Temperature and flow control methods in a thermal therapy device

Abstract

A controlled temperature therapy system has a pump, a reservoir, and a therapy component. The reservoir has an inlet in communication with the therapy component and an outlet in communication with the pump. The reservoir may also include a baffle adjacent the outlet. The inlet may be a moveable inlet, a nozzle or include a flow directing surface

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reservoir for a controlled temperature system, the reservoir comprising:
 a container with an interior defined by a floor and at least one wall, the container configured to hold a heat transfer fluid;   an inlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid inlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid into the container;   an actuator connected to the inlet to alter the direction of a flow exiting the inlet; and   an outlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid outlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid out of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is a moveable inlet configured to alter the orientation of the inlet relative to the interior. 
     
     
         3 . The reservoir of  claim 2 , wherein the moveable inlet alters the orientation of the inlet relative to the interior by operation of a shape memory alloy element. 
     
     
         4 . The reservoir of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter over the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The reservoir of  claim 1 , further comprising a tongue adjacent to the inlet and extending towards the container floor. 
     
     
         6 . The reservoir of  claim 5 , wherein the tongue has a surface adjacent the inlet with a v-shaped profile. 
     
     
         7 . The reservoir of  claim 5 , wherein the tongue further comprises a directing structure adjacent a distal portion of the tongue shaped to direct flow along the directing structure towards the at least one wall. 
     
     
         8 . The reservoir of  claim 5 , wherein the tongue has an outer surface that has an overall curvature from a proximal end adjacent the inlet to a distal end wherein the overall curvature of the tongue outer surface affects the trajectory of a fluid flowing from the outlet based on a velocity of the fluid from the outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The reservoir of  claim 5 , the tongue further comprising a ridge along a tongue surface adjacent the inlet and extending towards the interior. 
     
     
         10 . The reservoir of  claim 9 , wherein the ridge remains generally along the central portion of the tongue between the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         11 . The reservoir of  claim 10 , wherein the ridge position begins in a central portion of the tongue near the inlet and then moves towards the first wall or the second wall in the proximal portion of the tongue. 
     
     
         12 . The reservoir of  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle on the inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The reservoir of  claim 12 , wherein the nozzle is movable. 
     
     
         14 . The reservoir of  claim 1  wherein the inlet is spaced at a distance from the floor so that in use the inlet is above the level of the heat transfer fluid used in the reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . A reservoir for a controlled temperature system, the reservoir comprising:
 a container with an interior defined by a floor and at least one wall, the container configured to hold a heat transfer fluid;   an inlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid inlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid into the container, wherein the inlet is a moveable inlet configured to alter the orientation of the inlet relative to the interior, wherein the moveable inlet alters the orientation of the inlet relative to the interior by operation of a shape memory alloy element; and   an outlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid outlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid out of the container.   
     
     
         16 . A reservoir for a controlled temperature system, the reservoir comprising:
 a container with an interior defined by a floor and at least one wall, the container configured to hold a heat transfer fluid;   an inlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid inlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid into the container;   a tongue adjacent to the inlet and extending towards the container floor, wherein the tongue further comprises a directing structure adjacent a distal portion of the tongue shaped to direct flow along the directing structure towards the at least one wall; and   an outlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid outlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid out of the container.   
     
     
         17 . A reservoir for a controlled temperature system, the reservoir comprising:
 a container with an interior defined by a floor and at least one wall, the container configured to hold a heat transfer fluid;   an inlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid inlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid into the container;   a tongue adjacent to the inlet and extending towards the container floor, wherein the tongue has an outer surface that has an overall curvature from a proximal end adjacent the inlet to a distal end wherein the overall curvature of the tongue outer surface affects the trajectory of a fluid flowing from the outlet based on a velocity of the fluid from the outlet;   an outlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid outlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid out of the container.   
     
     
         18 . A reservoir for a controlled temperature system, the reservoir comprising:
 a container with an interior defined by a floor and at least one wall, the container configured to hold a heat transfer fluid;   an inlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid inlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid into the container;   a tongue adjacent to the inlet and extending towards the container floor, wherein the tongue further comprises a ridge along a tongue surface adjacent the inlet and extending towards the interior; and   an outlet in fluid communication with the interior and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid outlet line that is configured to direct heat transfer fluid out of the container.