Patent ID: 7243509

Claim:
A therapeutic device for providing contrasting thermal treatments comprising: a. a flexible outer cover suitable for use at both hot and cold temperatures comprising: A. a sac structure with one open end, having one face covered with an adhesive layer that can be used to temporarily attach said outer cover to the inside or the outside of a garment, at a location on the garment that is in close contact with the injured area of the body, when the garment is worn, wherein said cover has dimensions to form one or more compartments suitable for containing one or more heat or cold packs, wherein said adhesive layer is suitable for use at both hot and cold temperatures, and wherein said adhesive layer is covered with a release layer or is applied immediately before use; or B. a piece of flexible substrate or a sac structure with one or more open sides, optionally having one or more extended peripheries, wherein said outer cover can be attached to the inside or the outside of a garment by the use of a plurality of safety pins, at a location on the garment that is in close contact with the injured area of the body, when the garment is worn, wherein each extended periphery has a width of at least about 1 centimeter, and wherein said cover has dimensions to form one or more compartments suitable for containing one or more heat or cold packs; and b. at least one cold pack selected from: resealable fluid impermeable plastic containers comprising an interlocking rib and groove sealing closure, optionally being a commercially available zipper bag, to contain ice or ice and water mixture; a refrigeratable cooling gel pack; or an endothermic chemical cold pack; or at least one heat pack selected from: microwavable gel bag; flexible bag containing microwave-absorbing particulate matter; water impermeable flexible bag containing chemical reactants which can be mixed to produce an exothermic heating mixture; or air permeable flexible bag containing an oxygen activated, heat generating chemical composition; and optionally, for B., either from about 1 to about 20 safety pins or from about 4 to about 12 safety pins; said therapeutic device optionally being for use to be attached to the inside or outside of a garment at a location on the garment that is in close contact with an injured area of the body.