초록 ▼

Equipment for thermal therapy of patients is disclosed. The equipment includes a flexible heat exchange structure having fluid conducting channels formed between two layers of flexible material, with improved liquid manifolds at the ends of the channels for resisting pinching, crimping or buckling i

Equipment for thermal therapy of patients is disclosed. The equipment includes a flexible heat exchange structure having fluid conducting channels formed between two layers of flexible material, with improved liquid manifolds at the ends of the channels for resisting pinching, crimping or buckling in the manifolds on pressurization and when the heat exchange structure is subjected to flexure as when worn on the human body. The manifolds are configured so that pressurization shrinkage at the manifold is balanced with pressurization shrinkage laterally among the fluid conducting channels. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid conducting channels themselves are configured in a zig-zag pattern which is effective to resist buckling or pinching of the channels when the heat exchange structure is subjected to bending. In a further embodiment the flexible heat exchange structure includes a third layer of material to form a pressurized air envelope, for heat/cold and pressure therapy.

대표청구항 ▼

Equipment for thermal therapy of patients is disclosed. The equipment includes a flexible heat exchange structure having fluid conducting channels formed between two layers of flexible material, with improved liquid manifolds at the ends of the channels for resisting pinching, crimping or buckling i

Equipment for thermal therapy of patients is disclosed. The equipment includes a flexible heat exchange structure having fluid conducting channels formed between two layers of flexible material, with improved liquid manifolds at the ends of the channels for resisting pinching, crimping or buckling in the manifolds on pressurization and when the heat exchange structure is subjected to flexure as when worn on the human body. The manifolds are configured so that pressurization shrinkage at the manifold is balanced with pressurization shrinkage laterally among the fluid conducting channels. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid conducting channels themselves are configured in a zig-zag pattern which is effective to resist buckling or pinching of the channels when the heat exchange structure is subjected to bending. In a further embodiment the flexible heat exchange structure includes a third layer of material to form a pressurized air envelope, for heat/cold and pressure therapy. ude a cold formed nickel-titanium alloy, and the nickel-titanium alloy is in a martensitic phase only regardless of stress applied to the alloy; and a sheath at least partially enveloping the body and restraining the struts in a compressed state for delivery and retrieval of the device to and from the lumen. 11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the strut is cold formed to provide a curvature in a profile thereof. 12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the strut includes a long beam extending from a wide base, and the wide base includes a radius of curvature matching a radius of curvature of the tubular body. 13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein some of the apertures have a first shape and the wide bases of the struts have a second shape complementary to the first shape so that at least a portion of the struts is recessed into the tubular body when attached thereto. 14. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the strut includes a long beam extending from a wide base, and the wide base includes a beveled periphery that wedges against a beveled periphery of the aperture. 15. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the strut has been heat treated and a hysteresis curve of the nickel-titanium alloy does not include a stress plateau. 16. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy has received low temperature heat treating and does not undergo a phase transformation when stressed. 17. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the struts are bonded to the tubular body. 18. A method for providing a medical device for use in a body lumen, comprising: providing a small diameter tubing; forming the small diameter tubing into a tubular body; providing a large diameter tubing wherein the large diameter tubing includes a cold formed nickel-titanium alloy wherein the nickel-titanium alloy is in a martensitic phase only regardless of stress applied to the alloy; heat treating the nickel-titanium alloy at a low temperature; fashioning a plurality of struts from the large diameter tubing; disposing the struts on the tubular body such that the struts project radially outward in an unconstrained state; and providing a sheath that at least partially envelopes the body and restrains the struts in a compressed state for delivery and retrieval of the device to and from the body lumen. 19. The method for providing a medical device of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises providing a small tubing including a cold formed nickel-titanium alloy wherein the nickel-titanium alloy is in a martensitic phase only regardless of stress applied to the alloy. 20. The method for providing a medical device of claim 18, wherein the strut is cold formed to achieve a curved profile. 21. A medical device for use in a body lumen, comprising: a tubular body formed from small diameter tubing; a plurality of struts formed from a large diameter tubing and disposed on the tubular body such that the struts project radially outward in an unconstrained state; wherein the large diameter tubing includes a cold formed nickel-titanium alloy that includes heat treating and wherein a hysteresis curve of the nickel-titanium alloy does not include a stress plateau, and the nickel-titanium alloy is in a martensitic phase only regardless of stress applied to the alloy; and a sheath at least partially enveloping the body and restraining the struts in a compressed state for delivery and retrieval of the device to and from the body lumen.