초록 ▼

A system for therapeutically treating a desired region of a patient's body by circulating a nonambient temperature treatment fluid through a pad positioned on the treatment region. The system is provided with a fluid drive mechanism including a flow control assembly and a pump for delivering a drive

A system for therapeutically treating a desired region of a patient's body by circulating a nonambient temperature treatment fluid through a pad positioned on the treatment region. The system is provided with a fluid drive mechanism including a flow control assembly and a pump for delivering a drive fluid to the flow control assembly. The flow control assembly houses a pressurizing chamber having a drive fluid inlet and outlet and a treatment fluid inlet and outlet. A drive fluid outlet valve and treatment fluid inlet valve are provided to selectively restrict flow through the drive fluid outlet and treatment fluid inlet, respectively. Operation of the flow control assembly initiates with both the drive fluid outlet valve and treatment fluid inlet valve in an open position, enabling the pressurizing chamber to receive fresh treatment fluid in a receiving mode. When the drive pressure in the pressurizing chamber reaches a predetermined pressure value correlated to the volume of fresh treatment fluid in the pressurizing chamber, the flow control assembly automatically transitions to a discharging mode, wherein both the drive fluid outlet valve and the treatment fluid inlet valve assume a closed position. As a result the fresh treatment fluid is driven from the pressurizing chamber into the pad where it displaces treatment fluid residing therein.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A drive mechanism for a therapeutic treatment system comprising:a treatment fluid storage vessel;a drive fluid pump;a pressurizing chamber for conveying a stored treatment fluid, said pressurizing chamber having a drive fluid inlet for receiving a pressurized drive fluid from said

[ We claim:] [1.] A drive mechanism for a therapeutic treatment system comprising:a treatment fluid storage vessel;a drive fluid pump;a pressurizing chamber for conveying a stored treatment fluid, said pressurizing chamber having a drive fluid inlet for receiving a pressurized drive fluid from said drive fluid pump, a treatment fluid inlet for receiving said stored treatment fluid from said treatment fluid storage vessel, a treatment fluid outlet for discharging said stored treatment fluid, and a drive fluid outlet for discharging said drive fluid; anda drive fluid outlet valve having an open position and a closed position to selectively control discharge of said drive fluid from said pressurizing chamber via said drive fluid outlet, wherein said drive fluid outlet valve automatically transitions to said open position to discharge said drive fluid via said drive fluid outlet in response to a substantial volume decrease of said stored treatment fluid in said pressurizing chamber and automatically transitions to said closed position to block discharge of said drive fluid via said drive fluid outlet in response to a substantial volume increase of said stored treatment fluid in said pressurizing chamber.