| abstract |
A thermal bandage including a conforming member which is adapted to be placed against the skin to uniformly heat or cool the skin area and a thermal pack which is mounted to the conforming member to provide the necessary thermal change to heat or cool the adjacent skin area. In the preferred embodiment, the conforming member includes a thin pliable outer material enclosing a heat conductive substance such as a glycol gel or liquid. The conforming member is in complete contact with the skin to insure uniform heat transfer therebetween. Further, a fluid circulating temperature control device is attached to the thermal bandage for providing the proper heating or cooling as desired. At a preferred embodiment, the thermal pack and conforming member consists of multiple layers of thermoplastic material which are joined to form a first chamber for the heat conductive gel or liquid and a second chamber for the circulation of a thermal fluid between the thermal bandage and the fluid circulating and temperature control device. |