System to Control Skin Temperature during Hyperthermic Treatment

摘要

Electric light sources have been used to heat local tissues after orthopedic replantation surgery for extremities. The effectiveness of heat stress has been proven to aid the regeneration of injured skeletal muscle. Hyperthermic therapy is also used-in neonatal intensive care units. Unfortunately the application is done open-loop so that there is no indication of or control over the temperature of the skin. This can lead to burns if the temperature is too high or to ineffective treatment if the temperature is too low. A close-loop system was designed that allows the skin temperature to be held fixed. The temperature is measured from one to three sites using type K thermocouples attached to the skin. The temperature of the warmest site is controlled to within ±1.0 degree of 37C°. Allowing the skin to reach core temperature will increase blood flow to the treated area. The heat from the lamps is controlled via a PIC microcontroller interface between the thermocouples and a TRIAC. The TRIAC is used to control the electrical current supplied to the lamps.