Heating/Cooling Therapy System

Abstract

A thermal therapy system includes at least one Peltier device having a heating side and a cooling side; a cold fluid channel adjacent the cooling side of the at least one Peltier device, and a hot fluid channel adjacent the heating side of the at least one Peltier device. A controllable cooling fluid pump in fluid communication with the cold fluid channel drives cooling fluid to an applicator pad, and an independently-controllable heating fluid pump in fluid communication with the hot fluid channel drives hot fluid to the applicator pad.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical cooling/heating system comprising:
 at least one Peltier device having a heating side and a cooling side;   a cold fluid channel adjacent the cooling side of the at least one Peltier device;   a hot fluid channel adjacent the heating side of the at least one Peltier device;   a cooling fluid pump in fluid communication with the cold fluid channel;   a heating fluid pump in fluid communication with the hot fluid channel;   a flexible pad having an application side, an insulation side and a continuous liquid flow channel, the continuous liquid flow channel having an inlet and an outlet;   an intake fluid path having an end connected to the inlet and fed from each of the cooling fluid pump and the heating fluid pump; and   a return fluid path having an end connected to the outlet and splitting to connect with each of the cold fluid channel and the hot fluid channel.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 1  further comprising a first temperature sensing device in the intake fluid path. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 2  further comprising a second temperature sensing device in the return fluid path. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 2  further comprising a controller responsive to the first temperature sensing device for controlling any of the cooling fluid pump, the heating fluid pump and/or the at least one Peltier device. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 4  further comprising a heat sink adjacent the hot fluid channel and a fan operable for cooling the heat sink. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller may further respond to the first temperature sensing device by adjusting operation of the fan. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 3 , further comprising a controller responsive to the first temperature sensing device and the second temperature sending device for controlling any of the cooling fluid pump, the heating fluid pump and/or the at least one Peltier device. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 1  wherein the intake fluid path is unidirectional. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 8 , wherein each branch of the intake fluid path, one for the cooling fluid pump and one for the heating fluid pump, includes a one-way valve. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pad is detachable from the intake and return fluid paths. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 10 , further comprising a first self-sealing valved connector comprised of a male connector part and a female connector part for connecting the intake fluid path to the inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second self-sealing valved connector comprised of a male connector part and a female connector part for connecting the return fluid path to the outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the cold fluid channel comprises a serpentine channel adjacent the cooling side of the at least one Peltier device. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 1  further comprising an insulator pad, and a securable strap coupled to the insulator pad, and configured to secure the insulator pad against the flexible pad. 
     
     
         15 . A flexible applicator pad for application of thermal therapy, the pad comprising:
 an application side and an opposing side;   a continuous liquid flow channel, the channel having an inlet and an outlet;   a self-sealing inflow connector coupled to the inlet;   a self-sealing outflow connector at the outlet; and   a liquid sealed within the continuous liquid flow channel.   
     
     
         16 . The flexible applicator pad of  claim 15 , further comprising an insulation layer on the opposing side. 
     
     
         17 . An electrical cooling/heating system comprising:
 a heating and cooling means for heating a first stream of liquid to produce a hot stream, and cooling a second stream of liquid to produce a cool stream; and   a pump means for independently driving each of the hot stream and the cool stream, and for producing a single stream of liquid to an applicator pad, wherein the single stream of liquid is selected from one of the hot stream, the cool stream, or a mixture of the hot and cool stream.   
     
     
         18 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 17 , wherein the heating and cooling means comprises a Peltier device having a heating side and a cooling side, a hot channel coupled to the heating side, and a cold channel coupled to the cooling side. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 17 , wherein the heating and cooling means comprises:
 a heating Peltier device having a heating side;   a hot channel coupled to the heating side of the Peltier device;   a cooling Peltier device separate from the heating Peltier device, the cooling Peltier device having a cooling side; and   a cold channel coupled to the cooling side.   
     
     
         20 . The electrical cooling/heating system of  claim 17 , wherein the pump means comprises:
 a hot pump in fluid communication with the heating and cooling means to drive the hot stream; and   a cold pump in fluid communication with the heating and cooling means to drive the cool stream.