Field of application of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of devices to be externally applied to the human body in order to refrigerate a part thereof with therapeutic purposes, for example (such as for the treatment of bruises, lesions, febrile illnesses, etc.). More precisely, the present invention is applied to refrigeration devices which comprise a casing containing a thermal gel, i.e. a substance or mixture of substances having an isobaric specific heat preferably not lower than 2000 J/(Kg-K), and more preferably not lower than 4186 J/(Kg-K). The thermal gel usually consists of a water-based solution, possibly mixed with other substances, such as for example polyacrylamide. The casing is made of a material suited to promote a thermal exchange between the gel and the environment outside the casing. In order to cool a part of human body it is necessary to cool the thermal gel and place the casing which contains it into contact with the aforesaid part of a human body. The thermal gel works as a heat reservoir and subtracts heat from the human body, mainly by conduction.

For ease of exposition, hereinafter in the present description the expression "refrigeration device" will indicate a device of the aforesaid type.

The refrigeration devices may be disposable or reusable for an indefinite number of times. The disposable refrigeration devices usually include one or more capsules containing appropriate chemical compounds (such as, for example, ammonium nitrate), which give rise to an endothermic reaction which instantly cools the thermal gel when they come into contact with the thermal gel. The disposable refrigeration devices include, by way of example, instant ice bags. The reusable refrigeration device are instead free from internal mechanisms for cooling the thermal gel. In order to prepare these devices for refrigerating a part of a human body, it is necessary to arrange the device in advance in an environment characterized by a very low temperature, such as for example in a freezer. The thermal gel cools releasing heat through the walls of the casing which contains it. The reusable refrigeration devices include, by way of example, ice packs and eutectic plates.

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device which can be reused for an indefinite number of times. In particular, the present invention relates to a refrigeration device which can be reversibly connected to a part of a human body to be refrigerated.

Overview of the background art

Among the known refrigeration devices, those which are most adapted to refrigerate a part of a human body include a thermal gel, which, unlike water, also remains malleable at temperatures lower than 0°C. The casing which includes the thermal gel is, in turn, easily deformable and this allows to adapt the shape of the casing to the part of a human body to be refrigerated, so as to maximize the surface at which the casing is in contact with the skin of the human body. The friction between casing and skin can be sufficient to keep the refrigeration device in the position in which it was applied to the human body. This occurs, for example, when the device is applied to a lower limb and the patient is in the upright position. In these cases, patients are forced to lie down and remain as immobile as possible to prevent a movement of the refrigeration device or, if they want to remain erect, they must hold the refrigeration device in contact with their bodies in the position in which it was arranged. This is an obvious discomfort for the user of a refrigeration device.

Additionally, the malleability of the thermal gels even at temperatures lower than 0°C, although permitting a perfect adherence of the casing to the part of a human body to be refrigerated, results in that the refrigeration device tends to change shape as time elapses due to the weight of the thermal gel. More precisely, since the thermal gel is not in solid state, it tends to accumulate in the lower part of the casing which contains it. Although the distribution of thermal gel on the part of a human body is optimal when the device is applied to a pa- tient, this distribution thus decreases as time elapses. This compromises the refrigeration efficiency.

Objects of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by indicating a refrigeration device which is more efficient than the current ones and which tends to remain in contact with the human body in the position in which it is applied despite possible movements of the patient.

Summary of the invention

The present invention refers to a device adapted to refrigerate at least one part of a human body, said device comprising:

· at least one casing including at least one cavity accommodating a thermal gel,

wherein, according to the invention, the casing includes a plurality of said cavities which are mutually separate, the refrigeration device further comprising: • first means adapted to reversibly connect said casing to said part of a human body to be refrigerated.

Advantageously, the aforesaid first connecting means prevent an undesired movement of the device of the invention after it has been applied to the body part to be refrigerated. In addition to this, the fact that the thermal gel is accommodated in a plurality of cavities which do not communicate with one an- other prevents a migration of the thermal gel towards the lower part of the casing due to its own weight.

Further innovative features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawings exclusively provided by way of non-limitative example, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective front view of a refrigeration device according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows a partially exploded perspective side view of the device in figure 1 ;

- figure 3 shows a front plan view of the device in figure 1 ;

- figure 4 shows a back plan view of the device in figure 1 ;

- figure 5 shows a front plan view of a first alternative embodiment of the device in figure 1 ;

- figure 6 shows a back plan view of the device in figure 5;

- figure 7 shows a front plan view of a second alternative embodiment of the device in figure 1 ;

- figure 8 shows a back plan view of the device in figure 7;

- figure 9 shows a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the device in figure 1.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention

Hereinafter in the present description, a figure may also be shown with reference to elements not expressly indicated thereon but indicated on other figures instead. The scale and proportions of the various elements shown do not necessarily correspond to real values.

Figure 1 shows a device 1 by means of which a part of a human body, such as for example a wrist, can be refrigerated. Device 1 comprises a band 2, preferably made of natural or synthetic fibers appropriately woven to form a highly flexible but not very extensible fabric. The thickness of band 2 is preferably uniform and sufficiently long to be wound about a wrist and the band preferably comprises a rectangular portion 3, the width of which is greater than that of the stretches of band 2 adjacent thereto. The length of portion 3 is preferably greater than half the length of band 2 and is closer to one of the two ends 4 and 5 of band 2. More precisely, portion 3 is closer to the end 4 of band 2 arranged on the left in figure 1. If laid on a plane, band 2 is preferably symmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis. Portion 3 is thus preferably centered transversely with its long edges preferably parallel to the long edges of the remaining stretches of band 2.

Device 1 further comprises a casing 6, preferably flat and rectangular in shape, connected to the portion 3 of band 2. Casing 6 includes a plurality of housings accommodating a given amount of thermal gel. More precisely, casing 6 prefer- ably comprises two rectangular walls joined to each other in a sealing manner both along the edges thereof and along lines which cross said walls preferably in longitudinal and transversal direction. The inner joints divide casing 6 into a plurality of preferably square or rectangular cells 7, each of which contain the aforesaid thermal gel. Since the joints between the two walls of casing 6 are sealed, the cells 7 do not communicate with one another, i.e. the cavities delimiting the cells 7 are mutually separated. The thermal gel can thus migrate exclusively within the single cells 7 and not from one cell 7 to the other.

The delimitation walls of casing 6 are preferably made of silicone and the joints between the aforesaid walls are made by means of heat sealing. Similarly to band 2, casing 6 is also highly flexible but not very extensible. Casing 6 is preferably more flexible than band 2. The latter, by means of its portion 3, thus acts as a supporting structure of casing 6.

Casing 6 is opposite to the portion 3 of band 2 at one of the two aforesaid delimitation walls thereof. Preferably, the length and width of casing 6 are almost equal to the length and width of portion 3, respectively. Even more preferably, casing 6 is almost superimposed on the portion 3 of band 2.

With reference to figure 2, it can be noted that casing 6 is preferably connected to portion 3 by means of a plurality of press studs 8. More precisely, each stud 8 comprises a first element 8a having at least one protuberance and a second el- ement 8b having at least one housing in which the aforesaid protuberance can be at least partially accommodated. Elements 8a are connected to the portion 3 of band 2 and the elements 8b are connected to casing 6 at the wall of the latter facing towards portion 3. Incidentally, the studs 8 may be equivalently applied to device 1 so that the elements 8a are connected to casing 6 and the elements 8b are connected to portion 3. For each stud 8, a housing of the protuberance of element 8a in the housing of element 8b forms a reversible connection between the elements 8a and 8b. The studs 8 thus allow to connect and discon- nect casing 6 from the portion 3 of band 2 for an indefinite number of times. In a first variant of device 1 (not shown in the figures), alternatively or additionally to the press studs 8, the connection between casing 6 and portion 3 is preferably achieved by means of at least a first and a second element which can be magnetically coupled to each other and connected to casing 6 and to the portion 3 of band 2, respectively. A magnetic coupling between said first and second element forms a reversible connection therebetween. Said first and second elements thus allow to connect and disconnect casing 6 from the portion 3 of band 2 for an indefinite number of times.

In a second variant of device 1 (not shown in the figures), alternatively or additionally to the press studs 8, the connection between casing 6 and portion 3 is preferably achieved by means of Velcro. More precisely, the device of the invention comprises a first strip including a plurality of flexible hooks at a first face and a second strip including a plurality of flexible loops at a first face. The first and second strips, at a second face opposite to the aforesaid first face, are connected to casing 6 and to the portion 3 of band 2 or, vice versa, to the portion 3 of band 2 and to casing 6, respectively. An at least partial superimposition between the first and second strips such that the hooks are at least partially inserted into the loops forms a reversible connection therebetween. The first and second strips thus allow to connect and disconnect casing 6 from the portion 3 of band 2 for an indefinite number of times.

Advantageously, as compared to other connection modes, by virtue of the Velcro, casing 6 can be connected to portion 3 in an indefinite number of reciprocal positions.

In a third variant of device 1 (not shown in the figures), alternatively or additionally to the press studs 8, the connection between casing 6 and portion 3 is preferably made by means of a zipper. More precisely, the device of the invention comprises at least a first and a second row of teeth which can at least partially interdigitate in one another and which are connected to casing 6 and to the portion 3 of band 2, respectively. The device of the invention further comprises a slider connected to one of the two rows of teeth and sliding thereon, so that a sliding movement of the slider between the rows of teeth determines their inter- digitation or a separation. An at least partial interdigitation between the first and second rows of teeth forms a reversible connection therebetween. The two rows of teeth together with the slider thus allow to connect and disconnect casing 6 from the portion 3 of band 2 for an indefinite number of times.

With reference to figure 3, it can be noted that band 2, at the end 4, is connected to a preferably rectangular buckle 9. In particular, band 2 can be inserted into buckle 9 starting from end 5.

With reference to figure 4, it can be noted that band 2, at the face opposite to that where band 2 is connected to casing 6, comprises a pair of strips 10 and 11 of respective fabrics forming a Velcro connection system. More specifically, strip 10, at one face, is connected to the stretch of band 2 interposed between portion 3 and end 5, and at the other face comprises a plurality of flexible hooks. Strip 11 , at one face, is connected to the portion 3 of band 2 and at the other face comprises a plurality of flexible hooks. Incidentally, in an equivalent man- ner, strip 10 may be connected to portion 3 and strip 11 may be connected to the aforesaid stretch of band 2. An at least partial superimposition between the strips 10 and 11 such that the hooks are at least partially inserted into the loops forms a reversible connection therebetween.

Starting from the configuration shown in figure 1 and assuming that the thermal gel is at ambient temperature, a part of a human body can be refrigerated by means of device 1 by performing the following the steps:

a) disconnecting casing 6 from band 2 and preferably placing it in a freezer or an equivalent blast chiller;

b) waiting for a sufficient period of time for the thermal gel to reach a required temperature, preferably lower than 0°C;

c) connecting casing 6 to band 2;

d) inserting band 2 into buckle 9 from the part of end 5 so that the strips 10 and 11 remain facing inwards;

e) tightening band 2 on the body part to be refrigerated by taking casing 6 into contact with the latter;

f) bending band 2 so as to reciprocally superimpose strips 10 and 11 by connecting them together. Band 2, together with the studs 8 (or the other mutually equivalent connections), thus acts as a reversible means for connecting casing 6 to the part of a human body to be refrigerated.

Advantageously, the fact that band 2 closes into a ring by means of Velcro al- lows to adjust the diameter of the annular band which is obtained at the end of step f) as desired. Device 1 , compatibly with the length of band 2, is thus connectable to a human body at a plurality of parts thereof.

Advantageously, the fact that casing 6 is reversibly connectable to band 2 firstly means that it is sufficient to put only casing 6 and not the entire device 1 in a freezer in step a). Furthermore, if a plurality of casings 6 are available, it is possible to simultaneously preserve them in the freezer so that a first casing 6 which is heated upon coming into contact with the human body can be rapidly replaced by a second casing 6 taken directly from the freezer during a refrigeration treatment. Thereby, the cooling of the part of a human body is interrupted only for a very short period of time.

Figures 5 and 6 show a device 20 which is a first alternative embodiment of the device 1 shown in the previous figures. Device 20 differs from device 1 in that it comprises a second band 21 connected at the ends to portion 3 so as to form with the latter a ring 22 which is sufficiently wide to allow a foot to be inserted therein. Device 20 also differs from device 1 in how band 2 can be closed in a ring. In particular, device 20 is free from buckle 9 and the flexible hook strip 10 is connected to band 2 at the same face on which portion 3 is connected to casing 6.

Device 20 is specifically applicable at the back of a foot. More precisely, starting from the configuration shown in figures 5 and 6 and assuming that the thermal gel is at ambient temperature the back of a foot can be refrigerated by means of device 20 by performing the following the steps:

a) disconnecting casing 6 from band 2 and preferably placing it in a freezer or an equivalent blast chiller;

b) waiting for a sufficient period of time for the thermal gel to reach a required temperature, preferably lower than 0°C;

c) connecting casing 6 to band 2; d) inserting the foot into ring 22 so that casing 6 faces towards the back of the foot;

e) wrapping band 2 about the foot by passing it at the sole thereof, so as to fasten band 2 on the foot taking casing 6 into contact with the back of the latter; f) reciprocally superimposing the strips 10 and 11 by connecting them together. Similarly as described for device 1 , the fact that band 2 closes into a ring by means of Velcro allows to adjust the diameter of the annular band which is obtained at the end of step f) as desired. Device 20, compatibly with the length of band 2, is thus connectable to feet of different sizes.

The three connection variants between casing 6 and band 2 shown with reference to device 1 equivalents apply to device 20.

Figures 7 and 8 show a device 30 which is a second alternative embodiment of device 1. Device 30 differs from device 1 in that it comprises a rigid structure 31 preferably of elongated and concave shape in longitudinal direction Structure 31 is even more preferably shaped as a shell of a device known as a "shin-pad". Device 30 further comprises two bands 32 and 33, which differ from band 2 in that they are free from buckle 9 and portion 3. Bands 32 and 33 are preferably identical and are connected to shell 31 at a first end 34 (corresponding to the end 4 of band 2). Band 32 is preferably connected to shell 31 near the end 35 thereof placed on top in figures 7 and 8. Band 33 is preferably connected to shell 31 near the end 36 thereof placed on the bottom in figures 7 and 8. By means of the studs 8, casing 6 is reversibly connected to shell 31 at the concavity thereof instead of being connected to the bands 32 and 33. Preferably, casing 6 is arranged longitudinally with respect to shell 31 and the bands 32 and 33 are arranged almost orthogonally with respect to the latter.

Device 30 also differs from device 1 in how the bands 32 and 33 can be closed in a ring. In particular, each band 32 and 33 is connected to a flexible hook strip 37 near an end (corresponding to the end 5 of band 2) opposite to the end 34. The strips 37 are connected to the strips 32 and 33 at the face thereof facing towards the same side as the concavity of shell 31. The device 30 further comprises a pair of flexible loop strips 38 transversally connected to shell 31 at the convexity and preferably at the same height at which the bands 32 and 33 are connected to shell 31 , respectively. Thereby, the strips 37 can be easily superimposed on the strips 38. Shell 31 , together with the bands 32 and 33, thus works as a supporting structure of casing 6.

Bands 32 and 33 are preferably longer than the band 2 of device 1. Even more preferably, bands 32 and 33 are sufficiently long to be wound about a leg trans- versally to the latter. Thereby, device 30 can be specifically applied to a leg. More precisely, starting from the configuration shown in figures 7 and 8 and assuming that the thermal gel is at ambient temperature, the front part of a leg can be refrigerated by means of device 30 by performing the following the steps: a) disconnecting casing 6 from shell 31 and preferably placing it in a freezer or an equivalent blast chiller;

b) waiting for a sufficient period of time for the thermal gel to reach a required temperature, preferably lower than 0°C;

c) connecting casing 6 to shell 31 ;

d) applying shell 31 to the leg by taking casing 6 into contact with the front part of the latter;

e) winding the bands 32 and 33 about the leg so as to fasten them on the latter; f) reciprocally superimposing the strips 37 on the strips 38 by connecting them together.

Similarly as described for device 1 , the fact that the bands 37 and 38 close into a ring by means of Velcro allows to adjust the diameter of the annular bands which are obtained at the end of step f) as desired. Device 30, compatibly with the length of the bands 32 and 33, is thus connectable to legs having different cross sections of different size.

The three variants for the connection between casing 6 and band 2 and shown with reference to device 1 equivalents apply in device 30 to the connection between casing 6 and shell 31.

Figure 9 shows a device 40 which is a third alternative embodiment of device 1. Device 40 differs from device 1 in that it comprises a helmet 41 working as a supporting structure of casing 6 instead of band 2. Thereby, device 40 is specifically applicable to a head. Helmet 41 preferably comprises a first band 42 connected at the ends to a second annular band 43. The length of the bands 42 and 43 is such that when device 40 is worn by an individual, band 42 preferably extends from the forehead to the nape of the neck along the sagittal plane and band 43 wrap around the individual's head preferably transversally at the forehead, the ears and the nape of the neck. Device 40 further comprises a lace 44 connected, at the ends, to band 43 preferably orthogonal to band 42, i.e. so as to extend from one ear to the other along the frontal plane under the chin when device 40 is worn by an individual. Lace 44 is used to prevent helmet 41 from being pulled off the head when the latter is inclined with respect to the vertical. Device 40 preferably comprises a plurality of casings 6 reversibly connected to the bands 42 and 43, by means of the studs 8, at the concavities thereof. Even more preferably, device 40 comprises a first casing 6 which internally covers band 42 and two casings 6 which internally cover band 43.

According to a variant of device 40 (not shown in the figures), band 42 is connected to band 43 by means of Velcro. Similarly, band 43 consists of a rectilin- ear band, the ends of which are connected to each other by means of Velcro. This allows to adjust the size of helmet 41 as desired. Device 40, compatibly with the length of the bands 42 and 43 and of lace 44, can be thus fitted on heads of different sizes.

Starting from the configuration shown in figure 9 and assuming that the thermal gel is at ambient temperature, a head of a human body can be refrigerated by means of device 40 by performing the following the steps:

a) disconnecting the casings 6 from the bands 42 and 43 and preferably placing them in a freezer or an equivalent blast chiller;

b) waiting for a sufficient period of time for the thermal gel to reach a required temperature, preferably lower than 0°C;

c) connecting the casings 6 to the bands 42 and 43;

d) fitting helmet 41 on the head taking the casings 6 into contact with the latter; e) releasing helmet 41 from the head by passing lace 44 under the chin.

The three variants for the connection between casing 6 and band 2 shown with reference to device 1 equivalently apply in device 40 to the connection between casings 6 and bands 42 and 43.

On the basis of the provided description of a preferred embodiment, it is appar- ent that changes may be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.