Patent Publication Number: US-2011061838-A1

Title: Human remains cooling pad and cooling system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a human remains cooling pad and cooling system to supply chilled fluid to the cooling pad. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the present invention is a cooling pad that may be used for chilling human remains that has a first end and a second end, and an internal cavity that is segmented at the first end into a feed section and a return section. The pad further contains an inlet feed at the first end feed section for supplying chilled fluid into the feed section of the cooling pad and an outlet return at the first end return section for returning fluid to be chilled, located in the return section of the cooling pad. The cooling pad is configured to circulate chilled fluid from the feed section to the return section in a one-way flow arrangement. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is a scalable and portable human remains cooling system with a chiller unit having a chilled fluid supply, at least one primary fluid line divided into a primary fluid supply line and a primary fluid return line for providing a chilled fluid for cooling human remains and circulating warmed fluid back to the chiller for re-chilling. The system further has a flow divider manifold including a chilled fluid input having a series of chilled fluid output ports in fluid communication with the primary fluid supply line from the chiller for receiving and dispersing the chilled fluid supply and the manifold includes a warm fluid output including a series of warm fluid input ports in fluid communication with the primary fluid return line to the chiller unit for re-chilling. The system further contains a secondary fluid line that is divided into a secondary fluid supply line in fluid communication with one of the chilled fluid output ports and a secondary fluid return line in fluid communication with one of the warm fluid input ports. Further, the system contains at least one cooling pad with a first end and a second end, an internal cavity that is segmented at the first end into a feed section and a return section, an inlet feed in fluid communication with the secondary fluid supply line located in the feed section and an outlet return in fluid communication with the secondary fluid return line located in the return section, where the cooling pad is configured to circulate chilled fluid from the feed section to the return section in a one-way flow arrangement. The chilled fluid in the system is circulated through the cooling pad and warmed fluid is returned to the chiller unit for re-chilling, such that the fluid moves in a continuous cycle. 
     The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a human remains cooling system including a cooling pad that is connected to a cooling system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a flow divider manifold in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a primary fluid line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are cross-sectional views of a cooling pad placed over human remains in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a cooling pad placed over human remains in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a section of the cooling pad shown in  FIG. 5  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation, not limitation, of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  4 A,  4 B and  5  illustrate cooling pads  100  that may be adapted to a human remains cooling system  102  for cooling human remains in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Cooling pads  100  are provided with a chilled fluid from cooling system  102  that is circulated through cooling pads  100  and returned for re-chilling. Cooling pad  100  may help to maintain the temperature of human remains at about 30°-45° F. after death occurs for an indefinite period. Cooling pad  100  may be adapted to be in direct contact with either the top side or the bottom side of human remains. The system allows the remains to achieve preferred and predetermined constant ranges of cooling temperatures to be maintained. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , cooling system  102  includes a chiller unit  104  having a fluid container  106  holding a chilled fluid supply for circulating fluid through cooling pads  100 . A primary fluid line  108  divided into a primary fluid supply line  110  and a primary fluid return line  112  extends from chiller unit  104  for channeling the chilled fluid to cooling pads  100  and circulating warmed fluid back to chiller unit  104  for re-chilling. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , at least one flow divider manifold  114  is provided for channeling the chilled fluid through a plurality of cooling pads  100 . Flow divider manifold  114  includes a chilled fluid input  116  connecting manifold  114  in fluid communication with primary fluid supply line  110 . Chilled fluid input  116  is further in fluid communication with at least one chilled fluid output port  118  which is also in fluid communication with at least one secondary supply line  120  of a secondary fluid line  122  that provides chilled fluid to cooling pads  100 . In some embodiments, chilled fluid input  116  may further be in fluid communication with chilled fluid manifold port  119  when more than one manifold  114  is utilized as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Flow divider manifold  114  also includes a warm fluid output  124  connecting manifold  114  in fluid communication with primary fluid return line  112 . Warm fluid output  124  is also in fluid communication with warm fluid input ports  125  which are in further fluid communication with secondary return line  126  of secondary fluid line  122 , for returning warmed fluid from cooling pads  100  for re-chilling. In some embodiments, warm fluid output  124  may also be in fluid communication with warmed fluid manifold port  127  when more than one manifold is utilized as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     At least one cooling pad  100  is provided in direct fluid communication with secondary supply line  120  for receiving the chilled fluid from chiller unit  104 . The cooling pad  100  is also connected in direct fluid communication with secondary return line  126  for returning warmed fluid to the chiller unit. Accordingly, cooling pad  100  may be adapted to a cooling system  102 , such that chilled fluid may be circulated through cooling pad  100  and warmed fluid may be returned to chilling unit  104  for re-chilling. The recirculation of chilled fluids helps to maintain the temperature of cooling pad  100  and the human remains to which cooling pad  100  makes direct contact. 
     In order to maintain the temperatures of the fluids within the lines and to avoid any substantial damage to the lines, primary fluid line  108  may be constructed as shown in  FIG. 3 . Primary fluid line  108  includes primary supply line  110  and primary return line  112  which are surrounded by an insulation layer  128  that is covered by a wear resistant layer  130 . Primary supply line  110  and primary return line  112  may be constructed, in some embodiments, of a polyvinyl chloride hose. Insulation layer  128  may be constructed of any material known in the art that will maintain the necessary temperature of the fluid in primary supply line  110 . In some embodiments, insulation layer  128  may be made of a closed cell extruded foam, including polyisocyanurate or polyurethane. Wear resistant layer  130  may be made of any material known in the art for maintaining the integrity of the lines, for example an extruded PVC may be used as the wear resistant layer  130 . 
     Primary fluid line  108  is also constructed such that primary supply line  110  and primary return line  112  are releaseably adhered and may be separated, so that the lines may properly enter different components of manifold  114  and chilling unit  104 , while still maintaining the insulation layer  128  and the wear resistant layer  130 . Although  FIG. 3  makes reference to primary fluid line  108 , secondary fluid line  122  may be constructed in the same or similar manner and house secondary supply line  120  and secondary return line  126  with an insulation layer and a wear resistant layer. 
     In an embodiment, chiller unit  104  includes a refrigeration circuit for cooling the fluid to a temperature of between about 30°-45° F. In some embodiments, the temperature of the cooling pad is maintained between about 32°-42° F. A chiller unit of the type manufactured by Advantage Engineering, Inc. 525 East Stop 18 Road, Greenwood, Ind. 46142, can serve to provide and circulate a chilled fluid supply through a plurality of cooling pads  100 . In some embodiments, the chilled fluid may be a glycol and water solution or other similar fluid to prevent freezing to maintain circulation of the fluid through the various supply lines and manifolds. In a particular embodiment, the chilled fluid includes approximately 30% by volume of glycol to prevent freezing. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a fluid pump  132  is included in chiller unit  104  which pressurizes the system and forces the fluid through the supply lines and into cooling pads  100 , and circulates that fluid back to chiller unit  104  for re-chilling. In some embodiments, pump  132  includes a stepping motor for adapting to changes in fluid level as cooling bags  100  are added or removed from manifold  114 . In some embodiments, the system may be designed to hold sufficient fluid to support  28  cooling pads  100  with a 25 gallon fluid container  106  in chiller unit  104 . Chiller unit  104  may connect to ground-based power, but due to the limited power demands of the system, may be run on portable power generator units or batteries in remote locations. In further embodiments, chiller unit  104  may include a temperature sensor and pressure display  134  operatively associated with the chilled fluid for monitoring the temperature of the fluid as it leaves the chiller unit for circulation through cooling pads  100 , as well as the pressure of the fluid in the lines. 
     In a further embodiment, chiller unit  104  may be adapted to include an outlet pressure reducing valve  136  in fluid communication with primary fluid supply line  110  for creating a low flow pressure of the chilled fluid through the system  102 . In some embodiments, the low flow pressure of the chilled fluid through primary fluid supply line  110  may be approximately 10 psi. In a further embodiment, primary fluid supply line  110  and primary fluid return line  112  may be approximately 1 inch in diameter for maintaining flow volume and pressure to flow divider manifold  114  under the low flow pressure condition of the system. Further, in some embodiments, secondary supply and return lines  120  and  126  may be approximately ⅜ inch in diameter for maintaining pressure and flow volume to circulate the fluid through cooling pad  100 . 
     Chiller unit  104  may be constructed to allow for connection and disconnection of cooling pad  100  without having to shutdown the system  102 . In some embodiments, secondary fluid supply line  120  and secondary fluid return line  126  are connected to flow divider manifold  114  using a quick connect coupling so that the supply and return lines may be connected and disconnected without turning off chiller unit  104  or having to use tools to complete the connections. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , quick connect couplings  138  are shown on secondary supply line  120  and secondary return line  126  for connecting with the complementary ports of manifold  114 . Quick connect couplings  138  include an internal lock, that when quick connect couplings  138  are properly situated over and pressed down on the complementary ports, couplings  138  are locked into fluid communication with either chilled fluid input  116  or warm fluid output  118 . Quick connect couplings  138  may be removed by actuating release  142 , and removing coupling  138  from the complementary port. When quick connect couplings  138  are removed from a complementary port, a check valve (not shown) in the quick connect coupling  138  is closed to prevent fluid from leaking out of either secondary supply line  120  or secondary return line  126 . Although the invention is described using the particular quick connect coupling described above, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other quick connect couplings, which produce the same or similar results, may be used in additional embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of flow divider manifolds  114  may be arranged in order to scale the system to the number of cooling pads  100  required by the user. Each manifold  114  is connected such that each chilled fluid input  116  of each manifold  114  is in fluid communication with primary fluid supply line  110  and each warm fluid output  124  is in fluid communication with primary return line  112 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 , lines are connected to manifolds  114  by being placed over ports of manifold  114  and held in place with the use of a hose clamp  146 . In other embodiments, the connections between the lines and manifolds are accomplished using common quick connect couplings as described above. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , cooling pad  20  is connected in fluid communication with secondary fluid line  122  which is divided into secondary supply line  120  and secondary return line  126  as it reaches cooling pad  100 . As the chilled fluid enters cooling pad  100  through secondary supply line  120 , the chilled fluid is circulated through cooling pad  100  and back to chiller unit  104  through secondary return line  126  so that the human remains  148  are maintained at a desired temperature through direct cooling. In some embodiments, cooling pad  100  may be equipped with additional coatings. For example, in one embodiment, cooling pad  100  may be coated with a layer of charcoal so as to absorb odors emitted from the human remains  148  placed underneath or on top of cooling pad  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in an embodiment of the present invention, cooling pad  100  includes a flow director  150  segmenting an interior fluid cavity  152  in cooling pad  100  into a feed section  154  and a return section  156  so that chilled fluid is circulated first through feed section  154  and then into return section  156  in a consecutive one-way flow arrangement. An opening at distal end  158  of cooling pad  100  is provided in flow director  150  so that fluid can pass from feed section  154  into return section  156 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , flow director  150  may be formed by heat welding a top side  160  of cooling pad  100  to a bottom side  162  so that fluid cannot pass through flow director  150 . 
     In a further embodiment, interior fluid cavity  152  of cooling pad  100  may include a plurality of fluid dispersion cells  164  for directing chilled fluid throughout feed section  154  and return section  156 . Fluid dispersion cells  164  may be formed by heat welding, as indicated by reference number  166 , top side  160  and bottom side  162  of cooling pad  100  in a staggered arrangement. 
     Cooling pad  100  may be utilized alone to maintain a desired temperature of human remains. As shown in the figures, cooling pad  100  may be placed on top of human remains to provide proper cooling, but cooling pad  100  may also be utilized underneath human remains. For example, human remains may be placed on top of cooling pad  100  to allow the user to examine the remains but to still have the remains maintain a targeted temperature. 
     In other embodiments, cooling pad  100  may be utilized in connection with at least one additional item. For example, in some embodiments, cooling pad  100  may be used with cotton, linen or plastic sheeting, a body bag, a cardboard box, or a table shroud. These items may be used adjacent cooling pad  100 , outside the fluid cavity  152 . Each item may help to further ensure that human remains maintain the desired temperature. 
     Although cooling pad  100  may be used with the items listed above, it need not be specifically integrated with these items in order to use both together. For example, a body bag would not have to first be integrated with a cooling pad  100  before it could be used in connection with cooling pad  100 . Instead, cooling pad  100  may be placed in any body bag, regardless of manufacturer or size, to provide the bag with the desired cooling properties as described above. 
     These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole and in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.