Patent Application
20210069012
Aspects of the present invention relate generally to surface treatment devices, such as, heating devices and/or cooling devices. More particularly, aspects of the invention, in their several embodiments, provide surface treatment devices fabricated from liquid silicone rubber and containing and a polydimethlysiloxane fluid that provide enhanced heating and/or cooling, for example, to treating skin surfaces and the underlying tissue, for instance, for treatment of injuries.
Numerous human activities, such as, recreation and sports, public protection, and armed service expose the human body, to impact and injury. The prior art includes many forms of “heating pads” and/or “ice packs” that can effectively aid in the treatment of such bodily injuries. However, there continues to be a need in the art to provide more effective devices and methods for promoting the alleviation of pain and to enhance healing.
Embodiments of the present invention, in their many aspects, provide improved devices and methods for treating tissue damage or injuries to, among other things, enhance healing and alleviate discomfort.
Though aspects of the present invention may be used for treating bodily ailments of humans or animals, for example, providing medical treatment or medical devices, aspects of the invention may also be used to treat any surface for which thermal treatment, that is, heating and/or cooling, is desirable. Possible non-medical surface treatment includes heat treatment or cooling during fabrication processes, among other non-medical applications.
One embodiment of the invention is a surface treatment device comprising or including: an enclosure comprising a CHT True Skin liquid silicone rubber; and a CHT QM Diluent contained in the enclosure. In one aspect, the device may be a heating device and/or a cooling device.
In one aspect, the CHT True Skin liquid silicone rubber may be a CHT True Skin liquid silicone rubber, for example, a CHT True Skin 10 liquid silicone rubber produced by combining at least two liquids.
In one aspect the CHT QM Diluent may be a CHT QM Diluent, for example, a CHT QM Diluent having a viscosity of at least 50 cps, or a CHT QM Diluent having a viscosity of at least 1000 cps, or a CHT QM Diluent having a viscosity of at least 5,000 cps.
Another embodiment of the invention is a surface treatment device comprising or including a flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure comprising synthetic amorphous silica; and a polydimethlysiloxane fluid contained in the enclosure. In one aspect, the device may be a cooling device and/or a heating device.
In one aspect, the synthetic amorphous silica may be a CHT True Skin liquid silicone rubber, for example, a CHT True Skin 10 liquid silicone rubber.
In one aspect, the polydimethlysiloxane fluid may be a CHT QM Diluent, for example, a CHT QM Diluent having a viscosity of at least 50 centipoise [cps], or a CHT QM Diluent having a viscosity of at least 1000 cps, or a CHT QM Diluent having a viscosity of at least 5,000 cps.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method for treating a surface comprising: heating or cooling a flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure comprising a synthetic amorphous silica and containing a polydimethlysiloxane fluid; placing the heated or cooled flexible enclosure upon the surface; and conducting thermal energy from the enclosure to the surface or conducting thermal energy from the surface to the enclosure. In one aspect, heating may be practiced by heating in a heating device and cooling may be practiced by cooling in a cooling device.
Another embodiment of the invention is a surface treatment device comprising or including: a flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure comprising a plurality of interconnected components comprising a synthetic amorphous silica; and a polydimethlysiloxane fluid contained in the enclosure. The device may be a heating device and/or a cooling device.
In one aspect, the plurality of interconnected components may comprise a plurality of interconnected cylindrical enclosures, for example, a plurality of interconnected circular cylindrical enclosures or a plurality of interconnected polygonal cylindrical enclosures. In one aspect, the plurality of interconnected cylindrical enclosures may be in fluid communication. In another aspect, the plurality of interconnected cylindrical enclosures may include internal supports, such as, posts or pins. In one aspect, the internal supports may be hollow internal supports.
In one aspect, the synthetic amorphous silica of the plurality of interconnected components may be a CHT True Skin liquid silicone rubber. In one aspect, the polydimethlysiloxane fluid within the plurality of interconnected components may be a CHT QM Diluent.
A still further aspect of the invention is a method for fabricating a surface treating device, the method comprising or including: providing a first mold adapted to receive a first curable fluid, the first mold having mold cavity and a lower surface and a plurality of projections from the lower surface; introducing a first curable fluid to the first mold to at least partially cover the lower surface with the first curable fluid; allowing the first curable fluid to cure on the lower surface to produce an at least partially cured first device portion; mating the first device portion with a second device portion to form a fluid-impermeable enclosure; and introducing a fluid to the fluid-impermeable enclosure to provide the surface treatment device.
In one aspect, mating the first device portion with the second device portion comprises sealing peripheral edges of the first device portion with peripheral edges of the second device portion.
In one aspect, the plurality of projections from the lower surface comprise a plurality of cylindrical projections.
In one aspect, the first curable fluid comprises a liquid silicone rubber, for example, a CHT True Skin liquid silicone rubber. In another aspect, introducing the fluid, for example, a CHT QM Diluent, to the fluid-impermeable enclosure is practiced by injecting the fluid into the fluid-permeable enclosure.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Though in the following discussion device 10 and related devices disclosed herein may be disclosed and described with respect to the treatment of bodily surfaces, it is envisioned that aspects of the invention may be used for treating any surface, bodily or otherwise, for which heating and/or cooling is desired or beneficial, for example, the heating and/cooling of food or beverages, and/or the heating and/or cooling of any surface during an industrial and/or fabrication process, and/or the heating and/or cooling of any other surface that would benefit from heating and/or cooling.
As shown in
In one aspect, enclosure 12 of device 10 may comprise a liquid silicone rubber (LSR), for example, a cured LSR, such as, a “medical grade” LSR, as known in the art. In one aspect, enclosure 12 of device 10 may comprise a liquid silicone rubber marketed by CHT USA (formerly Quantum Silicones (QSi)) under the trademark True Skin® or its equivalent; however, enclosure 12 may comprises any liquid silicone rubber (LSR).
In one aspect, the liquid 14 encased in enclosure 12 may comprise a polydimethlysiloxane fluid (also know as a “silicone fluid), for example, a polydimethlysiloxane fluid marketed by CHT USA as a QM Diluent or its equivalent; however, liquid 14 may comprise any polydimethlysiloxane fluid. As known in the art, polydimethlysiloxane comprises a group of polymeric organosilicon compounds that are commonly referred to as “silicones.” Polydimethlysiloxane may be abbreviated “PDMS’ and has the chemical formula [(CH3)2SiO]n. However, in other aspects, liquid 14 may be any fluid, including water.
According to aspects of the invention, enclosure 12 of device 10 may take any conventional size and shape, for example, depending upon the size and/or shape of the surface being treated, for example, a human shoulder or human knee. As shown in
As shown in
In one aspect of the invention, the internal cavity 15 of device 10 may devoid of any structure or obstruction. However, in another aspect of the invention, the internal cavity 15 may comprise one or more supports or structures positioned and adapted to retain the shape of device 10, for example, preventing deflection of end walls 16 or 18 and or the deflection of sidewall 20. As shown in phantom in
Though the shape of device 40 may be different from the shape of device 10, device 40 may have all the features and attributes of device 10. For example, device 40 comprises an enclosure 42 having a fluid 44 encased within enclosure 42. In one aspect, in a fashion similar to device 10, enclosure 42 of device 40 may comprise a cured liquid silicone rubber, for example, a liquid silicone rubber marketed by CHT USA under the trademark True Skin® or its equivalent; however, enclosure 42 may comprises any liquid silicone rubber (LSR). In one aspect the liquid 44 encased in enclosure 42 may comprise a polydimethlysiloxane fluid (also know as a “silicone fluid), for example, a polydimethlysiloxane fluid marketed by CHT USA as a QM Diluent or its equivalent; however, fluid 44 may comprises any polydimethlysiloxane fluid.
According to aspects of the invention, enclosure 42 of device 40 may take any conventional size and shape, for example, depending upon the size and/or shape of the surface being treated, for example, a human shoulder or a human knee.
As shown in
In one aspect of the invention, the internal cavity 45 of device 40 may devoid of any structure or obstruction. However, in another aspect of the invention, the internal cavity 45 may comprise one or more supports or structures positioned and adapted to retain the shape of device 40, for example, preventing deflection of end walls 46 or 48 and/or the deflection of sidewalls 50. As shown in phantom in
According to aspects of the invention, device 10 or device 40 (or any device disclosed herein) may first be heated or cooled prior to application to, for example, to a bodily surface. For example, in one aspect, device 10 or device 40 may be refrigerated in a chilled space, in an icebox, or in ice water, or other chilled fluid to reduce the temperature of device 10. In one aspect, device 10 or device 40 may also be cooled via chemical reaction, for example, by selectively combining reactants within device 10 or device 40 to reduce the temperature of device 10 or device 40. For example, device 10 or device 40 may include one or more reactants contained in a breakable vessel within device 10 or device 40 wherein, when the breakable vessel is broken (for example, by impact or bending), the reactants react and cool at least a portion of device 10 or device 40, for example, via an endothermic reaction. In one aspect, device 10 or 40 may be chilled where the surface of device 10 or device 40 has a temperature of at most 50 degrees F., or at least 30 degrees F., or at least 10 degrees F.
In one aspect of the invention, when treating a surface with colder temperatures, for example, a colder temperature typically not tolerated by human or animal contact, device 10 or device 40 may be cooled to even lower temperatures, for example, lower than 10 degrees F. or lower than zero degrees F., and, due to the low freezing point of the fluid within device 10 or device 40, be used to treat surfaces, for example, during a fabrication process, that can be treated with temperatures below temperatures that can be tolerated by human or animal contact.
After cooling, device 10 or 40 may be contacted with the surface of the body being treated to cool the surface of the skin and/or to cool any underlying tissue. According to one aspect of the invention, device 10 or device 40 may be placed in direct contact with the skin, for example, unlike prior art devices, without the presence of any intervening barrier. In other aspects, an intervening barrier, for example, a container or a fabric, may be placed between device 10 or device 40 and the surface being treated. In another aspect, device 10 or device 40 may be placed in a container or package prior to being applied to the surface of the body being treated.
According to aspects of the invention, device 10 or device 40 may provide an effective means of treating the skin and/or underlying tissue with cooling, for example, to reduce inflammation, cool burns to the skin, or otherwise beneficially treat the skin and/or underlying tissue with reduced temperature.
According to another aspects of the invention, device 10 or device 40 (or any device disclosed herein) may first be heated, for example, in an oven, for instance, a conventional or microwave oven, or by any heat source, to increase the temperature of device 10 or device 40. In one aspect, device 10 or device 40 may also be heated via chemical reaction, for example, by selectively combining reactants within device 10 or device 40 to increase the temperature of device 10 or device 40. For example, device 10 or device 40 may include one or more reactants contained in a breakable vessel within device 10 or device 40 wherein, when the breakable vessel is broken (for example, by impact or bending), the reactants react and heat at least a portion of device 10 or device 40, for example, via an exothermic reaction.
In one aspect, device 10 or 40 may be heated where the surface of device 10 or device 40 is heated to a temperature of at least 50 degrees F., or at least 70 degrees F., or at least 90 degrees F. In one aspect, of the invention, the surface of device 10 or device 40 may be heated to at least 120 degrees F. or 150 degrees F. After heating, device 10 or 40 may be contacted with the surface of the body being treated to heat or warm the surface of the skin and/or to heat or warm any underlying tissue.
In one aspect of the invention, when treating a surface with hotter temperatures, for example, temperatures typically beyond what can be tolerated by human or animal contact, device 10 or device 40 may be used to heat a surface to even higher temperatures, for example, higher than 150 degrees F. or higher than 200 degrees F., and, due to the high boiling point of the fluid within device 10 or device 40, then be used to treat surfaces, for example, during a fabrication process, that can be treated with temperatures above temperatures that can be tolerated by human or animal contact.
According to one aspect of the invention, device 10 or device 40 may be placed in direct contact with the skin to heat or warm the skin, for example, unlike prior art devices, without the presence of any intervening barrier. In other aspects, an intervening barrier, for example, a container or fabric, may be placed between device 10 or device 40 and the surface being treated. In another aspect, device 10 or device 40 may be placed in container or package prior to being applied to the surface of the body being treated.
According to aspects of the invention, device 10 or device 40 may provide an effective means of heating the skin and/or underlying tissue with heat or warmth, for example, to enhance healing of injured tissue, warm an exposed skin surface, or otherwise beneficially treat the skin and/or underlying tissue with increased temperature.
In another aspect, device 10 or device 40 may be used for comfort, cushioning, and/or padding, for example, as a replacement or substitute for “comfort foam,” for example, with little or no cooling or heating.
As described above, aspects of the present invention may be provided in many different sizes and shapes while effectively providing the desired cooling, heating, and/or comfort. For example, the sizes and shapes of the cylindrical enclosure 12 shown in
In one aspect, the thickness, or shortness dimension of enclosure 12 or of enclosure 42 may vary from 0.125 inches to 12 inches, but is typically between 0.25 inches and 3 inches, for example, about 0.375 inches thick. In one aspect, the outside width or outside diameter, or largest dimension, of enclosure 12 or of enclosure 42 may vary from 1 inch to 36 inches, but is typically between 3 inches and 12 inches, for example, about 6 inches wide.
In addition, it is envisioned that aspects of the invention need not be limited to simple cylindrical shapes as shown in
As shown in
In one aspect, enclosure 72 of device 70 may comprise a liquid silicone rubber, for example, a liquid silicone rubber marketed under the trademark True Skin®, or its equivalent; however, enclosure 72 may comprises any cured liquid silicone rubber (LSR). In one aspect the liquid 74 encased in enclosure 12 may comprise a polydimethlysiloxane fluid, for example, a polydimethlysiloxane fluid marketed as a QM Diluent, or its equivalent; however, liquid 74 may comprises any polydimethlysiloxane fluid.
According to aspects of the invention, as shown in
As shown in
In a fashion similar to devices 10 and 40 disclosed herein, the internal cavities of components 76, 78, 80, 82, and 84 of device 70 may be devoid of any structures or obstructions. However, in another aspect of the invention, the internal cavities of components 76, 78, 80, 82, and 84 may comprise one or more supports or structures positioned and adapted to retain the shape of the components 76, 78, 80, 82, and 84 of device 70, for example, preventing deflection of end walls and/or the deflection of sidewalls. As shown in
As also shown in
In one aspect, as shown most clearly in the bottom view of device 70 shown in
In one aspect, as shown in
As shown in
According to aspects of the invention, the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein, for example, devices 10, 40, 70, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, or 110, may comprise a liquid silicone rubber, for example, a cured liquid silicone rubber, such as, a platinum-cured LSR. In one aspect, the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein may comprise an LSR marketed under the trademark True Skin®; however, the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein may comprises any cured liquid silicone rubber (LSR). In one aspect, the cured liquid silicone rubber may be a “medical grade” LSR, as known in the art, for example, an LSR having an elasticity, a viscosity, a “feel,” and/or anti-microbial properties, among other things, that are desirable in aspects of the invention.
However, in one aspect, a liquid silicone rubber marketed under the trademark True Skin® may be preferred. In one aspect, the enclosures disclosed herein may be made from CHT's True Skin® 10 having a 10 Shore A hardness (or durometer) as disclosed in CHT “Technical Data Sheet” for True Skin®10 [Rev-1, Aug. 16, 2017], which is included by reference herein. In one aspect, the enclosures disclosed herein may be made from CHT's True Skin® 20 having a 20 Shore A hardness (or durometer) as disclosed in CHT “Technical Data Sheet” for True Skin® 20 [Rev-1, Aug. 16, 2017], which is included by reference herein. In one aspect, the enclosures disclosed herein may be made from CHT's True Skin® 30 having a 30 Shore A hardness (or durometer) as disclosed in CHT “Technical Data Sheet” for True Skin® 30 [Rev-1, Aug. 16, 2017], which is included by reference herein. As known in the art, any one of the enclosures disclosed herein may be fabricated from a liquid silicon rubber produced when combining two or more components, for example, a CHT True Skin liquid silicone rubber “A” and a CHT True Skin liquid silicone rubber “B” to produce the desired liquid silicone rubber when cured.
It is also envisioned that aspects of the invention may be made from other liquid silicone rubbers, for example, an LSR marketed under the trademark SILBIONE® by Elkem Silicones of Lyon, France, for example, one or more of the LSRs identified in Elkem's “Silbione® Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) Elastomers” line card dated June 2018, which is included by reference herein. In another aspect, the enclosures of the invention may be made from an LSR marketed by Dow Corning. In another aspect, enclosures of any one of the devices disclosed herein may be made from an LSR marketed under the trademark DRAGON SKIN™ by Smooth-On, Inc., for example, one or more of the LSRs identified in Smooth-On's Technical Bulletin “Dragon Skin™ Series,” having reference number 041619-JR, which is included by reference herein.
In one aspect, the fluid (for example, liquid) encased in the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein, for example, devices 10, 40, 70, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, or 110, may comprise a polydimethlysiloxane fluid, for example, a polydimethlysiloxane fluid marketed as a QM Diluent by CHT; however, liquid 74 may comprises any polydimethlysiloxane fluid. However, in one aspect, the polydimethlysiloxane fluid marketed under the trademark QM Diluent may be preferred. In one aspect, the fluid encased in the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein may comprise QM Diluent 50 having a viscosity of about 50 centipoise [cps] as disclosed in CHT “Technical Data Sheet” for QM Diluent 50 [Rev-3, Aug. 7, 2017], which is included by reference herein. In one aspect, the fluid encased in the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein may comprise QM Diluent 100 having a viscosity of about 100 cps as disclosed in CHT “Technical Data Sheet” for QM Diluent 100 [Rev-3, Aug. 7, 2017], which is included by reference herein. In one aspect, the fluid encased in the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein may comprise QM Diluent 1000 having a viscosity of about 1000 cps as disclosed in CHT “Technical Data Sheet” for QM Diluent 1000 [Rev-3, Aug. 7, 2017], which is included by reference herein. In one aspect, the fluid encased in the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein may comprise QM Diluent 5000 having a viscosity of about 5000 cps, for which a “Technical Data Sheet” has not been identified. It is envisioned that fluids of higher viscosity, for example, QM Diluents having a viscosity greater than 5000 cps may be used in aspects of the invention.
It is envisioned that fluids of having other viscosities, for example, QM Diluents provided by CHT, may also be used, for example, by appropriately combining at least two fluids of known viscosity, as known in the art. Accordingly, in one aspect, polydimethlysiloxane fluids of different viscosities, such as, a CHT QM Diluents, can be mixed or otherwise combined to provide a fluid having a viscosity of at least 50 cps that can be used as a fluid in an aspect of the invention. Similarly, in one aspect, polydimethlysiloxane fluids of different viscosities, such as, a CHT QM Diluents, can be mixed or otherwise combined to provide a fluid having a viscosity of at least 100 cps that can be used as a fluid in an aspect of the invention. In one aspect, polydimethlysiloxane fluids of different viscosities, such as, a CHT QM Diluents, can be mixed or otherwise combined to provide a fluid having a viscosity of at least 500 cps that can be used as a fluid in an aspect of the invention. In one aspect, polydimethlysiloxane fluids of different viscosities, such as, a CHT QM Diluents, can be mixed or otherwise combined to provide a fluid having a viscosity of at least 1000 cps, or at least 2000 cps, or at least 3000 cps, or at least 4000 cps, or at least 5000 cps, or at least 6000 cps, or at least 8000 cps that can be used as a fluid in an aspect of the invention.
It is envisioned that a broad range of fluids, including liquids or gases, may be used with aspects of the invention, for example, a liquid or gas compatible with the materials of the enclosures disclosed herein, for instance, fluids that are impermeable to the material of the enclosure disclosed herein or fluids having a boiling point where the fluid will not evaporate under the expected working conditions. In one aspect, the liquid may comprise a broad range of viscosities, for example, from less than 50 cps to greater than 5000 cps. In other aspects, the liquid may be water, for example, distilled water.
Though not shown in
In one aspect of the invention, the devices disclosed herein may be enhanced with an appropriate mountings or attachment mechanisms or devices. For example, in one aspect, any one of the devices disclosed herein may include a mounting device, for example, one or more straps (with or without connectors), holders, and/or retainers. In another aspect, any one of the devices disclosed herein may be enhanced with an attachment or retention mechanism or device, for example, one or more fasteners. In one aspect, any one of the devices disclosed herein may include one or more hook and loop fasteners, for example, a Velcro-type hook and loop fastener, as known in the art. The hook and loop fastener may be used to facilitate or enhance mounting or locating any one of the devices disclosed herein, for example, to a mating hook and look fastener. In one aspect, a hook and loop fastener may be attached to any one of the devices disclosed herein with mounting hardware and/or with an adhesive. In another aspect, a fastener, such as, a hook and loop faster, may be molded into any one of the enclosures of the devices disclosed herein. For example, in one aspect, a hook and loop fastener may be molded into any one or more of the bosses 92 shown in
As disclosed herein surface treatment devices, for example, heating, cooling, and/or comforting devices or packs, are disclosed herein that provide enhanced performance and comfort to the user. Though aspects of the invention have been primarily disclosed for use in treating, for example, heating, cooling, or comfort of the human skin and the underlying tissue and/or organs, aspects of the invention may be applied when effective for treating any medical, non-medical, industrial, commercial, and/or residential surface.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
While several aspects of the present invention have been described and depicted herein, alternative aspects may be effected by those skilled in the art to accomplish the same objectives. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such alternative aspects as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims priority from pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/898,365 filed on Sep. 10, 2019, the disclosure of which is included by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62898365 | Sep 2019 | US |
