| abstract |
By providing an integrated, easily employed holding or support member which is uniquely constructed for cooperating with a heat delivery patch or exothermic pad for optimizing the application of heat directly to a precisely desired location, in combination with a selected medicine, a local, easily employed convenient, consumer oriented treatment system for providing heat therapy and medicine delivery for a wide variety of medical problems is achieved. In accordance with the present invention, a fully integrated treatment system is realized which possesses broad applicability for a wide range of medical conditions which can be treated or improved by heat penetration into the skin, subcutaneous tissues, joints, muscles, blood streams, etc. In addition, the delivery of drugs, penetration enhancing agents and/or cosmetics through the skin for the purpose of achieving a non-oral and/or non-parenteral, systemic, transdermal delivery is effectively enhanced by the presence of a controlled heat gradient. |