Importance

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Abstract

A device for therapeutically treating a desired region of a patient's body with a nonambient temperature fluid includes a fluid feed reservoir, a fluid collection reservoir, and a fluid flowpath therebetween. The flowpath is made up of a heat transfer pad placed over the desired treatment region, an inlet line leading from the feed reservoir to the pad, and an outlet line leading from the pad to the collection reservoir. In operation, the feed reservoir is charged with a nonambient temperature fluid and maintained at a height substantially greater than the height of the collection reservoir to provide a fluid head sufficient to transport the fluid from the feed reservoir to the collection reservoir across the flowpath. In so doing, the pad provides therapeutic treatment to the region of the body that it contacts. The temperature of the pad is controlled by maintaining a height differential between the fluid levels in the feed reservoir and the collection reservoir.

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First Claim