摘要 |
An improved therapy member (10) for treatment of sprains, muscle aches and orthopaedic injuries is provided which is very flexible to permit the member to be placed in conforming relationship with a patient's limb or other body part, while also allowing effective hot or cold thermal therapy. The therapy member (10) preferably includes an internal bladder (12) having a fluid inlet (26) and a fluid outlet (28). The bladder (12) is substantially surrounded by a body of flexible, thermally conductive gel (32), the latter being encased within a flexible fabric-type sheath (34). An inlet/outlet fluid supply tubing assembly (16) is coupled with the bladder (12) in order to permit circulation of hot or cold fluid through the bladder (12) for therapy purposes. The gel (32) advantageously includes a water soluble humectant entrapped within a polyacrylamide matrix.
|