US 12,213,908 B2
Methods and apparatuses for manipulating temperature
Matthew J. Smith, Somerville, MA (US); Samuel Shames, Cambridge, MA (US); Michael A. Gibson, Boston, MA (US); and David Cohen-Tanugi, Somerville, MA (US)
Assigned to EMBR Labs IP LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by EMBR Labs IP LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 3, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/891,781.
Application 16/891,781 is a continuation of application No. 15/555,677, previously published as PCT/US2016/022105, filed on Mar. 11, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/132,981, filed on Mar. 13, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0289314 A1, Sep. 17, 2020
Int. Cl. A61F 7/00 (2006.01); A61F 7/02 (2006.01); H10N 10/13 (2023.01)
CPC A61F 7/007 (2013.01) [A61F 7/02 (2013.01); H10N 10/13 (2023.02); A61F 2007/0035 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0075 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0078 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0228 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0233 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0249 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0295 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for manipulating a temperature of an exterior skin surface, comprising:
a support structure configured to be worn by a wearer on a wrist or a neck of the wearer;
at least one thermoelectric material including a first side configured to be disposed adjacent the exterior skin surface on the wrist or the neck of a wearer;
a housing coupled to the support structure, wherein at least a portion of the housing includes a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with a second side of the at least one thermoelectric material, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, wherein the thermally conductive material is configured to dissipate heat in surrounding air;
a battery configured to provide energy to the at least one thermoelectric material; and
a controller operatively coupled with the at least one thermoelectric material and configured to control the at least one thermoelectric material to generate a plurality of thermal pulses in succession at the exterior skin surface, wherein the plurality of thermal pulses cycle a temperature of the exterior skin surface between at least a first temperature and a second temperature, wherein the controller and the battery are disposed between the thermally conductive material and an upper surface of the housing, wherein the thermally conductive material of the housing is disposed between the at least one thermoelectric material and both of the battery and the controller, and wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are within 10 degrees Celsius of an initial temperature of the exterior skin surface, wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are below the initial temperature, and wherein an average rate of temperature change from the first temperature to the second temperature is greater than the average rate of temperature change from the second temperature to the first temperature.