At a glance
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Development of a Novel Cooling Vest to Prevent Heat-Induced Thermoregulatory Dysfunction in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Cooling Vest for Spinal Cord Injuries. Completed, enrolled 15 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Persons with higher levels of spinal cord injury (above the 6th thoracic vertebrae: Hi-SCI) are unable to maintain their core body temperature (Tcore) within the normal range (97.5-99.7 °F) when exposed to warm environments. Even limited exposure to warm temperatures can cause hyperthermia (Tcore 100.4°F) in Hi-SCI. Mild hyperthermia causes discomfort and impaired thinking, but if unchecked, can lead to permanent damage to the brain, multiple body organ failure, and death. Warm seasonal temperatures have an adverse effect on personal comfort and the ability to participate in daily social activities in persons with Hi-SCI. Interventions addressing this vulnerability to hyperthermia are limited. A self-regulating "smart" cooling vest designed for persons with Hi-SCI, that can effectively dissipate body heat, is a novel and promising strategy to address this problem. Once the current prototype is further developed and bench-tested, the investigators will test the vest in able-bodied participants for safety and comfort. The investigators will then test the vest in participants with Hi-SCI for efficacy. The aim for the cooling vest to minimize the expected increase of 1.1°F in Tcore by at least 50 percent and increase thermal comfort, during a controlled exposure to heat (95°F). If successful, the vest will provide a promising intervention to decrease the adverse impact of warm temperatures on comfort, quality of life, and participation in societal functions for Veterans with Hi-SCI during the warmer seasons.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
A self-regulating cooling vest for persons with SCI that can utilize both conductive and evaporative methods to dissipate body heat as a proof-of-concept to prevent an excessive rise in Tcore and thermal discomfort during a controlled exposure to a warm environment. The vest is an article of clothing, is made of commercially-available "wicking" material, which once saturated with water, uses evaporation to dissipate heat. Channels embedded in the vest supply cooled water to keep the wet vest cool. The cooling capacity of the vest is regulated by a microprocessor which continuously receives feedback from the user's skin and core temperature. The vest is non-invasive and supplies no energy to the user.