Claims
- 1. A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal; comprising:
a first chamber defining a chamber opening and adapted to receive a portion of the mammal; an exchange surface in thermal communication with the first chamber; and a seal connected to the first chamber at the chamber opening; the seal including a seal opening and a waist opening; the chamber opening and the seal opening being greater than the waist opening such that a ramped entry and exit is provided for the portion of the mammal.
- 2. The module of claim 1 wherein the seal is substantially hourglass shaped.
- 3. The module of claim 1 wherein the seal is made from an elastic material such that the waist opening varies with the insertion of the portion of the mammal and substantially conforms to seal against the portion of mammal.
- 4. The module of claim 1 wherein the waist opening is regulated by an inflatable bladder, expansion means, belt, cinch, or strap.
- 5. The module of claim 1 wherein the waist opening is substantially elliptical in shape.
- 6. The module of claim 1 wherein the seal is made from an elastic material such that the seal opening varies with the insertion of the portion of the mammal and substantially conforms to seal against the portion of mammal.
- 7. The module of claim 1 further including a second chamber adapted to receive a thermal exchange medium; the second chamber being in thermal communication with the exchange surface.
- 8. The module of claim 1 wherein the seal is part of a seal cartridge that is removably coupled to the first chamber.
- 9. A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal, comprising:
a housing including:
a first chamber including a chamber opening and adapted to receive a portion of a mammal; and an exchange surface in thermal communication with the first chamber; and a seal connected to the first chamber at the chamber opening; the seal forming a variable opening adapted to substantially conform against the mammal to contact the portion of the mammal inside the first chamber.
- 10. The module of claim 9 further including a vacuum source coupled to the first chamber such that the vacuum source is capable of drawing a negative pressure in the first chamber.
- 11. The module of claim 9 wherein the seal includes two pieces.
- 12. The module of claim 9 further including a second chamber adapted to receive a thermal exchange medium; the second chamber being in thermal communication with the exchange surface.
- 13. A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal, comprising:
a housing including:
a first chamber adapted to receive a portion of a mammal and adapted to provide a negative pressure environment, the first chamber including a chamber opening; and an exchange surface in thermal communication with the first chamber; and a seal connected to the first chamber at the chamber opening and having a longitudinal axis; the seal comprising a flexible wall member that provides substantial contact sealing against at least a portion of the external surface of the mammal while accommodating motion of the portion of the mammal that is lateral to the longitudinal axis.
- 14. The module of claim 13 further including a second chamber adapted to receive a thermal exchange medium; the second chamber being in thermal communication with the first chamber.
- 15. The module of claim 13 wherein the seal leaks air with motion of the portion of the mammal that is substantially lateral to the longitudinal axis.
- 16. A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal, comprising:
a housing including:
a first chamber including a chamber opening; the first chamber being adapted to receive a portion of a mammal and being adapted to provide a negative pressure environment; and an exchange surface in thermal communication with the first chamber; and a seal connected to the first chamber at the chamber opening; the seal comprising a flexible sleeve including a waist portion; at least the waist portion being adapted to engage at least a portion of the external surface of a portion of the mammal; the sleeve being deflectable with movement of the portion of the mammal.
- 17. The module of claim 16 wherein the waist portion defines a waist opening; the waist opening including a relaxed position; the waist opening being expandable relative to the relaxed position with insertion of the portion of the mammal.
- 18. The module of claim 17 wherein the waist opening substantially conforms to circumferentially contact the portion of the mammal.
- 19. The module of claim 16 further including a second chamber adapted to receive a thermal exchange medium; the second chamber being in thermal communication with the first chamber.
- 20. The module of claim 16 wherein the waist portion defines a waist opening; the waist opening including a relaxed position; the waist opening being expandable relative to the relaxed position via expansion means.
- 21. The module of claim 16 further including stop means for maintaining the seal in a non-relaxed expanded position.
- 22. The module of claim 20 wherein the expansion means is selected from the group consisting of cordage, mechanical linkage and other expansion means known to one skilled in the art.
- 23. A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal, comprising:
a housing including:
a first chamber being adapted to receive a portion of a mammal and adapted to provide a negative pressure environment; the first chamber including a chamber opening; and an exchange surface in thermal communication with the first chamber; and a seal connected to the first chamber at the chamber opening; the seal including an elastic element to bias the seal against the portion of the mammal.
- 24. The module of claim 23 wherein the seal includes a longitudinal axis, the seal being laterally deflectable relative to the longitudinal axis with motion of the portion of the mammal.
- 25. The module of claim 23 wherein the seal defines a waist portion having a variable waist opening, the waist portion having at least a relaxed position and an engaged position; the waist opening being smaller when in a relaxed position relative to the portion of the mammal against which the seal engages.
- 26. The module of claim 23 wherein the seal includes a longitudinal axis, and wherein the seal is adapted to leak air from the first chamber with substantial lateral displacement of the portion of the mammal relative to the longitudinal axis.
- 27. The module of claim 23 further including a second chamber adapted to receive a thermal exchange medium; the second chamber being in thermal communication with the exchange surface.
- 28. The module of claim 23 wherein the seal includes an elastic element such that when the negative pressure environment is established in the first chamber, the seal will bow inwardly to bias the seal against the portion of the mammal.
- 29. A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal, comprising:
a first chamber defining a chamber opening and a port; the first chamber being adapted to receive a portion of a mammal via the chamber opening; the first chamber being adapted to receive a negative pressure via the port; an exchange surface in thermal communication with the first chamber; and a seal connected to the first chamber at the chamber opening to seal the portion of the mammal inside the first chamber.
- 30. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal substantially corresponds to the shape of the portion of the mammal.
- 31. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal includes a seal opening and a waist opening; the seal opening being larger than the waist opening to provide ramped entry and exit for the portion of the mammal.
- 32. The module of claim 29 and 31 wherein the seal includes a chamber opening and a waist opening; the chamber opening being larger than the waist opening to provide a ramped entry and exit for the portion of the mammal.
- 33. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal includes a waist opening that is smaller than the chamber opening of the first chamber; the waist opening being variable.
- 34. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal includes a variable seal opening.
- 35. The module of claim 34 wherein the seal includes a waist opening; the seal opening being larger than the waist opening; the waist opening being variable.
- 36. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal includes a chamber opening and a waist opening; the chamber opening of the seal is larger than the waist opening; the chamber opening and the waist opening being variable.
- 37. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal is made of a material that is capable of stretching isotropically.
- 38. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal is made of a material that is capable of stretching anisotropically such that the seal stretches in a direction lateral to a longitudinal axis of the seal.
- 39. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal includes reinforcement members.
- 40. The module of claim 29 wherein the first chamber substantially corresponds to the shape of the portion of the mammal.
- 41. The module of claim 29 wherein the seal includes a longitudinal axis and is flexible such that lateral movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the portion of the mammal is substantially afforded while maintaining a contact seal against the portion of the mammal.
- 42. The module of claim 29 and 41 wherein the seal includes a longitudinal axis and is flexible such that lateral movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the portion of the mammal is substantially afforded while allowing air to leak across the seal.
- 43. The module of claim 29 further including:
a vacuum pump coupled to the first chamber to draw air from the first chamber; a control system coupled to the vacuum pump; the control system being adapted to maintain the pressure of the first chamber at a set-point.
- 44. The module of claim 43 wherein the control system is adapted to extract air from the first chamber at a vacuum flow rate that is substantially equal to the air leak rate into the first chamber.
- 45. The module of claim 29 further including a second chamber adapted to receive a thermal exchange medium; the second chamber being in thermal communication with the first chamber.
- 46. A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal, comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end comprising:
a chamber adapted to receive a portion of the mammal; a heat exchange cavity in thermal communication with the chamber; a seal connected to the housing at the second end; the seal defining a chamber opening, a waist opening, and a seal opening; the waist opening being located between the chamber opening and the seal opening; the chamber opening being located proximate to the plate relative to the seal opening; and a seal frame connected to the housing at the second end and supporting the seal.
- 47. The module of claim 46 wherein the housing includes:
a heat exchange element located between the chamber and the heat exchange cavity.
- 48. The module of claim 47 wherein the housing includes:
a cover; and a base connected to the cover.
- 49. The module of claim 48 wherein the heat exchange element is located between the cover and the base.
- 50. The module of claim 49 wherein the heat exchange cavity is defined between the heat exchange element and the base.
- 51. The module of claim 46 wherein the housing further includes an end cap connected to the first end.
- 52. The module of claim 51 wherein the end cap includes at least one port in fluid communication with the chamber.
- 53. The module of claim 46 wherein the housing further includes a plate connected to the second end; the plate including an opening to the chamber.
- 54. The module of claim 53 wherein the plate includes an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with the heat exchange cavity.
- 55. The module of claim 46 wherein the chamber opening and the seal opening are greater than the waist opening providing a ramped entry.
- 56. The module of claim 46 wherein the seal frame includes:
a first ring connected to the seal at the chamber opening; the first ring being connected to the plate; a retainer member; a second ring; the seal being captured between the retainer member and the second ring; and at least one standoff interconnecting the retainer member and the plate.
- 57. The module of claim 46 wherein the seal frame includes:
a first frame element supporting a first end of the seal; and a second frame element supporting a second end of the seal.
- 58. The module of claim 57 wherein the seal frame forms a seal cartridge that is removably attached to the housing.
- 59. The module of claim 57 wherein the first frame element includes a ring and a first and second retaining member; the first end of the seal being coupled to the ring and captured between the first and second retaining members.
- 60. The module of claim 57 or 59 wherein the second frame element includes a ring and a first and second retaining member; the second end of the seal being coupled to the ring and captured between the first and second retaining members.
- 61. The module of claim 46 wherein the seal includes a first end and a second; the first end of the seal being rotatable relative to the second end of the seal to reduce at least the waist opening.
- 62. The module of claim 46 further including
a sheath that encompases the seal such that the sheath is substantially coaxial with respect to the seal; the sheath having a first end and a second end and a sheath opening; the first end of the sheath being rotatable relative to the second end of the sheath to reduce the sheath opening and at least the waist opening of the seal.
- 63. The module of claim 62 further including a sheath frame connected to the housing and supporting the sheath.
- 64. A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal, comprising:
a base having an exchange surface and a base perimeter; a cover connected to the base to form a chamber for receiving the portion of a mammal such that the portion of the mammal is in thermal communication with the exchange surface; the chamber being adapted to receive a negative pressure environment relative to atmospheric pressure; the cover having a cover perimeter and a seal for contacting the portion of the mammal to substantially prevent leakage of air across the seal.
- 65. The module of claim 64 wherein the exchange surface has an outer surface adapted to receive a heat exchange element.
- 66. The module of claim 64 wherein the exchange surface is made from thermally conductive material.
- 67. The module of claim 66 wherein the exchange surface is made of flexible material.
- 68. The module of claim 67 wherein the exchange surface bows inwardly into the chamber upon the application of a negative pressure to contact the portion of the mammal.
- 69. The module of claim 64 wherein the cover is rotatably coupled to the base such that the module includes at least an open position and at least a closed position such that when in the closed position at least a portion of the base perimeter is aligned with at least a portion of the cover perimeter.
- 70. The module of claim 69 wherein at least one of the base perimeter or cover perimeter includes an adhesive.
- 71. The module of claim 64 wherein a portion of the base perimeter includes an base opening portion.
- 72. The module of claim 71 wherein the seal is located in the base opening portion.
- 73. The module of claim 64 wherein a portion of the cover perimeter includes a cover opening portion.
- 74. The module of claim 73 wherein the seal is located in the cover opening portion.
- 75. The module of claim 64 wherein a portion of the cover perimeter includes a cover opening portion; a portion of the base perimeter includes a base opening portion; the module having at least an open position and at least a closed position such that when in the closed position the cover opening are aligned to form an opening.
- 76. The module of claim 75 wherein the seal is a split seal such that a portion of the seal is disposed in the cover opening portion and a portion of the seal is disposed within the base opening portion.
- 77. A method for thermal exchange with a portion a mammal comprising the steps of:
providing a module having a chamber for receiving a portion of the mammal; the module including a seal that allows a variable leakage of air across the seal; providing a vacuum pump coupled to the chamber to draw air from the chamber; providing a control system coupled to the vacuum pump for regulating the air pressure within the chamber; selecting a pressure set-point; establishing an air pressure inside the chamber that is substantially equal to the pressure set-point; maintaining the pressure set-point within the chamber.
- 78. The method of claim 77 wherein the step of maintaining the pressure set-point includes extracting air from the chamber at a vacuum flow rate that is substantially equal to the air leak rate into the first chamber.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to and claims priority from the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/285,060 filed on Apr. 19, 2001 entitled “Negative pressure heat-exchange device with improved seal”, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60285060 |
Apr 2001 |
US |