Carotid comfort control jacket

Abstract

A carotid comfort control jacket keeps the wearer cool or warm during outside sporting events, for example. The jacket also can be used to enhance patient comfort during surgery or recovery. Treatment of various medical conditions can be carried out using the jacket. The jacket preferably is reusable and constructed of a waterproof inner lining and a soft outer cover. The outer cover can be made of various materials and in various colors. Filler caps or fittings are provided to fill the jacket inner liner with cooling fluid. Also included is a flow-through configuration.

1 . A comfort control jacket comprising: 
 a fluid-fillable liner hung around a user's neck to cover at least a portion of the front of a user's torso;    a connector arranged and configured to extend around the back of the user's torso to releasably secure the liner; and    at least one opening providing access into the liner arranged and configured for filling the liner.    
   
   
       2 . The comfort control jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the comfort control material is water.  
   
   
       3 . The comfort control jacket of  claim 2 , wherein the water is frozen.  
   
   
       4 . The comfort control jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-fillable liner extends around the user's neck.  
   
   
       5 . The comfort control jacket of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulative cover surrounding the liner.  
   
   
       6 . The comfort control jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket features an open back.  
   
   
       7 . The comfort control jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is recloseable.  
   
   
       8 . A method of controlling human body temperature using a open-backed carotid comfort control jacket including a fluid fillable liner, the method comprising the steps of: 
 filling the liner with a liquid;    cooling or warming the liquid inside the liner; and    wearing the jacket.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid is water.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of emptying warmed water from the liner, and refilling the liner with crushed or cubed ice.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of wearing the jacket includes donning the jacket over the user's head, the jacket hanging around the neck of the user and covering the front of the user's torso.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of securing the jacket to the torso with at least one strap removably attached to the jacket and provided around the back of the user's torso.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the jacket further comprises fittings, and the comfort control material is pumped into the jacket.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the comfort control materials are pumped through the jacket in a continuous, pulsed, or batched flow, or combinations of flows.