| abstract |
Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein generally include methods and/or devices for increasing blood flow, controlling the vasodilatation of a patient's vascular structure, regulating the temperature of a portion of a mammal, and for improving various interventional procedures and/or therapeutic techniques. The device may also include one or more access ports, or apertures, that allow access to portions of the mammal's extremity to allow interventional type medical devices, therapeutic devices, surgical support equipment or patient monitoring devices to have access to the extremity on which a body element is disposed. The device may also be configured to allow other supporting components, which may include IV or other catheters, a means of accessing to a portion of the extremity positioned inside the temperature regulating device. In one configuration the device comprises flexible materials that are adapted to conform to the surface of the extremity disposed in the device when a vacuum pressure is applied to an internal region of the device. |