# Leak-Proof Gel Pads for Patient Temperature Management > This patent describes a system using special gel pads and one-way valves to precisely control a patient's body temperature without leaking fluid. - **Patent:** US 12734066 - **Original title:** Systems, apparatus and methods for leak prevention with targeted temperature management gel pads - **Granted:** 2026 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** medical_devices, healthcare, mechanical ## What it does This system provides targeted temperature management (TTM) for a patient using a special pad and fluid. A TTM module supplies a fluid, which travels through a fluid delivery line to a pad placed on the patient. The pad includes a fluid delivery conduit with a first leak prevention valve. This valve is designed to allow fluid to flow only towards the patient (distal direction) and stops it from flowing back. The pad also has a fluid return conduit with a second leak prevention valve, which only allows fluid to flow away from the patient (proximal direction). This dual valve setup ensures that if a connection breaks, the temperature control fluid stays contained within the system, preventing spills. For instance, if the delivery line disconnects, the first valve prevents fluid from gushing out of the pad. ## What it does NOT cover - Temperature management systems that do not use a fluid-filled pad for thermal energy transfer. - Leak prevention methods that do not rely on specific one-way valves in both the fluid delivery and fluid return conduits of the pad. - Medical pads designed for purposes other than targeted temperature management, such as wound dressings or pressure relief. - Systems where the leak prevention valves are located solely in the main fluid delivery line and not within the pad's conduits themselves. - Temperature management techniques that do not involve circulating a fluid, such as air-based warming blankets. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in integrating specific one-way leak prevention valves directly into both the fluid delivery and fluid return conduits of the temperature management pad itself. This ensures fluid containment at the point of patient contact, even if a main line disconnects, providing a robust safety mechanism. ## Real-world examples 1. Hospital operating rooms for maintaining patient body temperature during surgery 2. Intensive care units (ICUs) for therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest 3. Emergency departments for rapid cooling or warming of patients 4. Patient recovery rooms where temperature stability is crucial ## Why it matters Maintaining a patient's body temperature is critical in many medical scenarios, like during surgery, after cardiac arrest, or for fever reduction. Uncontrolled fluid leaks from temperature management systems can create unsanitary conditions, pose infection risks, and disrupt patient care. This patent addresses a practical challenge in clinical settings by making these essential medical procedures safer and more efficient by preventing fluid spills. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Leak-Proof Gel Pads for Patient Temperature Management cover? This patent describes a system using special gel pads and one-way valves to precisely control a patient's body temperature without leaking fluid. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? Maintaining a patient's body temperature is critical in many medical scenarios, like during surgery, after cardiac arrest, or for fever reduction. Uncontrolled fluid leaks from temperature management systems can create unsanitary conditions, pose infection risks, and disrupt patient care. This patent addresses a practical challenge in clinical settings by making these essential medical procedures safer and more efficient by preventing fluid spills. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Temperature management systems that do not use a fluid-filled pad for thermal energy transfer. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734066/systems-apparatus-and-methods-for-leak-prevention-with-targeted-temperature **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734066 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Smart Clothing That Actively Heats or Cools Your Body](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733697/apparel-thermo-regulatory-system) — This patent describes a system for clothing that can actively heat or cool a person by using special electronic modules placed in a frame on the fabric. - [How Multi-Electrode Systems Precisely Control Tissue Heating for Ablation](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733969/ablation-system-methods-and-controllers) — This patent describes a method for starting a medical ablation procedure using multiple electrodes, carefully controlling the temperature and how fast it rises at each electrode to safely treat tissue. - [How a Catheter Blood Pump Extends Its Tip for Guidance](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734351/catheter-blood-pump-delivery-guiding-systems-and-methods-of-use) — This patent describes a tiny blood pump on a catheter that can extend a part of its tip forward, guided by a separate internal wire, to help it move safely and precisely inside blood vessels. - [Device for Collecting and Separating Bodily Fluids Using Pressure](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733848/fluid-control-devices-and-methods-of-using-the-same-12733848) — This patent describes a device that uses different levels of negative pressure to first isolate a portion of bodily fluid and then collect a separate sample from a fluid source. - [How Suction Controls Fluid Collection for Medical Tests](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733849/fluid-control-devices-and-methods-of-using-the-same) — This patent describes a device that uses different levels of suction to precisely control and separate bodily fluids, like blood, for collection and analysis.