EP0243171A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermotherapy technique
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1987-04-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A technique for applying therapeutic heat to a skin surface area of a patient whose threshold of sensitivity is determined by that temperature level of the heating medium to which the patient is continuously exposed, above which the patient experiences discomfort. In this technique, the skin surface area is exposed to a heating medium whose temperature is at a base level that is well above ambient but no higher than the temperature sensitivity threshold, the temperature of the medium being periodically raised above the base level to create high heat energy pulses whose peaks are much higher than the threshold. The duty cycle of the pulses is such as to allow for internal heat transfer to take place in the region below the exposed area of the patient in the intervals between pulses to an extent preventing an excessive rise in temperature at the skin surface whereby the patient gains the benefit of high heat energy treatment without discomfort or injury.
Inventors
- 👤 Raul Guibert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/0085; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/80; A23B2/82; B; B64; B64D; B64D11/00; B64D11/0007; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00132; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61F2007/0059; A61F2007/006; A61F7/02; A61F2007/0295; A61F2007/0296; F; F25; F25D; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/20; F25D2400/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
Therapeutic hyperthermy or hypothermy apparatus for exposing a limited skin surface area of a patient to a stream of heat transfer fluid at a temperature within the patient's temperature sensitivity threshold, characterized in that the temperature of the heat transfer fluid is periodically caused to substantially exceed said threshold for a relatively short time period such that the skin surface temperature does not significantly exceed said threshold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
Therapeutic hyperthermy or hypothermy apparatus for exposing a limited skin surface area of a patient to a stream of heat transfer fluid at a temperature within the patient's temperature sensitivity threshold, characterized in that the temperature of the heat transfer fluid is periodically caused to substantially exceed said threshold for a relatively short time period such that the skin surface temperature does not significantly exceed said threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
An instrument for applying therapeutic heat to a limited skin surface area of a patient having a temperature sensitivity threshold which is determined by that temperature level of the medium to which the patient is exposed above which the patient experiences undue discomfort, the instrument comprising: first means to continuously expose a skin surface area of the patient to a heated medium constituted by a continuously flowing stream of air which is blown at high velocity across said surface area and is maintain ed at a base temperature level that is above ambient yet somewhat below the sensitivity threshold; and second means to periodically raise the temperature of the continuously flowing air stream above its base level to create heat energy pulses having a peak level much higher than the threshold, the duty cycle of the pulses being such as to allow for internal heat transfer to take place in the region below the skin surface area in the intervals between pulses to an extent preventing a significant rise in surface temperature above the threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
An instrument for applying therapeutic heat to a limited skin surface area of a patient having a temperature sensitivity threshold which is determined by that temperature level of the medium to which the patient is exposed above which the patient experiences undue discomfort, the instrument comprising: first means to continuously expose a skin surface area of the patient to a heated medium constituted by a continuously flowing stream of air which is blown at high velocity across said surface area and is maintain ed at a base temperature level that is above ambient yet somewhat below the sensitivity threshold; and second means to periodically raise the temperature of the continuously flowing air stream above its base level to create heat energy pulses having a peak level much higher than the threshold, the duty cycle of the pulses being such as to allow for internal heat transfer to take place in the region below the skin surface area in the intervals between pulses to an extent preventing a significant rise in surface temperature above the threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first means includes an electrical heater to heat the air stream and an electronic controller which is interposed between said electric heater element and a high voltage supply to energize said element with a relatively low voltage which is regulated by means of a sensor place in the air stream to maintain the temperature thereof at a substantially constant base level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second means is a repeat cycle timer arranged to bypass said controller periodically to apply the high voltage from the supply directly to the heater element in the desired duty cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 3, wherein said timer has an adjustable "on" period and an adjustable "off" period whereby the duty cycle is adjustable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base level is about 130°F and the peaks are at a temperature of about 180°F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pulses have a duration of about one second and the intervals therebetween are a multiple thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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