Electronic coldpack and method of use

Abstract

An electronic coldpack and method of use are provided. The coldpack includes one or more thermoelectric components (e.g., thermocouples) that absorb heat at one surface and dissipate heat at another surface when energized (i.e., when electrical power is applied to the component). Multiple thermoelectric components may be aligned in a grid or other pattern, and sensors (e.g., temperature, optical, infrared) may be included in the coldpack and placed in proximity to some or all of the thermoelectric components. The sensors may monitor temperature output of the coldpack, monitor a temperature of an object to which the coldpack is applied (e.g., a body part), detect a skin condition (e.g., by skin color or temperature), or operate in some other way. In one mode of operation, the coldpack provides long-term uninterrupted cooling of the object. In another mode of operation, the coldpack is used to perform cryosurgery on a skin condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic coldpack, comprising:
 a flexible and substantially flat base;   one or more thermoelectric components permanently attached to the base; and   a connection to electrical power for energizing the one or more thermoelectric components.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electronic coldpack is capable of multiple modes of operation;   a first mode of operation is characterized by all of the thermoelectric components being energized; and   a second mode of operation is characterized by less than all of the thermoelectric components being energized.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more thermoelectric components include multiple thermoelectric components;   each thermoelectric component has a first surface that absorbs heat and a second surface that dissipates heat when the thermoelectric component is energized; and   the first surfaces of a first subset of the thermoelectric components are coplanar with the second surfaces of a second subset of the thermoelectric components.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the electronic coldpack is capable of multiple modes of operation;   in a first mode of operation the first subset of thermoelectric components is energized; and   in a second mode of operation the second subset of thermoelectric components is energized.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control panel for controlling operation of the electronic coldpack.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for affixing the electronic coldpack to an external object.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors affixed to the base.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 7 , wherein the sensors include at least one of:
 a temperature sensor;   an optical sensor; and   an infrared sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base comprises multiple layers of fabric; and   the one or more thermoelectric components are disposed between the multiple layers of fabric.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base comprises a flexible sheath enclosing the one or more thermoelectric components.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more thermoelectric components are aligned in a grid pattern.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic coldpack of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 multiple sensors disposed within the grid pattern.   
     
     
         13 . A method of cooling an object with an electronic coldpack, the method comprising:
 affixing the electronic coldpack to the object, the electronic coldpack comprising one or more thermoelectric components;   applying electrical power to the electronic coldpack;   operating a control panel of the electronic coldpack to set a mode of operation; and   monitoring operation of the electronic coldpack.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the electronic coldpack further comprises a set of sensors for sensing a condition of the object; and   monitoring operation of the electronic coldpack comprises monitoring information reported by the sensors.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the object is a human;   the set of sensors includes a first sensor for optically sensing a skin condition of the human; and   the electronic coldpack is operated to perform cryosurgery on the skin condition.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mode of operation is characterized by uninterrupted operation for multiple hours. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mode of operation is further characterized by repeated cycles of:
 energizing the one or more thermoelectric components;   de-energizing the one or more thermoelectric components; and   operating a sensor of the electronic coldpack to detect a condition of the object.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the condition is a temperature.