Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Thermal applicators
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-07-17
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Thermal applicators
C607S112000, C607S114000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261314
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to thermal treatment of tissue, and in particular to postoperative thermal treatment of the facial area.
2. Background
The benefits of thermal treatment to injured or damaged tissue or to relieve postoperative pain and swelling are well known. In fact, there exists a multitude of devices designed to apply thermal treatment to various parts of the human body for various differing aliments. Some prior art thermal treatment devices include a variety of ice bags permanently stitched to a face harness or mask. These thermal treatment devices require removal of the face harness when the temperature of the ice bag rises.
In an attempt to make ice bags easier to exchange, some thermal treatment devices include a limited number of hook-and-loop fasteners, such as Velcro. Corresponding fasteners are attached to the ice bags such that the ice bags can be easily attached and detached from the limited number of hook-and-loop fasteners. However, these thermal treatment devices are also unsatisfactory and are characterized as being very intrusive, either blocking thermal treatment, and/or limiting thermal treatment to the area having the hook-and-loop fasteners.
Another approach has been to use thermal treatment devices having sectioned harnesses. For example, these thermal treatment devices may be divided into a neck section, a chin section, a facial section, and a head section. Each section typically attaches to the next and each section is individually frozen. Sectioned thermal treatment devices are characterized as being poorly configurable to the contours of the face for at least two reasons. First, as mentioned, each entire section is frozen, making that section very difficult to adjust to a given face. Second, partial coverage in a given section is usually not possible. For example, if the thermal treatment device has a removable facial section, treatment of only one side of the face is not possible. Either the removable facial section is attached, thereby treating the entire face, or the removable facial section is detached, thereby treating none of the face.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a retainer member and thermal treatment pack that combines a desirable thermal source and retainer to achieve a flexible configuration and patient mobility.
The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an improved retainer member formed by a horizontal and a vertical strip of lightweight washable cloth. Each strip is connected with hook-and-loop fasteners located along an extended length of the strip to create a lightweight retainer upon which thermal treatment bags are attached. Each such thermal treatment bag is selectively fastenable along a substantial portion of the retainer by mating hook-and-loop fasteners.
A significant feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention is that it advantageously provides for fastening and removal of multiple thermal treatment packs without requiring the removal of the retainer member. Moreover, the pattern of the hook-and-loop fasteners facilitates easy positioning in a multitude of facial locations while providing stability when, for example, a patient must recuperate in an upright position. In addition, the hook and loop fasteners advantageously provide for selective fastening of multiple thermal treatment packs, thereby enabling both complete and partial facial coverage from different horizontal and vertical positions. As a result, thermal treatment devices constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment apply effective thermal treatment for a wide range of uses. For example, while one postoperative patient needing thermal treatment may be unconscious or bed-ridden, another patient may simply have aches and pains. The preferred embodiment provides for the sturdiness needs of the first patient and the mobility needs of the second.
Another feature of the preferred embodiment is that it is configurable to the many differing contours of the face, while still allowing for some degree of mobility for the patient. According to one embodiment, the thermal source includes frozen peas stored in transparent bags. The transparent bags are selectively attachable through hook-and-loop fasteners. Use of frozen peas as an thermal source advantageously provides desired cooling temperatures while also providing desired immediate molding to the contours of a treated area. Frozen peas are also light in weight so that stress on the patient is minimized when the thermal treatment pads are retained over a sensitive portion of the face or other body portion.
For the purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages and novel features of the invention have been described herein above. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description below and the appended claims.
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Dvorak Linda C. M.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Ram Jocelyn Debra
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