Allegiance Corporation

Daniel J Kohout

Gregory C Groenke

Charles Ray Mason

Tim Shaneberger

E Ron Phipps

Michael Fleck

Everett Posey

The invention disclosed herein relates to a device for applying thermal therapy, treatment or comfort to a patient or user which includes a container having an upper side and lower side with a space therebetween containing a chemical composition adapted to provide a thermal effect, and a plurality of discrete attachment areas which generally define a central location in the container. The device has a nest configuration and automatically conforms to the user's geometry upon application of weight thereon. The discrete attachment areas are positioned to define an inner peripheral base portion and outer peripheral portion in the device which collectively form the nest configuration. The device is particularly useful in thermal treatment for infants.

Thermal device with automatic nesting feature

An absorbent thermal bag made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes an absorbent pad operatively associated with a thermal bag which can be regenerated in situ. The junction of the absorbent pad and the thermal bag defines an unobstructed perimeter area that is an area of the absorbent pad that extends beyond the thermal bag. The unobstructed perimeter area provides an area of improved absorption and allows the side-by-side simultaneous placement of the thermal bag and the absorbent pad on a wound site. The thermal bag can contain endothermic materials such as ice for cold therapy or, alternatively, exothermic materials for heat therapy.

Absorbent thermal bag

The invention relates to extended life thermal packs. In one embodiment, the thermal pack comprises a container having a first thermally reactive chemical solute therein, a rupturable solvent packet containing a solvent, and a rupturable solute packet containing a second thermally reactive chemical solute in the solute packet. The solutes are chemically separated until time of use and are different from one another. The chemical separation of solutes until time of use in combination with the structure of the thermal pack structure afford both extended duration of thermal effect by the pack and afford the user with increased control by permitting optional sequential combination of the reactants. The thermal reaction produced by the combination of solute and solvent can be either endothermic or exothermic and therefore can be used to apply cold or hot therapy, respectively.

Extended life thermal pack

An absorbent ice bag (,) made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes an absorbent pad (,) operatively associated with an ice bag (,). The junction of the absorbent pad (,) and the ice bag (,) defines an unobstructed perimeter area that is an area of the absorbent pad (,) that extends beyond the ice bag (,). The unobstructed perimeter area provides an area of improved absorption and allows the side-by-side simultaneous placement of the ice bag (,) and the absorbent pad (,) on wound site. The ice bag (,) may contain ice (,), or other suitable phase change material. The ice bag (,) may also contain water (,), or other liquid that results from melting of the phase change

Absorbent ice bag

A cold pack,made in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a container,Disposed within the container,is a first endotherm-producing chemical,Also disposed within the container,is a solvent packet,and a chemical packet,Second endotherm-producing chemical,is disposed in the chemical packet,First endotherm-producing chemical,the solvent packet,and the chemical packet,are collectively components of the cold pack. Preferably the container,is sealed so as to surround and encase the components of the cold pack,The first endotherm-producing chemical,and the second endotherm-producing chemical,are selected to be different. Both the first endotherm-producing chemical,and the second endotherm-producing chemical,may be selected from among those compounds with a positive enthalpy of solution (&Dgr;,/H&deg;, kJ/mol) and which produce a reduced temperature of solution that is greater than 10&deg; F. and provide the cold pack,with an extended life.

Growing community of inventors

Grayslake, IL, United States of America

Daniel J Kohout