Design and application of a cooling device based on the phase-change material for heat stroke

Abstract

Heat stroke is a critical and health-threatening disease, triggered by thermal stimulus and progressing rapidly. It can give rise to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), resulting in a high mortality rate. Nearly 30% of survivors will suffer with different sequelae, for instance, the neurological sequelae. Currently, the early rapid cooling is the focus of therapy for heat stroke. Therefore, it is imperative to design a cooling module suitable for the treatment of heat stroke in the field and in the hospital to realize the goal of early rapid cooling and the effective targeted temperature management (TTM). The cooling device is composed of a cooling blanket and a cooling cap. The blanket and cap are made by temperature changeable fabric. The cooling blanket comprises a backing layer, a buffer layer, a flexible heat conduction capsule body, a temperature changing component, a fixed part and a temperature sensor. The cooling cap includes a main body and two side ears, in which the main body is worn on the top of the patient's head, and the front is equipped with a flexible display screen, which is convenient for real-time monitoring the temperature of the temperature change component of the cooling blanket. The lateral ear can wrap the patient's ears and neck, and the tympanic membrane thermometer is designed to monitor the tympanic membrane temperature in real time. The tympanic membrane thermometer is also designed at the ear to monitor the tympanic auditory canal temperatures in real time.Continuous dynamic temperature monitoring can guide the duration of cooling treatment and stop cooling in time. The cooling component is portable, easy to operate, real-time temperature monitoring, excellent cooling effect and reusable. It is used for on-site first aid, transportation and continuous cooling for patients with heat stroke in the ward.