Thermal compress system and methods of using the same

Abstract

An eye compress kit includes a thermally adjustable gel pack, a strap and at least one moistened, disposable fibrous non-woven fabric sheet. The thermally adjustable gel pack is configured to be applied against an eye region of a user's body. The gel pack includes a casing that defines a chamber holding a thermally activatable gelatinous substance. The strap is configured to secure the gel pack against the user's eye region and to exert compressive forces to the gel pack. The at least one moistened, disposable fibrous non-woven fabric sheet is adapted to be positioned between the gel pack and the user's eye region wherein the fabric sheet is removable from the outer surface of the gel pack.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An eye compress system, comprising:
 a thermally adjustable pack, the thermally adjustable pack including a moisture-impermeable casing having a periphery and sealed entirely about the periphery, the moisture-impermeable casing defining a single chamber containing a thermally activatable gelatinous substance, the thermally adjustable pack having an external perimeter and a surface area, the moisture-impermeable casing having a rear surface configured to face substantially toward a user and a front surface configured to face substantially away from the user when the thermally adjustable pack is applied to an eye region of the user's body, the external perimeter of the thermally adjustable pack configured to circumscribe a first eye and a second eye of the user, from an anatomic perspective, such that the single chamber is positioned anterior to both the first eye and the second eye when the thermally adjustable pack is applied to the eye region of the user's body; and   an external frame having an external perimeter and a surface area, the external frame being configured to be coupled to the thermally adjustable pack, the external perimeter of the external frame configured to circumscribe the first eye and the second eye of the user, the surface area of the thermally adjustable pack being greater than the surface area of the external frame,   the rear surface of the moisture-impermeable casing configured to be in substantial conductive thermal contact with eyelid skin of the first eye and eyelid skin of the second eye of the user when the thermally adjustable pack is applied to the eye region of the user's body.   
     
     
         2 . The eye compress system of  claim 1 , wherein the external perimeter of the thermally adjustable pack fully circumscribes an external perimeter of a first periocular region and an external perimeter of a second periocular region, when the thermally adjustable pack is applied to the eye region of the user's body. 
     
     
         3 . The eye compress system of  claim 1  wherein the external perimeter of the thermally adjustable pack circumscribes a portion of a periorbital region surrounding the first eye of the user and circumscribes a portion of a periorbital region surrounding the second eye of the user when the thermally adjustable pack is applied to the eye region of the user's body. 
     
     
         4 . The eye compress system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the portion of the periorbital region surrounding the first eye of the user includes regions substantially lateral and inferior to an orbital rim of the first eye of the user, and   the portion of the periorbital region surrounding the second eye of the user includes regions substantially lateral and inferior to an orbital rim of the second eye of the user.   
     
     
         5 . The eye compress system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the portion of the periorbital region surrounding the first eye of the user includes regions substantially superior to an orbital rim of the first eye of the user, and   the portion of the periorbital region surrounding the second eye of the user includes regions substantially superior to an orbital rim of the second eye of the user.   
     
     
         6 . The eye compress system of  claim 1 , wherein gel-containing portions of the thermally adjustable pack positioned anterior to the first eye and the second eye of the user are in fluid communication with gel-containing portions of the thermally adjustable pack positioned substantially superior, lateral, and inferior to orbital rims of both the first eye and the second eye of the user when the thermally adjustable pack is applied to the eye region of the user's body,
 portions of the external frame positioned substantially superior, lateral, and inferior to the orbital rims of both the first eye and the second eye of the user are positioned anterior to gel-containing portions of the gel pack when the external frame is attached to the thermally adjustable pack and applied to the eye region of the user's body.   
     
     
         7 . The eye compress system of  claim 1 , wherein the external frame covers only a portion of the front surface of the moisture-impermeable casing of the thermally adjustable pack when the external frame is attached to the thermally adjustable pack and applied to the eye region of the user's body. 
     
     
         8 . The eye compress system of  claim 1 , wherein the external frame includes (1) a first frame section having a first internal periphery defining a first relief opening and (2) a second frame section having a second internal periphery defining a second relief opening,
 the first relief opening configured to be positioned anterior to the first eye and the second relief opening configured to be positioned anterior to the second eye of the user such that, from an anterior perspective, the first internal periphery circumscribes a first periocular region and the second internal periphery circumscribes a second periocular region of the user when the external frame is attached to the thermally adjustable pack and applied to the eye region of the user's body.   
     
     
         9 . The eye compress system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one moist disposable fibrous nonwoven fabric sheet configured to be removably positioned upon the rear surface of the moisture-impermeable casing, the sheet configured to have an external perimeter when the sheet is disposed upon the rear surface of the moisture-impermeable casing,   the external perimeter of the sheet circumscribing a perimeter of a first periocular region and a perimeter of a second periocular region of the user when the sheet is disposed upon the rear surface of the moisture-impermeable casing and the thermally adjustable pack is applied to the eye region of the user.   
     
     
         10 . The eye compress system of  claim 9 , wherein the external perimeter of the sheet has a length of between 7 inches and 11 inches, and a height of between 3 inches and 6.5 inches,
 the sheet is configured to be attached to the moisture-impermeable casing without mechanical means such that the sheet is passively positioned between the thermally adjustable pack and the eye region of the user when the thermally adjustable pack is applied against the eye region of the user.   
     
     
         11 . An eye compress system, comprising:
 a thermally adjustable gel pack configured to be applied to an eye region of a user's body, the thermally adjustable gel pack configured to attach to an external frame, the thermally adjustable gel pack having an external perimeter, the thermally adjustable gel pack including a moisture-impermeable casing having a periphery and sealed entirely about the periphery, the moisture-impermeable casing defining a single chamber, the moisture-impermeable casing having a front surface configured to face away from the user and a rear surface configured to face toward the user when the thermally adjustable gel pack is applied to the eye region of the user,   the single chamber holding a thermally activatable gelatinous substance, the single chamber including a first chamber section and a second chamber section in fluid communication with the first chamber section,   a portion of the moisture-impermeable casing on a rear side of the first chamber section configured to be applied against a periocular region of a first eye of the user and a periorbital region of the first eye when the thermally adjustable gel pack is applied to the eye region of the user, a portion of the moisture-impermeable casing on a rear side of the second chamber section configured to be applied against a periocular region of a second eye of the user and a periorbital region of the second eye when the thermally adjustable gel pack is applied to the eye region of the user,   the external perimeter of the thermally adjustable gel pack configured to circumscribe, when the thermally adjustable pack is applied to an eye region of the user, (1) the periocular region of the first eye, (2) at least a portion of the periorbital region of the first eye, (3) the periocular region of the second eye, and (4) at least a portion of the periorbital region of the second eye,   the portion of the periorbital region of the first eye including an area of the user's body substantially superior, lateral, and inferior to an orbital rim of the periorbital region of the first eye, the portion of the periorbital region of the second eye including an area of the user's body substantially superior, lateral, and inferior to an orbital rim of the periorbital region of the second eye; and   the external frame having an external perimeter, the external frame configured to attach to the thermally adjustable gel pack, the external frame having a front surface, a rear surface and a strap,   when the external frame is attached to the thermally adjustable pack and applied to the eye region of the user (1) the front surface of the external frame is configured to face away from the user, (2) the rear surface of the external frame is configured to face toward the user, and (3) the strap is configured to circumscribe a head of the user,   the external perimeter of the external frame configured to circumscribe the periocular region of the first eye, the periocular region of the second eye, the portion of the periorbital region of the first eye and the portion of the periorbital region of the second eye when the external frame is attached to the thermally adjustable pack and applied to the eye region of the user,   a region of the thermally adjustable pack positioned peripheral to the orbital rim of the first eye and a region of the thermally adjustable pack positioned peripheral to the orbital rim of the second eye being positioned between the external frame and skin of the user's face when the external frame is attached to the thermally adjustable pack and applied to the eye region of the user,   the rear surface of the moisture-impermeable casing of the thermally adjustable pack configured to be (1) in conductive thermal contact with eyelid skin of the first eye and eyelid skin of the second eye and (2) in conductive thermal contact with skin of the user's face on the portion of the periorbital region of the first eye and the portion of the periorbital region of the second eye, when the external frame is attached to the thermally adjustable pack and applied to the eye region of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The eye compress system of  claim 11 , wherein the external frame includes (1) a first frame section having a first internal periphery defining a first relief opening and (2) a second frame section having a second internal periphery defining a second relief opening,
 the first relief opening configured to be positioned anterior to the first eye and the second relief opening configured to be positioned anterior to the second eye of the user such that, from an anterior perspective, the first internal periphery circumscribes the periocular region of the first eye and the second internal periphery circumscribes the periocular region of the second eye when the external frame is attached to the thermally adjustable pack and applied to the eye region of the user's body.   
     
     
         13 . The eye compress system of  claim 12 , wherein the first internal periphery circumscribes the portion of the periorbital region of the first eye, and the second internal periphery circumscribes the portion of the periorbital region of the second eye, when the eye compress system is applied against the eye region of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The eye compress system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 an upper edge portion of the thermally adjustable gel pack includes a male-female snap fastener configured to attach to a corresponding male-female snap fastener on an upper edge portion of the external frame, and   a lower edge portion of the thermally adjustable gel pack includes a male-female snap fastener configured to attach to a corresponding male-female snap fastener on a lower edge portion of the external frame.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 providing a moist disposable fibrous nonwoven fabric sheet configured to be removably positioned between an eye region of a user and a gel pack configured for application to the eye region of the user, the sheet having an external perimeter when the sheet is disposed upon the gel pack and applied against the eye region of the user with the sheet disposed between the gel pack and the eye region, the external perimeter having a length of between 8 inches and 10 inches, and a height of between 3.5 inches and 5.5 inches, the external perimeter configured to circumscribe a perimeter of both a first periocular region and a second periocular region of the user when the sheet is disposed upon the gel pack and the gel pack is applied against the eye region of the user; and   positioning the sheet between the eye region of the user and the gel pack.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the gel pack includes a casing having a periphery and sealed entirely about the periphery, the casing defining a single chamber containing a thermally activatable gelatinous substance, the gel pack having a perimeter circumscribing a perimeter of a right periorbital region of the eye region and a perimeter of a left periorbital region of the eye region. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sheet is configured to be positioned on the gel pack via non-mechanical means, such that when the sheet is disposed upon the gel pack and the eye compress system is applied against the eye region of the user, the sheet is passively positioned between the gel pack and the eye region of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 placing the sheet upon the gel pack such that the sheet is removably positioned upon the gel pack.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the external perimeter of the sheet has a height and a length, such that a ratio of the height to the length is no greater than 0.68. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 instructing the user to employ the sheet for use in relation to the eye region of the user.