`
`oo» JK Patent Application «GB «2 286 660 «A
`(43) Date of A Publication 23.08.1995
`
`
`(51)
`INT CLE
`(21) Application No 9501893.3
`F25B 21/04 , A61F 7/00
`
`
`
`(33) GB
`
`
`
`
`(74) Agent and/or Addressfor Service
`
`John Anthony Claisse
`97 Portway, WELLS, Somerset, BAS 2BR,
`
`United Kingdom
`
`
`(52) UK CL (Edition N )
`F4H HGXA HG13 HG2X4
`ASR REHT
`H1K KTQ K6A1 K6H1 K6L9 K6S9 K6T1
`U1S $1926
`
`(56) Documents Cited
`GB 2202447 A
`
`EP 0271704 A1 US 5269146A
`
`(58)
`
`Field of Search
`UK CL (Edition N) A5R REHT, F4H HGXA HG13 H2F
`H2K , H1K KTQ
`INT CL® A61F 7/00 _ F25B 21/02 21/04 , F25D 16/00 ,
`HO1L 35/02 35/04
`On-line: WPI
`
`(22) Date of Filing 31.01.1995
`
`(30) Priority Data
`
`(31)
`9401877
`(32) 01.02.1994
`
`(71) Applicant(s)
`David Thorner
`Barton House, Worth, Wookey, Wells,
`Somerset BA5 1LW, United Kingdom
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor(s)
`David Thorner
`
`(54) Peltier effect cooling apparatus for treating diseased orinjured tissue
`
`(57) Apparatus for cooling a limb including a thermoelectric module (2) which operates bythe Peltier effect. A
`heat sink (6) is in contact with the "hot" surface of the module (2) to dissipate heat therefrom. A reservoir
`(19, figure 4) contains cooling fluid for cooling the heat sink (6), a pumpcirculates the cooling fluid, and a
`refrigeration unit cools the cooling fluid. The apparatus provides control of the temperature of the "cold"
`surface of the thermoelectric module (2), to obtain cooling of an injured animal limb to a temperature between
`13 and 18°C, or to sub-zero temperatures to treat skin cancer.
`
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`2286660
`
`ANIMAL TREATMENT APPARATUS *
`
`This invention concerns apparatus for treating diseased or
`injured animal tissue, for example inflamed limbs.
`The term
`
`"animal" is used herein includes man.
`
`limbs has been proposed
`Apparatus for treating damaged animal
`hitherto in GB2202447-A,
`the apparatus effecting the treatment
`by cooling the damaged limb using a thermoelectric module having
`opposed surfaces across which a temperature differential is
`created using the Peltier effect.
`In use,
`the thermoelectric
`module has a "hot" surface and a "cold" surface,
`the latter
`being used to effect cooling of the damaged animal
`limb. Heat
`from the "hot" surface is dissipated through a heat sink,
`the
`heat sink being force cooled using a liquid which is circulated
`from a reservoir by a pump.
`
`Although the apparatus described in GB2202447-A does effect
`cooling of limbs to which it is attached, it is difficult to
`control the temperature to which the limb is cooled by the
`apparatus. This is a disadvantage in the light of more recent
`indications that healing of an injury can be enhanced if the
`injury is held at a temperature between 13 and 18°C.
`Furthermore, it has been proposed that skin cancer can be
`treated using sub-zero temperatures, and such temperatures are
`difficult if not impossible to achieve using the apparatus
`described in GB2202447-A.
`
`
`
`-2.-
`
`.
`
`According to the present invention there is provided apparatus
`for cooling a limb of an animal,
`the apparatus comprising;
`
`a thermoelectric module having opposed surfaces across
`(a)
`which a temperature differential can be created using the
`Peltier effect, one of said surfaces in use being the "cold"
`surface, and the other of said surfaces in use being the "hot"
`surface;
`
`a heat sink in contact with the "hot" surface of the
`(b)
`module for dissipating heat from the "hot" surface;
`
`(c)
`
`a reservoir of cooling liquid for cooling the heat
`,
`
`sink;
`
`(ad) a pump for circulating cooling liquid from the
`reservoir to the heat sink: and
`
`(e€)
`
`a refrigeration unit for cooling the cooling liquid.
`
`The use of the refrigeration unit enables the cooling effect of
`apparatus in accordance with the present invention to be
`controlled so that limbs treated thereby can be cooled to
`desired temperatures, for example the 13 to 18°C range described
`above or to sub-zero temperatures.
`Indeed,
`the so-called "cold"
`surface can,
`if desired, be turned into a "hot" surface by
`turning off the refrigeration unit and reversing the electrical
`supply to the thermoelectric unit.
`
`An embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the present
`invention will now be described, by way of example, with
`reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which:-
`
`Figure 1 is side view of a cooling unit of the embodiment;
`
`Figure 2 is an underneath view of the cooling unit of
`Figure 1;
`
`
`
`Figure 3 is a perspective view of the control unit of the
`ambodiment;
`
`Figure 4 is a part cut away perspective view of the
`secondary cooling unit of the control unit; and
`
`Figure 5 is a side view of a modification of the cooling
`unit of Figure 1.
`
`the illustrated apparatus includes a
`Referring to Figure 1,
`cooling unit 1 having a thermoelectric module 2 mounted beneath
`a metal face plate 3, for example of aluminium,
`the upper
`surface 4 of the plate 3 in use being placed on the limb to be
`treated (not shown).
`The lower surface 5 of the thermoelectric
`module 2 is in thermal contact with a heat sink 6 through which
`in use cooling liquid can be passed to effect cooling of the
`thermoelectric module 2 via inlet and outlet connections 7 and
`
`8. Electrical connection to the thermoelectric module 2 is made
`via connecting wires 9.
`The flow of cooling fluid through the
`heat sink 6 can be seen from Figure 2.
`
`The cooling unit 1 is connected to a control unit 10 shown in
`Figure 3.
`The control unit 10 includes a controllable direct
`current power source 11 for activating the thermoelectric module
`2,
`the direct current power source 11 being supplied from the
`mains electricity supply via cables 12.
`
`The control unit 10 also supplies a supply of coolant from a
`
`secondary cooling unit 13 to the heat sink 6 via connecting
`tubes (not shown),
`the coolant being pumped by a pump 14 which
`
`is controlled by the control unit 10 and powered from the mains
`electricity supply via cables 12.
`A fan 15 is provided to give
`forced ventilation of the equipment within the control unit 10.
`
`Control of the functioning of the apparatus is effected using
`
`control switches shown generally at 16 on the top of the control
`
`unit 10.
`The control unit 10 can, for example,
`include a
`microprocessor to effect control of the temperature of the face
`
`
`
`place, such control, for example, carrying out a predetermined
`temperature cycling of the face plate 3 and thereby the limb to
`which it is applied. The control unit 10 can also be used to
`
`control more than one cooling unit 1, for example two or more
`
`such units applied to the same animal.
`
`The secondary cooling unit 13 is shown in more detail in Figure
`4, with various parts of its case cut away.
`The unit 13, which
`includes a conventional refrigeration unit, has a compressor 17
`
`connected in known manner to a condenser 18.
`
`The condenser 18
`
`is located within a coolant reservoir 19, and operation of the
`
`compressor 17 results in the coolant within the reservoir 19
`
`being cooled.
`
`Coolant input and output connections 20 and 21 are connected by
`flexible pipes (not shown) to the outlet and inlet connections 8
`
`and 7 respectively of the cooling unit 1 via the pump 14 which
`
`circulates cooled coolant from the reservoir 19 to the heat sink
`
`6.
`
`The coolant which is used preferably includes antifreeze in
`
`order to prevent freezing of the coolant within the circulating
`
`system.
`
`The temperature of the coolant in the reservoir 19 can be
`
`controlled by a pre-set thermostat 23 in the secondary cooling
`
`unit 10. However, as illustrated in Figure 4, it is generally
`preferred to use a temperature sensor 24, for example a
`thermistor, which in use is placed on the skin of the animal
`
`The temperature of the coolant circulated by the
`being treated.
`pump 14 from the reservoir 19 can thus be controlled according
`to the surface skin temperature detected by the sensor 24. When
`
`a temperature sensor 24 is used, it is generally preferred to
`interpose a sealed bag 25 containing antifreeze, or some other
`
`thermal buffer, between the thermoelectric module 2 and the
`
`The bag 25 serves to provide a thermal
`temperature sensor 24.
`buffer between the skin of the animal being treated and the
`
`"cold" surface of the thermoelectric module 2.
`
`
`
`~5-
`
`.
`
`When sub-zero temperatures are to be used, it is generally
`
`preferred that cold from the face plate 3 be applied only to
`
`those localised areas of the animal where the potentially
`
`destructive effects of such temperatures are required, for
`
`example in the treatment of skin cancer. This can be effected
`
`by the use of a metal face plate 3 having a profiled upper
`
`surface with insulation on those areas of the plate which it is
`
`desired should not contact the animal,
`
`thereby providing a plate
`
`3 with relatively high heat capacity but only a relatively low
`
`area of contact of metal portions of the plate with the skin of
`
`the animal.
`
`Using the present invention it is possible to produce a
`temperature differential between the face plate 3 and the
`
`coolant in excess of 10°C even at sub-zero temperatures.
`
`The
`
`ability to maintain such temperature differentials can enable
`
`limbs to be cooled to desired temperatures, for example the 13
`to 18°C range for healing, or to sub-zero temperatures, for
`
`example for treatment of skin cancer.
`
`By reversing the polarity of the potential applied to the
`
`thermoelectric module 2 and shutting off the pump 14 it is
`
`possible to heat the face plate 3. Thus as a result of cooling
`the coolant using the secondary cooling unit 13 and controlling
`the voltage applied to the thermoelectric module 2 it is
`
`possible to regulate the temperature of the face plate 3 over a
`
`very wide range.
`
`
`
`Claims
`
`Apparatus for cooling a limb of an animal,
`1.
`comprising;
`
`the apparatus
`
`a thermoelectric module having opposed surfaces across
`(a)
`which a temperature differential can be created using the
`Peltier effect, one of said surfaces in use being the "cold"
`surface, and the other of said surfaces in use being the "hot"
`surface;
`
`a heat sink in contact with the "hot" surface of the
`(b)
`module for dissipating heat from the "hot" surface;
`
`(c)
`
`a reservoir of cooling liquid for cooling the heat
`
`sink;
`
`(d) a pump for circulating cooling liquid from the
`reservoir to the heat sink: and
`
`(e)
`
`a refrigeration unit for cooling the cooling liquid.
`
`including a thermal buffer
`Apparatus according to claim 1,
`2.
`for location between the thermoelectric unit and the limb to be
`treated.
`
`including a temperature
`Apparatus according to claim 2,
`3.
`sensor for sensing the surface temperature of the limb.
`
`the apparatus
`Apparatus for cooling a limb of an animal,
`4,
`being substantially as herein described with reference to the
`accompanying drawings.
`
`yy
`
`“
`
`may
`
`
`
`
`
`ont
`Paten
`-T- Office
`
`Application No:
`Claims searched:
`
`GB 9501893.3
`1-4
`
`Examiner:
`Date of search:
`
`Tim James
`18 May 1995
`
`Patents Act 1977
`Search Report under Section 17
`Databases searched:
`|
`UKPatent Office collections, including GB, EP, WO & USpatent specifications, in:
`UK Cl (Ed.N): ASR (REHT); F4H (HGXA, HG13, H2F, H2K); H1K (KTQ)
`Int Cl (Ed.6): A61F (7/00); F25B (21/02, 21/04); F25D (16/00), HOIL (35/02, 35/04
` On-line: WPI Other:
`
`
`
`Documents considered to be relevant:
`Identity of document and relevant passage
`
`GB2202447A
`
`(Thorner) Whole documentrelevant.
`
`Y
`
`EP0271704A2
`
`(Unitechnika Mobilkalte) see the figure s and
`Derwent Abstract Accession Number 88-148264.
`
`US5269146
`
`(Kerner) see column 4 line 46-column 5 line 2.
`
`1 at least.
`
`to claim
`
`1 atleast.
`
`1 at least.
`
`than, the filing date of this application.
`
`Documentindicating lack of novelty or inventive step
`Documentindicating lack of inventive step if combined
`with one or more other documents of same category.
`
`A Documentindicating technological background and/orstate of the art.
`P Documentpublished on orafter the declared priority date but before
`the filing date of this invention.
`E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier
`
`Memberofthe same patent family
`
`An Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry
`
`
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