Refrigeration – Storage of solidified or liquified gas – Including cryostat
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-05-15
McDermott, Corrine (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Storage of solidified or liquified gas
Including cryostat
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230501
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of ergonomic systems, having intelligent adaptive surfaces and temperature control, for providing comfort and cryotherapy, and apparatus and methods therefore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The advantages and general design of intelligent adaptive surfaces are well known, as are various methods for implementation in particular articles, such as seating surfaces, mattresses, and the like. However, miniaturization and ruggedization of these systems remains an issue.
Likewise, cryotherapy systems are also known, which facilitate healing and reduce inflammation. The combination of cryotherapy to about 4° C. and controlled external pressure of about 0.4-0.8 psi has been clearly documented.
In various types of athletic footwear, it is recognized that the comfort and fit of the footwear can affect the athletic performance. In order to increase both the comfort and fit of footwear, manufacturers have incorporated inflatable bladders of various designs into the construction of the footwear. The development, incorporation, and use of inflatable air bladders within athletic footwear was and is particularly appropriate for ski boots used for downhill skiing. Thus, a number of patents relate to the field of ski boots which incorporate inflatable air bladders, for example, German Patent No. 2,162,619, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,087. While the original designs for ski boots having air bladders incorporated the use of an external pressurizing device such as a hand pump, more recent designs incorporate the design of the pump into the article of footwear, such as for example the ski boot of U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,022. Various footwear designs also provide an compressor which is actuated by user activity, providing a supply of compressed air while the footwear is in vigorous use.
The demands for comfort and snugness of fit in other athletic events has resulted in the use of the inflatable bladders originally developed for ski boots in various types of athletic footwear, including athletic shoes used for basketball and other sports. There are presently available athletic shoes incorporating an air pump, such as depicted within U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,765, to inflate air bladders located within the sole of the shoe, or alternatively, bladders located in portions of the upper or the tongue of the athletic shoe. The advantages of these types of shoes is manifested primarily by their increased comfort and the secure positioning or fit of the foot within the shoe. Another benefit derived from the use of air bladders is the potential for reduction of forces transmitted through the shoe to the foot and ankle of the wearer during performance of the athletic endeavor. Thus, current athletic shoes having incorporated air bladders provide enhanced comfort and fit, while also reducing the occurrence of various types of injuries.
For typical athletic shoes currently commercially available which incorporate both the inflatable air bladders and a pump inflation means, the comfort and fit of the article of footwear is adjusted by inflating the air bladder by use of the pump after securing the footwear about the foot. The wearer simply inflates the air bladder until a particular pressure level, or fit, is felt by the foot. However, due to the rigors of various athletic events, and because the human foot tends to swell and contract with varying levels of activity, it is very difficult for the individual to obtain a consistent fit from one use to the next, or to recognize the difference in their performance, based upon a pressure setting for the air bladders that is merely sensed by the foot. Therefore, designs have been proposed which include a pressure sensor, for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,227, expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Heat transfer systems are desirable under many circumstances. Heating is generally easily accomplished, by dissipating power. Cooling, however, generally requires coupling an endothermic reaction with an exothermic reaction of equal or greater magnitude, although in a different environment. Thus, heat may be transferred without violating the laws of thermodynamics. Many different types of cooling systems are known. However, efficient active miniature (<300 W thermal transfer capacity) cooling systems pose many design compromises, and few optimal designs are available.
Cooling is generally provided in a number of ways. First, heat in an object to be cooled may be lost by transferring heat energy from a hotter mass to a cooler mass, which may be an active, facilitated or conduction process. Second, an artificial gradient may be created to allow heat to be moved effectively from a hotter to a colder mass. This process includes, e.g., compressing a gas to increase its temperature, then shedding the heat resulting from the compression to the environment, followed by decompressing the cooled gas in a different location to a net colder state than prior to compression. Various phase change, e.g., vaporization, solidification, adsorption, dissolution, etc., and irreversible processes may also be used to provide cooling. Thermoelectric junctions may also be used to cool, although their power efficiency is low.
“Cryotherapy” is defined as the treatment of injury using the benefits derived by application of cold, optionally with external applied pressure. Such therapy has been shown to be particularly effective in treating musculoskeletal trauma resulting from an injury or by the application of a wrenching force to the body, e.g., lacerations, sprains, strains, fractures, contusions or fractures. This type of injury may be accompanied by a tearing of tendons, ligaments or other tissue, and triggers the body's own natural healing process. See Sloan et al., “Effects of Cold and Compression on Edema”,
The Physician and Sports Medicine
, 16(8) (1988); Bailey, “Cryotherapy”,
Emergency
, 40-43 (August, 1984); Cryomed Brochures.
In order to minimize secondary trauma subsequent to a primary musculoskeletal insult, prompt treatment is required. Secondary trauma results from the body's own healing process which acts by first degrading injured tissue and then rebuilding, typically with scar tissue. This treatment should immobilize the trauma site, ease pain and minimize the risk of secondary tissue damage which usually accompanies breaks, sprains and strains.
An injury will almost immediately produce pain and will be followed rapidly by an accumulation of blood, interstitial fluids and lymphatic fluids. In addition, injured cells will release histamine, cytokines and other substances which act to perpetuate the inflammation process and increase the permeability of the vasculature. For a number of reasons, a free radical process ensues. The inflammatory process also causes the release of chemicals and causes conditions under which damaged collagen dissolves or degrades. The extent of this collagen damage depends on a number of factors, including the extent of the inflammatory process.
The collagen removal process forms a part of the normal healing process, and under certain circumstances, is desirable in that it allows reconstruction of the tissue by collagen regrowth. Unfortunately, in most circumstances, the damaged collagen is replaced by a random regrowth, forming a scar. While scar formation may be necessary to replace the lost tissue matrix, in many circumstances the scar impairs a return to normal functioning. Thus, scar formation in a joint, where uninjured collagen is linearly dispersed, tends to proceed after the injury by randomly-fashioned replacement, which may interfere with joint mobility and produce chronic pain.
The body's healing response is natural and necessary for restoring the functioning of the damaged tissue and the body as a whole. This natural process may produce detrimental side effects that, if not properly controlled, can exacerbate patient discomfort, impede recovery and result in long term or permanent impairment of the injured area.
Damage to the tissue may allow the formed blood components
Bailey, Sr. Richard F.
Fisher Ronald A.
Hoffberg Steven M.
Drake Malik N.
McDermott Corrine
Milde Hoffberg & Macklin, LLP
ProMXD Technology, Inc.
LandOfFree
Ergonomic systems and methods providing intelligent adaptive... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ergonomic systems and methods providing intelligent adaptive..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ergonomic systems and methods providing intelligent adaptive... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2447790