EP0270470B1 - Massage implement - Google Patents

Description

The subject of the present invention is an apparatus for partial or total massage of the part of the human body situated below the head.

More specifically, the invention relates to a massage device which causes in particular the displacement of bodily fluids from the part of the massed human body.

In the current state of the art, several massage devices are known which make it possible to induce the displacement of bodily fluids in the members of the human body. For this purpose, generally double-walled waterproof boots are used, possibly subdivided into compartments, the lower wall of which is made of an elastic material. These boots, slipped on the limbs to be massaged, allow, by injecting a pressurized fluid into the space delimited by the two walls, to intermittently compress the internal elastic wall around the limbs and to repel the bodily fluids towards the non part compressed of said members.

This massage technique has a number of drawbacks, however.

• soit de bloquer les fluides corporels si tout le membre est comprimé;
• soit de refouler les fluides corporels vers les parties du membre situées de part et d'autre de la zone comprimée par le compartiment gonflé.

Thus, the compressed part of the limb is instantly subjected to the same pressure, which results in:

• either block bodily fluids if the entire limb is compressed;
• either to repel the bodily fluids towards the parts of the member situated on either side of the zone compressed by the inflated compartment.

There is also known (FR-A-267747) a massage device which makes it possible to sequentially vary the level of the message liquid of density equal or greater than 1 in a sealed enclosure around the body to be massaged.

However, to limit the level of the liquid to a certain threshold and to drain the liquid from the massage enclosure, it is necessary, for each sequence, to manipulate valves, which constitutes a restrictive operation.

The object of the present invention is precisely an apparatus making it possible to vary, in a sequential and automatic manner, the level of a of density equal to or greater than one, around the part of the body to be massaged. Such a massage has in particular the advantage of exerting a continuous pressure and proportional to the depth of immersion, on the part of the body which bathes in e liquid, which causes the displacement of bodily fluids (blood, lymph ...) towards the parts of the body located above the liquid.

Furthermore, the implementation of the device can be carried out by the patient himself who can thus directly control the variations in the level of the liquid and the speed of these variations as a function of the sensations perceived.

The liquid used can be water. However, the use of a liquid with a density greater than one causes greater pressure on the part of the body submerged and, consequently, produces a deeper massage.

By way of examples of liquids with a density greater than one, which can be used for carrying out the process, mention may be made of aqueous solutions of mineral salts or of organic compounds, the density of which may vary from 1, (100% water) to the values given in the table which follows and which respectively correspond to the maximum solubility of the body at 20 ° C. Body in solution Density of the solution (for maximum solubility at 20 ° C MgSO₄7H₂O 1.75 Na Cl 1.20 Fe Cl₃6H₂O 1.63 SO₄Cu 5H₂O 2.15 FRUCTROSE 1.34

The invention comprises at least one sealed enclosure under which is disposed a storage tank for the massage liquid, a hydraulic pump connected respectively between the storage tank and the massage enclosure by a suction pipe and a delivery pipe.

According to the main characteristic of this device, it also includes a flexible pipe connecting the bottom of the enclosure and the top of the storage tank and comprising an upper part in inverted U which is positioned and held by a sliding support on a rod and which fixes the maximum permissible height of the liquid in the message enclosure and automatically empties said enclosure as soon as said liquid level is reached.

The device as characterized above, has the particular advantage of being able to easily and immediately control the rhythm of the massage, as well as the size of the massed surface.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the device of the invention, the variation in the level of the liquid is generated by the action of a rotational movement or an alternative translational movement of the feet and / or hands of the patient. Such a movement, by causing an acceleration of the circulation of blood and lymph, increases the efficiency of the massage process.

according to a preferred embodiment of this device, the wall of the sealed enclosure further comprises on its inner face means for separating the space formed between the wall of the enclosure and the patient's body, in at least two compartments superimposed can be supplied separately with massage liquid.

• par un anneau en matière souple ayant une section en forme de U dont l'un des bords est accroché à la face intérieure de la paroi de l'enceinte et l'autre bord est appuyé sur le corps du patient placé dans ladite enceinte,
• ou par un anneau creux torique en matière souple et élastique, en contact respectivement avec la face intérieure de la paroi de l'enceinte et le corps du patient, et compertant des orifices de remplissage et de vidange de l'anneau en liquide.

These means for separating the sealed enclosure into compartments can consist of:

• by a ring made of flexible material having a U-shaped section, one of the edges of which is attached to the inner face of the wall of the enclosure and the other edge of which is pressed against the body of the patient placed in said enclosure,
• or by a hollow toric ring made of flexible and elastic material, in contact respectively with the inner face of the wall of the enclosure and the patient's body, and containing the filling and emptying orifices of the ring in liquid.

When the massage liquid fills one or the other of these rings, they are pressed respectively against the inner face of the wall of the enclosure and the patient's body, ensuring a good seal.

To improve the apparatus according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to equip the interior of the sealed enclosure with means for producing vibrations in the liquid.

• la figure 1 représente, en coupe verticale, une forme de réalisation préférentielle de l'appareil selon l'invention,
• les figures 2 et 3 représentent,de façon très schématique en coupe verticale, deux variantes de réalisation de cet appareil,

   L'appareil représenté sur la figure 1 comporte une enceinte étanche 1 comprenant une porte d'accès non représentée, un réservoir de stockage 2 renfermant le liquide 3 dans lequel plonge le conduit d'aspiration 4 d'une pompe 5 équipée d'un clapet anti-retour 6. Un conduit de "trop-plein" 10 fixe le niveau maximum dans l'enceinte 1 et un tuyau souple 8, relié respectivement au bas de l'enceinte 1 et au "ciel" 2a du réservoir 2, permet par siphonage de vidanger automatiquement l'enceinte 1 lorsque le niveau du liquide atteint la hauteur de la partie en U renversé du tuyau souple 8 qui est maintenu et positionné sur une tige 7 au moyen d'un support 7 a. Un anneau en matière souple 11 ayant une section en forme de U dont le bord 11a est accroché à la face intérieure de la paroi de l'enceinte 1, et le bord 11b est appuyé sur le corps du patient. Cet anneau 11 sépare ainsi l'enceinte 1 en au moins deux compartiments 9a, 9b. Sous la pression du liquide contenu dans l'anneau 11, les deux bords 11a et 11b sont plaqués respectivement contre la paroi de l'enceinte et le corps du patient en assurant une bonne étanchéité ainsi que le blocage des fluides corporels à ce niveau lorsque, après au moins un premier remplissage de l'enceinte 1 au-dessus dudit anneau 11, le compartiment inférieur 9b est maintenu rempli au moins partiellement de liquide.Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents, in vertical section, a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention,
• FIGS. 2 and 3 show, very schematically in vertical section, two alternative embodiments of this device,

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises a sealed enclosure 1 comprising a non-accessible access door shown, a storage tank 2 containing the liquid 3 into which the suction pipe 4 of a pump 5 fitted with a non-return valve 6 plunges. An "overflow" pipe 10 fixes the maximum level in the enclosure 1 and a flexible pipe 8, connected respectively to the bottom of enclosure 1 and to the "sky" 2a of the tank 2, by siphoning automatically empties enclosure 1 when the level of the liquid reaches the height of the portion in U overturned flexible hose 8 which is maintained and positioned on a rod 7 by means of a support 7 a. A ring made of flexible material 11 having a U-shaped section, the edge 11a of which is attached to the inner face of the wall of the enclosure 1, and the edge 11b is pressed against the body of the patient. This ring 11 thus separates the enclosure 1 into at least two compartments 9a, 9b. Under the pressure of the liquid contained in the ring 11, the two edges 11a and 11b are pressed respectively against the wall of the enclosure and the patient's body, ensuring a good seal as well as blocking the bodily fluids at this level when, after at least a first filling of the enclosure 1 above said ring 11, the lower compartment 9b is kept at least partially filled with liquid.

To ensure the filling of the enclosure 1, the hydraulic pump 5 comprises two outlet pipes: a pipe 20 which allows the complete filling of the enclosure 1 from the bottom of said enclosure and a conduit 21 which allows filling only the compartment 9a located above the ring 11. In order to improve patient comfort, the sealed enclosure 1 is provided with a "footrest" tray 13 and a seat 14 slightly inclined forward so that the angle between the patient's lower limbs and the vertical is always less than a right angle, which facilitates the movement of body fluids up the body.

In Figures 2 and 3 there are shown two other alternative embodiments of the device, more particularly suitable for massaging the lower limbs of the human body.

In these two variants the rise in the level of the liquid in the enclosure 1 is obtained by means of means driven by the action of the rotational movement or the reciprocating translational movement of the feet of the patient.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, these means consist of a centrifugal pump 5, the toothed wheel 32 of the drive shaft 33 of which is meshed with the toothed wheel 31a of a crankset 30 fixed on the bottom the of enclosure 1 via a support 31.

As in the embodiment of the figure. 1, the massage device comprises a reservoir 2 of the liquid 3 into which the vacuum cleaner duct 4 plunges, fitted with a non-return valve 6. In known manner, this reservoir 2 can be equipped with a filling funnel 35 and a drain valve 36.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, these means for raising the level of the liquid in the enclosure 1 are constituted by two suction-discharge pumps 40 placed in the tank 2 and the pedals 41 of which open above the floor (1a ) of the enclosure 1. In a known manner, these pumps are provided with non-return valves 6 and include a cylinder 42 in which a piston 43 is fixedly secured to the pedal 41 and whose return movement is obtained by a spring 44 .

As illustrated in the two figures 2 and 3, the control of the fixed level of the liquid in the enclosure and the automatic emptying when this level is reached, are obtained, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, by a flexible pipe (8) connected respectively to the bottom of the enclosure (1) and to the "sky" (2 a) of the tank (2), and the upper part of which in the shape of an inverted U is positioned and maintained by a sliding support (7a) on a rod (7).

Furthermore, to improve the comfort of the patient during the massage and to facilitate the movement of the feet on the pedals (31b or 41) of one or the other embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the enclosure ( 1) the device is provided with a seat (14).

For hygienic reasons or because of the aggressiveness of certain liquids, it may be preferable that the skin is not directly in contact with the massage liquid, which can be easily avoided by coating the part of the body to be massaged. with a sheath or a combination of flexible material and very thin.

Claims (4)

1. Massager capable of sequentially and automatically varying the level of a liquid with a density equal or greater than 1 around a part of a human body to be massaged, including at least a watertight chamber (1) under which are located a storage tank (2) of the massage liquid, a hydraulic pump (5) respectively connected between the storage tank (2) and the massage chamber (1) through a suction hose (4) and a delivery valve (21) specified by including a flexible hose (8) connecting the bottom of the chamber (1) and the top of the storage tank (2) and including an upper part in an inverted U shape which is positioned and held by a sliding support (7a) on a rod (7), and which determines the maximum permissible level of the liquid in the massage chamber (1).
2. Massager according to claim 1 specified by an hydraulic pump (5) driven by a crank gear (30).
3. Massager according to claims 1 and 2 specified by a massage chamber (1) including, on its inner face, a ring made of a flexible materiel (11) with a U shape cross section which, while respectively resting on the chamber lining (1) and the patient's body, divides the chamber (1) into two independent massage compartments placed on top of each other (9a, 9b).
4. Massager according to claims 1 and 2 specified by a massage chamber (1) including, on its inner face, a hollow toric ring made of a flexible and elastic material, respectively in contact with the inner face of the chamber lining and the patient's body, thus ensuring good watertightness.

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