Thermal treatment pack and corresponding retainer member and methods of applying thermal treatment

Abstract

A thermal treatment pack and corresponding retainer apparatus that provide not only a desirable thermal source, but also a highly configurable retainer apparatus. 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. According to the preferred embodiment, the retainer apparatus includes two washable cloth strips. The cloth strips include hook-and-loop fasteners for attaching the transparent bags to the retainer apparatus.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A thermal treatment pack and retainer that provides for a very flexible apparatus that can be easily configured in a plurality of ways to provide thermal treatment for any region of the face comprising: 
 a first retainer member formed from a lightweight cloth strip and easily mounted over the patient's forehead in a generally horizontal plane;    a substantially continuous strip of loop fasteners attached to said first retainer member along an extended length thereof to extend substantially across the patient's forehead;    a second retainer member formed from a lightweight cloth strip and easily mounted to a patient's head in a generally vertical plane around the chin of the patient;    a substantially continuous strip of loop fasteners attached to said second retainer member along an extended length thereof to extend substantially the entire distance from the forehead on one side of the face, around the patient's chin and to the forehead on the opposite side of the face;    a plurality of thermal treatment packs; and    a plurality of hook fasteners attached to said thermal treatment packs so that said thermal treatment packs can be easily and quickly fastened to said loop fasteners attached to said first and second retainer members to cover any desired region of the patient's facial area and remain in position during normal movement of the patient's head.    
     
     
         2 . The thermal treatment pack and retainer of    claim 1   , wherein said first retainer member has generally smooth front and back cloth surfaces.  
     
     
         3 . The thermal treatment pack and retainer of    claim 1   , wherein said first retainer member has a cloth pile back surface and a generally smooth front cloth surface.  
     
     
         4 . The thermal treatment pack and retainer of    claim 1   , wherein said first retainer member is formed by sewing lengthwise two cloth strips to each other proximate their respective edges and then turning inside out said sewn together cloth strips to conceal the sewing threads.  
     
     
         5 . The thermal treatment pack and retainer of    claim 1   , wherein said second retainer member is formed by sewing lengthwise two cloth strips to each other proximate their respective edges and then turning inside out said sewn together cloth strips to conceal the sewing threads.  
     
     
         6 . The thermal treatment pack and retainer of    claim 1   , wherein both of said first and second retainer members are formed by sewing lengthwise two cloth strips to each other proximate their respective edges and then turning inside out said sewn together cloth strips to conceal the sewing threads.  
     
     
         7 . A thermal treatment pack and retainer that provides for a very flexible apparatus that can be easily configured to provide thermal treatment for any region of the face comprising: 
 a first retainer member easily mounted to a patient's head in a generally first plane;    a plurality of loop fasteners attached to one side of said first retainer member along a substantial portion of the length of said first retainer member;    a second retainer member easily mounted to a patient's head generally in a second plane generally orthogonal to said first plane;    a plurality of loop fasteners attached on both sides of said second retainer member along a substantial portion of the length of said second retainer member;    a plurality of thermal treatment packs; and    a plurality of hook fasteners attached to each of said thermal treatment packs so that said thermal treatment packs can be easily and quickly attached to loop fasteners attached to said first and second retainer members to cover any desired region of the patient's facial area and remain in position during normal movement of the patient's head.    
     
     
         8 . A thermal treatment pack and retainer that provides for a very flexible apparatus that can be easily configured to provide thermal treatment for any region of the face comprising: 
 a first retainer member easily mounted to a patient's head in a generally first plane;    a plurality of loop fasteners attached to said first retainer member;    a second retainer member easily mounted to a patient's head generally in a second plane generally orthogonal to said first plane;    a plurality of loop fasteners attached to said second retainer member;    a plurality of thermal treatment packs; and    a plurality of hook fasteners attached to each of said thermal treatment packs so that said thermal treatment packs can be easily and quickly fastened to loop fasteners attached to said first and second retainer member to cover any desired region of the patient's facial area and remain in position during normal movement of the patient's head;    at least one of said thermal packs having a generally rectangular configuration with a width shorter than the length thereof, said hook fasteners being attached along the width of said thermal pack.    
     
     
         9 . A thermal treatment pack and retainer that provides for a very flexible apparatus that can be easily configured in a plurality of ways to provide thermal treatment for any region of the face comprising: 
 a first retainer member easily mounted to a patient's head in a generally first plane;    a plurality of loop fasteners attached to said first retainer member;    a second retainer member easily mounted to a patient's head generally in a second plane generally orthogonal to said first plane;    a plurality of loop fasteners attached to said second retainer member;    a plurality of thermal treatment packs; and    a plurality of hook fasteners attached to each of said thermal treatment packs so that said thermal treatment packs can be easily and quickly fastened to the loop fasteners attached to said first and second retainer member to cover any desired region of the patient's facial area and remain in position during normal movement of the patient's head;    at least one of said thermal packs having a generally rectangular configuration with a length longer then the width thereof, said hook fasteners being attached along the length of said thermal pack.    
     
     
         10 . A thermal treatment pack and retainer that provides for a very flexible apparatus that can be easily configured in a plurality of ways to provide thermal treatment for any region of the face comprising: 
 a first retainer member easily mounted to a patient's head in a generally first plane;    a plurality of fasteners attached to said first retainer member;    a second retainer member easily mounted to a patient's head generally in a second plane generally orthogonal to said first plane;    a plurality of fasteners attached to said second retainer member;    a plurality of thermal treatment packs;    a plurality of fasteners attached to each of said thermal treatment packs so that said thermal treatment packs can be easily and quickly fastened to the fasteners attached to said first and second retainer members to cover any desired region of the patient's facial area and remain in position during normal movement of the patient's head.    
     
     
         11 . A flexible thermal treatment that can be easily configured in a plurality of ways to provide thermal treatment for any region of the face, comprising: 
 a retainer member located on the patient's head and generally forming a frame around the patient's face from the forehead to below the chin;    a plurality of first fasteners located along said retainer so that said fasteners are located along a substantial portion of the patient's forehead and both sides of the patient's face;    a plurality of thermal treatment packs; and    a plurality of second fasteners which both easily fasten to and easily detach from said first fasteners, said second fasteners attached to each of said thermal treatment packs so that said packs can be easily and quickly fastened at substantially any location along the frame formed by said retainer.    
     
     
         12 . A thermal treatment pack and retainer member that provides for a very flexible apparatus that can be easily configured to locate a thermal pack at a particular location of the patient to provide thermal treatment at said location; 
 a plurality of first fasteners located along said retainer member;    a plurality of thermal treatment packs; and    a plurality of second fasteners, said second fasteners attached to said thermal treatment packs, both easily fastening to and easily detachable from said first fasteners so that said packs can be easily and quickly fastened to a desired location of said retainer member and held thereby to provide thermal treatment to the patient at said location.    
     
     
         13 . The thermal treatment pack and retainer member of    claim 7   , wherein said retainer member is adapted to be located on the patient's head to generally form a flexible frame around the patient's face from the forehead to below the chin.  
     
     
         14 . The method of applying thermal treatment to a particular location of the patient's body comprising: 
 mounting a retainer member to the patient's body proximate to the particular location at which thermal treatment is to be applied, said retainer member having a plurality of first fasteners attached to said retainer member;    heating or cooling a thermal treatment pack to the desired temperature, said treatment pack having a plurality of second fasteners attached thereto, which both easily fasten and unfasten from said first fasteners; and    fastening second fasteners of said thermal pack to first fasteners of said retainer member at the location of said retainer member that said thermal treatment pack overlies the particular location of the patient at which thermal treatment is to be applied.    
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14   , wherein mounting the retainer member to the patient's body comprises mounting the retainer member to the patient's head and wherein fastening second fasteners of said thermal pack to first fasteners of said retainer member comprises fastening said second fasteners to said first fastener at the location that said thermal treatment pack overlies the particular location of the patient's face at which thermal treatment is to be applied.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 14   , wherein thermal treatment is provided over a broader area then is encompassed by a single one of said thermal pack; 
 said thermal treatment pack comprises a plurality of individual treatment packs, each having a plurality of said second fasteners attached thereto; and    fastening second fasteners respectively attached to at least two of said individual thermal packs to respectively different first fasteners attached to said retainer member to overlie said individual thermal packs over a broader area than encompassed by a single one said thermal packs.    
     
     
         17 . A device for applying thermal treatment to a face of a user, the device comprising: 
 a retainer apparatus having 
 a horizontal strap; and  
 a vertical strap having each end connected substantially perpendicular to the horizontal strap; and  
   at least one thermal treatment pack removably attached to the retainer apparatus.    
     
     
         18 . A replaceable cold pack comprising: 
 a transparent bag having a resealable fastener;    a fastener attached to the transparent bag; and    a thermal source.    
     
     
         19 . The replaceable cold pack according to    claim 18   , wherein said thermal source comprises frozen peas.  
     
     
         20 . The replaceable cold pack according to    claim 19   , wherein said thermal source comprises a refreezable solution.  
     
     
         21 . A thermal treatment device for treating tissue, comprising: 
 a harness having multiple fasteners on a side opposite of tissue being treated; and    at least one thermal bag replaceably attached to the harness such that the at least one thermal bag directly contacts said tissue.    
     
     
         22 . A method for thermal treatment, the method comprising: 
 removably attaching a cloth strip to the patient;    removably attaching to said cloth strip at least one cold pack in direct contact with a target of the thermal treatment; and    removing said cold pack without detaching removing the cloth strip from the patient.    
     
     
         23 . A method for thermal treatment, the method comprising: 
 removably attaching a cloth strip to the patient;    removably attaching to said cloth strap at least one cold pack in direct contact with a target of the thermal treatment;    removing said cold pad without detaching removing the cloth strip from the patient.    
     
     
         24 . A harness comprising: 
 a substantially horizontal strap having outwardly facing fasteners; and    a substantially vertical strap having outwardly facing fasteners, said substantially vertical strap connected to said substantially horizontal strap, thereby forming the harness.