Abstract:
A device and method for applying compressive hot or cold therapy to a patient&#39;s body, including a handle and a frame connected to and extending from the handle. The frame includes two spaced apart support arms, the support arms each having an opening such that the openings in the support arms are collinear with one another. A roller having a central axis and a reservoir within its interior for retaining a thermal medium, the roller having a non-uniform cross-section along its length defining a thermally conductive external surface for transferring thermal energy from the thermal medium to the patient&#39;s body. At least one elongated member is operatively connected to the roller and extends longitudinally along the central axis beyond the periphery of the roller. The elongated member is received within the collinear openings of the spaced apart support arms to releasably and rotatably connect the roller to the frame.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to devices for treating a desired region of a patient&#39;s body, and, more particularly, to a thermal therapy massage roller for application of heat or cold to an affected area on a patient&#39;s body. 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    Common injuries, such as (but not limited to) joint sprains, muscle strains, shin splints, and bursitis of the knee, elbow, shoulder, leg, hip, trunk or ankle, often propagate an inflammatory response. Treatment of such injuries and other painful, inflammatory disorders of the muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones and joints may include the application of localized heat and/or cold temperature to the afflicted area of the patient&#39;s body. For instance, cryotherapy is an effective modality for the reduction of pain caused by inflammation. Cold material may be placed against the affected area of a patient&#39;s body, thereby absorbing heat from the body through thermal conduction. This may trigger a variety of beneficial physiological effects. For example, the application of cold temperature to the afflicted area may produce a numbing effect, reducing the pain experienced by the injured patient. It may also trigger vasoconstriction, which, by restricting the blood flow to the affected area, may reduce swelling. Other beneficial effects may be produced, such as a reduction in local metabolic rate, or relief from uncontrolled muscle spasms. In addition, cold therapy is a known anti-inflammatory modality that is commonly applied to reduce the pain, swelling and discomfort associated with local joint or soft-tissue inflammation. 
         [0005]    Similarly, massage is well known for its soothing effects on injured or sensitive areas of the body. The beneficial effects of a massage may be combined with cryotherapy and/or heat therapy to provide superior treatment relative to either cryotherapy or massage alone. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one aspect of this disclosure, a device for applying compressive hot or cold therapy to a patient&#39;s body is disclosed. The device includes a handle and a frame connected to and extending from the handle. The frame includes two spaced apart support arms, the support arms each having an opening such that the openings in the support arms are collinear with one another. A roller having a central axis and a reservoir within its interior for retaining a thermal medium, the roller having a non-uniform cross-section along its length defining a thermally conductive external surface for transferring thermal energy from the thermal medium to the patient&#39;s body. At least one elongated member is operatively connected to the roller and extends longitudinally along the central axis beyond the periphery of the roller. The elongated member is received within the collinear openings of the spaced apart support arms to releasably and rotatably connect the roller to the frame. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of this disclosure, a method for applying hot or cold message therapy to a patient&#39;s body is disclosed. The method comprises providing a thermal medium within a reservoir within a roller having a non-uniform cross-section along its length that defines a thermally conductive external surface for transferring thermal energy from the thermal medium to the patient&#39;s body. The roller is heated or cooled to raise or lower the temperature of the thermal medium. The roller is releasably and rotatably connected to two spaced apart support arms of a frame by inserting each end of an elongated member operatively connected and extending along a central axis from the roller through a corresponding opening in the support arms. The roller is rolled over the patient&#39;s body by grasping a handle attached to the frame to transfer thermal energy from the thermal medium through the non-uniform, thermally conductive external surface of the roller to the patient&#39;s body. 
         [0008]    The foregoing has outlined rather generally the features and technical advantages of one or more embodiments of this disclosure in order that the following detailed description may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of this disclosure will be described hereinafter, which may form the subject of the claims of this application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    This disclosure is further described in the detailed description that follows, with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a preferred hot and cold therapy device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the hot and cold therapy device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is front top plan view of an illustrative flexible belt for use with the hot and cold therapy device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the hot and cold therapy device roller of  FIG. 1  assembled to the flexible belt of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the assembled hot and cold therapy device roller and flexible belt of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front cross-sectional view of the hot and cold therapy device taken across line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the hot and cold therapy device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the hot and cold therapy device; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the hot and cold therapy device of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    This application discloses a hot and cold therapy device  100  that may be used to apply a hot or cold massage therapy to an injured area of the body of a patient. The hot and cold therapy device  100  includes a roller that may be filled with a heated or chilled thermal medium (e.g., liquid) to enable application of a hot or cold message therapy. 
         [0020]    Additionally, the hot and cold therapy device  100  may be disassembled, which may be advantageous for a number of reasons. First, it allows a user to heat or chill the thermal medium within the roller without heating or chilling the entire device. Second, it may allow a user to utilize a number of different rollers having various shapes, textures and other characteristics beneficial to a particular application, such as conforming to the shape of the portion of the body to be treated. Switching between rollers may be performed quickly and easily. Third, it allows the roller to be releasably connected to a flexible strap, so that the roller may be held in place against the injured portion of the body. This may allow hands free application of continuous, static hot or cold pressure to the injured area of the body. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6  illustrate a preferred, fully assembled hot and cold therapy device  100 . The hot and cold therapy device  100  preferably includes a handle  101 , a frame  102  and a roller  104 . The handle  101  is preferably an ergonomically shaped handle designed for fitting comfortably in a user&#39;s hand. Handle  101  is preferably formed of a durable, lightweight, but comfortable to hold material, such as (but not limited to) plastic, rubber, metal, wood, or plastic coated with a rubber-like material. In the preferred embodiment, the hot and cold therapy device  100  is preferably held in the user&#39;s palm facing down against the affected area of the patient&#39;s body. Handle  101  is preferably ergonomically shaped to comfortably support this kind of “palm down” grip by the user. Handle  101  may, for example, have a semi-circular rounded top curvature  101 A. The top curvature  101 A preferably starts from a midpoint  101 B and slopes gently down to a peripheral edge  101 C. A bottom segment  101 D of handle  101  may include a plurality of indentations  101 E that conform to the user&#39;s fingers when the user grips the hot and cold therapy device  100  with a palm down grip. Alternatively, the ergonomic handle  101  may be sufficiently tall and/or wide so that the user&#39;s hand and fingers do not contact the bottom surface  101 D, in which case, the bottom surface  101 D may be flat. 
         [0022]    Ergonomic handle  101  and frame  102  may be connected or otherwise assembled together in a conventional manner. The handle  101  and frame  102  may be manufactured as a single component using, for example, conventional injection molding techniques. Alternatively, as best illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the handle  101  and frame  102  may be assembled as separate components in which, for example, frame  102  may extend through bottom surface  101 D and into the body of the ergonomic handle  101 . Mating helical threads  600  may be provided on both the frame  102  and handle  101  to releasably connect both components to one another via rotation of one component relative to the other. Alternatively, glue, epoxy, soldering, welding, or one or more mechanical fasteners may be utilized to releasably or permanently connect the handle  101  to the frame  102 . 
         [0023]    Frame  102  preferably defines the main body of the cold therapy device  100 . Frame  102  may be made from any suitable material that is strong enough to withstand the forces typically exerted on the cold therapy device  100  without suffering structural failure. For example, the frame  102  may be made from plastic, metal or wood. Frame  102  may have any desired cross-section or desired combination of cross sections. As depicted in the drawings, frame  102  may have a compact, predominantly square or rectangular cross section. The edges are preferably rounded or smoothed to eliminate sharp edges that may injure a user or patient and to present an aesthetically pleasing finish for the user. Alternatively, circular, ovular, L-shaped, C-shaped or even irregular cross-sections may be utilized as desired. 
         [0024]    Frame  102  preferably includes a neck  102 A, at least one lateral member  102 B and at least one supporting arm  102 C projecting or otherwise extending from the terminal end of the lateral member  102 B. In one preferred embodiment, the frame  102  includes a pair of lateral members  102 B extending laterally from the neck  102 A, and a pair of spaced apart supporting arms  102 C projecting or otherwise extending from the terminal end of the lateral members  102 B. Neck  102 A is preferably releasably or permanently connected to ergonomic handle  101 . As described above, handle  101  and frame  102  may be integrally formed as a single unit or as separate components in which neck  102 A may extend through the lower surface  101 D into the body of ergonomic handle  101  and connect to the handle utilizing, for example, mating male and female helical threads  600  within the handle  101  and on the terminal portion of the neck  102 A, glue, epoxy or some other adhesive, soldering, welding, or one or more mechanical fasteners. 
         [0025]    Neck  102 A preferably projects perpendicularly from the lower surface  101 D of ergonomic handle  101  and branches laterally into at least one lateral member  102 B. In one preferred embodiment, a pair of lateral members  102 B extend in opposing directions from neck  102 A in a generally perpendicular direction to the neck, thereby forming a single horizontal structure that follows a generally parallel path relative to the plane of lower handle surface  101 D. 
         [0026]    Each lateral member  102 B preferably transitions into a support arm  102 C, which is preferably the portion of frame  102  that is releasably connected to roller  104 . Each support arm  102 C preferably extends in a generally perpendicular direction from lateral member  102 B and preferably includes an opening  103  for releasably and rotatably connecting the roller  104  to the frame  102  (described further below). The support arms  102 C should be spaced apart by a distance D that is sufficient to accommodate the width of the roller  104  and permit the roller to rotate freely relative to the frame  102  without interference from lateral members  102 B. Similarly, the distance L between the underside of the lateral members  102 B and the central axis of the opening  103  in the support arms  102 C should be sufficient to accommodate the maximum radius of the roller  104  and permit the roller to rotate freely when mounted in the frame  102 . It is understood that support arms  102 C may extend from lateral members  102 B at any desired angle, but the distances D and L should remain sufficient to allow roller  104  to rotate freely without interference when mounted within the frame  102 . 
         [0027]    Roller  104  is used to apply hot or cold massage therapy to the injured area of the patient&#39;s body. Roller  104  is preferably made from a thermally conductive material, such as (but not limited to) metal, plastic, rubber or other pliable (but sufficiently firm) materials. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , roller  104  preferably includes a hollow chamber or reservoir  104 A for receiving and storing a heatable, chillable and/or freezable heat transferable medium  107 . The heat transferable medium may be a non-toxic liquid, fluid, gel, gas, refrigerant or other substance that can be heated and/or cooled to a desired temperature within the roller  104 . 
         [0028]    The heat transferable medium  107  may be inserted into and sealed within the hollow chamber  104 A during manufacture of roller  104 . Alternatively, one or more sealable openings (not shown) may be provided in the roller  104 , preferably on a surface of roller  104  that does not contact the patient, to allow addition and/or removal of the heat transferable medium  107 . 
         [0029]    Any suitable heat transferable material or substance may be utilized as the heat transferable medium  107 . For example, hollow chamber  104 A may be filled with water. The water may then be refrigerated or frozen, thereby providing a reservoir containing a low temperature heat transferable material within roller  104  for a cold therapy massage. Alternatively, more exotic substances may be used. For example, a refrigerant gel may be utilized in place of water as the heat transferable medium  107  within the hollow chamber  104 A of roller  104 . Refrigerant gels are common materials typically utilized in ice packs. Refrigerant gels may include water and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, which is a nontoxic, noncarcinogenic mixture that provides temperatures colder than those attainable by water ice, allowing it to remain cold or frozen longer in room temperature environments. 
         [0030]    Other heat transferable substances may be utilized as heat transferable medium  107  to produce beneficial effects. For example, a mixture of water and ammonium nitrate may be utilized as heat transferable medium  107 . Such mixtures are commonly utilized in “cold packs,” and may be utilized here as well. When water and ammonium nitrate are combined, the resulting mixture generates an endothermic reaction, greatly lowering the temperature of the solution (and thus, the roller  104 ), which may be beneficial for applying a cold massage therapy with the roller  104 . 
         [0031]    Alternatively, a solution of sodium acetate (dissolved into its water of crystallization) may be utilized as heat transferable medium  107 . Such solutions are commonly utilized in “heating pads,” “hand warmers” and other portable heat emitting devices. A mechanism within roller  104  may allow a nucleation center to be formed within the solution, causing the solution to begin crystallizing. The crystallization process is exothermic, and may thereby emit a large amount of heat, which may be beneficial for applying a heated massage therapy with the roller  104 . The sodium acetate solution may thereafter be reused by boiling the solution within the roller  104  to dissolve the sodium acetate trihydrate crystals. 
         [0032]    Roller  104  may take a generally cylindrical (but not necessarily uniform) form, with circular top and bottom sections  104 B and a cylindrical body  104 C. The circular sections  104 B may each present a generally flat surface. Cylindrical body  104 C preferably includes a concave slope that begins at or near a circumferential edge of a section  104 B, which may then gradually decrease down toward a midpoint  104 D (or another location) of roller  104 . Therefore, in this example, cylindrical body  104 C has the smallest cross-sectional diameter relative to the cross-sectional diameters along its entire length (up to a maximum diameter possessed by circular sections  104 B) at or near midpoint  104 D. This may present a more ergonomic shape to the roller  104 , enabling superior application of pressure and heat or cold therapy to the affected region of the patient&#39;s body. 
         [0033]    Other roller shapes may be utilized as desired to conform to the particular area of the patient&#39;s body that is being treated. For example, a roller  104  with a less concave (or even flat) cylindrical body  104 C may be utilized for massaging flatter portions of the body, such as the patient&#39;s abdominal or back bones or muscles. Alternatively, roller  104  may be formed with a raised or convex cylindrical body  104 C, cresting at or near its midpoint (or another location) between the two circular sections  104 B. Such a roller  104  may be used, for example, to target a very specific region of the patient&#39;s body. Any advantageous shape may be utilized for roller  104  as desired, including combinations of concave and convex configurations for the cylindrical body  104 C. Additionally, small shapes, textures or other surface modifications may be added to the cylindrical body  104 C to affect a different feeling during the massage or improve the hot or cold therapy. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , an axle or shaft  105  may be utilized to provide an axis for the rotation of roller  104  relative to the frame  102 . The roller  104  may include a longitudinally extending opening or bore and optionally a longitudinally extending sleeve or journal  106  may be press fit within the longitudinally extending opening of the roller. An axle  105  may be inserted into the longitudinally extending opening (or into the sleeve or journal  106  if provided) and extend longitudinally through the roller  104  into respective longitudinally aligned openings  103  formed in the support arms  102 C of frame  102 . Each end of the axle  105  preferably extends beyond the longitudinally aligned openings  103  of frame  102  and preferably includes one or more protrusions  105 C, which serve both as a stop to prevent the axle  105  from sliding out of the frame  102  and as a means for releasably connecting the roller  104  to a flexible belt or band  300  if the roller  104  is to be held statically in place against the injured portion of the body (as will be described further below with respect to  FIGS. 3-5 ). The roller  104  may also be manufactured such that there is no central axis, but instead the material used to make the roller is formed in such a manner that the side connectors ( 105 A and B, C) project directly and contiguously from the sides of the roller. 
         [0035]    To facilitate convenient and easy attachment/detachment of the roller  104  to the frame  102 , at least one end of the axle  105  may include a threaded opening  105 D for releasably engaging to mating threads on a threaded fastener or coupling  105 B. While the fastener  105 B is illustrated in  FIG. 6  as having male threads and the axle  500  as having a corresponding female threaded opening  105 D, it is understood that the axle could alternatively include the male threads and the fastener could include a corresponding female threaded opening. The threaded fastener  105 B preferably has body portion with a diameter that is approximately the same size as the diameter of the axle  105  so that the threaded fastener may be inserted through an opening  103  in the support arm  102 C of frame  102 . The threaded fastener  105 B preferably includes the protrusion  104 F at its terminal end in the same manner as described above. 
         [0036]    Therefore, during assembly of the hot and cold therapy device  100 , axle  105  may be inserted through an opening  103  within one of the support arms  102 C and then through the longitudinally extending opening (or sleeve or journal  106  if provided) of roller  104  positioned between the support arms  102 C of frame  102 . The threaded fastener  105 B may then be inserted through the co-aligned opening  103  of the opposing support arm  102 C and threaded into the threaded opening  105 D at the end of the axle  105 , thereby releasably and rotatably connecting roller  104  to frame  102 . The roller  104  may be removed from the frame  102  in a similar manner by unscrewing the threaded fastener  105 B from the end of the axle  105 , after which the axle may be removed from the longitudinally extending opening (or sleeve or journal  106  if provided) of roller  104  and the opening  103  within the support arm  102 C through which it passes. 
         [0037]    In an alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , roller  104  may include a pin or cylindrical member  108  extending longitudinally along a central axis from each end of the roller  104  in lieu of the axle  105 . A pair of pliable molded jaws  103 A located in each supporting arm  102 C of frame  102  partially enclose and define the opening  103  in the supporting arms  102 C. The pliable molded jaws  103 A are preferably separated by a small gap  103 B through which the pin or cylindrical member  108  extending from the roller  104  may be forcibly introduced so that the pair of molded jaws  103 A flex a sufficient amount to allow the pin or cylindrical member  108  to pass through the gap  103 B into the opening  103  partially surrounded by the jaws. Once the pin or cylindrical member  108  is inserted within the opening  103  surrounded by the jaws  103 A, the jaws snap back or elastically return to their original configuration to retain the pin or cylindrical member  108  within the opening  103  partially surrounded by the jaws to thereby releasably and rotatably connect the roller  104  to the support arms  102 C. Roller  104  may similarly be removed from the frame  102  by applying a force on the pin or cylindrical member  108  sufficient to cause the pair of pliable jaws  103 A to flex away from one another and permit the pin or cylindrical member  108  to pass through the gap  103 B between the jaws. The pliable jaws  103 A may be formed in the support arms  102 C in a conventional manner, such as, for example, during a molding process for manufacturing frame  102 . It is understood that other mechanisms for releasably and rotatably connecting the roller  104  to the frame  102  may be utilized as well. The pin or cylindrical members  108  extending longitudinally from the roller  104  may also include one or more protrusions  108 C (similar to protrusions  105 C described above) to releasably connect the roller  104  to a flexible strap  300  when the roller  104  is to be held statically in place against the injured portion of the body (as will be described below with respect to  FIGS. 3-5 ). 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  illustrates the flexible strap or tape  300  that may be utilized in conjunction with the roller  104  to apply static hot or cold pressure against an area of the patient&#39;s body. Flexible strap or tape  300  preferably includes a plurality of openings  301  centrally aligned along the strap&#39;s longitudinal axis. The flexible strap or tape  300  may be a flexible strap, belt, band, bandage or tape made of any suitable material, such as (but not limited to) cloth athletic tape, a woven elastic bandage or fabric, or the like. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the flexible strap  300  releasably connected to the roller  104  to maintain the roller in a static position against an area of a patient&#39;s body to be treated. The flexible strap  300  may be releasably connected to the roller  104  by inserting the end  105 A of the axle  105  and the threaded fastener  105 B into respective openings  301  within the strap  300 . The protrusions  105 C extending from the ends  105 A of the axle  105  and the threaded fastener  105 B extend beyond the circumference of openings  301  to thereby prevent the strap  300  from unintentionally disconnecting from the roller  104 . When assembled in this manner, the flexible strap  300  and roller  104  define an open region  400 . The roller and strap assembly may therefore be wrapped around a body part, such as an arm or leg, in which the body part is positioned within the loop  400 . The roller and strap assembly may then be tensioned against the body part by selecting the appropriate opening  301  such that sufficient tension exists to statically maintain the roller  400  in place against the body part to be treated. In this manner, pressure and hot or cold therapy may be statically applied to the designated area. 
         [0040]    Prior to use, the heat transfer medium  107  within the roller  400  may be heated or cooled to a desired temperature by placing the thermally conductive roller in a suitable heating or cooling device, such as (but not limited to) an oven, microwave, refrigerator or freezer. Once the roller  400  (and the heat transfer medium  107 ) have achieved the desired temperature, the roller may either be releasably and rotatably connected to the frame  102  so that a user may apply the hot or cold therapy to the injured area of the patient&#39;s body by massaging the injured area with the thermally conductive roller. Alternatively, the thermally conductive roller  400  may be positioned against the injured area of the patient&#39;s body and the flexible strap  300  may be wrapped about the injured area and releasably attached to the roller to apply static hot or cold therapy to the injured area of the patient&#39;s body. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate another embodiment of the hot and cold therapy device  700 . The cold therapy device  700  may be equipped with an electrically powered mechanism  704  for providing additional effects for a massage therapy. For example, the electrically powered mechanism  704  may include a vibratory motor that vibrates within the roller  104 , enabling the addition of vibration to a massage therapy. The electrically powered mechanism  704  may optionally include an electrically operated heating element for heating the heat transferable medium  107  within the roller  104  and/or the roller itself, allowing one to potentially alter or control the temperature of a cold massage, or even apply (or transition to) a hot massage. 
         [0042]    Ergonomic handle  101  preferably houses a power source  701  for supplying power to the electrically powered mechanism  704 . Standard battery solutions may be utilized for power source  701 . For example, power source  701  may be one or more standard replaceable batteries or rechargeable batteries. Alternatively, power source  701  may be permanently installed in ergonomic handle  101 . Charging of the power source  701  (e.g., rechargeable battery(s)) may be achieved via an externally attachable charging cable. In yet another embodiment, a motion-charged battery may be utilized, allowing motion from an applied massage to at least partially recharge the battery. 
         [0043]    Power source  701  is preferably electrically connected to the electrical mechanism  704  via electrical circuit  702   a  and  702   b . Electrical circuit  702   a  and  702   b  may be housed within frame  102 . Electrical contacts or connectors  703   a  and  703   b  may complete electrical continuity with the electrically powered mechanism  704 , which is preferably housed within the body of roller  104 . In this manner, the roller  104  may be removed from the frame  102 . The electrical contacts or connectors  703   a  and  703   b  may be designed to provide continuous continuity even as the roller  104  rotates relative to frame  102 . A separate chamber may be included in the body of roller  104  for the electrically powered mechanism  704 , thereby ensuring proper function of the mechanism  704  by segregating any fluids from the mechanism  704  and electrical contacts  703   a  and  703   b.    
         [0044]    Having described and illustrated the principles of this application by reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it should be apparent that the preferred embodiment(s) may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the principles disclosed herein and that it is intended that the application be construed as including all such modifications and variations insofar as they come within the spirit and scope of the subject matter disclosed.