The design, development and assessment of electrically heated gloves used for protecting cold extremities

The design and development of electrically heated gloves for alleviating pain in vaso-spastic disorders, such as Raynaud's disease, is described. Clinical assessment of these conditions from the temperature patterns produced by infrared thermography is discussed. The effect of electrically heated gloves on tissue perfusion in individual patients can be assessed by thermography. A 'hot' stress test to determine the degree of vaso-spasticity using the gloves to provide a 'hot challenge' has been developed and is described.