Disposable thermal body wrap

• Main Authors: Davis, Leane Kristine, McCarthy, Nancy Jean
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.01.2002

A common method of treating acute, recurrent, and/or chronic pain is by the topical application of heat to the afflicted area. Such heat treatments are used as a means of therapy for conditions which include aches, stiffness in muscles and joints, nerve pain, rheumatism and the like. Typically, the method for relieving pain using heat treatments has been to topically apply a relatively high heat, i.e., greater than about 40° C., for a short period of time. These treatments include the use of whirlpools, hot towels, hydrocollators, hot water bottles, hot packs, heating wraps and elastic compression bands. Many of these devices employ reusable thermal packs containing, e.g., water and/or microwaveable gels, or electric current. In general, most of these devices are inconvenient to use on a regular and extended basis. The heat energy may not be immediately available when needed, and/or released in a controllable manner, and/or maintained at a consistent temperature over long periods of time. Typically, these types of devices restrict the movements of the user and proper positioning of the thermal energy may not be maintainable during use. The thermal body wraps of the present invention comprise a unified laminate structure having at least one continuous layer of a flexible material having a substantially rectangular, dog bone-like shape and having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a plurality of heat cells, and means for releasably attaching the thermal body wrap to a user's body. Preferably the heat cells are placed into positions fixed within or to the unified structure of the thermal body wraps, relative to each other and sufficiently close to provide controlled, sustained, and uniform heat to the body or body part of the user.