CA1069408A - Apparatus for combined treatment by massage and electrotherapy - Google Patents
Apparatus for combined treatment by massage and electrotherapyInfo
- Publication number
- CA1069408A CA1069408A CA247,973A CA247973A CA1069408A CA 1069408 A CA1069408 A CA 1069408A CA 247973 A CA247973 A CA 247973A CA 1069408 A CA1069408 A CA 1069408A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- electrodes
- applicator
- head
- electrical
- inferential
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000001827 electrotherapy Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 5
- 238000002078 massotherapy Methods 0.000 title claims description 3
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003534 oscillatory effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 7
- 230000001225 therapeutic effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 6
- 230000000638 stimulation Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 4
- 241000243142 Porifera Species 0.000 description 2
- 235000012461 sponges Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 244000166490 Tetrameles nudiflora Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035559 beat frequency Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002560 therapeutic procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
Abstract
APPARATUS FOR COMBINED TREATMENT BY
MASSAGE AND ELECTROTHERAPY
Abstract of the Disclosure:
A therapeutic device for simultaneously applying to the skin of a patient and in a single massage element, inferential electrical currents and mechanical massage, the applicator element being adapted to be received in a standard applicator head. Electrodes are mounted within the applicator element next to the surface to be applied to the skin of the patient, which electrodes are adapted to receive infer-ential electrical currents. Included in the applicator head is a member adapted to move in a generally oscillatory circular movement, which movement is imparted to the massage element attached thereto.
MASSAGE AND ELECTROTHERAPY
Abstract of the Disclosure:
A therapeutic device for simultaneously applying to the skin of a patient and in a single massage element, inferential electrical currents and mechanical massage, the applicator element being adapted to be received in a standard applicator head. Electrodes are mounted within the applicator element next to the surface to be applied to the skin of the patient, which electrodes are adapted to receive infer-ential electrical currents. Included in the applicator head is a member adapted to move in a generally oscillatory circular movement, which movement is imparted to the massage element attached thereto.
Description
Background of the Invention:
This invention generally relates to an apparatus for the combined treatment by massage and electrotherapy, and more specifically such a device which combines vibratory massage with electrical inferential stimulation in a single applicator for attachment to a standard applicator head with out modification or restriction of the capabilities of ~le head.
Mechanical vibratory devices are known in the art.
lQ It is also kno~n that such devices have included a form of electrical stimulation in the applicator portion of the device for combined use with vibratory massage. However, such devices are not known to have combined the use of inferential electrical currents with mechanical vibratory massage to greatly reduce the pain otherwise produced by low requency alternating current. Also known in the art is the use of inferential currenk or eIectrical stimulation for therapeutic application. Such inferential current stimulation has taken the form of applying alternating cur-2Q rents of different frequencies to electrodes attached to the skin. One alternating current is applied to one set of ~ ~ -diagonally opposite electrodes, and ano~her alternating current of a slightly different frequency is applied to another set of diagonally opposite electrides, thereby -~: .
~; - '~- .
- - . . . : .
. . . .
~ 3~
producing a low beat frequency which is far less irritating than a single low frequency alternating current applied to two electrodes.
Ho~ever, heretofore it has not be~n known to combine inferential electrical stimulation with vibratory stimulation in an applicator for attachment to a standard applicator head without modification or restriction of the capabilities of the head.
Summa~y of the I_v_ntion:
This invention generally comprises a therapeutic apparatus for simultaneously applying mechanical massage with inferential electrical massage in an applicator element for mounting to a standard applicator head and apparatus.
Generally there is included an applicator head-within which is mounted a member adapted to move in a generally oscilla-tory circular movement. The member is driven by means of -~
a flexible cable connected to the rotating shaft of an - electrical motor. The motor in turn is mounted on a support for free pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis thereby allowing greater accessibility of the applicator ~;
head and element to the patient receiving the treatment.
An applicator element is mounted to the movable member within the applicator head for mechanical movement of the element to provide mechanical massage to the patient, the eleme~t havlng a surface for application against ~he skin of the patient. Electrodes are mounted within ~he ~ ' applicator element next to said surface and there is included within the element means for applying inferential electrical currents to the electrodes for simultaneous application of the inferential currents and the mechanical massage to the skin of the patient.
In one aspect of the invention the inferential electrical currents are applied to the electrodes by means of flexible conductors within the applicator element, and the applicator head is characteriæed in having an absence of electrical connections therein, whereby the applicator element and its electrical connections are detachable from :
the standard head which can thereby receive elements of different shapes and characteristics.
Thus, it is a primary object of this invention to ~ :
provide a therapeutic device for simultaneously applying to the skin of a patient and in a single massage element, inferential electrical currents and mechanical massage, whereby the applicator element is adapted to be received in :~
a standard applicator head, It is a further object of the -invention to provide such a device wherein the electrical connections to the electrodes are within the applicator~ -element, and wherein the applicator head is characterized as having an absence of electrical connections therein, These and other objects of the invention will :
become apparent from the description to follow, Description of the Drawings:
Figure 1 shows the entire apparatus of this invention;
Figure 2 is a section view of the applicator and applicator head portions of the apparatus of Figure 1 Eor applying massage and electxotherapeutic treatment; and Figure 3 is a view on a reduced scale looking generally upwardly into the applicator portion of Figure 2 and showing the arrangement of the electrodes for applying inferential current. -Detailed Descri~tion of a Preferred Embodiment:
Referring to the drawing there is shown a suppoxt-ing leg or stand 1 to which is mounted a case 2 which con-tains the circuits required for electrotherapy, the case and circuitry being of a type well known in the art. Mounted to the upper portion of the case 2 is a support 3 which re-ceives the housing of an electrical motor 4,~the housing 4 baing mounted on the support 3 to turn about a generally vertical axis in a manner known in the art. The motor 4 is joined by a flexible cable 5 to a massage head 6 which is, for example, equipped in the manner described in French pat~
ent No. 1,318t705, registered January 14, 1963. Included in the head 6 is a member 7 which is caused to move in a circular oscillatory manner in response to rotation by the cable 5 through a cam and bearing mechanism 7' located within the head 6.
.
~ - : . .. . :
In accordance with this invention, an applicator 8 has a neck portion which screws into the member 7 so that the entire applicator is made to move in the same oscillatory circular motion as the member 7. The applicator 8 has a casing 8' over the face of which is mounted an element of spongy material 9 which in turn is covered hy a covering 9', such as of cloth, for application to the skin of the patient. Normally, the cloth covering 9' and spongy element 9 are moistened prior to application. The spong element 9 and cloth covering 9' are held to the face of the casing 8' by means of rings 20 and 21, respectively, the ring 20 being held to the casing by means of a set screw 23, and the ring ~ ;
21 being mounted around the ring 20 by means of a slip fit~
Mounted at the face of the housing 8' of the appli- ~-cator 8 are four electrical contact terminals 10, which terminals are mounted in contact with the sponge element 9, and are arranged crosswise in a generally rectangular configuration.
The terminals lO are connected by means of flexible connectors ll to a receptacle 12 having multiple terminals -for receiving multiple pins of a plug 12'. The plug 12' receives electrical current through an electrical 'cable 13 coiled about the cable 5, the other end of which is connected by means of a plug 25 to the electrical circuitry within the ~ ;
case 2.
5.
:, . ' 1.(~6~
The circuitry within the case 2 generates, in a manner in itself known, alternating electrical ~ignals of different frequencies, one such signal being fed to one set of diagonally opposed terminals 10, and the other such sig-nal being fed to the other set of diagonally opposed ter-minals 10, thereby producing a low frequency beat signal for therapeutic application. The frequency and intensity of such signals are adjustable. The electric motor 4 re-ceives'its electrical power through a cable connected to the case 2 which in turn receives power through a cable 14 from a suitable power source.
Instead of containing four electrodes in a generally rectangular pattern, the applicator element 8 could have more than four electrodes arranged out of alignment with selected pairs receiving selected alternating currents to produce variations of inferential currents. ;~
In operation, the covering 9' and spongy element 9 are moistened, and alternating currents of selected inten-sity and frequency are applied by means of suitable controls on the case 2 to the`electrodes 10. Also, by means of suitable controls on the casing 2, power is supplied to a~tlvate the motor 4, thus causing an oscillatory circular motion to the applicator element 8. The cloth facing 9' is then applied to the skin of the patient to receive the therapy, such that electrical stimulation by means of in-ferential currents is simultaneously applied with oscillatory circular massage.
- ~
6.
~o~
Because all electrical connections includiny the electrodes 10, the conductors 11 and the receptacle 12 are incorporated in the applicator element 8, such that no elec-trical connections are necessary to the head 6, a standard head commonly used in the art can be used without modifica-tion. This also allows for the use of applicator elements o~ different sizes and shapes, but of the same basic design as described above~ to be used with a single head. Thus, the user can have a single head and multiple elements for use on different parts of the body. The use of flexible con-ductors 11 prevents breakage of the terminals and electrical connections within the applicator element from mechanical vibration from the oscillatory circular motion of the '-appli~ators....................................................... ' , Thus, there has been described a novel therapeutic device wherein inferential currents are applied simultaneously with mechanical vibratory action in an applicator element that mounts to a standard head, and thus provides and includè,s the advantages :heretofore described.
Various changes and modifications may be made in this invention, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
':
,.. .:, .:
7.
This invention generally relates to an apparatus for the combined treatment by massage and electrotherapy, and more specifically such a device which combines vibratory massage with electrical inferential stimulation in a single applicator for attachment to a standard applicator head with out modification or restriction of the capabilities of ~le head.
Mechanical vibratory devices are known in the art.
lQ It is also kno~n that such devices have included a form of electrical stimulation in the applicator portion of the device for combined use with vibratory massage. However, such devices are not known to have combined the use of inferential electrical currents with mechanical vibratory massage to greatly reduce the pain otherwise produced by low requency alternating current. Also known in the art is the use of inferential currenk or eIectrical stimulation for therapeutic application. Such inferential current stimulation has taken the form of applying alternating cur-2Q rents of different frequencies to electrodes attached to the skin. One alternating current is applied to one set of ~ ~ -diagonally opposite electrodes, and ano~her alternating current of a slightly different frequency is applied to another set of diagonally opposite electrides, thereby -~: .
~; - '~- .
- - . . . : .
. . . .
~ 3~
producing a low beat frequency which is far less irritating than a single low frequency alternating current applied to two electrodes.
Ho~ever, heretofore it has not be~n known to combine inferential electrical stimulation with vibratory stimulation in an applicator for attachment to a standard applicator head without modification or restriction of the capabilities of the head.
Summa~y of the I_v_ntion:
This invention generally comprises a therapeutic apparatus for simultaneously applying mechanical massage with inferential electrical massage in an applicator element for mounting to a standard applicator head and apparatus.
Generally there is included an applicator head-within which is mounted a member adapted to move in a generally oscilla-tory circular movement. The member is driven by means of -~
a flexible cable connected to the rotating shaft of an - electrical motor. The motor in turn is mounted on a support for free pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis thereby allowing greater accessibility of the applicator ~;
head and element to the patient receiving the treatment.
An applicator element is mounted to the movable member within the applicator head for mechanical movement of the element to provide mechanical massage to the patient, the eleme~t havlng a surface for application against ~he skin of the patient. Electrodes are mounted within ~he ~ ' applicator element next to said surface and there is included within the element means for applying inferential electrical currents to the electrodes for simultaneous application of the inferential currents and the mechanical massage to the skin of the patient.
In one aspect of the invention the inferential electrical currents are applied to the electrodes by means of flexible conductors within the applicator element, and the applicator head is characteriæed in having an absence of electrical connections therein, whereby the applicator element and its electrical connections are detachable from :
the standard head which can thereby receive elements of different shapes and characteristics.
Thus, it is a primary object of this invention to ~ :
provide a therapeutic device for simultaneously applying to the skin of a patient and in a single massage element, inferential electrical currents and mechanical massage, whereby the applicator element is adapted to be received in :~
a standard applicator head, It is a further object of the -invention to provide such a device wherein the electrical connections to the electrodes are within the applicator~ -element, and wherein the applicator head is characterized as having an absence of electrical connections therein, These and other objects of the invention will :
become apparent from the description to follow, Description of the Drawings:
Figure 1 shows the entire apparatus of this invention;
Figure 2 is a section view of the applicator and applicator head portions of the apparatus of Figure 1 Eor applying massage and electxotherapeutic treatment; and Figure 3 is a view on a reduced scale looking generally upwardly into the applicator portion of Figure 2 and showing the arrangement of the electrodes for applying inferential current. -Detailed Descri~tion of a Preferred Embodiment:
Referring to the drawing there is shown a suppoxt-ing leg or stand 1 to which is mounted a case 2 which con-tains the circuits required for electrotherapy, the case and circuitry being of a type well known in the art. Mounted to the upper portion of the case 2 is a support 3 which re-ceives the housing of an electrical motor 4,~the housing 4 baing mounted on the support 3 to turn about a generally vertical axis in a manner known in the art. The motor 4 is joined by a flexible cable 5 to a massage head 6 which is, for example, equipped in the manner described in French pat~
ent No. 1,318t705, registered January 14, 1963. Included in the head 6 is a member 7 which is caused to move in a circular oscillatory manner in response to rotation by the cable 5 through a cam and bearing mechanism 7' located within the head 6.
.
~ - : . .. . :
In accordance with this invention, an applicator 8 has a neck portion which screws into the member 7 so that the entire applicator is made to move in the same oscillatory circular motion as the member 7. The applicator 8 has a casing 8' over the face of which is mounted an element of spongy material 9 which in turn is covered hy a covering 9', such as of cloth, for application to the skin of the patient. Normally, the cloth covering 9' and spongy element 9 are moistened prior to application. The spong element 9 and cloth covering 9' are held to the face of the casing 8' by means of rings 20 and 21, respectively, the ring 20 being held to the casing by means of a set screw 23, and the ring ~ ;
21 being mounted around the ring 20 by means of a slip fit~
Mounted at the face of the housing 8' of the appli- ~-cator 8 are four electrical contact terminals 10, which terminals are mounted in contact with the sponge element 9, and are arranged crosswise in a generally rectangular configuration.
The terminals lO are connected by means of flexible connectors ll to a receptacle 12 having multiple terminals -for receiving multiple pins of a plug 12'. The plug 12' receives electrical current through an electrical 'cable 13 coiled about the cable 5, the other end of which is connected by means of a plug 25 to the electrical circuitry within the ~ ;
case 2.
5.
:, . ' 1.(~6~
The circuitry within the case 2 generates, in a manner in itself known, alternating electrical ~ignals of different frequencies, one such signal being fed to one set of diagonally opposed terminals 10, and the other such sig-nal being fed to the other set of diagonally opposed ter-minals 10, thereby producing a low frequency beat signal for therapeutic application. The frequency and intensity of such signals are adjustable. The electric motor 4 re-ceives'its electrical power through a cable connected to the case 2 which in turn receives power through a cable 14 from a suitable power source.
Instead of containing four electrodes in a generally rectangular pattern, the applicator element 8 could have more than four electrodes arranged out of alignment with selected pairs receiving selected alternating currents to produce variations of inferential currents. ;~
In operation, the covering 9' and spongy element 9 are moistened, and alternating currents of selected inten-sity and frequency are applied by means of suitable controls on the case 2 to the`electrodes 10. Also, by means of suitable controls on the casing 2, power is supplied to a~tlvate the motor 4, thus causing an oscillatory circular motion to the applicator element 8. The cloth facing 9' is then applied to the skin of the patient to receive the therapy, such that electrical stimulation by means of in-ferential currents is simultaneously applied with oscillatory circular massage.
- ~
6.
~o~
Because all electrical connections includiny the electrodes 10, the conductors 11 and the receptacle 12 are incorporated in the applicator element 8, such that no elec-trical connections are necessary to the head 6, a standard head commonly used in the art can be used without modifica-tion. This also allows for the use of applicator elements o~ different sizes and shapes, but of the same basic design as described above~ to be used with a single head. Thus, the user can have a single head and multiple elements for use on different parts of the body. The use of flexible con-ductors 11 prevents breakage of the terminals and electrical connections within the applicator element from mechanical vibration from the oscillatory circular motion of the '-appli~ators....................................................... ' , Thus, there has been described a novel therapeutic device wherein inferential currents are applied simultaneously with mechanical vibratory action in an applicator element that mounts to a standard head, and thus provides and includè,s the advantages :heretofore described.
Various changes and modifications may be made in this invention, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
':
,.. .:, .:
7.
Claims (7)
1. An apparatus for combined treatment by massage and electrotherapy comprising an applicator head, means within the applicator head for producing mechanical movement, means for actuating the mechanical movement means, an applicator element mounted to said applicator head for movement with said mechanical movement means, said applicator element having surface means for applying against the skin of a patient, electrodes mounted within said applicator element for electrical contact with said surface means, and means for applying electrical inferential currents to said electrodes for simultaneous application of inferential cur-rents to and mechanical movement of said applicator element.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 including at least four electrodes mounted in said applicator element, at least one of said electrodes being arranged out of alignment with at least two of the other of said electrodes.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elec-trodes are arranged so that those of one pair are diagonal relative to those of the other pair, and further comprising means for applying a first alternating current of a selected frequency to one pair of electrodes and means for applying a second alternating current of a selected frequency to the other pair of electrodes.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising flexible conductors located within said applicator element connected to said electrodes for carrying said inferential currents to said electrodes, said head being characterized as having an absence of electrical connections therein.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electric motor having a driven rotating shaft, flexible cable means connecting said rotating shaft of said motor to said means within said head for producing mechanical move-ment, whereby said mechanical movement means is driven by said electrical motor.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising support means, and means for mounting said electrical motor on said support means for free pivotal movement of said motor about a generally vertical axis.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the support means further comprises a case, and electrical circuit means within said case for generating said inferential currents.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA247,973A CA1069408A (en) | 1976-03-16 | 1976-03-16 | Apparatus for combined treatment by massage and electrotherapy |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA247,973A CA1069408A (en) | 1976-03-16 | 1976-03-16 | Apparatus for combined treatment by massage and electrotherapy |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1069408A true CA1069408A (en) | 1980-01-08 |
Family
ID=4105471
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA247,973A Expired CA1069408A (en) | 1976-03-16 | 1976-03-16 | Apparatus for combined treatment by massage and electrotherapy |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1069408A (en) |
-
1976
- 1976-03-16 CA CA247,973A patent/CA1069408A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |