Wearable, integrated cooling system

Abstract

A portable, wearable, cooling system for the avoidance and management of hyperthermia, and more particularly a self-contained cooling system that can be integrated into a garment. In one embodiment, the system comprises a removable cartridge having a cooling fluid therein, attached via tubing to a motorized pump driven by a power pack, such that the pump drives water from the cartridge through a circuit of tubes into a bladder that provides a cooling effect to the wearer. In another embodiment, the bladder is not a removable piece but is an integrated portion of the garment, formed by creating a lumen in between two layers of bonded material. The lumen is connected at both its ends to the tubing that mns to the cartridge and pump. Cooling fluid is pumped through the lumen and thereby cools the wearer due to the proximity to the wearer's skin.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A garment, comprising:
 a cooling device configured to accept a cooling fluid; and   a motorized pump configured to circulate the cooling fluid through the cooling device.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the cooling device comprises a removable cartridge of cooling fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling device comprises a two layer portion of material having a lumen disposed in between the two layers, the lumen configured to accept the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         4 . A wearable cooling system comprising:
 a pump;   a power source electrically connected to the pump;   a receptacle of cooling fluid;   a bladder positioned to cool a part of the wearer's anatomy;   one or more conduits connected to the pump and the receptacle; and   an item of clothing comprising one or more pouches into which the pump, power source, bladder, and receptacle of cooling fluid are removably located.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein the cooling fluid is selected from: iced water; a gel; water; and salt water. 
     
     
         6 . A wearable cooling system comprising:
 a pump;   a power source electrically connected to the pump;   a receptacle of cooling fluid;   a panel comprising a lumen positioned to cool a part of the wearer's anatomy;   one or more conduits connected to the pump and the receptacle; and   an item of clothing comprising one or more pouches into which the pump, power source, and receptacle of cooling fluid are removably located.