Portable Therapeutic Cooling System

Abstract

A disposable portable therapeutic cooling system that utilizes convective cooling and re-circulated air to efficiently, safely, and effectively cool the head and body of the patient, clothed or not, after a life-threatening health event, such as a cardiac arrest or stroke.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . A portable therapeutic cooling system, comprising:
 a cooling source;   a heat exchanger in communication with the cooling source;   an air blower in communication with the heat exchanger; and   an inflatable output device comprising an air inlet port and an air outlet port, wherein the air inlet is coupled to the cooling source via a first hose and wherein the air outlet port is coupled to the cooling source via a second hose, wherein:
 the air blower is configured to circulate air over the heat exchanger and through the first hose, the air inlet port, the inflatable output device, the air outlet port, the second hose, and back to the cooling source; and 
 wherein the portable therapeutic cooling system is configured to provide convective cooling to a patient in a closed loop. 
   
   
   
       34 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 33  wherein the inflatable output device comprises an inflatable suit comprising a seam adapted to seal about a patient. 
   
   
       35 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 33  wherein the inflatable output device comprises a hood adapted to enclose and cool a patient's head and neck, including the carotid artery. 
   
   
       36 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 35 , wherein the hood comprises a plurality of stretchers configured to provide space for allowing air circulation within the hood. 
   
   
       37 . The portable therapeutic cooling unit of  claim 33 , wherein the inflatable output device is adapted to provide cooling to a patient's neck, scalp and groin. 
   
   
       38 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 33 , wherein the inflatable output device comprises a unitary head and body suit adapted to enclose a patient. 
   
   
       39 . The portable therapeutic cooling unit of  claim 33 , wherein the inflatable output device is disposable. 
   
   
       40 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 33  further comprising a temperature sensor and a thermal control unit, wherein the thermal control unit is adapted to control the temperature in the inflatable output device. 
   
   
       41 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 38 , wherein the thermal control unit provides a speed control signal to the air blower to control the temperature in the inflatable output device. 
   
   
       42 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 41  further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the thermal control unit and the output device. 
   
   
       43 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 42 , wherein the thermal control unit provides a speed control signal to the air blower to control the pressure in the inflatable output device. 
   
   
       44 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 33 , further comprising a mobile power source. 
   
   
       45 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 44 , wherein the mobile power source is a 12 Volt D.C. battery. 
   
   
       46 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 33  wherein the cooling source comprises ice. 
   
   
       47 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 33  wherein the cooling source comprises a peltier element. 
   
   
       48 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 33 , further comprising a diverter valve positioned between the air blower, and the heat exchanger and cooling source. 
   
   
       49 . A portable therapeutic cooling system for cooling a patient, comprising:
 an inflatable suit for enclosing a patient, the suit being adapted to allow air to circulate through the inflatable suit, and wherein the suit comprises fastening means configured to seal about the patient along a seam;   a cooling source;   a heat exchanger in communication with the cooling source;   an air blower in communication with the heat exchanger, wherein the air blower is configured to circulate air through the inflatable suit.   
   
   
       50 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 49  wherein the inflatable suit comprises a unitary head and body suit configured to enclose the head and body of a patient. 
   
   
       51 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 49  wherein the fastening means comprises a zipper or buttons. 
   
   
       52 . The portable therapeutic cooling system of  claim 49  wherein system is configured to re-circulate air from the inflatable suit back to the air blower.