Patent ID: 6846322

Claim:
A system for manipulating a core body temperature of a mammal, the system comprising: a chamber for enclosing a body portion of a mammal, said chamber comprising: a base member having a first distal end and a first sealing surface; a moveable member adapted to matingly, engage said base member; wherein the moveable member has a second distal end pivotally mounted to said first distal end of the base member and a second sealing surface which reciprocably contacts said first sealing surface to enclose said body portion within said chamber, and a fastener adapted to maintain engagement of said base member with said moveable member, wherein the movable member moves toward the base member to enclose the body portion in the chamber and the moveable member moves away from the base member to remove the body portion from the chamber; a seal in operative association with said chamber for sealing said chamber around said body portion and for inhibiting movement of said body portion relative to said chamber when the system is in operation; a thermal energy exchange system in operative association with said chamber, wherein said thermal energy exchange system comprises an energy element assembly coupled to a flexible membrane assembly, wherein said flexible membrane assembly (i) facilitates an exchange of energy between said energy element assembly and said body portion and (ii) comprises a first flexible membrane associated with an interior surface of said moveable member and a second flexible membrane associated with an interior surface of said base member, wherein said first flexible membrane and said second flexible membrane are each configured to enhance surface contact between said energy element assembly and said body portion; and wherein said energy element assembly comprises a first energy element in association with said first flexible membrane and a second energy element in association with said second flexible membrane; wherein said first energy element and said second energy element are adapted to enable an exchange of energy via said body portion between each of said first energy element and said second energy element and said thermal core of said mammal; and a vacuum system operatively associated with said chamber while said thermal energy exchange system is in operation, wherein said vacuum system generates a sub-atmospheric pressure within said chamber.