Patent ID: 8052624

Claim:
A negative pressure, thermal energy device comprising: a non-shape altering, air impermeable enclosure having an appendage opening, a positive pressure opening, and a negative pressure opening; a first shape altering, air impermeable material positioned at the appendage opening, securely attached to the non-shape altering enclosure, and having an aperture to receive a portion of a patient's appendage; a second shape altering, air impermeable material positioned at the positive pressure opening and securely attached to the non-shape altering, air impermeable enclosure; an air permeable, thermal transfer pad (a) removably attached to the non-shape altering, air impermeable enclosure, (b) positioned at the negative pressure opening, and (c) having a top surface and a bottom surface; (a) the non-shape altering, air impermeable enclosure, (b) the first shape altering, air impermeable material, (c) the second shape altering, air impermeable material, and (d) the air permeable, thermal transfer pad define a cavity; an operating container (a) that releasably attaches to the non-shape altering enclosure, (b) has a thermal energy contacting surface that (i) contacts at least a portion of the air permeable, thermal transfer pad's bottom surface, (ii) transfers thermal energy through the air permeable, thermal transfer pad to the patient's body surface that contacts the air permeable, thermal transfer pad and (iii) interconnects to or is a component of a thermal energy generating device; and (c) has a vacuum source that generates a negative pressure in the cavity, the negative pressure in the cavity is sufficient to cause (i) the patient's veins in the cavity to vasodilate, and (ii) the second shape altering, air impermeable material to be pulled toward the patient to provide a positive pressure on the patient that ensures the patient's body part contacts the air permeable, thermal transfer pad.