The invention pertains to the general field of medical devices and methods for cooling body parts to alleviate pain swelling and inflammation, in particular, a new method especially useful for cold applications post operatively as well as trauma to the upper face; one or both eyes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6.241,711 discloses a therapeutic face and eye mask which covers the whole face.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,772 is a therapeutic massage mask.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,951 illustrates an ice cooling medical device which can be applied to different locations on the body by way of straps.
Typically, a patient will hold an ice pack on a sore spot with one hand or will try to balance it in place while lying down, in either case, the person's ability to function or undertake various tasks is impaired and rest is difficult. Therefore, it would be very useful and desirable to have a cooling device that could be used in a semi-prone position rather than flat and not to have to hold an ice bag or similar device in place by hand, thus freeing the hand from holding something against his or her face.
It is a well known fact in the medical profession that cooling of body tissues is necessary immediately after physical trauma or injury to reduce swelling of such tissues. A variety of such ice packs and related devices are commercially to provide such therapy. Therapy of facial trauma, however, involves unique considerations. Human beings are much more sensitive in the areas of the face and the head than in other areas of the body. An application of direct pressure to the face, particularly after surgery, can cause the patient to suffer additional discomfort beyond that incurred by the surgery. Traditional ice packs posses characteristics that are disadvantageous when applied to a patient who has suffered facial trauma. The disadvantages in known in known ice packs are so great that medical practitioners have yearned for alternatives to traditional ice packs. Patients have been advised to place bags of frozen vegetables i.e. peas on their faces to achieve a cooling therapeutic effect.
An object of the invention is to provide a cooling therapy without the harsh effects of raw ice. This is accomplished by placing soft fabric next to the skin with a pliable cold gel pad located within a movable pocket that can be placed on top of various trauma affected areas without creating any significant or hardly any pressure at all.
In this embodiment, when the sleeve is draped over the head of a patient and when correctly positioned the two pockets with each containing a gel pack therein would cover both eyes of the patient. Obviously, only one eye could be covered when so desired as will explained below.
From all of the above, it can now be seen that a vary versatile and useful therapeutic device has been disclosed. The versatility lies in the fact that any number of gel packs can be placed over areas that are affected by certain traumas.
The cotton sleeves need not be water proofed because the gel is contained in hermetically sealed packs The packs can be formed of two plastic layers that define a closed space and can be filled with any known cooling medium that include water, glycerin and hydroxethyl cellulose and others.