WO2018186851A1

WO2018186851A1 - Device and method of use for equine whole-body cryotherapy

Info

Publication number: WO2018186851A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/026119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jared LOVETT
Original assignee: Lovett Jared
Priority date: 2017-04-05
Filing date: 2017-04-05
Publication date: 2018-10-11

Abstract

An equine crush configured with solid materials to contain a cooling gas below -110C inside the crush with an animal thus producing a metabolic response in the animal. The metabolic response reducing blood flow to the animals extremities by An equine crush configured with solid materials to contain a cooling gas below -110°C inside the crush with an animal thus producing a metabolic response in the animal. The metabolic response reducing blood flow to the animal's extremities by constricting blood vessels, increasing the blood pressure and raising the temperature of the blood, and triggering the animal's body to release stored resources into the blood so that the stored resources are available to the animal's whole body once it is returned to ambient temperatures. The crush producing the cooling gas via a heat exchanger which uses ambient temperatures to warm compressed liquid with a low boiling temperature to above that boiling point producing a cold gas.

Description

Device and Method of Use for Equine Whole-Body Cryotherapy

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] Not Applicable

Background of the Invention

[0002] Whole body cryotherapy has been used in humans to treat fibromyalgia, Migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Weight loss. Cryotherapy has been used in equines to prevent laminitis in a treatment known as distal limb cryotherapy (DLC).

[0003] The resistance of the equine distal limb to cold has been demonstrated as providing a unique opportunity to use cryotherapy clinically to protect lamellar tissue against laminitis. Studies have shown cryotherapy to effectively reduced the severity of acute laminitis when applied during the developmental phase in an experimental model. Cryotherapy exerts protective effects on tissue through a reduction in metabolic rate. For a beneficial effect, hypothermia must slow catabolic process to a greater degree than those associated with repair. Unlike other organs, the equine's distal limbs can easily be thermally manipulated semi- independently of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a horse positioned in an equine whole-body cryotherapy crush in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. [0005] Figure 2 illustrates a front view of a horse positioned in an equine whole-body cryotherapy crush in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0006] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of an equine whole-body cryotherapy crush in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0007] Figure 4 illustrates a side view of a cryotherapy heat exchanger in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0008] Figure 4A illustrates an end view of a cryotherapy heat exchanger mounted on a side wall in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0009] Figure 4B illustrates a cut away view of a cryotherapy heat exchanger in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Described herein is a special purpose equine crush utilized for whole-body cryotherapy treatment of equine animals. Cryotherapy puts the body into shock and requires the body to react to the shock to keep itself alive and try to rebuild itself to fight the cold. There are two procedure, the first referred to herein as the "cold-procedure" cools the environment to no lower than -166°F or -110°C. The second, referred to herein as a "cryo-procedure" which brings the environment below -166°F or -110°C.

[0011] During a cold-procedure, the body attempts to pump blood to the extremities to keep the body warm and avoid hypothermia in the limbs so long as the body can produce enough heat to keep the body warm. If prolonged, the cold starts penetrating the deeper tissues and the blood starts to drop in temperature to the point where the body core cannot warm it sufficiently. This leads to death.

[0012] During a cryo-procedure, the brain determines that the body is exposed to temperature too low for the body to offset the heat loss by circulating blood from the core. The body, recognizing that death is a possibility, constricts the blood vessels to conserve heat in the core and preserve live at the expense of the extremities.

[0013] The constriction of the blood vessels moves the clear majority of the blood to the body core and raises systolic pressure several points. It also increases the temperature of the body core due to the lack of circulation from the core, i.e. short circulation within the core without temperature loss commonly occurring in the extremities where blood is closer to the surface.

[0014] The resulting rise in blood temperature helps to cleanse the blood of any pathogens. This is the same mechanisms as bodies developing a fever. The body releases extra stored resources into the blood. These resources can include hormones, antibodies, stored oxygen, hemoglobin, etc., which results in a "supercharged" blood to fight any issues. Once the body is removed from the cryo environment, this supercharged blood circulates to the extremities to begin cell regeneration and repair any injuries in muscles. The body also increases metabolic rates, and collagen in the skin.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment, the animal is lead into a specialty squeeze chute, or cattle crush for treatment. The crush prevents the animal from causing injury to itself or the operators during the cryo-treatment. The squeeze chute is comprised of a solid floor, walls, front and rear doors which extend from the floor to approximately above the animal' s height. The front door incorporates a head bail, neck yoke, or head gate (herein after referred to as a head bail). The animal's head and, at least part of, the neck is extended through the head bail to be positioned outside of the chute.

[0016] A cover extends over the animal from one wall to the distal wall, and spans from the rear door, to at least the head bail. One skilled in the arts would appreciate that the cover may be one or more hard lids which fold down or are lowered on top of the crush, or it may be a blanket, or other insulated covering material extending between the walls.

[0017] A flexible extension from the front of the cover hangs down outside the head bail to form a shield which blocks any openings around the animal's head and the head bail. This arrangement completely encloses the animal into the chute, except for the head, allowing the animal to breath environmental air.

[0018] The chute is comprised of solid sides and doors for strength to contain the animal, which may initially be spooked by the process, and to hold in the gasses utilized in treatment inside the crush area. In the preferred embodiment, the sides and doors are comprised of metal plate material and framing structures, then lined with insulation.

[0019] The inside of the walls comprise a heat exchanger, where plumbing is maintained in contact with the metal plates of the walls such that liquid gases introduced into the plumbing are boiled off by the residual head of the metal plates to produce gas before being released into the chute. This prevents extreme temperature liquids, which could cause injury to the animal, from being injected into the crush and contacting the animal directly.

[0020] The heat exchanger further comprises a skin plate, which is a plastic, wooden, or fabric covering to prevent the animal's skin from contacting the pipes or metal plates and causing injury or discomfort due to the temperatures of the plumbing or plates.

[0021] In the preferred embodiment, liquid nitrogen is introduced to the heat exchanger to reduce the temperature to cryo-treatment temperatures. The liquid quickly raises to boiling so that a gas is released into the chute through vents in the heat exchanger. This cools the animal's surface to cryo-treatment levels.

[0022] The crush must maintain a flow rate sufficient to place the animal in the cryo

environment without sufficient time for acclimatization or the desired cryo treatment response of the body will not be acquired. One skilled in the arts would appreciate that other materials may be utilized to product the temperatures at the cooling rates desired.

[0023] The plates and structural supports of the chute are subject to the cooler temperatures of the cryo treatment for short durations compared to the cycle time between treatments and therefore generally maintain sufficient heat capacity from the environment to performed the desired heat exchanger effects without additional heating capabilities. But one skilled in the art would appreciate that additional heating functions could be added to improve cycle time between treatments if necessary. For the similar reasons, it may not be necessary to coat the doors and/or floor with skin plates as they are not part of the heat exchanger and do not get rapidly cooled during the gas injection process and should remain near normal climate temperatures. Further, equine hoofs provide sufficient insulating for the short treatment durations.

[0024] After a sufficient treatment duration, damper vents are opened and the chute is evacuated of gas to an external environment such that it does not produce a hazard to controllers or the animal. The cover is then removed and the doors opened to allow the animal to exit the crush/chute. The animal is then exercised to warm extremities and promote circulation of the supercharged blood.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment an animal is closed into the chute with their head extending out the head bail. A handler then introduces liquid nitrogen into the heat exchanger where the resulting heat of the metal causes the liquid nitrogen to quickly boil and exit the heat exchanger through vents as a cold gas, displacing the ambient air in the chute. This cold gas triggers a cryo-temperature response in the animal that causes blood vessels to constrict, sending the majority of the animal's blood to the body core, and releasing body reserves into the blood. The chute is then evacuated of the cold gases, and the animal is removed and lightly exercised to promote warming and blood circulation.

[0026] The cover over the chute may be an insulating blanket, fabric, or plastic sheeting, a hinged door, or a lid lowered onto the chute. The shield may be multiple strips of plastic or fabric which substantially blocks the opening of the head bail around the animal's head and neck. Since the density of gaseous nitrogen is 1.25 kg/cm³ and the density of the atmosphere is 1.20 kg/cm³, the pressure difference inside and outside of the chute is minimal for the relatively short treatment time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a horse positioned in an equine whole-body

cryotherapy crush in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The horse (10) is positioned such that the head/neck (20) is positioned outside of the crush device (100), and the rest of the body (30) is inside. A cover (140) is positioned over the top of the walls (150) and a shield (145) hangs down from the cover (140) to enclose the area around the horse's head/neck (20).

[0028] Figure 2 illustrates a front view of a horse positioned in an equine whole-body cryotherapy crush in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. From this view, it is easier to see the horse's head/neck (20) extended past the front door (120) of the spa (100) and the shield (145) enclosing the area around the horse's head/neck (20) and the head inserts (130), up to the cover (140) extending over the walls (150).

[0029] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of an equine whole-body cryotherapy crush in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The spa (100) has a rear door (110) allowing the animal to be lead into the spa (100) between the walls (150) to the front door (120). Head inserts or a head bail (130) allows the animal's head/neck to extend outside of the spa (100).

[0030] Each wall (150) has a heat exchanger (200) attached thereto. The heat exchanger (200) has a skin plate (210) on the inside of the spa which contains a plurality of vents (220) to allow gas to enter the spa (100). [0031] The gas is created in the heat exchanger's (200) expansion tubes (240, not shown), which use the residual heat of metal plates of the wall (150) to heat liquid inserted at the inlets (230) and boil the liquid to expand into gases. The metal plates are supported by structural supports or a frame (165) and insulation (160, removed for clarity).

[0032] After a treatment, a damper motor (260) opens an exhaust duct (250) to remove the gas from the spa (100).

[0033] Figure 4 illustrates a side view of a cryotherapy heat exchanger in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. From this view the heat exchanger (200) comprises the wall (150), which comprises a metal plate (155, not indicated) for holding residual

environmental heat in the preferred embodiment, and the expansion tubes (240, not shown) detailed in later illustrations.

[0034] Figure 4A illustrates an end view of a cryotherapy heat exchanger mounted on a side wall in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The wall (150) comprises heat exchanger (200) with its metal plates/heat reservoir (155) between the structural supports / frame (165), insulation (160) and the expansion tubes (240, not visible), and protected by the skin plate (210) offset from the wall by spacers (225). Inlets (230) introduce the liquid compressed gas into the heat exchanger. An exhaust duct (250) blocked by a damper, closed by a damper motor (260, not shown), leads to an exhaust fan (270) which exhaust the gas (280) from the system after cryo treatment. [0035] Figure 4B illustrates a cut away view of a cryotherapy heat exchanger in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The heat exchanger's (200) expansion tubes (240) are mounted in the structural supports / frame (165), in contact with the heat reservoir (155, not shown) so the residual environmental heat can boil the liquid compressed gas introduced through the inlets (230). The expansion tubes (240) contain openings at strategic locations to allow gas, but not liquid to flow through the heat exchanger (200) and exit into the treatment area through the vents (220) in the skin plate (210).

[0036] The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various

embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.

[0037] The illustrations presented in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided as examples and should not be construed to limit other embodiments within the scope of the invention. For instance, heights, widths, and thicknesses may not be to scale and should not be construed to limit the invention to the proportions illustrated.

[0038] Additionally some elements illustrated in the singularity may be implemented in a plurality. Further, some element illustrated in the plurality could vary in count, orientation, placement, or detail. Further yet, specific numerical data values (such as specific quantities, numbers, categories, etc.) or other specific information described herein should be interpreted as illustrative for discussing exemplary embodiments. Such specific information is not provided to limit the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An animal crush comprising:

a solid floor;

solid walls oriented substantially parallel to each other and;

extending to at least a height of 4.5 feet from two opposite edges of the floor;

a solid door between the walls, extending to the approximate height of the walls; a solid door with a head bail at the distal end of the walls;

a means for lowering the temperature in the crush to at least -110°C.

2. A crush, as described in claim 1 wherein an animal is placed inside the crush; and the temperature is lowered at a rate faster than the animal can acclimate to the change in temperature without producing a cyro treatment response.

3. A crush, as described in claim 2 wherein the rate is more than a change of 0.05°C per second.

4. A crush, as described in claim 1 wherein the means for lowering the temperature is the displacement of ambient air in the crush with a cold gas.

5. A crush, as described in claim 3 wherein the cold gas is nitrogen.

6. A crush, as described in claim 1 wherein the cold gas is produced by expanding compressed liquid into the gas resulting in a lowering of the temperature.

7. A crush, as described in claim 5 further comprising at least one heat exchanger;

the heat exchanger comprising a compressed liquid inlet; and

a plurality of gas vents, releasing gases into the crush.

8. A crush, as described in claim 5 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a plurality of expansion tubes in contact with heat reservoirs, which raise the temperature of the liquid above the boiling temperature, and release the resulting gas into the crush.

9. A crush, as described in claim 1 further comprising a dampered vent.

10. A crush, as described in claim 9 wherein the damper on the vent is opened to evacuate the cold gas from the crush.

11. A crush, as described in claim 9 wherein the vent is connected via a duct to a fan which pulls the cold gas from the crush.

12. A crush, as described in claim 11 wherein the duct extends to an area distant to the

immediate area containing the crush.

13. A crush, as described in claim 1 wherein the inside of the crush is lined with insulating materials to prevent direct cold being applied to the animal by convection.

14. A crush, as described in claim 1 further comprising a cover extending from the top of one wall to the distal wall and extending from the top of the head bail to the distal door.

15. A crush, as described in claim 14 wherein the cover is insulated.

16. A crush, as described in claim 14 further comprising a shield extending from the cover, downward to enclose the space in the head bail not occupied by an animal positioned in the crush.

17. A method of treating an equine comprising:

placing the animal in a crush;

the crush comprising:

a solid floor;

solid walls extending to at least a height of 4.5 feet from two opposite edges of the floor;

a solid door between the walls, extending to the approximate height of the walls;

a solid door with a head bail at the distal end of the walls; introducing into the crush a gas having a temperature lower than -110°C;

waiting a time period sufficient for the animal to react to the temperature drop of at least 2 minutes;

removing the animal from the crush, and;

lightly exercising the animal until the animal returns to ambient temperature.

18. A method of treating an equine as described in claim 17 further comprising:

covering the top of the crush to enclose the area inside; and

extending a shield down from the top of the door to at least the animal's neck to cover the head bail;

to enclose the gas inside the crush. A method of treating an equine as described in claim 17 wherein the crush further comprises:

a dampened vent;

the vent being connected via duct to a remote location; and

a fan to exhaust gas from the crush to the remote location.

A method of treating an equine as described in claim 19 wherein removing the animal from the crush further comprises:

opening the damper on the vent;

operating the fan to exhaust the cold gas to the remote location; while allowing ambient air to replace the cold gas; then

opening the doors and leading the animal from the crush.