Development of cryotherapy device using refrigerant compressor for decreased skin temperature

Abstract

Cryotherapy is a commonly used technique in sports medicine and physical therapy for the treatment of acute injuries and pain management. The application of cold temperatures leads to a decrease in skin surface temperature, which can have several physiological effects on the body. This can help to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain in the affected area. Cryotherapy can be administered using various modalities, but controlled continuous cold devices are widely used in cryotherapy treatment due to their accurate temperature control, especially when treating large joints. These devices work by pumping cold water alternately into a cooling pad that is wrapped around a patient's limbs. The aim of this study is to develop a cryotherapy device that regulates low skin temperature for effective physical therapy treatment. This will be achieved by utilizing a refrigerant compressor in combination with a remote source of chilled water that is circulated through a cooling pad placed on the treatment site. The results show that this device can control temperature from 20oC to 5oC with a fluctuation of ± 0.4oC at the cooling pad. A test study on 32 volunteers showed that the skin temperature in the knee area can drop to 15.1oC±1.7oC (95% CI, 18.6-11.1oC) after 30 minutes of applying a cooling pad at 10oC. The experimental cryotherapy results on the skin surface are consistent with the simulation test results, indicating that this device can be developed into a medical device that provides precise and continuous temperature control, thereby ensuring ease of use and maximum therapeutic benefit in the field of physical therapy.