Patent Application
20060137389
The invention relates generally to the field of medical instruments, and more specifically, a dispenser which receives a contact substance that has been changed from a liquid physical state to a solid physical state, such as water to ice, for application of cryotherapy or ice massage therapy to an injury.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/633,020, filed Dec. 5, 2004 entitled “Disposable Ice Massage Apparatus.”
In the following discussion certain articles and methods will be described for background and introductory purposes. Nothing contained herein is to be construed as an “admission” of prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right to demonstrate, where appropriate, that the articles and methods referenced herein do not constitute prior art under the applicable statutory provisions.
In many medical situations, doctors recommend cold compresses to patients suffering from an array of health conditions. There are several reasons one may need to use a therapeutic compress. One may, for example, sustain an injury which calls for the immediate usage of cold compress. In rehabilitation, one may need a cold compress after exercise to control inflammation. One may need a cold compress for pain relief. One may want to apply ice to a specific area to alleviate pain. There are an infinite number of circumstances where one may be in need of an cold compress, but in all of these, there is usually one unifying need: to treat the specific part of the body that needs treatment, and just that part of the body. This can be especially true in cases where a patient can benefit from ice massage, where ice is massaged at the area needing treatment.
In many medical situations, doctors recommend cryotherapy to patients suffering from an array of health conditions. In many of these cases, applying pressure is also recommended. Herein lay major problems. With current methods, such as using ice bags or ice packs or ice bags, one must put up with several problems and challenges as outlined below. The present invention assists in addressing one or more of these related problems.
One often has to struggle to keep the cold-compress in place. It often requires using one's hands, thus allowing the person little freedom to do anything else while undergoing cryotherapy. One often finds it difficult to apply pressure to the area being treated. It often requires using one's hands, thus allowing the person little freedom to do anything else. Keeping the compress in place often requires one to be still, thus allowing the person little freedom to do anything else.
Using conventional ice bags/ice packs often means improper icing. For example, when applied, the cooling substance may run off to the sides of the bag due to gravity leaving the area that needs treatment without treatment. This can especially be the case when dealing with tubular structures of the body, such as the arms or legs. Existing ice bags/ice packs are very nonspecific, and the cooling substance often touches parts of the body that do not need treatment, thus cooling a part of the body that is undesired. This can be very uncomfortable, especially when icing sensitive parts of the body. On surfaces of the body with a very irregular or inconsistent shape (the ankle is a good example) it is very hard to target and treat the exact location and just the exact location that requires treatment. If using an ice bag, when the ice melts, there is a great chance for leakage, causing an unnecessary uncertainty, annoyance, and hazard.
In short, there are an infinite number of reasons one may desire to apply a therapeutic ice compress to a specific point on their body, without “disturbing” another part of their body.
Also, with sanitation a constant concern, reuse of the same compresses for different people can cause a problem, especially in a public setting such as a physical therapy clinic. Therefore, the use of disposable (single-use) compresses provides the benefit of cleanliness and convenience.
The use of a disposable method for compress also provides a benefit of not having to re-cool a reusable system between uses. After a reusable cold compress is in an environment that is of a greater temperature and eventually warms towards room temperature, it is rendered useless, and must be cooled again—a process that can take a long time. Using a disposable system, the need to re-cool the apparatus is not an issue.
One way in which many therapists try to circumvent these issues and achieve this goal of treating only the area needing treatment with an ice compress or ice massage via a disposable mechanism is via the use of paper cups. One may fill a small paper cup with water and freeze the system of the paper cup and water until the water becomes a block of ice. To use the device and to commence with an ice massage, one can remove a portion of the outer-top portion of the paper cup down towards the base of the cup, thereby reducing the height of the cup and exposing a bare part of the ice block that was originally covered by the portion of the paper cup one tore in order to expose this portion of the ice block, which can then be applied to someone needing treatment. As the bare part of the ice block melts away, one can continue tearing portions of the cup away to expose more of the ice block, which can then be applied to someone needing treatment, usually in circular motions with direct contact with the ice. This causes several problems that make it very difficult and inefficient to perform an ice massage via this method.
First, as one applies a bare portion of the ice block to the area needing treatment, if the apparatus is held with the base of the cup oriented upwards and the ice block oriented downwards, which more often than not it would probably be, the force of the Earth's gravity (assuming one is performing this in the gravitational field of the Earth) would pull the ice block towards the center of the Earth. The ice block is therefore predisposed to fall out of the cup. With nothing to hold the ice block inside the cup other than the attractive forces and friction between the ice block and the surface of the inside of the cup, the ice block is extremely predisposed to fall out of the cup, and one would encounter several problems.
For example, one would constantly have to orient the apparatus and oneself to maintain the position of the ice block inside the cup. One may have to do this, for example, by pinching the region of the apparatus where the cup surrounds a portion of the ice block with enough force so that the ice block is held in position. One may also have to do this, for example, by keeping the exposed surface of the ice block applied against the surface of the area needing treatment. By doing this, the ice block cannot fall away from the cup (because to do so, it would have to go through the surface it is being applied against, which is, in this example, the surface of the area needing treatment). The bottom line is that the area needing treatment should not be used as a surface for keeping the ice block in place. By using the area needing treatment as a surface for keeping the ice block in place, one cannot treat the area needing treatment as solely the area needing treatment, as one must regard it as a surface for keeping the ice block in place as well. This can cause many problems. For example, one would not be readily able to lift the apparatus. This can cause several apparent problems. For example, the person applying an ice massage would not be able to apply and remove the apparatus as they wish, which limits the ability to perform an ice massage as is needed. For illustrative purposes, it may be beneficial for the person needing treatment to have the ice applied in cycles of ice application for five seconds, followed by a removal of the ice application for five seconds. A constant lifting and lowering of the apparatus could increase the annoyance of having to pinch the block tightly to keep it in place and the possibility of the ice block the fall out. This could also lead to an uncomfortable or even unhealthy condition where the ice is applied to the area needing treatment longer than it should be.
Another problem with this system is the absence of a regulatory mechanism for when one has to remove a portion of the outer-top portion of the paper cup down towards the base of the cup, thereby reducing the height of the cup and exposing a bare part of the ice block that was originally covered by the portion of the paper cup one tore in order to expose this portion of the ice block. Without any regulatory mechanism to control the tear and removal to expose a part of the ice block, one could easily tear more or less than one desires to, and for one to tear as much as one desires to, one would have to tear extremely carefully, which could take a lot of time. It could also be extremely difficult for one to tear the cup with consistency, such as with a circular tear, which could truly reduce the height of the cup uniformly and uniformly expose a bare part of the ice block that was originally covered by the portion of the paper one tore in order to expose this portion of the ice block.
Another problem with this system is that as one tears away more and more of the cup to expose more and more of the ice block, the ice block would get more and more predisposed to fall out of the cup. One would therefore have to keep in mind the necessity to limit the tearing as one performs the ice massage to provide for enough of the cup to provide a surface for one to pinch, which can be distracting.
One may also have to perform multiple tears as the portion of exposed ice melts away and more exposed ice is needed.
Also, the surface for one to pinch, when using such an apparatus, could become especially cold when using a paper cup, which could make the fingers of the person performing the ice massage unnecessarily cold.
Another problem associated with this method is the lack of a dedicated space with which to refridgerate and freeze such an apparatus. What often happens is a cup with water is placed in a freezer, which is very easy to tip and spill. When a cup with water is placed in a freezer, nothing can be placed vertically above the cup, preventing a user from being able to use the space above the cup even though it is not occupied.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a device/method that can allow for the formation of a stabilized and secure ice massage system, an apparatus that can address these very serious issues discussed above, that can provide a user with an innovative and specially designed disposable apparatus to perform an ice massage to circumvent the problems associated with the utilization of an apparatus containing a system as described above that uses for illustrative purposes an example using a paper or plastic cup, allowing a patient to partake in several benefits not previously available.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a device/method that can address one or more of these or closely related issues via a system including a container comprising a bottom surface and a body comprising at least one horizontal circumferential score line, preferably with stabilizing structures attached to the bottom surface and/or the body, wherein the bottom surface is attached to the body so as to form a container open at one end, where the horizontal circumferential score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container to enable a user to easily expose a layer of ice for purposes of cryotherapy.
In at least one embodiment, there is included a vertical score line that facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container. Furthermore, the container preferably comprises a material so as to render the container capable of holding a liquid. The liquid can be water, and can also include a flavor, a medicine, a fragrance, or a food. Preferably, the liquid is capable of forming a solid. Additionally, the container preferably includes a trademark, symbol, or company logo on the exterior surface. Furthermore, the bottom surface of the container is preferably spherical.
In a further embodiment of the invention, their can be a tray with spaces dedicated for such ice massage devices so as to provide an array that can be used to arrange several such ice massage devices easily and safely.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention, their can be a hooded space that can be placed in a freezer for use as a dedicated enclosure for safe storage of a tray with spaces dedicated for such ice massage devices so as to provide an array that can be used to arrange several such ice massage devices easily and safely.
In another embodiment of the Invention, the liquid holding devise can—preferably well below the lip and just below a horizontal score—posses a liquid absorbing material such as a ring or potential ring of tissue or sponge to absorb the melting material.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention, this hooded space can be used to provide a separate compartment for any item a user desires to store separately and securely within a refrigerator. In yet a further embodiment, several of these hooded spaces can be connected together so as to help one organize a space in a fridge more efficiently.
Various exemplary features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is discussed in detail below. While specific exemplary embodiments may be discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a device/method utilizing an apparatus as shown in
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a device/method that can allow the water used to create ice for an ice massage to have a stabilizing-freezing ability. The freezing of the water could be made to be stabilizing because as the water freezes, it can crystallize around stabilizing spokes 16, to yield an unexposed stabilized ice block. When one removes removable formation extension 4, to reveal exposed stabilized ice block 20, the apparatus is fully stabilized and ready to use. Crystallization of water around the stabilizing spokes 16 can stabilize the entire apparatus. While not wishing to be constrained to any particular theory of operation, we believe that formation is due to the fact that now, even if the apparatus were to be held with the base of the cup oriented upwards and the ice block oriented downwards, and even if the force of the gravity acting upon the mass of the ice pulls the ice block downwards towards the center of earth (assuming one is exercising in the gravitational field of the earth), the ice block would not be predisposed to fall out of the cup, due to the fact that ice block would be pushed back upwards by the normal force from the surface of stabilizing spokes 16. With the crystallization of positioned-for-stabilizing-freezing water 18 around stabilizing spokes 16, to hold the ice block inside the cup, along with the negligible attractive forces and friction between the ice block and the surface of the inside of the cup, the ice block can be successfully stabilized inside the apparatus. Naturally, the stabilizing spikes and/or the cup itself can be pointed, coated or molded to assist the formations of ice crystals using, structure to induce ice formation or chemical/biochemical methods to induce ice crystals.
Snowmax and other additives can increase the nucleation activity around a stabilizing structure. Nucleation is the creation of small ice crystals to seed water droplets. The ice crystals act as a nucleator, which initiate the freezing process when introduced into the liquid and assist the freezing process.
Snowmax is a natural source of ice nucleating protein that induces the formation of ice crystals. These proteins are commonly present in bacteria found on plant surfaces. Scientists have identified and purified the bacteria that produces the proteins. The five bacterial species that are most commonly identified with ice nucleation are:
1) P. syringae
2) E. herbicola
3) P. fluorencens
4) P. viridiflava
5) X. transculens
The nucleation can assist the initial ice formation and permit the frozen structure to better grip the ice holding device.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a device/method that can allow one to successfully stabilize an ice block inside a disposable containing device, without the necessity for a user to have to utilize the area needing treatment as a surface for keeping an ice block in place, and without the necessity for a user to have to expend energy in pinching an ice block to keep it in place, allowing one to regard the area needing treatment as solely the area needing treatment, and not a surface for keeping an ice block in place, as well as allowing one to apply ice to any region in a manner without the fear of the ice block falling out and the hindrance of the obligation to keep the ice in place. This can be accomplished by an individual who can fill the inside of the apparatus as shown in
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a device/method that can allow a user to overcome the problem of the absence of a regulatory mechanism in the method described above, which could predispose one to easily tear more or less than one desires to and/or necessitate one to spend a lot of time and to be very careful in tearing, and/or make it extremely difficult for one to tear the cup with consistency, such as with a circular tear, which could truly reduce the height of the cup uniformly and uniformly expose a bare part of the ice block that was originally covered by the portion of the paper one tore in order to expose this portion of the ice block. This can be accomplished via the usage of an apparatus as displayed in
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a device/method that can provide one with a surface for one to hold to enable an ice massage that is of a specific material, for example, a material that is a good insulator, which would prevent the fingers of one performing an ice massage from getting unnecessarily cold due to the holding of the surface provided by holding cap 2.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a device/method that can allow for one to add other therapeutic agents, such as, for example, eucalyptus, to the ice used for massage. This can be achieved in many ways, for example, by coating the interior 10 with the therapeutic agent 11, or by adding such an agent later in droplet form. Once water is added, the therapeutic agent could dissolve and yield a mixture 21. After this mixture freezes and one removes formation extension 4, one can partake in the benefits of ice massage in conjunction with the benefits of the therapeutic agent with the resulting mixed ice 22.
The holding 2 of stabilized apparatus stabilizing spokes 16 do not necessarily have to be shaped in an arrangement as shown clearly in
The present invention is not intended to limit in anyway the formation of a solid but encompasses all known methods of forming a solid from a given liquid, including physical and chemical reactions. In another embodiment, the liquid includes a flavor, a medicine, a fragrance, or a food. The flavor can be any agent that enhances the flavor of the solid. It is contemplated that such agents include but are not limited to agents generally used in the food industry and known to artisans of skill in the food industry. Furthermore, it is contemplated that artisans of skill in the food industry would appreciate and understand foods that may comprise the liquid within the container. It is contemplated that the medicine can be any agent that is used to treat an ailment. A typical ailment in need of treatment is a muscular injury, but it is contemplated that other ailments may be treated. For example, rashes caused by allergies to plants or insect stings and bites may be treated, as can lesions such as minor scrapes and superficial burns. Such agents include but are not limited to analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and fever reducers. Additionally, the liquid can comprise a fragrance. For example, the fragrance can be, but is not limited to menthol, camphor, or peppermint. One of skill in the art would appreciate and understand the properties of the fragrance to be used dependant upon the situation.
The invention also provides a method for relieving pain associated with an injured body part. The method includes the steps of (1) placing a liquid capable of forming a solid in a container adapted for holding the liquid, preferably, the container is open at one end and comprises at least one horizontal circumferential score line; (2) allowing the liquid to substantially form a solid; and (3) applying the subtantially solid composition to the injured body part. In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid comprises water. In another embodiment, the liquid includes, a medicine, or a fragrance. It is also contemplated that the container employed in this method further comprises at least one vertical score line. The medicine can include but is not limited to analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and fever reducers. One of skill in the art would appreciate and understand which particular medicine to use and the amount of medicine to use based upon the type of injury to be treated. Likewise, one of skill in the art would appreciate and understand which particular fragrance to use to enhance the analgesic effect.
While various exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.
There are several other possibilities, and while various exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should instead be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
While this invention is satisfied by embodiments in many different forms, as described in detail in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplary of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein. Numerous variations may be made by persons skilled in the art without departure from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention will be measured by the appended claims and their equivalents. The abstract and the title are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, as their purpose is to enable the appropriate authorities, as well as the general public, to quickly determine the general nature of the invention. In the claims that follow, unless the term “means” is used, none of the features or elements recited therein should be construed as means-plus-function limitations pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60633020 | Dec 2004 | US |
