Smart portable cryotherapy system rephrased I.E. with controlled thermoelectric cooling modules for medical applications

Abstract

When a person suffers from an injury, there are specific methods of treatment which are recommended according to the type of injury. One of these methods involves Cryotherapy, in which the part of the affected body is exposed to cooling for decreasing the temperature. The aim of this therapeutic method is to decrease cellular metabolism, increase cellular survival, decrease inflammation and reduce pain and spasm. The system designed in the present study involves the possibility of "smart" treatment using portable thermoelectric cooling devices based on electronic hardware, software and digital control techniques. In the proposed system, all stages of treatment have been performed automatically by using Arduino as the microcontroller to controlling temperature in cryotherapy methods. This research focus on usage of thermoelectric effect with Peltier module for smart electronic cooling and does not involve the usage of chemicals or cooling materials e.g. ice. Smart cooling methods have significant advantages that they are highly accurate and allow precise timing of the treatment especially for the athletes, and for whom the recovery time from injuries is critical. This approach can be fundamentally important for practical investigations relating to the timing of cryotherapy for any type of users.