NL2012374A

NL2012374A - Compression assisted thermal system for heat transfer, and method for changing liquid pressure in a heat transferring device.

Info

Publication number: NL2012374A
Application number: NL2012374A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Weber Jeffrey
Original assignee: A C S B V
Priority date: 2014-03-06
Filing date: 2014-03-06
Publication date: 2015-11-17
Also published as: NL2012374B1

Description

Title: Compression assisted thermal system for heat transfer, and method for changing liquid pressure in a heat transferring device

The invention relates to a compression assisted thermal system for the transfer of thermal energy.

Generally, a thermal system can comprise a liquid circuit connectable to and/or connected to a heat transferring device, such as a cuff, body wrap or pad, that can be attached to a body part. Such systems are generally arranged for feeding liquid from the liquid circuit through an internal liquid passage in the heat transferring device. Said heat transferring device can be arranged for heat transfer from the liquid in its internal liquid passage to heat a part of a human or animal body in contact with a contact surface of said heat transferring device, e.g. by means of a Nylon heat transferring layer. Additionally, the system can be arranged to cool by subsequently taking up heat from the body part in contact with said device. Such systems can for instance be used for thermal therapy, such as contrast therapy or so-called hot/cold therapy, which can be understood as a form of treatment wherein a body, body part or other element is exposed to either warmth or cold and/or to both alternatingly. Additionally or alternatively, the systems may be used for so-called cryotherapy, which can be understood as the use of cold temperatures in medical therapy, for instance for alleviating pain.

It is noted that such thermal systems can be compression assisted. In such case, the system can be arranged for pressing a contact surface of a heat transferring device relatively firmly against a body part. For example, compression assisted thermal systems are known in which an outer side of a heat transferring body wrap, which is located opposite the contact surface, is partly covered with an inflatable pocket or an inflatable overlay compression channel. By inflating said pocket or overlay channel during use, the pocket or channel can expand, thereby pushing the contact surface to the body part more firmly. In order to provide for such compression, the system usually is provided with one or more compressors or air pumps fluidly connected to or connectable with the inflatable pocket or channel of the heat transferring device. It is noted that such systems can be relatively complex, expensive, complicated in use and/or error-prone or vulnerable to damage.

An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative thermal system for heat transfer. Further, it is an object of the present invention to alleviate or solve at least one of the disadvantage of prior art systems. In particular, the invention aims at providing a compression assisted thermal system, wherein at least one of the disadvantages mentioned above is counteracted or advantages there above are obtained. More in particular, the invention aims at providing a compression assisted thermal system which can be relatively simple of design, relatively inexpensive, relatively easy in use and/or relatively invulnerable to damage.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides for a compression assisted thermal system for heat transfer, comprising a liquid circuit connectable to and/or connected to a heat transferring device by means of an inlet line for, in use, feeding liquid into the heat transferring device and an outlet line for, in use, leading liquid from the heat transferring device back to the liquid circuit; a pump for, in use, moving liquid from the liquid circuit into the heat transferring device and/or for, in use, drawing hquid from the heat transferring device back to the hquid circuit; and at least one control valve for at least partly obstructing an internal passageway of the inlet line and/or the outlet line, wherein the thermal system is arranged for controlling the at least one control valve such as to enable that temporarily more liquid is fed into the heat transferring device than is led out off the device, and/or is arranged for controlling the at least one control valve such as to enable that temporarily more liquid is led out of the heat transferring device than is fed into the device, thereby enabling a temporarily increase or decrease in liquid pressure in the heat transferring device, respectively.

By arranging the thermal system for increasing and/or for decreasing the liquid pressure in a heat transferring device by controlling a control valve, a force, by means of which a contact surface of said heat transferring device can be pressed against a body part, can surprisingly be increased and/or decreased in a relatively simple and elegant manner. The heat transferring contact surface can thus be pressed against a body part more firmly or less firmly, preferably alternatingly, without the need of using adapted body wraps provided with inflatable pockets or overlay channels. As a consequence, a system according to the invention may thus be compatible with existing body wraps, pads or cuffs. In comparison with systems having connectors for connecting to an inflatable overlay layer of a body wrap and being arranged for inflating and deflating said overlay layer, the system of the invention is relatively simple, cheap, robust and/or invulnerable to damage.

By enabling that more liquid is entering the heat transferring device than is leaving the device, the liquid pressure can be increased to a higher pressure level. In embodiments, the system may be arranged to subsequently maintain said higher pressure level for a certain period of time.

By enabling that more liquid is leaving the heat transferring device than is entering the device, the liquid pressure can be decreased to a lower pressure level. In embodiments, the system may be arranged to subsequently maintain said lower pressure level for a certain period of time.

The thermal system may thus be arranged such as to facilitate that the flow or so-called rate of flow, of liquid passing through the heat transferring device during use, can be increased and/or decreased. It is noted that in embodiments, said flow may be substantially continuously changeable. Further, it is noted that flow can at least be understood as being an amount of liquid that flows during a certain given time through the heat transferring device.

By providing the control valve in the liquid circuit of the thermal system, conventional standard body wraps, pads and/or cuffs can be used. In preferred embodiments, the control valve may be provided in the inlet line or outlet line, which may be at least partly comprised in the liquid circuit. The valve and, if applicable, any control unit for controlling it, may together with the liquid circuit be contained in a single housing and/or may together with said circuit be provided by an apparatus connectable to a heat transferring device.

By arranging the system for alternatingly feeding relatively warm liquid and relatively cool liquid to the heat transferring device, the system may be suitable for contrast therapy. Combining thermal therapy including hot/cold therapy with pressure therapy and/or massage therapy, may treat injuries, e.g. lymphedema, more effectively. Such combined therapy may improve the quality of the medical treatment. Additionally or alternatively, the combined therapy may save costs and/or time, and can make the therapy less cumbersome.

By providing the system with a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of liquid in the system, the sensor preferably being located in the heat transferring device and/or in the inlet and/or outlet hne, and/or by arranging the system for providing the control unit with data provided by the at least one pressure sensor, and arranging said control unit for controlling the at least one control valve and/or the pump at least partly based on said data, the system may be arranged for increasing or decreasing the pressure to a predetermined pressure value, preferably in an alternating manner.

The invention also relates to a heat transferring device, preferably a cuff, body wrap or pad. Said device may be included in and/or may be connected with an embodiment of a thermal system according to the present invention. Alternatively or additionally, said heat transferring device may be arranged to be connected with and/or to cooperate with an embodiment of a thermal system according to the present invention. It is noted that the heat transferring device may comprise multiple compartments each of them defining an internal passage for allowing a liquid to flow through there, wherein each of the compartments is provided with a part of an inlet fine and a part of an outlet fine and/or is provided with connectors to be connected to a part of the inlet fine and/or the outlet fine, respectively, wherein at least a part of the compartment, e.g. at least a part of a layer forming a contact surface for contacting a human or animal body part, can be, but not necessarily is restricted to, at least partly flexible, especially in a resilient manner. Each compartment may be in connection with a liquid circuit having at least one controlled valve. It is noted that by means of such heat transferring device, liquid pressures in different compartments of the device may change substantially irrespective of the liquid pressure of any other of the compartments. This may for instance be advantageous, when multiple compartments are located in a certain array, e.g. in a row. For example, at first, a first of the pressure in a first of said compartments may be increased, then the pressure in a second, preferably adjacent, compartment can be increased, and so on. As a result, a pushing effect, e.g. directed into a particular direction, can be obtained.

The invention further relates to a method for changing liquid pressure in a heat transferring device connected to a liquid circuit of a thermal system for heat transfer by means of an inlet fine and an outlet fine. Said method comprises the step of feeding liquid from the liquid circuit through the inlet fine into the heat transferring device, through said heat transferring device, and via the outlet fine back to the liquid circuit. Further, the method may comprise at least one of the following two steps. Firstly, the method can comprise the step of obstructing an internal passageway of the outlet fine at least partly, and/or opening an internal passageway of the inlet fine at least to a greater extent, such as to enable that temporarily more liquid is fed into the heat transferring device than is led out off the device, such as to increase the flow of liquid passing through the heat transferring device, thereby increasing the liquid pressure in said device. Secondly, the method can comprise the step of obstructing an internal passageway of the inlet line at least partly, and/or opening an internal passageway of the outlet line at least to a greater extent, such as to enable that temporarily more liquid is led out of the heat transferring device than is fed into the device, such as to decrease the flow of liquid passing through the heat transferring device, thereby decreasing the liquid pressure in said device.

The present disclosure also relates to a method for treatment of a human or animal body, e.g. by means of an embodiment of the method for changing liquid pressure in a heat transferring device, and/or by using an embodiment of the compression assisted thermal system for heat transfer as disclosed herein. It is noted that said method of treatment may be used to create a massaging effect, for instance in a directional or substantially unidirectional manner. For example, a massaging effect may be obtained which substantially pushes in a direction directed towards the heart of a human or animal body being treated, or a direction directed substantially away from the heart, e.g. towards a hand or foot, which may for instance be the case when a heat transferring device is applied to an arm or leg, respectively.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described below and in the appended claims.

By way of non-limiting examples only, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a compression assisted thermal system according to an aspect of the invention and a heat transferring device connected to a liquid circuit of said system;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a compression assisted thermal system according to an aspect of the invention and a heat transferring device connected to a liquid circuit of said system; and

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a heat transferring device connectable to a liquid circuit of a compression assisted thermal system according to an aspect of the invention.

The embodiments disclosed herein are shown as examples only and should by no means be understood as limiting the scope of the claimed invention in any way. In this description the same or similar elements have the same or similar reference signs.

In general terms, the invention can be understood as being at least directed to a compression assisted thermal system arranged to change the internal liquid pressure in a heat transferring device, such as a body wrap, pad or cuff, thereby enabling the pressure which said device can apply to a body part on which or around which said device can be provided during use.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a compression assisted thermal system 1 for heat transfer according to an aspect of the invention. Here, the compression assisted thermal system 1 for heat transfer comprises a liquid circuit 2 releasably connectable to a heat transferring device 3. However, in alternative embodiments, said device 3 may be substantially permanently connected to said circuit 2. In such case, said device 3 may form an integral part of the system, e.g. substantially inseparably connected to and/or integrated with said liquid circuit 2. As can be seen in Figure 1, the liquid circuit 2 and the heat transferring device 3 can be connected to each other by means of an inlet line 4 for, in use, feeding liquid into the heat transferring device 3 and an outlet line 5 for, in use, leading liquid from the heat transferring device 3 back to the liquid circuit 2. It is noted that said heat transferring device 3 can thus be arranged for allowing liquid to flow through said device 3, for instance through a liquid guiding internal passage 3a. Said passage 3a may for instance be defined at least partly by two stacked layers, preferably layers impermeable to gas and/or liquid, which can be interconnected locally, e.g. by means of seams, joints, welds 18. In embodiments, the inlet line 4 and/or the outlet line 5 may for instance be part of the liquid circuit 2. In alternative embodiments, the inlet line 4 and/or the outlet fine 5 may be part of the heat transferring device 3. In yet another alternative embodiment, for instance in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a first part 4a of the inlet line 4 and/or a first part 5a the outlet fine 5 may be formed by the liquid circuit 2, whereas a second part 4b of the inlet fine 4 and/or a second part 5b the outlet fine 5 may be formed by the heat transferring device 3. Additionally or alternatively, at least a part 4c of the inlet line 4 and/or at least a part 5c of the outlet fine 5 can be formed by one or more intermediate connection lines 8 for connecting the liquid circuit 2 to the heat transferring device 3. It is noted that the device 3 can for instance comprise connectors 11 for fluidly connecting said device 3 to the liquid circuit 2 and/or to the one or more intermediate connection fines. Additionally or alternatively, the liquid circuit 2 can comprise one or more connectors 11 for connecting the circuit 2 to the heat transferring device 3 and/or the one or more intermediate connecting fines 8. In embodiments, the one or more intermediate connecting fines 8 may be provided with one or more connectors 11 for connection with the heat transferring device 3 and/or the liquid circuit 2.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the thermal system 1 also comprises at least one pump 6 for, in use, moving liquid from the liquid circuit 2 into the heat transferring device 3 and/or for, in use, drawing liquid from the heat transferring device 3 back to the liquid circuit 2. It is noted that the circuit 2 may for instance comprise piping and/or fines for guiding liquid and that it can further comprise one or more reservoirs 10 for storing at least a part of liquid contained by the system 1. In advantageous embodiments, the pump 6 can be a positive displacement pump, such that can be enabled that said pump can substantially produce the same flow substantially irrespective of the liquid pressure in the heat transferring device 3, inlet line 4, and/or the outlet line 5. However, in alternative embodiments, another pump may be provided, for instance a centrifugal pump or a roto-dynamics pump. It is noted that the pump 6 may be a controlled pump of which the flow can be adjustable.

It is noted that the heat transferring device 3 can be a heat treatment device, especially a pad, cuff or wrap, which may be arranged to be releasably attachable to a human or animal body part. For example, the cuff or wrap may be arranged to be wound, wrapped and/or strapped at least partly around a body part.

Additionally or alternatively, the system 1 may be arranged such that the liquid circuit 2 and the heat transferring device 3, e.g. the wrap or cuff, may form a loop, especially a closed loop for substantially looping liquid around, at least when said device 3 is preferably fluidly connected said liquid circuit 2 during use.

Here, the thermal system 1 further comprises at least one control valve 7 for at least partly obstructing an internal passageway 4d of the inlet line 4 and/or at least one control valve 7 for at least partly obstructing an internal passageway 5d of the outlet line 5. In embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the control valve 7 is arranged for completely blocking a flow in a part of the outlet hne 5 or inlet line 4, respectively. However, in embodiments, said control valve 7 may be arranged for only partly blocking the respective hne 4, 5. Preferably, the control valve 7 can be put in multiple positions, wherein each of the different positions in which the valve 7 can be put corresponds to a different degree of obstructing the respective internal passageway 4d, 5d. For example, said valve 7 can be adjustable in a substantial continuous movement. Alternatively, said valve 7 may be adjustable in steps.

Further, the thermal system 1 may be arranged for controlling the at least one control valve 7 such as to enable that temporarily more liquid is fed into the heat transferring device 3 than is led out off the device 3. Alternatively or additionally, the thermal system 1 can be arranged for controlling the at least one control valve 7 such as to enable that temporarily more liquid is led out of the heat transferring device 3 than is fed into the device 3. As a result, the thermal system 1 may enable a temporarily increase or decrease in liquid pressure in the heat transferring device 3, respectively. Since said liquid pressure in the device 3, i.e. in the internal passage 3a thereof, may correspond to a pressure the device 3 is applying to a body part, said system 1 can thus temporarily increase or decrease the pressure applied to said body part.

It is noted that the thermal system 1 may further comprise the heat transferring device 3, wherein said device 3 is connected and/or connectable to the liquid circuit 2. For example, the heat transferring device 3 may be designed as a cuff or wrap, which may be applied on and/or around at least a part of human or animal body part, e.g. by strapping or wrapping. In embodiments, the device 3 may therefore be provided with one or more fastening means, e.g. comprising one or more straps, belts, clasps, buckles, Velcro fasteners, and/or the like. The heat transferring device 3 can be provided with a contact surface for contacting a body part, wherein the device 3, especially a layer forming said contact surface, may be arranged for facilitating heat transfer from an internal passage 3a of the heat transferring device 3 towards to an outer surface of the body part or vice versa. For example, at least said contact surface forming layer may be made of a material suitable for transferring heat and/or said layer may have a relatively limited thickness. Hence, it can be counteracted that said layer cannot transfer enough heat.

It is further noted that the heat transferring device 3 can be arranged to apply a higher pressure to a body part to which it is applied when the internal liquid pressure in said device 3 is increased and/or to apply a lower pressure to the body part when the liquid pressure is decreased. Thereto, the heat transferring device 3, or a part thereof such as a layer forming the contact surface, can be at least partly flexible, for instance in a resilient or elastic manner. For example, at least said layer can be made from a nylon material, a rubber material, and/or any other suitable material. Due to the flexible nature of at least a part of the device 3, the contact surface of the heat transferring device 3 may be pressed relatively hard to a body part when the internal liquid pressure is relatively high. Besides, the flexible nature may facilitate that the heat transferring device 3 may be applied to a body or body part relatively well, e.g. in a manner in which it can enclose and/or overlay a body part substantially adjacent.

Advantageously, the control valve 7 may be provided in the liquid circuit 2 of the thermal system 1, preferably in the inlet line 4 or outlet line 5, which line 4, 5 may be at least partly comprised in said circuit 2. In such case, the liquid circuit 2, the pump 6, and the control valve 7 can be housed in a single housing 12 at least partly. Additionally, other parts of the system 1, such as a control unit 9, a reservoir 10, and/or heating and/or cooling elements, may be contained at least partly in the same housing 12. It is noted that at least a part of the elements of the system, e.g. including the housing 12 and the elements contained in said housing 12, may form an apparatus, which apparatus can be connectable to the heat transferring device 3.

In embodiments, the control valve 7 can be provided in the heat transferring device 3, preferably in a part 4b, 5b of the inlet line 4 or outlet line 5 which is at least partly comprised in said heat transferring device 3.

The thermal system 1 can in certain embodiments, such as for instance in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, comprise an intermediate connection line 8 for fluidly connecting the heat transferring device 3 to the liquid circuit 2 of the thermal system 1. In embodiments, the control valve 7 may be provided in said intermediate line 8, especially in a part thereof forming at least a part 4c of the inlet line 4 or a part thereof forming at least a part 5c of the outlet line 5.

Although the inlet line 4 and the outlet line 5 are here shown as two separate lines, said lines 4, 5 may be contained in a single combined connection line provided with two internal passageways 4d, 5d.

Alternatively or additionally, the inlet line 4 and/or the outlet line 5 or a combined connection hne may at least partly be provided with a covering.

As is shown in Figure 1, the outlet line 5 can be provided with the at least one control valve 7. Then, the system 1 can be arranged such that the pump 6 can move liquid from the liquid circuit 2 into the heat transferring device 3. When said valve 7 is then partly or completely blocking said outlet line 5, it can be facilitated that more liquid is moved into said device 3 than is leaving said device 3 via said at least partly blocked outlet hne 5. As a result, the liquid pressure in the heat transferring device 3 can be build up, at least temporarily. It is noted that pump 6 may thereto be provided downstream of the heat transferring device 3 or a connection to said device 3.

Alternatively, the at least one control valve 7 can be located at the inlet, hne 4. When the at least one control valve 7 is located at the inlet hne 4, the thermal system 1 can preferably be arranged such that the pump 6 can draw liquid from the heat transferring device 3 back to the liquid circuit 2. In that case, when said valve 7 is partly or completely blocking the inlet hne 4, it can be facilitated that more liquid is drawn from said heat transferring device 3 than is entering said device 3 via said inlet hne 4 being at least partly blocked. As a result, the hquid pressure in the heat transferring device 3 can be decreased, at least temporarily. Thereto, the pump 6 may be provided upstream of the heat transferring device 3 or upstream of a connection to said device 3.

It is noted that in embodiments, both the inlet line 4 and the outlet hne 5 may each be provided with a respective control valve.

Further, it is noted that the pump 6 may be a controlled pump of which the flow can be adapted. Hence, the control valve 7 may also be formed by a pump, i.e. a controllable pump. For example, in the embodiment of the system 1 shown in Figure 1, the control valve 7 can be formed by a second pump. Then, this second pump and the other pump 6 may together be used in order to control the pressure in the heat transferring device 3.

For example, by first increasing the flow of the pump 6 and not (yet) increasing the flow of the second pump forming the control valve 7 in the outlet hne 5, the pressure in the heat transferring device 3 can be increased. For example, after a certain time interval, and/or for instance when a certain pressure is measured, the flow of the second pump can be increased, preferably to substantially the same level as the flow of the first pump 6, such that the increased pressure level in the internal passage 3a of the heat transferring device 3 can be maintained substantially, i.e. such that further pressure increase is substantially prevented. It is apparent that the pressure in the transferring device 3 can be decreased in a similar way, for instance by first reducing the flow of the pump 6 and/or by first increasing the flow of the second controlled pump forming the control valve in the outlet hne 5.

As mentioned above, the compression assisted thermal system 1 may comprise a control unit 9. Preferably, said control unit 9 can be arranged for at least controlling the at least one control valve 7.

Additionally or alternatively, the control unit 9 can be arranged for controlling the pump 6 and/or one or more other elements of the system 1. It is noted that the valve 7, pump 6 and/or other element can be connected with the control unit 9 by means of a wire and/or any other suitable means, such as for instance a wireless connection.

Although not showed in the Figures, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the thermal system 1, e.g. the apparatus, the pump 6, the control unit 9, the valve 7, and/or other elements of the system, may comprise a power supply, e.g. a battery pack, and/or may be connected to a power supply, e.g. the mains.

Further, the system 1 may comprise a pressure sensor 13 for sensing the pressure of liquid in the system 1. For example, said sensor 13 can be provided in the heat transferring device 3 and/or in the inlet line 4 and/or outlet hne 5. Preferably, the sensor 13 may be provided in a part 4a, 5a of the inlet or outlet hne 4, 5 which is provided within the housing 12.

Advantageously, the system 1 may be arranged for providing the control unit 9 with data provided by the at least one pressure sensor 13. Further, the control unit 9 can be arranged for controlling the at least one control valve 7 and/or the pump 6 at least partly based on said data. For example, the system 1 may be arranged to apply a relatively high pressure to a body part at least partly covered and/or enclosed by the heat transferring device 3 and apply a relatively low pressure to said body part, alternatingly. Preferably, said pressures applied to the body part may correspond to certain predetermined values of internal liquid pressure, e.g. in the heat transferring device 3 and/or in the inlet and/or outlet hne 4, 5. The system 1, preferably its control unit 9, may be arranged to control that the internal pressure substantially reaches the predetermined internal hquid pressure. Thereto, the control unit 9 may for instance check whether or not the internal hquid pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 13 corresponds with the predetermined desired internal hquid pressure and may control the control valve7 and/or the pump 6 at least partly based thereon.

It is noted that the inlet hne 4 and/or the outlet hne 5, which may be provided with the at least one control valve 7 and/or pressure sensor 13, can be comprised at least partly in the hquid circuit 2, in the heat transferring device 3, and/or in the intermediate connection line 8 for connecting the liquid circuit 2 to the heat transferring device 3. When the control valve 7 and/or the pressure sensor 13 is not provided in the liquid circuit 2 and/or is not provided inside the housing 12 and/or apparatus, but is for example located outside the housing 12, e.g. in the heat transferring device 3 and/or in the intermediate connection line 8, said valve 7 and/or sensor 13 may be connected to and/or may be connectable with the control unit 9, for instance by wires, preferably releasable connectable by means of releasable connecting elements or connectors, such as a cooperating plug and socket.

Advantageously, the wires can be attached to at least a part of the inlet line 4 and/or the outlet line 5 and/or can extend at least partly parallel with said line(s) 4, 5. Additionally or alternatively, the releasable connecting elements can be integrated with the connectors 11 for fluidly connecting the heat transferring device 3 and/or the intermediate connection line 8 to the liquid circuit 2. As a result, the heat transferring device 3 and/or the intermediate connection line 8 can be connected relatively easily and/or efficiently to the liquid circuit 2 and/or housing 12.

Besides, it is noted that connectors 11 for mutually connecting multiple parts 4a, 4c, 4b of the inlet line 4 can preferably be integrated with connectors 11 for mutually connecting multiple parts 5a, 5c, 5b of the outlet line 5. Hence, the system 1 can be set up relatively easily and/or effectively. It can thus be ready for use relatively swiftly, because relatively few actions are needed to interconnect the respective elements 2, 8, 3.

It is noted that the liquid may be any suitable liquid, preferably a liquid being or containing water. For example, the water may be provided with any suitable additives, e.g. antifreeze and/or antibacterial agents. Furthermore, the system 1 may be provided with one or more heaters and/or coolers for heating and/or cooling the liquid. Further, the system may be arranged for controlling the temperature of the liquid, for instance by means of one or more temperature sensors which may be connected with the control unit 9, which in turn may be arranged to control the at least one heater and/or cooler.

Moreover, it is noted that the thermal system 1 can be a thermal treatment system 1, especially a contrast treatment system 1 or so-called hot/cold therapy treatment system. Advantageously, the heat transferring device 3 can be a hot/cold therapy treatment device.

In embodiments, the system 1 may be arranged for alternatingly feeding relatively warm liquid and relatively cool hquid to the heat transferring device 3.

For example, the system may comprise a first reservoir for containing relative cool hquid, a second reservoir for containing relative warm hquid, and at least one connecting valve for alternatively connecting the first or second reservoir to the heat transferring device 3 such that hquid can be fed through said heat transferring device 3 from the first reservoir and from the second reservoir alternatingly. The hquid circuit 2 may comprise said reservoirs and/or said reservoirs may be contained by the housing 12.

The system 1 may further comprise at least one cooling element, preferably a thermo-electric cooling element, for cooling hquid, preferably hquid associated to the first reservoir, and at least one heating element, preferably a thermo-electric heating element, for heating hquid, preferably hquid associated to the second reservoir. Advantageously, said at least one coohng element and said at least one heating element may be integrated into a coohng and heating element, preferably a thermo-electric coohng and heating element, for coohng hquid, preferably hquid associated to the first reservoir, and for heating hquid, preferably hquid of the second reservoir.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a compression assisted thermal system 1 according to an aspect of the invention and a heat transferring device 3 connected to a hquid circuit 2 of said system 1. Here, the system 1 comprises two control valves 7a, 7b. The first control valve 7a is provided in the inlet line 4 and the second valve 7b is provided in the outlet line 5. Further, a bypass line 14 is provided between said valves 7a, 7b, so that hquid can bypass the heat transferring device 3. Preferably, the first valve 7a can be arranged such as to divide the amount of liquid pumped thereto, i.e. by supplying a part of the liquid toward the heat transferring device 3 and the other part of the liquid toward the bypass line 14, wherein a ratio between both flow parts can be adapted, especially in a continuously adaptable manner. Preferably, the second valve 7b can be arranged such as to adapt the extent to which it allows liquid to flow from the heat transferring device 3 back to the reservoir 10 and to adapt the extent to which it allows liquid to flow from the bypass line 14 toward said reservoir 10, wherein a ratio between both flows can be adapted, especially in continuously adaptable manner. In order to decrease the pressure in the heat transferring device 3, the first control valve 7a may be adjusted such that it starts feeding more of the hquid fed to said valve 7a into the bypass fine 14. By subsequently adapting the position of the second valve 7b such that less hquid will flow from the heat transferring device 3 toward the reservoir 10, further pressure decrease in said device 3 can be counteracted, or even a pressure increase can be facilitated, depending on the relative extents to which the valves allow hquid to flow into and out of the heat transferring device 3. It is apparent that a system 1 having two valves 7a, 7b and a bypass hne 14 can also be used to increase the pressure in the heat transferring device 3 in a similar way.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a heat transferring device 3 connectable to a hquid circuit 2 of a compression assisted thermal system 1 according to an aspect of the invention. Said alternative device 3 comprises multiple segments or compartments 30-33. Here, the device 3 is provided with four compartments, but in alternative embodiments the device 3 may be segmented in another number of compartments, e.g. two, three, five, eight or ten compartments. Each compartment 30-33 can define an internal passage 3a, 30a-33a for allowing a liquid to flow through the compartment. Further, each of the compartments is provided with a part of an inlet line 4, 41-43 and a part of an outlet line 5, 51-53. Alternatively or additionally, the compartment can be provided with connectors to be connected to a part of the inlet line 4 and/or the outlet line 5, respectively.

It is noted that the system 1, e.g. its liquid circuit 2, may be arranged to be coupled fluidly to each of the multiple compartments, e.g. by means of releasable connectors. Preferably, the liquid circuit 2 may therefore comprise first parts 4a of multiple inlet lines 4 and first parts of multiple outlet lines 5. Advantageously, each pair of an inlet line 4 and a corresponding outlet line 5 can be provided with at least one corresponding control valve 7. Additionally or alternatively, each of the pairs of inlet and outlet fines can be provided with a respective pump 6. However, it is also possible that liquid is pumped through multiple pairs of inlet and outlet lines by means of one or more shared pumps, e.g. by a single pump.

In embodiments, a single housing 12 and/or apparatus can comprise multiple systems 1 according to the invention and/or multiple liquid circuits 2, each liquid circuit 2 connected to and/or connectable to a respective compartment 30-33. Advantageously, the liquid pressure in each of the compartments can be controlled irrespectively of the pressure in the other compartments, for instance by means of respective control valves 7, preferably each of said valves 7 being associated with a respective compartment 30-33. By controlling the liquid pressure in one or more, preferably all, of the compartments, a massaging effect may be generated. By increasing and decreasing the pressure in the compartments, e.g. by alternatingly increasing and/or decreasing the pressure in adjacent compartments, the area where the heat transferring device 3 is pressing against the body part can be moved over or along said body part. Actually, such an area where the most pressure can be applied to the body part may be moved in a certain predetermined direction. This may for example facilitate that blood is pushed in direction towards a heart of a patient or animal to which said device 3 is applied or away from said heart. For instance, when relatively warm liquid is flowing to the device 3, e.g. through one or more compartments thereof, said pressure area can be steered in the direction of the heart. Additionally or alternatively, the pressure area may for instance be steered away from the heart when the device is used for cooling the body part.

It is noted that the pressure in the multiple compartments may be changed in a sequence, e.g. in a certain direction in which the compartments are located with respect to each other. For example, different adjacent compartments may be pressurised and/or depressurised in a direction from a left side of the device to a right side or vice versa, from a bottom to a top side or vice versa, in a clockwise pattern, or in any other suitable fashion.

The invention also relates to a method for changing liquid pressure in a heat transferring device 3 connected to a liquid circuit 2 of a thermal system 1 for heat transfer by means of an inlet line 4 and an outlet line 5, comprising the step of feeding liquid from the liquid circuit 2 through the inlet line 4 into the heat transferring device 3, through said heat transferring device 3, and via the outlet line 5 back to the liquid circuit 2. Said method may further comprise the step of obstructing an internal passageway 5d of the outlet line 5 at least partly, and/or opening an internal passageway 4d of the inlet line 4 at least to a greater extent, such as to enable that temporarily more liquid is fed into the heat transferring device 3 than is led out off the device 3, such as to increase the debit of liquid passing through the heat transferring device 3, thereby increasing the liquid pressure in said device 3. Alternatively or additionally, the method may comprise the step of obstructing an internal passageway 4d of the inlet line 4 at least partly, at least to a greater extend than an extent to which it already was obstructed in case it was not completely open, and/or opening an internal passageway 5d of the outlet line 5 at least to a greater extent than the extend to which it already was open in case it was not completely obstructed, such as to enable that temporarily more liquid is led out of the heat transferring device 3 than is fed into the device 3, such as to decrease the flow of liquid passing through the heat transferring device 3, thereby decreasing the liquid pressure in said device 3. By doing so, the flow of hquid passing trough the heat transferring device 3 can be changed, and an increase or decrease in liquid pressure in the heat transferring device 3 can be enabled. Advantageously, said method may be executed by means of a thermal system 1 as described above.

It is noted that the pressure build up in the heat transferring device 3 can thus be passed on to the human or animal body part, for instance in order to facilitate the lymphatic system to evacuate lymph fluids or in order to facilitate and/or accelerate temperature changes in the (deeper) tissue layers of the treated body part. For instance, this may be advantageous for treating and/or preventing lymphedema, ,on top of the possible reduction of lymphedema by thermal therapy alone. . The pressure changes, preferably in addition to temperature changes, can thus be helpful in reducing swellings. Advantageously, the pressure in the device 3 can be changed between a relatively high pressure and a relatively low pressure in a repetitive sequence, such that a rhythmic compression cycle may be passed on to the body part. In embodiments, the flow and/or the pressure in the heat transferring device 3 can be continuously adaptable, whereas in other embodiments the device 3 may be arranged to adapt the flow and/or pressure in a step by step manner.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

For example, the system and/or the method may be used for treatment of injuries such as bruises or oedema to one or more parts of a human or animal body. Additional or alternatively, it may be used for treatment of leg fatigue and/or injuries to animals, such as an injury to a leg of a horse. Additionally or alternatively, the invention may be used for pain-relief treatment, for instance for relieving pain caused by migraine.

As a further example, the system may be arranged to perform one or more predefined treatment programs or cycles, wherein the temperature in the device or, if applicable, in one or more compartments of the device is changed in a predetermined controlled manner and/or wherein the liquid pressure in the device or, when applicable, in the compartments is changed in a predetermined manner. For example, a pressure increase value, a pressure decrease value, a time interval between a pressure increase and a pressure decrease in a single device or compartment, the interval between the moment of increasing or decreasing the pressure in one compartment and the moment of increasing or decreasing the pressure in another, e.g. an adjacent, compartment, a direction along which pressure and/or temperature in adjacent compartments is changed, and/or other parameters may be pre-set for certain predetermined treatments or use cycles of the system. Further, the system may comprise input means, e.g. buttons, a touch screen and/or any other suitable means, e.g. for choosing certain programs or treatments cycles. Additionally or alternatively, the system or the apparatus may be arranged for inputting and/or adjusting one or more of these parameters and/or other parameters, such that the system can perform a customised treatment cycle or program.

These and other embodiments will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and are considered to he within the scope of the invention as formulated in the following claims.

Claims

Compression-supported thermal system for heat transfer, comprising: a liquid circuit connectable to and / or connected to a heat transfer device by means of a supply line for feeding liquid into the heat transfer device during use and a discharge line for, during use, the heat transfer device to return liquid to the liquid circuit; a pump for moving fluid from the fluid circuit to the heat transfer device during use and / or causing fluid to be pulled back from the heat transfer device to the fluid circuit during use; and at least one control valve for at least partially blocking an internal passage of the supply line and / or the discharge line, the thermal system being adapted to control the at least one control valve in order to allow more liquid to be temporarily introduced into the heat transfer device then being discharged from the device and / or being arranged to control the at least one control valve in order to make it possible to temporarily discharge more liquid from the heat transfer device than is fed to the device, causing a temporary increase or decrease, respectively. is made possible in fluid pressure in the heat transfer device.

A thermal system according to claim 1, wherein the control valve is provided in the fluid circuit of the thermal system, preferably in the supply line or discharge line, which may be at least partially included in said circuit.

A thermal system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the heat transfer device, such as, for example, a body wrap, wherein said device is connected and / or connectable to the fluid circuit.

A thermal system according to claim 3, wherein the control valve is provided in the heat transfer device, preferably in a part of the supply line or discharge line that is at least partially included in said heat transfer device.

A thermal system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more intermediate connecting lines for smoothly connecting the heat transfer device to the liquid circuit of the thermal system, preferably wherein the control valve is provided in said at least one intermediate line.

A thermal system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a control unit for controlling the at least one control valve and / or for controlling the pump.

A thermal system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat transfer device is a heat treatment element, in particular a cover or wrap, the heat treatment element preferably being a heat / cold therapy treatment element.

A thermal system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is adapted to alternately supply relatively warm liquid and relatively cool liquid to the heat transfer device.

The thermal system of claim 8, wherein the system further comprises a first reservoir for containing relatively cool liquid, a second reservoir for containing relatively warm liquid, and at least one connecting valve for alternately connecting the first or second reservoir with the heat transfer device such that alternatively liquid from the first reservoir and from the second reservoir can be passed through said heat transfer device.

A thermal system according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising at least one cooling element, preferably a thermoelectric cooling element, for cooling liquid, preferably liquid associated with the first reservoir, and at least one heating element, preferably a thermo -electric heating element, for heating liquid, preferably liquid associated with the second reservoir.

A thermal system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one cooling element and the at least one heating element are integrated in a cooling and heating element, preferably a thermoelectric cooling heating element for cooling liquid, preferably liquid associated with the first reservoir, and for heating fluid, preferably fluid from the second reservoir.

A thermal system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of liquid in the system, preferably in the heat transfer device and / or in the supply and / or discharge line.

A thermal system according to any of the preceding claims 6-11 and claim 12, wherein the system is adapted to provide the control unit with data provided by the at least one pressure sensor, and wherein the control unit is adapted to provide the at least one control valve and / or the pump at least in part on the basis of said data.

A thermal system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal system is a thermal treatment system, in particular a contrast treatment system, wherein the heat transfer device can be a heat / cold therapy treatment element, in particular a cover or wrap.

A heat transfer device, preferably a cover, body wrap or pad, comprising a plurality of compartments, each defining an internal passage for allowing fluid to flow through the respective compartment, each of the compartments being provided with a portion of a supply line and a part of a discharge line and / or is provided with connecting means for connection to a part of the supply line and / or the discharge line, respectively, wherein at least a part of the compartment, for example at least a part of a layer forming a contact surface to be in contact with a human or animal body part, is at least partially flexible, in particular elastic and / or resilient.

A method for changing fluid pressure in a heat transfer device connected by means of a supply line and a discharge line to a liquid circuit of a thermal transfer system for heat transfer, comprising the step of supplying liquid from the liquid circuit through the supply line to in the heat transfer device, by said heat transfer device, and via the discharge line back to the liquid circuit, and comprising the step of: at least partially blocking an internal passage of the discharge line, and / or at least to a greater extent opening an internal passage of the supply line, in order to to allow temporarily more liquid to be fed into the heat transfer device than to be discharged from the device, in order to increase the flow of liquid flowing through the heat transfer device, thereby increasing the liquid pressure in said device; or the step of: at least partially blocking an internal passage of the supply line, and / or at least to a greater extent opening an internal passage of the discharge line, in order to make it possible to temporarily remove more liquid from the heat transfer device then the device is introduced to reduce the flow of liquid flowing through the heat transfer device, thereby reducing the liquid pressure in said device.