Shortened, multicompartment liquid-cooling/ warming garments (LCWGs) for protecting astronauts, firefighters, and others at risk of exposure to extremes of temperature are undergoing development. Unlike prior liquid circulation thermal-protection suits that provide either cooling or warming but not both, an LCWG as envisioned would provide cooling at some body locations and/or heating at other locations, as needed: For example, sometimes there is a need to cool the body core and to heat the extremities simultaneously. An LCWG garment of the type to be developed is said to be shortened because the liquid-cooling and -heating zones would not cover the whole body and, instead, would cover reduced areas selected for maximum heating and cooling effectiveness. Physiological research is under way to provide a rational basis for selection of the liquid-cooling and -heating areas. In addition to enabling better (relative to prior liquid-circulation garments) balancing of heat among different body regions, the use of selective heating and cooling in zones would contribute to a reduction in the amount of energy needed to operate a thermal-protection suit.

This work was done by Victor S. Koscheyev, Gloria R. Leon, and Michael J. Dancisak of the University of Minnesota for Johnson Space Center.

In accordance with Public Law 96-517, the contractor has elected to retain title to this invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its commercial use should be addressed to:

University of Minnesota
Patents and Technology Marketing
Attn: Beth Trend, B.S.E.E., Director
Biological, Engineering and Computer Technologies
450 McNamara Alumni Center
200 Oak Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455-2070

Phone: (612) 626-9293
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Refer to MSC-23305, volume and number of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page number.