strain transferred from the flexible walls of both the air chambers (c) and gel chambers (d). The external surface of the gel / viscous chambers are preferrably covered in fabric.

Figure 2 also shows that the walls between the air and gel chambers (c) and the outer wall of the gel chambers (d) are highly flexible. As air is pumped in, the air chambers are inflated. This in turn causes the gel chambers to become distorted, for the outer wall (a) being rigid, offers greater resistance to movement. Thus the pressure of air forces the air chamber's flexible inner walls (c) to protrude towards the gel chambers. As the outer walls (d) of the gel chambers are also highly flexible the cooled gel chambers are so moved to press against the scalp of the person wearing the device, creating the sensation of pressure and coolness when the device has been previously refrigerated.

Figure 3 shows one possible way in which the construction of the device may be modified where the outer layer of the device comprises the relatively rigid element (b) with the flexible elements (a) bonded to it.

The fluid: gel ratio in the chambers is calculated so as to minimise the weight of the device to the extent that is possible.

Figure 4 shows a cross section of the device when inflated whilst worn by a user. The air chambers (a) can be clearly seen inflated and pressing the gel chambers (b) against the wearer's cranium.

Thus, when inflated, the soft inner surface of the hat comes into contact with scalp and follows the contours of the cranium to allow the even application of pressure and cooling.

To further accommodate this even application of the cooling effect and pressure it is necessary to ensure that the rate of inflation is even. One way in which this may be achieved is in tapering the ducts as they penetrate deeper into the device. The surface of the fabric which will be in contact with the head and skin of the wearer preferrably has a soft and comfortable texture to help prevent the device from slipping off as it is inflated.

The gel / viscous substance distorts with relative ease. It may contain an agent to prevent freezing which would make the device uncomfortable to wear and cause the pressure function to cease and the fabric of the device to disintegrate.

Figure 4 also shows the option of producing the device with a section cutout (c) to provide comfort for users who would prefer their ears to remain uncovered.

Furthermore, the device can be made available in more than one size to allow for the range of head size, bearing in mind that the inflatable nature of the device means that not too many sizes will be necessary.

Figure 5 shows the device with the arrangement of the chamber strips expressed on the outside (a) as well as showing the optional cut-out for the ear (b).

Figure 6 shows two examples for lay out of the chambers and the distribution of the air being pumped in to the device. The first example (A) consists of a single continuous chamber which coils around and the air-flow is along the length of this chamber. The second example (B) comprises several concentric chambers of diminishing diameter with the air-flow arranged via an air duct which runs along one side of the device to the central (middle) chamber and which has openings to each air chamber. Other arrangements will be considered, including a system of circular, oval or honeycomb chamber cells with the air chambers interconnected to facilitate inflation.

Figure 6 - in this diagram the direction of air flow through the ducts is shown using a rrows.

Claims

1. A wearable therapeutic device comprising a combination of chambers, pumps and valves.

2. A wearable therapeutic device as claimed in claim 1, comprising both chambers filled with a fluid such as air and chambers filled with a viscous substance such as gel.

3. A wearable therapeutic device as claimed in claim 1 and 2, in to which a fluid such as air is pumped to distort the viscous chambers thereby causing them to press against the body part.

4. A wearable therapeutic device as claimed in claim 1, 2 and 3, which may be cooled by refrigeration or any physical or chemical means.

5. A wearable therapeutic device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 and 4, where the inner lining which is contact with the wearer is textured to help prevent the device slipping under pressure.

6. A wearable therapeutic device as claimed in any proceeding claim, where the device may also employ straps giving additional option for stability to the wearer.

7. A wearable therapeutic device as claimed in any proceeding claim, where the device uses manual or automatic means of operation, whether using digital technology or otherwise, to achieve the pressure and cooling according to user requirements.

8. A wearable therapeutic device as claimed in any proceeding claim which is made from any material including rubber, latex, plastics, fabric or a combination.

9. A wearable therapeutic device substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.