Thermostimulation apparatus

Abstract

A thermostimulation apparatus is disclosed that includes heating and cooling means, and in various embodiments the heating and cooling means are heating and cooling pads, or at least one pad capable of both heating and cooling, the latter possibly being one or more Peltier elements. Certain embodiments also include heat sink means and heat exchanger means, and/or electrical stimulation, and the cooling means can include a refrigerant.

1 . A thermostimulation apparatus comprising means for providing heating and cooling. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising at least one heating pad and at least one cooling pad. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one heating pad comprises means for providing electrical stimulation and means for providing heat. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the pad comprises a top layer, a bottom layer for contacting the area to be treated, and a first and a second middle layer for supporting the stimulation means and the heating means. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the cooling pad comprises means to receive a refrigerant in a liquid state or in a gaseous state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising means to vaporize a liquid refrigerant. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  or  2 , comprising at least one pad capable of providing both heating and cooling. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the pad comprises one or more Peltier elements. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the pad comprises a heat sink means. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the pad comprises a heat exchanger means. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the pad comprises a thermocouple connected to a central processing unit to regulate the temperature of the pad. 
     
     
         12 . A pad as defined in  claim 2  for use with a thermostimulation apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . A method for muscle treatment comprising the use of a thermostimulation apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for muscle treatment comprising the use of a pad as defined in  claim 2 .