Patent ID: 8603150

Claim:
A device for increasing blood flow and/or controlling body temperature in a mammal, comprising: a flexible body having one or more flexible walls that enclose at least a portion of an internal region, wherein at least a portion of the flexible body defines an outermost surface of a portion of the device that is disposed over the portion of the extremity; an opening formed in the flexible body that is adapted to receive an extremity of a mammal and allow a portion of the extremity to be positioned within the internal region; one or more thermal exchanging units that are in thermal communication with the internal region; and a pump fluidly coupled to the internal region and configured to create a pressure below atmospheric pressure within the internal region causing atmospheric pressure external to the flexible body to urge at least a portion of the flexible body against the portion of the extremity disposed in the internal region, wherein the flexible body is configured to substantially conform to the shape of the portion of the extremity when the pump creates the pressure below atmospheric pressure within the internal region.