MXPA99006233A - Disposable thermal body pad - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to disposable thermal body pads comprising one or more thermal packs having a unified structure of at least one continuous layer of a semirigid material which softens when heated and a plurality of individual heat cells, spaced apart and fixed within or to the unified structure of the thermal pack. The disposable thermal body pads are intended to be attached to a user's clothing on one side and to be held directly against the user's skin on the other side. More particularly, the present invention relates to disposable thermal body pads having good conformity to user's body which provides consistent, convenient and comfortable heat application. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such disposable thermal body pads intended for relieving menstrual pain.

Description

THERMAL PAD DISPOSABLE FOR THE BODY TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to disposable thermal body pads comprising one or more thermal pads having a unified structure of at least one continuous layer, preferably of a semi-rigid material that softens when heated, and a plurality of heat cells Individuals spaced apart and fixed inside or to the unified structure of the thermal compress. The disposable thermal body pads are designed to be adhered to a user's clothing on one side and held directly against the user's skin on the other side. More particularly, the present invention relates to disposable thermal body pads which have good compliance to the wearer's body which provide consistent, convenient and comfortable heat application. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to disposable thermal body pads designed to alleviate body pain, preferably menstrual pain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A common method for the treatment of acute, recurrent and / or chronic pain is through the topical application of heat in the areas afflicted Such heat treatments are used as a means of therapy for conditions that include pain, stiffness in muscles and joints, nerve pain, rheumatism and the like. Typically, the method for mitigating pain using heat treatments has been to apply topically a relatively high heat, ie, greater than 40 ° C for a short period, i.e. from 20 minutes to about 1 hour. These treatments include the use of water currents, hot towels, water coolers, hot water bottles, hot compresses, hot pads and elastic compression bands. Many of these devices use reusable thermal pads containing, for example, water and / or micro-weldable gels. In general, most of these devices are inconvenient to use on a regular and extended basis because the heat energy can not be immediately available when needed or released in a controllable manner. That is, many of these thermal units or devices do not provide long-lasting heat and also do not maintain a consistent temperature for extended periods. In addition, it could be that the proper placement of thermal energy can not be maintained during use. The beneficial therapeutic effects of this heat administration decrease after the heat source has been withdrawn. However, the inventors of the present have discovered that maintaining a sustained skin temperature of about 32 ° C to about 50 ° C, preferably from 32 ° C to 45 ° C, very preferred from 32 ° C to 42 ° C, and more preferably from about 32 ° C to about 39 ° C, and even more preferred from 32 ° C to about 37 ° C for a period ranging from 20 seconds to 24 hours, preferably from 20 minutes to about 20 hours, more preferred from 4 hours to about 16 hours, most preferably from about 8 hours to 12 hours, wherein the maximum skin temperature and the length of time of temperature maintenance of the skin to the Maximum temperature of the skin can be appropriately selected by a person in need of such treatment, so that the desired therapeutic benefits can be achieved without any adverse event, such as skin burns in which they can be covered by using a high temperature for a prolonged period of time substantially mitigates acute, recurrent and / or chronic pain, including bone pain, muscle pain and / or referred pain, of a person having said pain. pain. The inventors of the present have further discovered that preferably maintaining a sustained skin temperature of about 32 ° C to 43 ° C, preferably from 32 ° C to 42 ° C, most preferred from 32 ° C to 41 ° C, and most preferred from 32 ° C to 39 ° C, even more preferred from 32 ° C to about 37 ° C for a period greater than one hour, preferably greater than 4 hours, more preferred greater than 8 hours, and even more preferred greater than 16 hours, more preferably above 24 hours, substantially mitigate acute, recurrent and / or chronic back pain, including bone pain, muscle and / or back pain Referring, from a person having such pain and substantially prolonging the relief even after the source of heat has been removed from the afflicted body part. Thermal compresses based on the oxidation of iron are known, such as those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,366,804, 4,649,895, 5,046,479 and Re. 32,026. However, such devices have proven to be not entirely satisfactory because many of these devices are bulky, can not maintain a consistent and controlled temperature, have difficulty remaining in place during use, and / or have unsatisfactory physical dimensions. which prevent its effectiveness. Specifically, such devices can not be easily incorporated into pads that comfortably conform to the various contours of the body and therefore provide a short, inconsistent, inconvenient and / or uncomfortable heat application to the body. The inventors of the present invention have developed disposable thermal body pads that consist of one or more thermal pads having a unified structure, wherein each thermal pad consists of at least one continuous layer, preferably of a semi-rigid material, which is semirigid in specific areas of the thermal compress, which is softened, however, between such areas when heated when being used, preferably consist of a co-extruded material of polypropylene and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). The body pad also includes a plurality of individual heat cells, which typically consist of an exothermic composition, preferably consist of a specific chemical oxidation reaction of iron, and have specific physical dimensions and filling characteristics, separated and fixed within or to the unified structure of the thermal compress Active heat cells, ie, cells having a temperature of about 35 ° C or higher, preferably soften narrow portions of the continuous layer or layers of semirigid material immediately surrounding the heat cells. Any remaining portions of the continuous layer or layers surrounding the softened portions preferably remain stiffer. The narrow softened portions act as hinges between the heat cells and between any stiffer remaining portion cooler, preferentially bending more than the heat cells or the more rigid portions. This results in thermal packs having sufficient stiffness to maintain the structural support of the heat cells, which prevents unacceptable stretching of the layer or continuous layer structures during processing or use, and to prevent easy access to them. the contents of the heat cell, while still maintaining good global fold characteristics when heated. The thermal compress or compresses, when incorporated in the disposable thermal pad for the body of the present invention, provide efficient and effective heat coverage by having an excellent conformation with the user's body.

The inventors of the present invention have also discovered that it would be desirable to selectively place heat cells in the thermal compress or pads when they are incorporated into the body pads of the present invention, in fixed positions within or in the unified structure of the body. thermal compress, in a sufficiently close relation with each other so as to block some or all the possible axes, that otherwise could have passed without interruption between the heat cells, through the thermal compress, or select regions of the same , to minimize or eliminate undesired undesired bending lines, and / or to increase the structural support that the matrix of the heat cell imparts to the thermal compress. That is to say, place the heat cells in relative positions with each other that are close enough to block some or all of the possible axes that otherwise have passed without interruption, between the heat cells, which cause the thermal compresses to bend over a multiplicity of short interconnected bending lines oriented in a number of different directions in relation to one another. Bending along a multiplicity of interconnected bending lines results in good overall bending characteristics. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide disposable thermal body pads that consist of one or more thermal pads, which consist of a unified structure having at least one continuous layer, preferably of a semi-rigid material which it has different stiffness characteristics over a range of temperatures, and a plurality of individual heat cells, which provide a controlled and sustained temperature and reach its operating temperature range relatively quickly. The heat cells are separated and fixed within or to the unified structure of the thermal compress. It is also an object of the present invention to provide disposable thermal pads for the body which have a good crease capacity while maintaining sufficient stiffness to maintain the structural support of the heat cells and to prevent unacceptable stretching of the layer or layers. continuous during processing or use. It is also an object of the present invention to provide disposable body heat pads that accommodate a wide variety of body contours providing consistent, convenient and comfortable heat application while avoiding easy access to the heat cell contents. It is a further object of the present invention to provide disposable thermal body pads comprising a means for adhering the body thermal pad to a wearer's clothing so that the opposite side of the body thermal pad can be worn directly against the skin of the body. user.

It is also another object of the present invention to provide methods for the treatment of acute, recurrent and / or chronic pain, including the pain of bones, muscle and / or referred back pain, of a person suffering from said pain, maintaining a sustained temperature of the skin ranging from 32 ° C to about 50 ° C for a period of about 20 seconds to 24 hours, preferably maintaining a skin temperature of about 32 ° C to 43 ° C for a period greater than one time to provide prolonged relief of such pain. These additional objectives and objectives will be readily apparent from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The disposable thermal pads of the present invention consist of a substantially flat laminated structure having a first side, a second side, and one or more thermal pads comprising a unified structure having at least one continuous layer of a material, which is preferably semi-rigid at a temperature of 25 ° C, having a tensile strength of 0.7 g / mm2 and at least one two-dimensional fold, and which is substantially less rigid at a temperature of 35 ° C or higher, which has a substantially tensile strength less than the tensile strength of the material at 25 °.

The continuous layer or layers of the present invention preferably consist of a coextruded material, more preferably a coextruded material consisting of polypropylene, more preferably a coextruded material wherein a first side consists of polypropylene and a second side consisting of a layer of bonding a copolymer with low melting temperature, preferably EVA, preferably having a combined weight thickness of less than about 50 μm. The thermal compress or compresses further comprise a plurality of individual heat cells, which, preferably, consist of a mixture of powdered iron, powdered carbon, water and salt, which, when exposed to oxygen, provide a controlled and sustained temperature and which quickly reach their operating temperature range. The heat cells are separated and fixed within or to the unified structure of the thermal compress. Preferably the heat cells are placed in fixed positions within or to the unified structure of the thermal compress in relation to each other and which are sufficiently close so that some or all of the possible axes, which otherwise would have gone uninterrupted between the heat cells are blocked by the heat cells, to cause the thermal pads to bend along a multiplicity of small fold lines connected together. The laminated structure additionally comprises means for providing oxygen permeability, preferably located on the first side of the laminated structure, to the plurality of heat cells, and means for releasably adhering the body heating pad to an inner portion of a wearer's clothing, preferably located on the first side of the laminated structure, so that the Second side of the heating pad for the body can be placed directly against the body of the user. The present invention also includes methods for treating acute, recurrent and / or chronic pain, including pain in the bones, muscles and / or referred pain of a person suffering from said pain, by applying disposable thermal pads for the body of the present invention to the afflicted part of a person having said pain, to maintain a sustained temperature of the skin from about 32 ° C to about 50 ° C for a period of about 20 seconds to about 24 hours; preferably to maintain a skin temperature of about 32 ° C to about 43 ° C for a period greater than 1 hour to provide prolonged relief of such pain. All percentages and ratios used in the present invention are by weight of the total composition, and all measurements were made at 25 ° C, unless otherwise specified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although the specification concludes with claims that particularly state and distinctly claim the present invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the numerals Similar reference identifies identical elements and wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the disposable thermal pad for the body of the present invention, which describes a pattern of heat cells and strips of adhesive to adhere between the cells; Figure 2 side view sectioned in elevation of the figural.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The disposable thermal body pads of the present invention consist of one or more thermal pads having at least one continuous layer of a material that preferably exhibits specific thermophysical properties, and a plurality of individual heat cells, which preferably consist of an exothermic composition, separated and fixed within or in the structure of the disposable thermal pad. The material of at least one continuous layer is preferably semi-rigid when it is at room temperature, e.g. eg, about 25 ° C, or less, but softens and becomes substantially less rigid when heated to about 35 ° C or more. Therefore, when the heat cells, which have been set within or to the unified structure of the thermal pads, are active, that is to say that at the temperature of a heat cell of about 35 ° C or more, the narrow portion of the continuous layer or layers of the material immediately surrounding each heat cell preferably softens and acts as a hinge between the heat cells and the more rigid portions remaining of the continuous layer or layers, preferably bending more than the cells of heat or the stiffer and colder portions. This results in thermal compresses that possess sufficient rigidity to maintain the structural support of the heat cells and prevent stretching.

Unacceptable of the structures of the continuous layer or layers during processing or use, while still maintaining good overall folding characteristics when heated. The disposable thermal pads for the body of the present invention provide a consistent, convenient and comfortable heat application and excellent conformation to the user's body, while retaining sufficient rigidity to prevent easy access to the contents of the cells of heat. "Disposable", as used herein, means that, although the body pads of the present invention can be stored in a resealable container, substantially impervious to air, and that can be applied repeatedly to the wearer's body, so to often as required for pain relief, they are designed so that they can be discarded or disposed of, for example, deposited in an appropriate trash receptacle, after the heat source, for example, the cell (s) of heat have been completely spent. "Heat cells", as used herein, means a unified structure, constituted by an exothermic composition, preferably a specific iron oxidation chemistry, incorporated within two layers, wherein at least one layer can be permeable to oxygen, capable of of providing a long-lasting heat generation with improved temperature control, and having specific physical dimensions and filling characteristics. These heat cells can be used as individual heat units, or within a thermal compress consisting of a plurality of individual heat cells that can also be easily incorporated into disposable body wraps, pads, and the like. Thermal pads and body wraps incorporating thermal pads are adapted to a wide variety of body contours, therefore, providing a consistent, convenient and comfortable heat application. "Plurality of heat cells", as used herein, means more than one, preferably more than two, most preferably more than three, and most preferably still more than four heat cells. "Agglomerated pre-compaction composition" as used herein, means the mixture of dry powdered ingredients, consisting of iron powder, carbonaceous powder, metal salt (s), water retention agents, agglomeration aids and dry binders. , prior to direct compaction. "Direct compaction", as used herein, means that a mixture of dry powder is mixed, compressed and given the form of pellets, tablets, or pieces without using binders / solutions typically wet to adhere to the particles of a joint form. Alternatively, the mixture of the dry powder is combined, compacted with rollers or pieces are formed, followed by a grinding and sieving process, creating directly compacted granules. Direct compaction can also be known as dry compaction.

"The heating elements", as used herein, means the exothermic precompaction composition, directly compacted dry agglomerate, configured in compaction articles, such as granules, pellets, pieces and / or tablets that can generate heat after add an aqueous solution such as water or brine (salt solution) , by means of the exothermic oxidation reaction of the iron. The granules of said agglomerated precompaction composition are also included here as heating elements.

The "filler volume", as used herein, means the volume of a particulate composition or the heater element inflated by water, compacted, in the full heat cell. The "null volume", as used herein, means the volume of the cell that has not been filled with the particulate composition or with the compacted heater element, inflated with water, in a finished heat cell, not including the space without filling inside a tablet consisting of a hole or container, in a finished heat cell, measured without differential pressure in the heat cell and without further elongation or deformation of the substrate material. The "cell volume", as used here, means the volume of fill plus the null volume of the heat cell. "Layer or Continuous Layers", as used herein, means one or more layers of a material that may be uninterrupted or partially, but not completely interrupted by other material, holes, perforations and the like, along its length and / or width. "Rigid," as used herein, means the property of a material in which the material can be flexible, still substantially rigid and without loosening and which does not form fold lines in response to gravitational force or other modest forces. "Semi-rigid material", as used herein, means a material that is rigid to some degree or in some parts, eg, having at least two two-dimensional folds at a temperature of about 25 ° C, and showing roughness to maintain the structural support of the heat cells in an unsupported mode, and / or to prevent unacceptable elongation of material structures during processing or use and / or to prevent easy access to the contents of the heat cells, while which retains good overall fold characteristics when heated, and / or retains sufficient rigidity to avoid the easy to heat cell contents. "Two-dimensional fold", as used here, means the fold that occurs through a continuous layer or layers, through a thermal compress, or through a selected region of a layer or layers, or thermal compress, exclusively along an axis, e.g. ., a bending line that is formed at the expense of other bending lines and in response to gravitational force or other simple forces. "Three-dimensional fold", as used herein, means the fold that occurs simultaneously through a continuous layer or layers, a through a thermal pad, or through a selected region of a layer or layers or thermal pad, along two or more axes, ie, form two or more fold lines, in response to gravitational force or other simple forces. "Bending lines", as used herein, means the line along which a material forms a permanent or temporary wrinkle, protuberance or wrinkle, in response to gravitational force or other simple forces. It is understood that the disposable thermal pads for the body of the present invention may contain one or more thermal pads. However, for reasons of clarity, a disposable body heating pad consisting of a single thermal pad will be described herein. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which provides a body heating pad, generally indicated as 10, preferably having a laminate structure. substantially flat, and one or more thermal pads 15. The laminated structure comprises a first side 12, which has oxygen adhesion and permeability means, which is placed away from the body during use, and a second side 14 which is Place against the body during use. Each thermal compress 15, consists of a plurality of individual heat cells 16, preferably fixed within or to the unified structure of the thermal pad 15. Although it is preferred that the heat cells 16 be embedded within the laminated structure of the thermal pad 15, each thermal pad 15 may alternatively consist of a continuous single base layer 20, wherein heat cells 16 individual, or groups, are fixedly adhered and spaced apart through the base layer 20.

These heat cells 16 are spaced apart from each other and each heat cell 16 operates independent of the rest of the heat cells 16. Each heat cell preferably consists of a densely packed, exothermic particulate composition 18, which substantially fills the cell volume available within the cell by reducing any excess empty volume thereby minimizing the ability of the particulate matter to change within the cell. Alternatively, the exothermic composition 18 may be compressed into a hard tablet before being placed in each cell. Because the heat generating material is densely packed or compressed, the heat cells 16 are not easily flexible. Therefore, the spacing apart from the cells and materials selected for the base layer of the cell former 20 and the cell cover layer 22 between the heat cells 16 allows each thermal pad 15 to easily conform to the body of the user more easily than a single large cell. The continuous cell-forming base layer 20 and the cell-covering layer 22 are preferably continuous layers that can be made from any number of suitable materials. Preferably, the base layer forming the cell 20 and the cell cover layer 22 consist of materials that are semi-rigid at a temperature of about ° C and which softens, that is to say it becomes substantially less rigid at a temperature close to 35 ° C or higher. That is, preferably the materials have a tensile strength, within the range of elastic deformation of the material, of about 0.7 g / mm2 or greater, most preferred of about 0.9 g / mm2 or greater, more preferably about 1 g / mm2 or greater, at 25 ° C and a tensile strength substantially less than 35 ° C or more. "Substantially minor", as used herein, indicates that the tensile strength of the material at about 35 ° C or more, is statistically less significant than the tensile strength at 25 ° C, at a confidence appropriate statistics (ie 95%) and a power (ie, >; 90%). Therefore, when the heat cells 16, which are fixed within or to the unified structure of the thermal pad 15, are active, i.e. at a heat cell temperature of about 35 ° C to about 60 ° C , preferably from 35 ° C to 50 ° C, most preferred from 35 ° C to 45 ° C, and more preferably from 35 ° C to about 40 ° C, the narrow portion of the continuous layer or layers of material that immediately Surrounding each heat cell softens and acts as a hinge between the heat cells and between any stiffer and colder portions remaining from the continuous layers, preferably bending more than the heat cells or any stiffer portion. This results in thermal pads 15 that possess sufficient rigidity to maintain the structural support of the heat cells and to prevent unacceptable stretching of the continuous layer or layer structures during processing or use, while still maintaining good overall fold characteristics when heated. When the thermal pads 15 of the present invention are incorporated in the back pad 10, the back pad 10 readily adapts to a wide variety of body contours, providing a consistent, convenient and comfortable heat application, and an excellent configuration with the bodily forms, while retaining sufficient stiffness to prevent the pad 10 from bending or sticking during use and preventing easy access to the contents of the heat cell. Typically, the tensile strength is measured using a simple voltage test in such an electronic voltage testing apparatus, such as a universal constant speed stretching tension testing machine with an Instron Engineering Corp. computer, Canton, MA. Any standard tension test can be used for example, samples of the material are cut into strips having a width of about 2.54 cm and a length of about 7.5 cm by about 10 cm. The ends of the strips are placed in the jaws of the apparatus without sufficient tension to eliminate any relaxed part, but without loading the load cell. Then the The temperature of the sample is stabilized at the desired test temperature.

The load cell of the apparatus is fixed at about 22.7 kg of load, and the stretch is fixed at 5 mm and the head crosshead speed is set at approximately 50 cm / min. The device is turned on and the voltage resistance data is collected by the computer. Then the sample is removed from the apparatus. You can calculate the tensile strength as the slope of the voltage load vs. the extension during the elastic deformation of the materials uses the following equation: m = (L / E) Where m = the slope in g / mm2 during the elastic deformation; L = the load to the extension in g / mm; and E = the extension in mm. The continuous layers of the base layer forming the cell 20 and / or the layer covering the cell 22 preferably also consist of at least one two-dimensional fold at about 25 ° C, i.e. an individual fold or wrinkle that occurs in the material along the individual axis, and preferably a three-dimensional fold at about 35 ° C or more, ie two or more folds or wrinkles that occur along multiple axes. The fold can be determined by placing and centering a square sample, for example 30 cm by 30 cm of material at the end of a cylindrical rod with a pointed end, which allows the material to be folded due to gravitational forces, and the number of bent lines is counted. The materials that exhibit a one-dimensional fold, that is to say that do not have folds or wrinkles in any direction, are determined as rigid, whereas the materials that exhibit at least one two-dimensional fold, that is to say that they have at least one crease or crease line that is formed along at least one axis, are determined as semirigid. Different materials may be able to meet the specific requirements for continuous layers of cell-forming base / cell cover 20 and / or 22, as long as their thickness is adjusted accordingly. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethane, polystyrene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer saponified, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, natural rubber , recycled rubber, synthetic rubber, and mixtures of the latter. These materials can be used alone, preferably extruded, most preferably co-extruded, and most preferably still co-extruded with a low melting temperature polymer including, but not limited to ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, low density polyethylene, and mixtures thereof. The base layer forming the cell 20 and / or the layer covering the cell 22 preferably consists of polypropylene, preferably a co-extruded material consisting of polypropylene, a co-extruded material being very preferred wherein a first side consists of polypropylene, preference from 10% up to 90%, more preferably from 40% to 60% of the total thickness of the material, and a second side consists of a bonding layer of a low melting temperature copolymer, preferably EVA. The base layer forming the cell 20 and / or the layer covering the cell 22 preferably has a thickness on a weight basis of less than about 50 μm, more preferably less than 40 μm, most preferred less than about 30 μm. The base layer forming the cell 20 and / or the layer covering the cell 22 preferably consists of a co-extruded material, having a first side of polypropylene and a second side of EVA, and having a combined thickness of 20 μm up to 30 μm, preferably from 25 μm, where the polypropylene constitutes approximately 50% and the EVA of the bonding layer constitutes approximately 50%, of the total thickness of the base layer forming the cell 20 or the layer covering the cell 22. A particularly suitable material can be obtained as P18-3161 from Clopay Plastics Products, Cincinnati, OH. The material P18-3161 which is preferred for the layer covering the cell 22 has been subjected to a subsequent process to create openings with hot needles to make it permeable to oxygen. When the coextruded materials of the type described above are used for the base layer forming the cell 20 and the layer covering the cell 22, the EVA sides are preferably oriented towards each other to facilitate thermal bonding of the layer that covers cell 22 to the base layer forming cell 20.

The good folding characteristics in general and / or excellent compliance with the user's body, and / or increased structural support to the thermal pad 15, can also be achieved by the selective placement of heat cells 16 within positions within or to the unified structure of the thermal pad 15 in relation to each other that are close enough to block some or all of the possible axes through the material of the continuous layer and / or layers 20 and / or 22 which would otherwise have gone uninterrupted between the heat cells 16, through the thermal pad 15, or the selected regions thereof, to minimize or eliminate undesired, undesirable bending lines. That is, the placement of the heat cells 16 in positions in relation to each other that are close enough so that the number of axes passing uninterruptedly, between the heat cells 16, is selectively controlled, such that the continuous cells forming the base layer 20 and the cell cover layer 22 of the thermal pad 15, or selected regions thereof, are preferably folded along a multiplicity of interconnected short bending lines oriented in a number of different directions in relation to each other. Bending along a multiplicity of interconnected bending lines results in thermal pads 15 having good overall bending characteristics, easily conforming to the user's back, and / or having an increased structural support of the heat cell matrix .

Because the heat cells 16 are not readily flexible, the spacing between the heat cells 16 provides the preferred benefits and can be determined, when the heat cells 16 are selectively placed within or fixed to the unified structure of the thermal pads 15, wherein at least one heat cell of four adjacent heat cells, whose centers form a quadrilateral pattern, blocks one or more axes that could otherwise form at least one tangential bend line at the edges of one or more pairs of the three remaining heat cells in the quadrilateral pattern. Preferably, the spacing between at least one heat cell of the four adjacent heat cells and each of the heat cells of one or more pairs of the remaining heat cells in the quadrilateral pattern can be calculated using the equation: s <; (Wq / 2) * 0.75 where s = the closest distance between the heat cells; and Wq = the smallest diameter diameter measurement of the smallest diameter heat cell within the quadrilateral pattern. Alternatively, the spacing between the heat cells 16 can be determined where, at least one heat cell of three adjacent heat cells, whose centers form a triangular pattern, blocks one or more axes that could otherwise form at least one line of tangential bend to the edges of the remaining pair of heat cells in the triangular pattern formed by the three heat cells. More preferably, the spacing between the at least one heat cell of the three adjacent heat cells and each heat cell of the remaining pair of heat cells in the triangular pattern can be calculated using the equation: s < (Wt / 2) * 0.3 where s = the closest distance between the heat cells; and Wt = the smallest diameter measurement of the smallest diameter heat cell within the triangular pattern. Different materials may be able to satisfy the requirements specified above. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, those materials mentioned above. A more preferred embodiment of the disposable thermal pads 15 of the present invention comprises at least one continuous layer of semirigid material having the thermophysical properties described above, and the heat cells 16 fixed therein or to the unified structure of the thermal pantiliner 15 in positions in relation to each other that are close enough to block some or all of the possible axes through the material of the layer (s) 20 and / or 22, which otherwise would have passed uninterruptedly between the heat cells 16, through thermal pads 15, or selected regions thereof, to minimize or eliminate undesirable, uninterrupted fold lines, as described above.

The exothermic composition 18 may consist of any composition capable of providing heat. However, the exothermic composition 18 preferably comprises a particular mixture of chemical compounds that pass an oxidation reaction during use. Alternatively, the exothermic composition 18 may also be formed into agglomerated granules, compacted directly into compaction articles such as granules, pellets, tablets, and / or pieces and mixtures thereof. The mixture of compounds typically consists of iron powder, carbon, a metal salt (s), and water. Mixtures of this type, which react when exposed to oxygen, provide heat for several hours. Suitable sources of iron powder include cast iron powder, reduced iron powder, electrolytic iron powder, flash iron powder, raw iron, wrought iron, various steels, iron alloys, and the like and treated varieties thereof. iron powders. There is no particular limitation as to its purity, type, etc. as long as it can be used to produce heat generation with electrically conductive water and air. Typically, the iron powder consists of 30% to 80% by weight, preferably 50% to 70%, of the exothermic particulate composition. The activated carbon prepared from coconut shell, wood, charcoal, mineral coal, bone coal, etc. it is useful, but those prepared from other raw materials such as animal products, natural gas, fats, oil and resins are also useful in the particular exothermic composition of the present invention. There is no limitation of Types of active carbon used, however, the preferred activated carbon has superior water retention capabilities and the different carbons can be mixed to reduce costs. Therefore, the blends of the above coals are also useful in the present invention. Typically, the activated carbon, the non-activated carbon, and the mixtures thereof, comprise from 3% to 25%, preferably from 8% to 20%, more preferably from 9% to 15% by weight, of the exothermic composition in particles. Useful metal salts in the exothermic particulate composition include sulfates such as ferric sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium sulfate, manganese sulfate, magnesium sulfate; and chlorides such as cupric chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, manganese chloride, magnesium chloride and cuprous chloride. In addition, carbonate salts, acetate salts, nitrates, nitrites and other salts can be used. In general, there are several suitable alkalis, alkaline earth, and transition metal salts that can also be used, alone or in combination, to sustain the corrosive reaction of iron. Preferred metal salts are sodium chloride, cupric chloride, and mixtures thereof. Typically, the metal salt (s) comprises from 0.5% to 10% by weight, preferably from 1.0% to 5% by weight, of the exothermic particulate composition. The water used in the exothermic particulate composition can be from any suitable source. There is no particular limitation in Regarding its purity, type, etc. Typically, the water comprises from 1% to 40% by weight, preferably from 10% to 30% by weight, of the exothermic particulate composition. Additional water retention materials may also be added as appropriate. Additional useful water retention materials include vermiculite, porous silicates, wood dust, wood flour, cotton cloth having a large amount of lint, short cotton fibers, paper waste, plant material, water-swellable superabsorbent polymers or soluble in water and resins, salts of carboxymethylcellulose, and other porous materials having a large capillary function and hydrophilic property can be used. Typically, the additional water retention materials comprise from 0.1% to 30% by weight, preferably from 0.5% to 20% by weight, more preferably from 1% to 10% by weight, of the exothermic particulate composition. Other additional components include agglomeration aids such as gelatin, natural gums, cellulose derivatives, cellulose ethers and their derivatives, starch, modified starches, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium alginates, oliols, glycols, corn syrup, sucrose syrup, sorbitol syrup and other polysaccharides and their derivatives, polyacrylamides, polyvinyloxazolidone, and maltitol syrup; dry binders such as maltodextrin, aspersed maltose, co-crystallized sucrose and dextrin, modified dextrose, sorbitol, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, microfine cellulose, pregelatinized starch, dicalcium phosphate, and calcium carbonate; oxidation reaction enhancers such as elemental chromium, manganese, or copper, compounds comprising said elements, or mixtures thereof; hydrogen gas inhibitors such as organic or inorganic alkali compounds or salts of weak alkaline acid including sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and sodium propionate; fillers such as natural cellulose fragments including wood dust, cotton fluff and cellulose, synthetic fibers in fragmentary form including polyester fibers, foamy synthetic resins such as polystyrene and foamed polyurethane, and inorganic compounds including silica powder, porous silica gel, sulphate of sodium, various sulfate, iron oxides, and alumina; and anticostrating agents such as tricalcium phosphate and sodium silicoaluminate. Such components also include oilers such as corn starch, potato starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, and alpha-starch, and surfactants such as those included within the anionic, cationic, nonionic, zwitterionic, and amphoteric types. The preferred surfactant, if used, however, is non-ionic. Still other additional components that may be added to the particulate exothermic compositions of the present invention, as appropriate, include spreading agents such as metasilicates, zirconium, and ceramics. Preferably at least 50%, more preferably 70%, still more preferably 80% and more preferably 90% of all the particles by weight of the exothermic particulate composition of the present invention they have an average particle size of less than 200 μm, preferably less than 150 μm. The aforementioned components of the composition are mixed using conventional mixing techniques. Suitable methods for mixing these components are described in detail in the U.S. patent. 4,649,895 to Yasuki et al., March 17, 1987, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively to the exothermic particulate composition described above, the exothermic composition may be formed into agglomerated granules, compacted directly into compaction articles such as granules, pellets, tablets, and / or pieces, and mixtures thereof. The exothermic composition of these agglomerated granules and / or compaction articles comprises iron powders, dry powder carboniferous material, an agglomeration aid, and a dry mixer. Additionally, a metal salt is added to the dry mix or subsequently as an aqueous solution / brine. Typically, the iron powder comprises from 30% to 80%, preferably from 40% to 70%, more preferably from 50% to 65% by weight; activated carbon, non-activated carbon, and mixtures thereof, comprise from 3% to 20%, preferably from 5% to 15%, more preferably from 6% to 12% by weight; the metal salt (s) comprises from 0.5% to 10%, preferably from 1% to 8%, more preferably 2% to 6% by weight; the agglomeration auxiliaries comprise from 0% to 9%, preferably from 0.5% to 8%, more preferably from 0.6% to 6%, more preferably from 0.7% to 3% by weight; and the dry mixer comprises from 0% to 35%, preferably from 4% to 30%, more preferably from 7% to 20% more preferably from 9% to 15% by weight, of the agglomerated precompaction compositions of the present invention . Heat cells comprising agglomerated granules are typically made using mixing techniques and agglomerated into granules. Heat cells comprising compaction articles are preferably made by direct compaction of the dry ingredients into articles such as hard granules, pellets, tablets, and / or pieces. Suitable methods for making tablets and / or pieces are described in detail in Chapter 89, "Oral Solid Dosage Forms," Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18-Edition, (1990), pp. 1634-1656, Alfonso R. Gennaro, ed., Incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Any conventional tabletting machine and compression pressures, up to the maximum provided by the machine can be used. The tablets / pieces may have any geometric shape consistent with the shape of the heat cell, for example disc, triangle, square, cube, rectangle, cylinder, ellipsoid and the like, all or none of which may contain a hole through half or another reservation. The preferred form of the tablet / piece comprises a disk-shaped geometry, having a concave (dome) configuration at the top and / or bottom of the tablet. The most preferred form of the tablet / piece, however, comprises a disk-shaped geometry, having a hole perpendicular to, and through the middle of the upper and lower part of the tablet. The size of the compacted disc is limited only by the size of the perforations and given available and / or used in the tabletting machine, as well as the size of the bag of the heat cell. However, the disc typically has a diameter of 0.2 cm to 10 cm, preferably 0. 5 cm to 8 cm, more preferably from 1 cm to 5 cm, and more preferably from 1.5 cm to 3 cm, and a height of 0.08 cm to 1 cm, preferably from 0.15 cm to 0.86 cm, more preferably from 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm, and more preferably from 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm. Alternatively, the compacted disc having a geometric shape different from the disc shape may have a width at its widest point of from 0.15 cm to 20 cm, preferably from 0.3 cm to 10 cm, more preferably from 0.5 cm to 5 cm, more preferably from 1 cm to 3 cm, a height at its highest point of 0.08 cm to 1 cm, preferably from 0.15 cm to 0.8 cm, more preferably from 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm and more preferably from 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm and one length at its longest point from 1.5 cm to 20 cm, preferably from 1 cm to 15 cm, more preferably from 1 cm to 10 cm, more preferably 3 cm to 5 cm. The hole or reservoir must be long enough to substantially contain the prescribed amount of water and / or the water carrier material. Typically, the hole has a diameter of 0.1 cm to 1 cm, preferably from 0.2 cm to 0.8 cm, and more preferably from 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm. The compaction articles of the present invention are compressed to the hardest possible mechanical strength to withstand handling impacts in their manufacture, packing, shipping, and serving. The compaction articles are typically compressed at a density greater than 1 g / cm 3, preferably from 1 g / cm 3 to 3 g / cm 3, more preferably from 1.5 g / cm 3 to 3 g / cm 3 and more preferably 2 g / cm 3 a 3 g / cm3. The heat cells 16 comprising the components described above are typically formed by adding a fixed amount of an exothermic particulate composition or compaction article (s) 18 to a sack or sacks made in a continuous first layer, i.e., the forming layer of cell 20. A second continuous layer, i.e., the cell cover layer 22 is placed over the first continuous layer, sandwiching the exothermic particulate composition or compaction article (s) between the two continuous layers which are then joined together, preferably using a low heat, forming a laminated, unified structure. Preferably, each heat cell has a similar volume of heat generating material and has similar oxygen permeability means. However, the volume of the heat generating material, the shape of the heat cell, and the oxygen permeability can be different from heat cell to heat cell, while the cell temperatures resulting generated are within therapeutically accepted and safety scales for their designed use. The heat cells 16 of the thermal compress 15 can have any geometric shape, for example, disk, triangle, pyramid, cone, sphere, square, cube, rectangle, rectangular parallelepiped, cylinder, ellipsoid and the like. The preferred form of heat cells 16 comprises a disk-shaped geometry having a cell diameter of 0.2 cm at cm, preferably from 0.5 cm to 8 cm, more preferably from 1 cm to 5 cm, and more preferably from 1.5 cm to 3 cm. The heat cells 16 have a height greater than 0.2 cm to 1 cm, preferably larger than 0.2 cm to 0.9 cm, more preferably larger than 0.2 cm to 0.8 cm, and more preferably larger than 0.3 cm to 0.7 cm. Alternatively, heat cells having geometric shapes different from a disk shape, preferably an ellipsoid (ie, oval), may have a width at their widest point of 0.15 cm to 20 cm, preferably of 0.3 cm to 10 cm , more preferably from 0.5 cm to 5 cm, more preferably from 1 cm to 3 cm, a height at its highest point of greater than 0.2 cm to 5 cm, preferably larger than 0.2 cm to 1 cm, more preferably larger 0.2 cm to 0.8 cm, and more preferably from 0.3 cm to 0.7 cm and a length at its longest point of 0.5 cm to 20 cm, preferably from 1 cm to 15 cm, more preferably from 1 cm to 10 cm, more preferably from 3 cm to 5 cm.

The ratio of fill volume to cell volume of the heat cells 16 is from 0.7 to 1.0, preferably from 0.75 to 1.0, more preferably from 0.8 to 1.0, still more preferably from 0.85 to 1.0, and more preferably from 0.9 to 1.0. . The oxygen permeability in the cell cover layer 22 is preferably a plurality of openings in the cell cover layer 22, which are made by piercing the cell cover layer 22 with hot needles. The size of the openings is preferably 0.127 mm in diameter and there are preferably 25 to 40 openings per heat generating cell. Another preferred method for making the openings in piercing the cell cover 22 with cold needles. Alternatively, the openings can be produced by a vacuum formation or a high pressure water stream forming process. Yet another method is to make the cell cover layer 22 of a microporous membrane or a semipermeable membrane. The membrane can be combined with a highly porous carrier material to facilitate processing. The oxygen permeability required is in the range of 0.01 cc O2 per minute per 5 cm2 to 15 cc O2 per minute per 5 cm2 at 21 ° C and 1 ATM. The speed, duration, and temperature of the thermogenic oxidation reaction of the exothermic composition 18 can be controlled as desired by changing the contact area with the air, more specifically, by changing the oxygen diffusion / permeability.

Preferably, each heat cell 16 has a similar volume of chemistry and has a similar means of oxygen permeability.

Alternatively, the chemistry volumes, forms, and oxygen permeability media may be different from cell to cell as long as the resulting cell temperatures generated are similar. On either side of the heat cells 16 of the thermal pad 15 are additional layers of material. On the first side 12 is a first outer fabric 26 adhered to the cell cover layer 22 by a first adhesive layer 28. The first outer fabric 26 and the first adhesive layer 28 are preferably more air permeable than the outer layer. cell cover 22. In addition, the first outer fabric 26 and the first adhesive layer 28 preferably do not appreciably alter the oxygen permeability of the cell cover layer 22. Therefore, the cell cover layer 22 alone controls the oxygen flow rate within each heat generating cell 16. On the second side 14 of the heating pad for the body 10 is a second outer fabric 30., which is adhered to the cell forming base layer 20 by a second layer of adhesive 32. Preferably, the first outer fabric 26 and the second outer fabric 30 are made of similar materials, and the first layer of adhesive 28 and the second adhesive layer 32 are made of the same materials. Preferably, the first side 12 of the heating pad for the body 10 has an adhesion means 34 for releasably adhering the thermal pad for body 10 to clothes. The adhesion means 34 can be an adhesive. If it is an adhesive, then the adhesion means may have a release paper 36 adhered to the adhesive in order to protect the adhesive 34 from prematurely sticking to a target other than the designed user's clothing. The adhesion means 34 preferably have a stronger adhesion to the first of the exterior than to either the release paper 36 or any white surface. In the alternative, the adhesion means 34 for releasably adhering the heating pad for the body The clothes may be located on the second side 14. Alternatively, the adhesion means 34 may be a film coated with adhesive adhered to the first outer fabric 26. If the adhesive coated film has holders to prevent adhesion until the The white surface and the film are pressed together to expose the adhesive, then the release paper 36 can be removed. The adhesion means 34 may also consist of mechanical fasteners adhered to the first outer fabric 26, which provide sufficient coupling with different varieties of fabric to allow fixed positioning to be achieved. If mechanical insurers are used, the release paper 36 can also be removed. The heating pad for the body 10 has an upper edge 38 and a lower edge 40 opposite the pad from the upper edge 38. These edges are thus designed due to the orientation of the pad when it is preferably used as a heating pad for menstrual pain and is placed inside a woman's clothing, ie pantyhose, to rest against your abdomen. The adhesion means 34 is used to adhere the body heating pad 10 to the interior surface of clothes after the release paper 36 has been removed. The adhesion means 34, to releasably adhere the thermal pad 10 to the garment, can be any number of suitable adhesives and application patterns. A preferred adhesive is Dispomelt ™ 345598 pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive available from National Starch and Chemical Company of Bridgewater, NJ: This adhesive can be applied to the first outer fabric 26 by coating slot or printing dies, in any case it is desirable for the adhesive to penetrate into the first outer fabric 26 so that the The adhesive is preferentially adhered to the first outer fabric 26 with the removal of the thermal pad for the body 10 of the wearer's clothing after use. The preferred pattern of adhesive produced by this method is straight parallel bands extending from the upper edge 38 to the lower edge 40 of the heating pad for the body 10, and located between the heat cells 16, as described in Figure 1 , however, other patterns may be used as appropriate. The relatively heavy adhesive bands are impervious to oxygen. By placing the adhesive strips between the heat cells 16, the oxygen permeability of the cell cover layer 22 remains without risk in its ability to pass oxygen to the heat cells. Release paper 36 is preferably a paper treated with silicone, as release paper BL 25 MGA SILOX C3R / 0 from Akrosil, Menasha, Wl. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first outer fabric 26 is preferably a flexible soft material. Suitable materials as the first outer fabric 26 include, but are not limited to, films formed; fabrics including yarns, fabrics and nonwovens, which are carded, spun as they are, laid in the air, thermally spun, laid in number, blown by casting, and / or bound through the air. The composition of the material of the first outer fabric 26 can be cotton, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, etc. a particularly suitable material for the first outer fabric is 32 grams per square meter (gsm), hydrophobic, polypropylene fabric, carded by thermal bonding available as grade # 9327786 from Veratec, Walpole, MA. Preferably, the second outer fabric 30 is a soft, flexible material, non-irritating to the skin. Suitable materials as second outer fabric 30 include but are not limited to: films formed; fabrics including fabrics, yarns, and non-wovens, which are carded, spun-bonded, air-laid, thermally bonded, wet laid, blown in cast iron, and / or bonded through the air. The material of the second outer fabric 30 can be cotton, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, etc. A particularly suitable material for the second outer fabric 30 is 65 gsm thermoplastic bonded polypropylene fabric available as grade # 9354790 from Veratec, Walpole. MA.

The adhesive layer 28 is applied in such a way that it does not interfere with the oxygen permeability to the heat cells 16. A suitable material and the application method that has been successfully used for the adhesive layers 28 and 32 is foundry adhesive in heat sensitive to pressure 70-4589 available from National Starch and Chemical Co., Bridgewater, NJ, which is applied with spiral rubber application system available from Nordson, Waycross, GA. Prior to use, the body heating pad 10 is typically enclosed within an oxygen impermeable package. The heating pad for the body 10 is preferably folded in half with the second side 14 internal to the fold and the outer side 12 exposed to the interior of the package. The body heating pad 10 is removed from the oxygen impermeable packaging allowing oxygen to react with chemistry 18. This chemical oxidation system is compact and portable. Once the chemical reaction is complete, the body heating pad is no longer capable of generating heat and is designed to be properly disposed of in the solid waste system. By placing the adhesion means on the same side as the oxygen permeable layer, the thermal pad of the present invention can be used within a user's clothing and directly in contact with the wearer's body. Such direct contact by the heat cells in the body heating pad provides a known thermal resistance between the heat generation chemistry and the body surface.

Therefore, chemistry can be designed to oxidize at a particular rate to produce a specific temperature. The present invention further comprises a method for treating acute, recurrent, and / or chronic body pain, including muscle pain, in the bones, and / or referral, of a person suffering such pain by topically applying heat to specific areas of the body. body of a person suffering such pain. The method comprises maintaining a skin temperature in the specific areas of the body of a person suffering such pain from 32 ° C to 50 ° C, preferably from 32 ° C to 45 ° C, more preferably from 32 ° C to 42 ° C, more preferably from 32 ° C to 39 ° C, even more preferably from 32 ° C to 37 ° C, preferably by applying the body pads described above to the afflicted part of the body, preferably the abdominal or menstrual part of a suffering person such pain, from 20 seconds to 24 hours, preferably from 20 minutes to 24 hours, more preferably from 4 hours to 16 hours, more preferably from 8 hours to 12 hours, wherein the maximum skin temperature and the length of the maintenance time The skin temperature at the maximum skin temperature can be appropriately selected by a person in need of such treatment, so that the desired therapeutic benefits are achieved, without any adverse event, such as skin burns on the skin. s that can be incurred using a high temperature for a long period. Preferably the method comprises maintaining the skin temperature sustained in the body of a person having acute pain, recurrent and / or chronic body, including muscle pain, in the bones and / or body referral, from 32 ° C to 43 ° C, preferably from 32 ° C to 42 ° C, more preferably from 32 ° C to 41 ° C C, more preferably from 32 ° C to 39 ° C, still more preferably from 32 ° C to 37 ° C, for a period greater than 1 hour, preferably greater than 4 hours, more preferably greater than 8 hours, even more preferably greater that 16 hours, more preferably 24 hours, to substantially alleviate acute, recurrent, and / or chronic body pain, including pain in the bones, muscle, and / or body referral, of a person having such pain and to substantially prolong relief, for at least 2 hours, preferably for at least 8 hours, more preferably for at least 16 hours, more preferably for at least 1 day, even more preferably for at least 3 days, of such pain, even after the source of heat is removed from the user's back. Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to the person skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and is intended to cover in the appended claims all These modifications are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A disposable thermal pad for the body comprising at least one piece of flexible material having a first side, a second side, an upper edge, a lower edge and one or more thermal pads, wherein the thermal pads have a unified structure comprising at least one continuous layer of a semi-rigid material having a tensile strength of 0.7 g / mm2 or greater, preferably 0.85 g / mm2 or greater, more preferably 1 g / mm2 or greater, and at least two dimensional folds at a temperature of 25 ° C, and wherein said material has a tensile strength, at a temperature of 35 ° C or higher, substantially less than said tensile strength of said material at 25 ° C, and having a plurality of individual heat cells spaced apart and fixed within or to said unified structure of the thermal pad and a securing means, preferably a means for releasably adhering the thermal pad for the body, to a separate interi of the user's clothing, preferably pressure-sensitive adhesive, more preferably wherein the means for releasably adhering the body heating pad is preferably located on the first side of the flexible material so that the second side of the flexible material can be placed directly against the body of a user, wherein the first side additionally consists of oxygen permeability means, and wherein preferably said unified structure preferably has an upper edge and a lower edge, and wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is preferably placed in parallel strips extending continuously from the upper edge to the lower edge between the plurality of heat cells.

2. A disposable thermal pad for the body according to claim 1 further characterized in that at least one of the continuous layers consists of a material consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethane , polystyrene, saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, natural rubber, recycled rubber, synthetic rubber, or mixtures thereof, preferably an extruded material consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethane, polystyrene, saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, more preferably a coextruded material having a first side consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethane, and polystyrene, and a second side that co It consists of saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, more preferably a co-extruded material having a first side of polypropylene and a second side of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, further characterized in that the polypropylene consists of preferably from 10% to 90%, more preferably from 40% to 60%, of the total thickness of the material.

3. - A disposable thermal pad for the body comprising at least one piece of flexible material having a first side, a second side, an upper edge, a lower edge and at least one thermal pad having a unified structure comprising the less a continuous layer of material and a plurality of individual heat cells placed within fixed positions within or to said unified structure of the thermal compress that are sufficiently close and in relation to each other, as to block some or all possible axes through of one of the continuous layers, which otherwise would have passed uninterruptedly between the heat cells, through the thermal pack, or selected regions thereof, preferably wherein at least one of the heat cells of four adjacent heat cells, whose centers form a quadrilateral pattern, blocks one or more of the axes that could otherwise form at least one tangential bend line to the edges of one or more pairs of the remaining heat cells in the quadrilateral pattern, more preferably in where the spacing between at least one of the heat cells and each of the heat cells of one or more pairs of the remaining heat cells in the quadrilateral pattern is the same or less than the scattering obtained by dividing the diameter measurement further small of the heat cell of the heat cells within the quadrilateral pattern by 2 and multiplying the result by 0.75, and an insuring medium, preferably a means for releasably adhering the body heating pad to an interior portion of the wearer's clothing, preferably pressure sensitive adhesive, more preferably wherein the means for releasably adhering the body heating pad is preferably located on the first side of the flexible material so that the second side of the flexible material can be placed directly against the body of a user, wherein the first side additionally comprises oxygen permeability means, and wherein preferably said unified structure preferably has an upper edge and a lower edge, and wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is preferably placed in parallel strips extending continuously from the upper edge to the lower edge between the plurality of heat cells.

4. - A disposable thermal pad for the body according to claim 3, further characterized in that at least one of the heat cells of three adjacent heat cells, whose centers form a triangular pattern, blocks one or more of the axes that they could otherwise form at least one tangential bending line at the edges of the remaining pair of heat cells in the triangular pattern formed by the three heat cells, preferably wherein the spacing between at least one of the heat cells and each of the heat cells of the remaining pair of heat cells in the triangular pattern is the same or smaller than the spacing obtained by dividing the measurement of the smallest diameter of the smaller diameter of the heat cell of the heat cells within the triangular pattern by 2 and multiplying the result by 0.3.

5. - A disposable thermal pad for the body according to claim 3 or 4 further characterized in that at least one of the continuous layers consists of a semi-rigid material having a tensile strength of 0.7 g / mm2 or greater, preferably 0.85 g / mm2 or greater, more preferably 1 g / mm2 or greater, and at least one two-dimensional fold at a temperature of 25 ° C, and wherein said material has a tensile strength, at a temperature of 35 ° C or higher, substantially less than The tensile strength of the material at 25 ° C, preferably the continuous layer consists of a material consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethane, polystyrene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer saponified, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, natural rubber, recycled rubber, synthetic rubber, or mixtures thereof, more preferably the continuous layer consists of a coextruded material having a n first side consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethane, or polystyrene, and a second side consisting of copolymers of ethylene-saponified vinyl acetate or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer , more preferably the continuous layer consists of a co-extruded material having a first side of polypropylene and a second side of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, wherein the polypropylene preferably comprises 10% to 90%, more preferably from 40% to 60%, of the total thickness of said material.

6. - A disposable thermal pad for the body according to any preceding claim further characterized in that the heat cells consist of a shape consisting of a disk, triangle, pyramid, cone, sphere, square, cube, rectangle, rectangular parallelepiped, cylinder, or ellipsoid, the disc has a diameter of 1 cm to 5 cm and a height of more than 0.2 cm to 1 cm, and said triangle, pyramid, cone, sphere, square, cube, rectangle, rectangular parallelepiped, cylinder, or Ellipsoid has a width at its widest point from 0.5 cm to 5 cm and a height at its highest point of more than 0.2 cm to 1 cm and a length at its longest point from 1.5 cm to 10 cm, and wherein the heat cells, when filled with an exothermic composition, have a ratio of fill volume to cell volume of 0.7 to 1.0.

7. - A disposable thermal body pad according to any preceding claim further characterized in that the exothermic composition consists of 30% to 80% by weight, of iron powder, 3% to 25% by weight, of carboniferous material, which consists of activated carbon, non-activated carbon, or mixtures thereof, from 0.5% to 10% by weight of metal salt, from 1% to 40% by weight of water, and preferably from 0.1% to 30% by weight of additional water container material.

8. - A disposable thermal pad for the body according to any preceding claim further characterized because the exothermic composition consists of 30% to 80% by weight, of iron powder, of 3% to 20% by weight, of carboniferous material, consisting of activated carbon, non-activated carbon, or mixtures thereof, of 0 % to 9% by weight of an agglomeration aid consisting of corn syrup, maltitol syrup, crystallizing sorbitol syrup, amorphous sorbitol syrup, or mixtures thereof, from 0% to 35% by weight, of a blender dry consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, maltodextrin, lactose, coagulated sucrose and dextrin, modified dextrose, mannitol, microfine cellulose, pregelatinized starch, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate or mixtures thereof, preferably said dry binder comprises 4% a 30% by weight of microcrystalline cellulose, more preferably from 0.5% to 10% by weight of additional materials water containers consisting of acrylic acid salt-starch copolymer, isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer, rmiculite, carboxymethylcellulose or mixtures thereof, wherein from 0.5% to 10% by weight, of a metal salt consisting of alkali metal salts, alkali metal earth salts, transition metal salts, or mixtures thereof is added to the composition as part of the dry mix or subsequently in an aqueous solution as a brine, and wherein the exothermic composition further comprises a physical form consisting of dry agglomerated granules, direct compaction articles, or mixtures thereof, wherein the articles of direct compaction consist of granules, pellets, tablets, pieces or mixtures thereof, and wherein the tablets and pieces consist of a geometric form consisting of discs, triangle, cube, rectangle, cylinder, or ellipsoid, the disk has a diameter of 1 cm to 5 cm and a height of 0.08 cm to 1 cm and the triangle, square, cube, rectangle, cylinder, or ellipsoid has a width at its widest point from 0.5 cm to 5 cm and a height at its most high from 0.08 cm to 1 cm and a length at its longest point from 1 cm to 10 cm, preferably where the direct compaction articles consist of a density of more than 1 g / cm3.

9. - A disposable body heating pad according to any preceding claim further characterized in that it additionally consists of additional components consisting of active aromatic compounds, non-active aromatic compounds, pharmaceutical actives, or mixtures thereof.

10. A disposable thermal pillow for the body according to any preceding claim further characterized because it is useful for treating body pain consisting of acute muscle pain, acute in the bones, acute referred, recurrent muscle, recurrent in the bones, recurrent referred, chronic muscle, chronic bone, or chronic body referral in a person, by applying a disposable body wrap to the afflicted part of a person's body, to maintain a temperature of the afflicted part of the body. 32 ° C to 50 ° C, preferably from 32 ° C to 39 ° C, for a period of twenty seconds to twenty-four hours, wherein the temperature of the skin and the period of time to maintain skin temperature is selected suitably by the person, to substantially alleviate such pain without adverse events, preferably wherein the temperature of the skin is maintained at a temperature of 32 ° C to 43 ° C for a period greater than 1 hour, more preferably 32 ° C to 41 ° C for a period of more than 4 hours, where the pain relief is prolonged substantially by at least 2 hours, preferably for at least 1 day, after removal of heat from the afflicted part of the person's body.