Portable medical cooling assembly

摘要

A cooling assembly is provided for cooling selected parts of the body of a patient to treat hyperthermia or to induce mild hypothermia in the treatment of strokes. The assembly includes a self-contained cooling unit containing a water supply, a battery operated refrigeration unit and circulating pump. A cooling member is connected to the cooling unit and is adapted for receiving cooled water and contacting selected parts of the patient to cool the patient. The cooling member can be a vest, wrap, blanket, chair, hood or cap.

主权项

1. A cooling assembly for cooling a patient, said assembly comprising:
a portable integral cooling unit for supplying cooled water, said cooling unit having a water reservoir, a refrigeration unit for cooling water in the reservoir, an inlet having a coupling with a self-closing valve to prevent leakage, an outlet having a coupling with a self-closing valve to prevent leakage, a battery source for operating said refrigeration unit, and a circulating pump for circulating cooled water between said inlet and outlet; a cooling garment for directly contacting the patient, said cooling garment comprising a back portion having a first side edge, a second side edge, a top edge, and a tube arranged in a circuitous pattern for receiving said cooled water, said tube having an inlet and an outlet; a first front portion having a first side edge and a second side edge, said first side edge connected to said first side edge of said back portion and having a tube arranged in a circuitous pattern for receiving the cooled water and having an inlet and an outlet; a second front portion having a tube for receiving said cooling water, a first side edge connected to said second side edge of said back portion, and a second side edge, said first and second front portions having a width to overlap and having fasteners for removably fastening the first front portion to the second front portion; a first shoulder flap having a first edge connected to said top edge of said back portion adjacent said first side edge of said back portion and having a tube arranged in a circuitous pattern for receiving said cooled water and having an inlet and an outlet, said first shoulder flap being positioned for folding over a first shoulder of said patient and being removably fastened to said first front portion by a fastener; and a second shoulder flap having a first edge connected to a top edge of said back portion adjacent said second side edge of said back portion and positioned for folding over a second shoulder of said patient and being removably fastened to said second front portion by a fastener, said second shoulder flap having a tube arranged in a circuitous pattern to receive the cooled water; a bottom flap coupled to a bottom edge of said second front portion and adapted for folding under the groin of the patient and being removably fastened to said back portion by a fastener, said bottom flap including a tube for arranging in a circuitous pattern for receiving said cooled water; a first U-shaped flap having an open upper side and attached to a top of said first front portion and said back portion and having a tube for receiving said cooled water; and a second U-shaped flap having an open upper side and attached to a top of said second front portion and said back portion and having a tube for receiving said cooled water; said first U-shaped flap and second U-shaped flap having a dimension to cover an underarm area of the patient; and a supply tube having a first feed tube connecting the outlet of the cooling unit to an inlet of the tubes of said cooling garment, a second feed tube connecting the inlet of the cooling unit to an outlet of the tubes of said cooling garment for directing cooled water through the cooling garment, and an insulating sleeve surrounding the first and second supply tubes.