The invention pertains to improvement of semen quality. It relates, in particular, to a device, system and method for cooling testicles, in particular human testicles.

For various, individual reasons there is a desire by a number of male adults to improve a quality of their semen, as measurable and or quantifiable by a quantity and quality of spermatozoa through spermatogramms.

A development of Spermatozoa in the human body, biologically referred to as Spermatogenesis, is a complex but well examined process. Physiology and pathology of spermatogenesis shall be briefly discussed in what follows with focus on the influence of scrotal temperature on spermatogenesis. The complete process and a precise description of other influencing factors besides temperature can be looked up elsewhere.

Spermatogenesis takes place in testes and epididymis which both are localized in the scrotum. Spermatogonia develop from spermatogonial stem cells until puberty. After puberty, in adult testes, spermatogenesis starts by transformation of spermatogonia to spermatozoa in multiple and complex steps. It endures approximately 3 months Including the transport on ductal system to epididymis where adult spermatozoa are stored until ejaculation and gain motility and become capable of fertilization. Spermatogenesis physiologically continues uninterrupted until death.

Spermatogenesis is highly depending on temperature and hormones (hormones described elsewhere). Today it's approved that intrascrotal location of testes and epididymis are crucial factors for an optimal temperature. Intrascrotal temperature is physiologically approximately 2°C lower compared to body temperature and essential for optimal spermatogenesis. This is achieved by the mentioned extracorporeal location of testes and epididymis in the scrotum and a thermal exchange between warm testicular and epididymal arterial and cold venous blood streams, in particular by means of a countercurrent principle. So, the countercurrent principle is functionating as a physiological cooling system.

Today, it is approved that an elevated periscrotal/periepididymal temperature may inhibit or even completely suppress spermatogenesis. It is known that besides cryptorchism and varicocele spermatogenesis can be limited by physiological scrotal heat stress. A range of studies examining physiological heat stress have been conducted and shall not be discussed here at length. Some of these studies were reviewed by Jung et. al 2011. They identified tight jockey-shorts and physical inactivity (sitting, sleeping) leading to discontinued exchange of perigenital air with the consequence of approximation of intrascrotal temperature to body temperature

Physical inactivity as a cause of heat stress is present particularly when we are asleep. All studies reviewed by Jung et al. 2011 examining scrotal temperature in sleeping probands found significantly elevated scrotal temperatures in the sleeping period compared to the awake period. Besides, they found that the higher the scrotal temperature, the more the worse were spermatozoa parameters.

Mieusset et al. 1987 examined the association of scrotal hyperthermia with impaired spermatogenesis in 150 infertile men. As a control group they used 37 fertile men. They found for the group of infertile men approximately O.5°C higher scrotal temperatures compared to the group of fertile men.

Another study (Laven et al. 1988) categorized 56 males from infertile couples in "warm workers"/"warm sleepers" (> 6 hours sitting during an average work day an sleeping with underwear on) and "cool workers"/" cool sleepers" (< 6 hours sitting during an average work day an sleeping without underwear). They found a significant higher number of moving spermatozoa in spermatogramms (p<0.001) in the group of "cool workers"/” cool sleepers" (n = 26) compared to the groups of "warm workers"/”warm sleepers" (n = 30).

However, the negative effect on spermatogenesis because of physiological heat stress is proven by a range of studies.

Various devices, systems and methods for effecting scrotal cooling with the ultimate aim of cooling testicles have been suggested, including application of ice bags or hydrogel pads containing menthol. However, these methods tend to be cumbersome, unreliable, and difficult to monitor and/or fine-tune.

Therefore, it would be desirable to know devices, systems and method for reliably cooling testicles which may be applied in a simple and non-disturbing manner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objective and other objectives may be solved by a device, system and/or method in accordance with claims 1 , 11 to 14 and 19, respectively.

A device for cooling testicles, in accordance with an aspect of the invention as hereinafter claimed comprises the features of claim 1 below.

A device for cooling testicles in accordance with an aspect of the invention as hereinafter claimed may, in particular, comprise a. cooling fluid distribution means, in particular encircling scrotum, configured to distribute cooling fluid, in particular air, over a skin surface of and/or near the scrotum; b. cooling fluid feeding means, in particular a flexible conduit, configured to feed cooling fluid to the cooling fluid distribution means; wherein c. the cooling fluid distribution means are configured, in particular shaped, to be attached to the scrotum.

The device may, in particular, be used to feed relatively cooler air, in particular environmental air, to the scrotum, in particular of a human subject, and possibly to a skin in an area near and/or surrounding the scrotum. The air may originate from a room which the subject is located, or from a cooler, nearby room. The air may also be actively cooled, na as will be describe in more detail below.

The cooling fluid distribution means may be configured to be attached to or near the scrotum, and/or serve to direct the air to allow for optimum cooling. They may, in particular comprise or consist of a first conduit, which may, at least approximately, be shaped as a ring or a toroid. The first conduit may comprise or consist of a tube, hose, pipe or duct, which may have a plurality of outlet openings provided in a wall of said tube, hose, pipe or duct.

A plurality of elevations, in particular ridges, ribs, knobs, and or pimples are formed on an outside surface of the first conduit, in particular near and or around outlet openings. The elevations prevent outlet openings from being obstructed and/or blocked by skin contact, which can negatively affect a uniform and/or desired distribution of the cooling fluid. The device may further comprise cooling fluid feeding means, which may in particular comprise a flexible second conduit, in particular a second tube or hose, configured to feed cooling fluid, in particular air supplied by a pump, to the cooling fluid distribution means.

The cooling fluid distribution means and the cooling fluid feeding means may be connected by a fluid- and pressure-tight connection, which allows cooling fluid to be tunneled from the feeding means to the distribution means without losses. In particular, first and second conduits may be connected through tubing connectors, in particular through an at least essentially T-shaped or Y-shaped tubing connector, which may be employed to simultaneously shape the first conduit into a ring or toroid having an inner diameter D, and fluidically connect the first conduit with the second conduit.

The tubing connector may comprise an inlet port provided at one end of an inlet conduit and first and second outlet ports provided at respective ends of first and second outlet conduits. First and second outlet conduits may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the inlet conduit. One or more cones may be provided on respective outside surfaces of the inlet conduit and or one or both of the outlet conduits, and may taper towards the end of the respective conduit. First and second ends of the first conduit may be put over the first and second outlet conduits, respectively, so that the latter extend into the former. Respective inner diameters d of the first conduit and outer diameters of the outlet conduits may be chosen such that an amount of overlap between first conduit and first and second outlet conduits, respectively, may easily be changed and/or modified. The outlet conduits may be curved into a shape at least essentially conforming with a toroid section of a toroid having an inner diameter at least approximately equal to D. A length of each outlet conduits may measure between 2cm and 6cm, in particular between 3cm and 5cm. A length of the inlet conduit may be shorter than a length of each of the outlet conduits.

An inner diameter d2 of the second conduit and an outer diameter of the inlet conduit may be chosen such that a joint between second conduit and inlet conduit provides a predetermined disconnection point in the case of influencing tractive forces, in particular of more than 20N or more than 40N.

The cooling fluid distribution means may comprise a third conduit, preferably made of elastic material, in particular a polymer, e.g. silicone or PVC, for the cooling fluid, which third conduit is fluidly connected with the first conduit and at least essentially ring-shaped or of at least essentially of toroidal shape; wherein said third conduit is preferably integrally formed with and/or joined to or otherwise permanently attached to the first conduit to form an at least es- sentially B-, 8-, or pretzel-shaped element configured to receive one testicle through each conduit, or, more specifically, through an opening or hole defined by the ring-shape or toroidal shape as at least essentially defined by each of the first and third conduits, so that in particular each of the testicles can be surrounded by one conduit for improved cooling

The device for cooling testicles may comprise temperature sensing means, which may in turn may comprise a temperature sensor, for measuring e.g. a temperature of or on a skin surface of the scrotum, or a temperature of air surrounding the scrotum.

A system for cooling testicles, in accordance with an aspect of the invention as hereinafter claimed comprises the features of claim 14 below.

A system for cooling testicles in accordance with an aspect of the invention as hereinafter claimed may comprise a. a device for cooling testicles as described above; and b. a cooling fluid supply unit.

The cooling fluid supply unit may comprise a pump, in particular a diaphragm pump, for supplying cooling fluid to the cooling fluid feeding means to which it may be connected, in particular by means of a fluid- and pressure-tight connection.

Air, in particular environmental air may serve as cooling fluid, and may be sucked in by the pump through an inlet of the pump.

Unless installed in very hot, e.g. tropical or subtropical, environments, (environmental) air from a room which the subject is located, or from a cooler, nearby room., will in general be sufficiently cool to provide efficient cooling.

Nevertheless, a cooling unit may be provided as part of the cooling fluid supply unit for cooling cooling fluid prior to being supplied to the cooling fluid feeding means. The cooling unit may comprise cooling means which operate according to a thermoelectric effect, in particular Peltier effect or Seebeck effect. The cooling fluid supply unit, in particular the pump, may be configured to adapts a cooling fluid, in particular air, supply flow automatically to a temperature measured by temperature sensing means, in particular a temperature sensor.

The cooling fluid supply unit may comprise a control unit, which may control, in particular through a closed-loop control scheme, a measured temperature representative of the temperature of the scrotum and/or the testicles, by manipulating a volume flow, velocity, pressure and/or temperature of a cooling fluid supplied to the cooling fluid feeding means, wherein the temperature of the cooling fluid supplied may be manipulated by, in turn, manipulating a cooling power of the cooling unit, which may involve a second closed loop control scheme. The closed-loop control scheme may in particular be a PI D control scheme.

The measured temperature representative of the temperature of the scrotum and/or the testicles may be measured by means of temperature sensing means comprised by the device for cooling testicles as described above, and which may be connected, in particular through an electric signal connection, to the cooling fluid supply unit. Alternatively, the measured temperature representative of the temperature of the scrotum may be obtained by temperature sensing means comprised by the cooling fluid supply unit and configured to measure a temperature at a remote location. Electric connection means, in particular wiring, for connecting temperature sensing means comprised by the device for cooling testicles with the cooling fluid supply unit, in particular with the control unit; or for remote sensing by temperature sensing means comprised by the cooling fluid supply unit, may be provided integrally with the cooling fluid feeding means.

The cooling fluid supply unit may comprise tube retraction means, in particular a tube reel, tube rewinder or tube recoiler, which may, e.g., be spring driven and configured to automatically retract and/or wind the cooling fluid feeding means, in particular the second tube or hose.

A method for cooling testicles, in accordance with an aspect of the invention as hereinafter claimed comprises the features of claim 19 below.

A method for cooling testicles in accordance with an aspect of the invention as hereinafter claimed may comprise the steps of a. attaching cooling fluid distribution means (1) of a device or a system for cooling testicles as described above to a scrotum; and b. cooling the scrotum by feeding cooling fluid to the cooling fluid feeding means (2), in particular by a or the cooling fluid supply unit (4).

The method may, in particular, be employed and/or applied overnight, in particular before and/or during sleep.

To attach the cooling fluid distribution means to the scrotum, the ring or toroid formed by the first conduit may be put over the scrotum from distal, bottom or lower end thereof, and/or in a direction of the lower body and/or the crotch. Prior to attaching the cooling fluid distribution means to the scrotum, the inner diameter D may be increased by reducing the amount of overlap between first conduit and first and/or second outlet conduits, in particular by at least partially pulling the first conduit off the first and/or second outlet conduits. After putting the first conduit in place the first conduit may be put back the first and second outlet conduits, and the overlap may be increased thus decreasing the inner diameter D until the ring or toroid is firmly held in place by the part of the scrotum extending through it - which, if properly applied, will contain the testicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter of the invention will be explained with respect to further optional detail in the following text with reference to further exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings.

Fig 1 shows an exemplary device for cooling testicles in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view along line A-A’ of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 shows a perspective representation of the cooling fluid distribution means from Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 illustrates first tube 10 from Figs. 1 to 3 in a straightened-out configuration.

Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary device for cooling testicles in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Fig. 6 illustrates an exemplary device for cooling testicles in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention as hereinafter claimed. Fig. 7 shows an exemplary system for cooling testicles in accordance with the invention as hereinafter claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary device for cooling testicles as shown in Fig. 1 comprises cooling fluid distribution means 1 comprising a piece of a first tube 10 representing a first conduit connected to two opposite ports of a T-shaped tubing connector 3 to form a toroid having an inner diameter D. A plurality of circular holes 11 is provided and/or formed in said first tube as outlet openings, or, more specifically, in a wall of the first tube 10, said holes constituting outlet openings for a cooling fluid flowing in and/or through the first tube. As may be seen, a density of holes - which may be defined as a number of holes per area, in particular per outside surface area, of the first tube - is relatively larger on a first side of the first tube 10 facing a center 0 of the toroid then on an opposite second side facing away from the center 0. More precisely, no outlet openings are provided on or extending into said second side. The -X- and + /-directions of a right-handed coordinate system (X, Y, Z) are also indicated in Fig. 1 ; the positive Z-direction (not indicated) extends perpendicularly to the drawing plane of Fig. 1 towards the viewer.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view along line A-A’ of Figure 1 , in particular as seen when looking in the first circumferential direction C. Also indicated in Fig. 2 is the Z-direction of a right- handed coordinate system (X, Y, Z) of Fig. 1.

A location on the toroid, in particular a location of a point P on an outside surface of the first tube and/or the toroid may be defined by a pair of angles (a, y) comprising first angle a representative of a position with respect to a first circumferential direction C of the toroid in combination with a second angle y representative of a position with respect to a second circumferential direction of the toroid, corresponding to a circumferential direction c of the first conduit, more precisely of the first tube 10.

The inner diameter D of the toroid may typically range from at least approximately 5.0cm to at least approximately 10cm, an inner diameter d of the first tube may typically range from at least approximately 2.0mm to at least approximately 10mm, preferably between 3.0 and 5.0 mm. The toroid is perforated by 200 holes 11 measuring at least approximately 1 mm in diameter. The holes are arranged in five hole-lines and are covering 90° of the ring- circumference, in particular in the circumferential direction c. Each of the hole lines may approximately and/or on average along the first circumferential direction C of the toroid. Holes are at least approximately uniformly distributed along each line.

Holes are arranged on the one hand to support the natural cooling counter current principle between arteria testicularis and vena testicularis. On the other hand, they are arranged in that way, that they build an air chamber surrounding the scrotum.

A mean hole-line of the five hole-lines is pointing to the center of the ring at 90° and at 270°. The mean hole-line of the five hole-lines is 25° to 50° forward-slanting referring the center of the toroid at 0° and 180° of the toroid.

More generally, in a first region and/or section with respect to a first circumferential direction C of the toroid near T-shaped tubing connector 3, in particular in a region and/or section defined by the angle a ranging from -ori to ori with ori = 35°, 45° or 55°, outlet openings may extend over a region and/or section with respect to the second circumferential direction of the toroid defined by the angle y ranging from yi to /2 with yi = 240°or 270° and /2 = 0°, 30° or 45°; preferably with no outlet openings provided or extending outside said latter region and/or section.

Likewise, in a second region and/or section with respect to the first circumferential direction C of the toroid opposite T-shaped tubing connector 3, in particular in a region and/or section defined by the angle a ranging from 180°- cri to 180° + m with cri = 35°, 45° or 55°, outlet openings may also extend over a region and/or section with respect to the second circumferential direction of the toroid defined by the angle y ranging from yi to /2 with yi = 240°or 270° and /2 = 0°, 30° or 45°; preferably with no outlet openings provided or extending outside said latter region and/or section.

Likewise, in third regions and/or sections with respect to the first circumferential direction C located between the first and the second region, in particular in a region or section defined by the angle a ranging from m to 180°- m and from 180° + m to 360°- cm with cm selected from the exemplary values given above, outlet openings may extend over a region and/or section with respect to the second circumferential direction of the toroid defined by the angle y ranging from -yi to yi with yi = 30°, 45°, or 55°; preferably with no outlet openings provided or extending outside said latter region and/or section. An arrangement of outlet openings, in particular outlet holes, as described above will have the effect that outlet openings in first and second regions of the toroid will direct cooling fluid at least generally towards the center 0 of the toroid, whereas outlet openings in first and second regions of the toroid will direct cooling fluid relatively more in a direction corresponding to the positive Z-direction of Fig. 1. When used with a method for cooling testicles in accordance with an aspect of the invention, the toroid is preferably attached to the scrotum in such a manner that the positive Z-direction points towards the crotch and/or the lower abdomen of the subject, and/or the testicles are located within a semi-space defined by negative coordinates with respect to the Z direction, or in other words that the positive Z-direction points more towards the head of the subject than towards the feet. In this orientation cooling fluid is primarily directed towards the crotch and/or the lower abdomen, and only to a lesser degree towards the bottom end of the scrotum (as defined by a standing person). It has been found that the resulting distribution of cooling fluid is found more comfortable by a majority of subjects, and surprisingly provides more efficient cooling of the testicles.

In inlet port 31 of tubing connector 3 may be inclined towards the -Z-direction with respect to an X-Y-plane of Fig. 1, and may, in particular, extend in a direction defined by an angle y between 225° and 255°, preferably at least approximately 240°.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective representation of the cooling fluid distribution means from Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 illustrates first tube 10 from Figs. 1 to 3 in a straightened-out configuration. Fig. 4a) shows a perspective representation of the first tube 10 from Figs. 1 to 3 in the straightened- out configuration; Fig. 4b) shows an unfolding of the first tube 10 as shown in Fig. 4a), corresponding to a flattened-out wall of the first tube 10 after having (hypothetically) been cut open along a longitudinal direction. As may be seen from Fig. 4b), each of the five hole-lines at least approximately represents a rounded-off, elongated w-shape.

Fig. 5a) shows a top view of another exemplary device for cooling testicles, Figs. 5b) and 5c) show perspective representations of the same exemplary device; Fig. 5d) shows a sectional view looking in -Y-direction, Fig. 5e) a side view looking in +Y-direction. The device comprises cooling fluid distribution means T again comprising a piece of a first tube 10’ representing a first conduit connected to two opposite ports of a T-shaped tubing connector 3’ to form a slightly deformed toroid having an inner height or first width d’ in Y-direction and an inner length or second width D’ in Y-direction, where d’ ~ D’ and/or d’ < D’ may hold. The deformed toroid may thus have an at least approximate kidney shape, and/or a shape resembling a trapezoid with rounded-off corners, wherein the tubing connector 3’ is provided in a base of the trapezoid. A plurality of circular holes 1 T is provided and/or formed in said first tube 10’ as outlet openings, more specifically, in a wall of the first tube 10’; said holes again constituting outlet openings for cooling fluid flowing in and/or through the first tube. Again, a density of holes - which may be defined as a number of holes per area, in particular per outside surface area, of the first tube - is relatively larger on a first side of the first tube 10’ facing a center 0 of the toroid then on an opposite second side facing away from the center 0. More precisely, no outlet openings may be provided on or extending into said second side. +X- and + /-directions of a right-handed coordinate system (X, Y, Z) are also indicated in Fig. 5a); the positive Z-direction (not indicated) extends perpendicularly to the drawing plane of Fig. 5a) away from the viewer.

Figure 5d) shows a sectional view along line A-A of Figure 5a), in particular as seen when looking against the first circumferential direction C.

A location on the toroid, in particular a location of a point P on an outside surface of the first tube and/or the toroid may be defined by a pair of angles (cr, y) comprising first angle a representative of a position with respect to a first circumferential direction C of the toroid in combination with a second angle y representative of a position with respect to a second circumferential direction of the toroid, corresponding to a circumferential direction c of the first conduit, more precisely of the first tube 10’.

The inner widths d’ and/or D’ of the (deformed) toroid may typically range from at least approximately 5.0cm to at least approximately 10cm, an inner diameter d of the first tube 10’ may typically range from at least approximately 2.0mm to at least approximately 10mm, preferably between 3.0 and 5.0 mm. The toroid is perforated by at least approximately 50 to 80, in particular 64 holes 1 T measuring between 0.5mm and 0.8mm in diameter, in particular at least approximately 0.7 mm. The holes may be arranged in four hole-lines and may cover 90° of the ring-circumference, in particular in the circumferential direction c. Each of the hole lines may approximately and/or on average along the first circumferential direction C of the toroid. Holes are at least approximately uniformly distributed along each line.

Holes are arranged on the one hand to support the natural cooling counter current principle between arteria testicularis and vena testicularis,

A mean hole-line of the four hole-lines is preferably 25° to 50° forward-slanting. More generally, in a region and/or section with respect to a first circumferential direction C of the toroid near T-shaped tubing connector 3’, in particular in a region and/or section defined by the angle a ranging from -ori to ori with ori = 45°, 60° or 75°, outlet openings may extend over a region and/or section with respect to the second circumferential direction of the toroid defined by the angle y ranging from yi to /2 with yi = 330°or 345° and /2 = 30°, 45° or 60°; preferably with no outlet openings provided or extending outside any one or both of said regions and/or sections. Likewise, no outlet openings may be provided in or extend into a region and/or section defined by the angle a ranging from m to 360°- cri . Further, no outlet openings may be provided in or extend into in a region and/or section in immediate proximity of the tubing connector 3’, in particular in a region and/or section defined by the angle a ranging from -ori to ori with cri = 20°, 15° or 10°.

When used with a method for cooling testicles in accordance with an aspect of the invention, the toroid is preferably attached to the scrotum in such a manner that the positive Z-direction points towards the crotch and/or the lower abdomen of the subject, and/or the testicles are located within a semi-space defined by negative coordinates with respect to the Z direction, or in other words that the positive Z-direction points more towards the head of the subject than towards the feet. An arrangement of outlet openings, in particular outlet holes, as described above will thus have the effect that outlet openings will direct cooling fluid at least generally towards and/or to cool the plexus pampiniform is.

An inlet port 3T of tubing connector 3’ may be inclined towards the +Z-direction with respect to an X- Y-plane of Fig. 5a), and may, in particular, extend in a direction defined by an angle y between 120° and 170°.

All other aspects of the second embodiment may be identical to corresponding aspects described in combination with the first embodiment

Fig. 6a) shows a top view of another exemplary device for cooling testicles, Figs. 6b) and 6c) show perspective representations of the same exemplary device; Fig. 6d) shows a side view looking in -Y-direction, Fig. 6e) a side view looking in +Y-direction. The device comprises cooling fluid distribution means 1” which are identical to the fluid distribution means T of the second embodiment as shown in Fig. 5, albeit for a fixation element 40 attached to or formed integrally with the fluid distribution means 1”, in particular the first tube 10’ of the fluid distribution means. The fixation element 40 comprises an at least essentially C-Shaped bracket 41, which may be joined with the first tube 10’ in a region and/or section with respect to a first circumferential direction C of the toroid opposite the T-shaped tubing connector 3’, in particu- lar in a region and/or section defined by the angle a ranging from to 360° = 135°, 150° or 175°. The bracket may in particular at least essentially be formed like a section of a ring, a torus or a circle, in particular a three-quarter ring, torus or circle, having an opening on a first side, and may be joined with the first tube 10’ in an area opposite the opening. In particular, a middle section of the C-shaped bracket may run extend at least essentially in parallel and/or alongside with a section of the first tube 10’, and may be glued or otherwise firmly bonded to the latter. The bracket may be both plastically and elastically deformable, wherein a plastic deformation may easily be achieved by hand, in particular using two fingers to fine-tune a width of the bracket and/or a size of the opening; and a resilience remains around any shape thus given to the bracket. To achieve such characteristics, the bracket may be formed from metallic wire, in particular from copper or stainless steel wire, having a diameter of between 0.5mm and 1.0mm, and cladding and or coating said wire with a polymer, in particular with the same polymer from which first tube 10’ is made; e.g. silicone or PVC, to arrive at a diameter of the bracket, in particular legs of said bracket, of preferably between 3.0mm and 6.0mm in cross section. The C-shaped bracket my extend at an angle /Bracket with respect to a plane defined by the (deformed) toroid formed by the first tube 10’, corresponding to the X-Y-plane in Figs. 5 and 6 with 45° < /Bracket < 90°. The bracket may be put around a root of the penis, and subsequently tightened by plastically deforming it as described above to tightly fit around said root. When mounted in such a manner, the (deformed) toroid formed by the first tube 10’ is retained in an optimum position around the scrotum to allow for efficient and continuous cooling.

Alternatively or in addition, the (deformed) toroid as described in connection with any of the embodiments described above may also be attached to and or held in place around the scrotum by means of a lumbar belt to which it may be attached.

Fig. 7 schematically shows an exemplary system for cooling testicles in accordance with the invention. A cooling fluid supply unit 5 comprises a pump, in particular a diaphragm pump, for supplying cooling fluid, in particular air, to the cooling fluid feeding means 2.

This description and any accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different and/or individual embodiments as described above and below, including the claims. Embodiments in accordance with the invention may, in particular, include further and/or additional features, elements, aspects, etc. not shown in the drawings or described above.

The disclosure also covers all further features shown in any Figure, individually, although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, individual alternatives of the embodiments described in any Figure and the description and individual alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

The present disclosure also includes embodiments with any combination of features which are mentioned or shown above and/or below, in various embodiments or variants. It also includes individual features as shown in the Figures, even if they are shown there in connection with other features and/or are not mentioned above or below. The disclosure comprises embodiments which exclusively comprise the features described in the claims or the exemplary embodiments, as well as those which comprise additional other features. The steps of any method disclosed above or claimed below may preferably be carried out according to the order in which they are presented, but may also be carried out in a different order.

Furthermore, in the claims the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms "essentially", “substantially”, "about", "approximately" and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively. The term "about" in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope. Unless stated otherwise, it shall be assumed throughout this entire document that a statement a ~ b may imply that |a-b|/(|a|+|b|) < 0.2, preferably |a-b|/(|a|+|b|) < 0.05, wherein a and b may represent arbitrary quantities, parameters and/or variables as described and/or defined anywhere in this document, or as otherwise known to a person skilled in the art. Further, a statement that a is at least approximately equal or at least approximately identical to b may imply that a ~ b, and not exclude that a = b. Further, unless stated otherwise, throughout this entire document, a statement a » b may imply that a > 5b, preferably a > 10b; and statement a « b may imply that 5a < b, preferably 10a < b. A statement that a is significantly larger than b may imply that a » b. A statement that a is significantly smaller than b may imply that a « b.

Embodiments and/or components of the invention, in particular the cooling fluid supply unit and the control unit, may involve one or more electronic or computing devices, and/or involve the use of such devices. Said devices typically include a processor, processing device, or controller, such as a general purpose central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic circuit (PLC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processing (DSP) device, and/or any other circuit or processing device capable of executing the functions described herein. In particular, the battery management system, the control system may, and/or the control system settings update unit may be partially or fully implemented on such electronic or computing devices, individually or jointly.

As used herein, i.e. anywhere in this document, the terms “computer,” and related terms, e.g., “processor”, “processing device,” central processing unit (CPU)”, “computing device,” and “controller” may not be limited to just those integrated circuits referred to in the art as a computer, but broadly refers to a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), and application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits, and these terms are used interchangeably herein. In the embodiments described herein, memory may include, but is not limited to, a computer-readable medium, such as a random access memory (RAM), a computer-readable non-volatile medium, such as a flash memory. Alternatively, a floppy disk, a compact disc - read only memory (CD-ROM), a magnetooptical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a USB stick and/or a flash memory card (e.g. CF, SD, miniSD, microSD) may also be used. Also, in the embodiments described herein, additional input channels may be, but are not limited to, computer peripherals associ- ated with an operator interface such as a mouse and a keyboard. Alternatively, other computer peripherals may also be used that may include, for example, but not be limited to, a scanner. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, additional output channels may include, but not be limited to, an operator interface monitor.

Further, as used herein, the terms “software” and “firmware” are interchangeable and include any computer program which may be stored in memory for execution by computers as defined above, workstations, clients, and/or servers.

As used herein, the term “non-transitory computer-readable media” is intended to be representative of any tangible computer-based device implemented in any method of technology for short-term and/or long-term storage of information, such as, computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and sub-modules, or other data in any device. Therefore, the methods described herein may be encoded as executable instructions embodied in a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium, including, without limitation, a storage device and/or a memory device. Such instructions, when executed by a computer as defined above, cause the computer to perform at least a portion of the methods described herein. Moreover, as used herein, the term “non-transitory computer-readable media” may include all tangible, computer-readable media, including, without limitation, non-transitory computer storage devices, including without limitation, volatile and non-volatile media, and removable and non-removable media such as firmware, physical and virtual storage, CD- ROMS, DVDs, and any other digital source such as a network or the Internet, as well as yet to be developed digital means, with the sole exception being transitory, propagating signal.