According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, electric heating pouches are medical apparatus, namely, electric heating devices for curative treatment.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies the heating pouch as a class II medical device.
Heating pouches are sometimes mislabeled as "heating pads". Heating pads are, by definition, flat, whereas heating pouches are contoured or curved.
In order to achieve the geometric design, three uniquely made heating pads are placed within a PVC pouch to form a scoop-like shape.
Heating pouches are made specially for human body joints; specifically the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle, and wrist or hand. The curvature of the pouch enables the user to completely cover these joints, whereas flat heating pads cannot conform to the curved joints.