EP0800812B1 - Massage device - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment consists of a hollow bell (11), open at the bottom and having at least one inner partition (16) which extends as far as the lower edge of the bell and forms separate compartments (20.1, 20.2) inside it which are connected to a differential vacuum pump (25). The bell's inner compartments are of different sizes, with the first compartment in the direction of the bell's movement being substantially smaller than the second one. The bell is made from a transparent material such as glass or a suitable plastics so that the effects of the vacuum massage are immediately visible, and the vacuum in each of its compartments is adjustable individually.

Description

The invention relates to a massage device intended to be moved over a predetermined area of the body human, and more particularly a massage device of the suction type, capable of exerting an action also as close as possible to that which would be achieved manually the practitioner, in particular the so-called palpate-roll action well known in physiotherapy and hitherto implemented only manually by practitioners, and allowing possibly to exercise this action for areas of the human body difficult to reach.

The term "massage" should be understood in a sense very broad within the framework of the invention, insofar as it aims to treat various skin or subcutaneous problems, especially consecutive hypertrophic scars to a surgical operation or localized wrinkles, or still areas of cellulite requiring reactivation of blood circulation.

We have known for a long time the effect on blood circulation of a suction exerted locally on the human body, as was the case with suction cups traditional fixed poses in predetermined locations.

Document GB-A-213 028 describes a device for suction massage comprising a bell, the compartment of which interior is connected to a suction bulb. A diametral roller is provided at the support edge of this bell to produce a wave effect when moving the device. Such a device cannot exert only a very limited massage effect.

Document DE-A-668 052 describes a device for massage in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. This device is based on a pressure-vacuum principle, with a bell with two identical compartments, one of which is under positive pressure and the other under negative pressure. The effectiveness of such a device appears very doubtful insofar as the pressure positive has very little effect on blood circulation in the area concerned.

Document FR-A-1 038 311 describes another massage device. The hollow bodies, produced under the identical bells, are connected to a tip connection likely to be connected to a group pneumatic. The variant of Figure 2 includes separate connections, so that a bell works in constant aspiration, and the other in aspiration and alternate delivery. Thus, the upstream bell (by reference direction of movement of the device), operating in alternate suction and discharge, performs work progressive uplift and gradual release tissues, and the downstream bell, operating in suction continues, passes afterwards on the fabrics thus worked. The massage effect obtained is very different from that which corresponds to the touch-roll action performed manually by practitioners. The document is also silent on a possible setting to different depressions for device bells.

We then sought to improve the action of massage to achieve a wave effect using mechanical means combined with suction.

Document GB-A-1 077 143 thus describes a suction massage device in the form a shoe surrounded by a peripheral profile defining a support bead, the internal face of this pad being shaped with undulations to generate an effect of wave.

More recently we have developed a massage using motorized rollers combined with a suction system. In such an apparatus, the skin of the affected area is pinched between two axis rollers parallel so as to form a fold between these rollers, and the suction exerts a suction on the top of the fold skin thus formed. The practitioner thus moves the device on the affected area of the human body, the rollers being rotated by an electric motor, and suction is triggered concurrently with the displacement of the device which progresses by actuating the rollers motorized.

A device of the latter type has a a number of drawbacks for both the practitioner and for the patient undergoing the massage operation. Indeed, the practitioner can hardly observe the single fold formed between the rollers which pinch the skin, and moreover the therapeutic action of aspiration is limited to the crest of the skin fold formed, so this action is de facto limited. Furthermore, for the patient, the operation massage is uncomfortable due to the perception pinching by the rollers, which requires great skill for the practitioner who handles this device. In addition, the known device can hardly undergo settings to adapt to different types of skin problems to treat. Finally, it should also to note that this device is relatively designed expensive, since it consists of a large number of pieces (more than two hundred).

The invention aims to design a device massage more efficient than the aforementioned devices, at the times in terms of its structure, ease of use for the practitioner, and the quality and comfort of the action exercised.

This problem is solved by a massage of the aforementioned type, having the characteristics of claim 1.

In the device according to claim 1, the internal wall can be unique or multiple, especially double to have three compartments to different depressions and a triple wave effect.

In practice, a wall of unique separation for reasons of manufacturing cost. So, thanks to the presence of the two compartments isolated from each other, we manage to achieve a double sucking the area of the human body on which is applied the massage device, this double suction providing a wave effect with two ridges on the patient's skin, thus reproducing the palpate-roll action hitherto performed manually by practitioners. When the practitioner moves the massage device to the predetermined area of the human body, the double crest is moves concurrently like a wavefront, and more the suction concerns the entire area surrounded by the opening bottom of the bell-shaped hollow body.

The then single internal wall is arranged with in such a way that the two compartments which it delimits have markedly different volumes, so as to have different depressions in each of the two compartments.

In particular, it will be interesting to plan than the upstream compartment, considering the direction of displacement, has a significantly lower volume than the downstream compartment. We could for example provide that the downstream compartment has a volume close to twice that of the upstream compartment.

This characteristic is particularly interesting to generate an asymmetrical double wave, with a low upstream ridge and a downstream ridge of higher height. We thus obtain an uplift of the skin which is very favorable in terms of the action of massage exercised.

As a particular example, the peripheral edge may end with a support bead and be substantially circular or elliptical in shape, and the wall internal may be essentially planar, and present a substantially straight free edge which also ends by a support bead. These two support beads give an impression of very satisfactory comfort for the patient. It goes without saying that we can plan in variant of other shapes for the lower opening of the bell-shaped hollow body, in particular shapes more elongated or even curved.

The two compartments can be linked by tubing common to the pumping member, or alternatively be connected individually by associated tubing said pumping member. This allows to control with precision the suction exerted on each of the insulated compartments. It may also prove interesting to predict that the depression generated in the two compartments by the pumping member is adjustable, this which allows to adapt very satisfactorily the double suction action to the type of skin or subcutaneous problem concerned.

Advantageously also, the hollow body with its internal wall will be made of translucent material, by example in glass or suitable plastic. This allows the practitioner to monitor the area at all times is subject to double suction, and in particular to move the device precisely and at speed required at a critical area, which can be example that of a hypertrophic scar or a wrinkle whose shape or location is particularly delicate.

• la figure 1 illustre en perspective un dispositif de massage conforme à l'invention, du type à cloche équipée d'une unique paroi interne de séparation ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessous du corps creux en forme de cloche, permettant de mieux distinguer l'agencement particulier de la double ouverture débouchante avec des sections choisies pour avoir ici une succion environ deux fois plus forte pour le compartiment aval que pour le compartiment amont ;
• la figure 3 illustre, partiellement en coupe, le dispositif de massage précité en cours d'utilisation, avec une représentation de l'effet de vagues particulier générant une double crête au niveau de la zone concernée du corps humain ; et
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle, en coupe axiale, illustrant une variante du dispositif précédent dans laquelle un embout unique assure le raccordement entre le corps creux en forme de cloche et l'organe de pompage.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures of the appended drawings where:

• Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a massage device according to the invention, of the bell type equipped with a single internal partition wall;
• Figure 2 is a bottom view of the bell-shaped hollow body, to better distinguish the particular arrangement of the double opening opening with sections chosen to have here a suction about twice stronger for the downstream compartment than for the upstream compartment;
• FIG. 3 illustrates, partially in section, the aforementioned massage device in use, with a representation of the effect of particular waves generating a double crest at the level of the zone concerned of the human body; and
• Figure 4 is a partial view, in axial section, illustrating a variant of the previous device in which a single nozzle provides the connection between the hollow bell-shaped body and the pumping member.

FIG. 1 illustrates a massage device 10 according to the invention, which is intended to be moved on a predetermined area of the human body. These measures comprises a hollow body 11 having the general shape of a bell whose lower opening, marked 15, is delimited by a peripheral edge 13 by which said device is applied to the area to be massaged. The main portion of the hollow body, denoted 12, here has a generally cylindrical shape, but other forms such as upper constriction shape as illustrated in the variant of FIG. 4.

The hollow body 11 has at least one wall internal separation, in this case a single wall 16 which extends substantially to the level of a plane containing the peripheral edge 13 in order to delimit two compartments 20.1, 20.2 which are isolated from each other, and these two compartments are connected to a pumping member 25 serving to generate a desired depression which is different in each of the compartments. If we use two walls separation internals (variant not shown here), we will have three compartments at different depressions, allowing to have a triple wave effect.

The peripheral edge 13 preferably ends by a support bead 14, and the internal wall 16, which is essentially flat here, has a free edge noted 17 substantially straight which advantageously ends also by a support bead 18. Thus, at the level of the plane opening of the bell-shaped hollow body, there is a support bead, the shape of which will preferably be rounded, which concerns both the periphery of the body hollow and the free edge of the internal partition wall, according to the illustration given in figure 2. This double mouth delimits the outline of the body area human concerned by the double suction which goes precisely generate a wave effect at two successive peaks when the device is applied by the practitioner to the affected area of the human body and that the pumping organ is concurrently engaged to generate pressure desired.

The action of the massage device according to the invention will be better understood by referring to the figure 3. We noted X the direction of movement of the massage device 10 which is applied to an area P of the human body. When the pumping member 25 is engaged, the vacuum generated in each of the compartments 20.1, 20.2 exercises localized suction on each zones delimited at the level of the double mouth, in creating an extremely favorable wave effect with a first peak C1 at the upstream compartment 20.1 and a second peak C2 at the downstream compartment 20.2. This double crest faithfully reproduces the action of a palpate-roll, hitherto only exercised purely manual by practitioners.

The connection of the shaped hollow body 11 general bell to the pumping member 25 could be achieved in multiple ways. We have illustrated here on Figures 1 and 3 the presence of two tips 21.1, 21.2 forming crossing members in the upper part of the hollow body 11, associated with each of the compartments 20.1, 20.2 which are delimited by the internal partition wall. Pipes or corresponding pipes 22.1, 22.2 are fitted on each of the end pieces 21.1, 21.2, and the assembly will be general housed in a corrugated sheath or not 23 surrounding these two pipes up to the connection to the pumping 25. A handle 19 has also been illustrated allowing the practitioner to have a better grip of the device massage 10 to ensure precise movement of said device on the affected area of the human body. This handle 19 may alternatively present a trigger 29 allowing the practitioner to remotely control the engagement or stopping the pumping member 25.

The two compartments 20.1, 20.2 may be connected by a common tubing to the pumping member, or be connected individually by associated tubing said pumping member. The first case is easy to put implemented but imposes a given value of depression generated by the pumping device. The second case is more complex to implement, but it allows more adjustment end of the depression exerted on each of the individual compartments without having to change devices. This second case is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, where we have represented schematically on the organ of pumping 25, display means 26.1, 26.2 allowing to read directly the depression exerted on the level upstream compartment 20.1 (denoted AM) and downstream compartment 20.2 (noted AV). The pumping member 25 here comprises also adjustment buttons 27.1, 27.2 allowing obtaining a depression set to a predetermined value for each of the compartments. So, depression generated in the two compartments 20.1, 20.2 by the organ pumping 25 may be either constant or adjustable.

It is also advisable to choose a dimensioning suitable for both compartments and their mouth respective output so as to obtain an effect of palpate-roll satisfactory for the vast majority of cases treat. It is therefore essential to provide that the wall internal 16 is arranged so that both compartments 20.1, 20.2 which it delimits have volumes significantly different, and in this case, it will be better to provide that the upstream compartment 20.1 has a volume significantly lower than the downstream compartment 20.2. We could for example provide a volume close to double for the downstream compartment 20.2 relative to the upstream compartment 20.1.

As an indication only, we indicate below dimensions that can be envisaged for the hollow body bell-shaped with its inner wall. We can plan a peripheral edge of elliptical shape, the major axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of the partition wall, said edge being inscribed in a rectangle 5 cm wide and 8 cm long, with (referring to the direction of the long axis) a length of 3 cm for the upstream compartment and a length of 5 cm for the downstream compartment. With a height of about 7 cm, a depression ranging from 150 to 600 millibars (hPa) will generally be satisfactory for obtain the therapeutic action sought, with a depression for example up to 250 millibars (hPa) for the upstream compartment and from 250 to 500 millibars (hPa) for the downstream compartment. We thus obtain the double wave desired schematically shown in Figure 3. We may include several preprogrammed tracks, for example three ranges from 150 to 350 hPa, 300 to 500 hPa and 400 to 600 hPa, from which the practitioner will choose the range better suited to the problem to be treated. The pumping unit 25 could also be equipped with a sequencing means (or timer), allowing for example to generate a vacuum of 450 hPa for ten seconds followed by a depression of 200 hPa for two seconds (this means is preferably programmable, and will allow the practitioner to display the maximum and minimum peak values of the depression and the corresponding durations).

The hollow body with its internal wall will be preferably made of a translucent material, for example glass or suitable plastic, which allows the practitioner to monitor the appearance of the area at all times concerned with massage, while facilitating positioning double mouth in relation to areas critical, such as wrinkles or hypertrophic scars. The thickness of the hollow body with its wall of separation may be a few millimeters, and one preferably choose support beads whose diameter is around 5 mm. Figure 4 illustrates a variant in which the hollow body 11 has a main portion 12 pear-shaped, of which the upper tightens to form a collar 30 on which comes to mount a single nozzle 21 ensuring the connection to the pumping member 25. In this variant, the wall of separation 16 is arranged at the axis of the neck 30, in extending superiorly to the level of the edge crown of said neck. We can then provide a tip single 21, presenting an internal partition 28 delimiting two separate passages 24.1, 24.2, with connections then individual to branches 22.1, 22.2 separated if one wish to have an individual diet of each of compartments) to achieve in a single operation the connection of the device to the pumping member 25. If the generated vacuum is the same (single pipe 22, possibly separating into two branches 22.1, 22.2 as illustrated here), the partition 28 could of course be omitted: in this case, the difference in depressions in the two compartments result from the only notable difference volumes of said compartments.

We thus managed to achieve a device for massage which is both very simple structurally and very effective for its therapeutic action. Of more, it allows for the first time to reproduce the palpate-roll action performed manually by practitioners, and this with optimal comfort for the patient.

Claims (11)

1. A massage appliance for placing on a predetermined zone of the human body, comprising a generally bell-shaped hollow body (11) having a bottom opening (15) defined by a peripheral edge (13) via which said appliance is applied to the zone to be massaged, said hollow body having at least one internal partition (16) extending substantially to the same level as the plane containing the said peripheral edge so as to define mutually isolated compartments (20.1, 20.2), the appliance being characterized in that the compartments (20.1, 20.2) are connected to a pump member (25), and the or each internal partition (16) is disposed in such a manner that the compartments (20.1, 20.2) defined are of significantly different volumes in order to have different degrees of suction in each of said compartments.
2. An appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a single internal partition (16) disposed in such a manner as to define two compartments (20.1, 20.2) of significantly different volumes.
3. An appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the upstream compartment (20.1) in the displacement direction(s) is of a volume that is considerably smaller than the downstream compartment (20.2).
4. An appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that the downstream compartment (20.2) is about twice the volume of the upstream compartment (20.1).
5. An appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the peripheral edge (13) is terminated by a thrust rim (14) and is substantially circular or elliptical in shape.
6. An appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the internal partition (16) is essentially plane, having a free edge (17) that is substantially rectilinear and that is terminated by a thrust rim (18).
7. An appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the two compartments (20.1, 20.2) are connected to the pump member (25) via a common pipe (22).
8. An appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the pump member (25) is designed to deliver a single amount of suction in the common pipe (22) which is adjustable by means of an associated knob (27).
9. An appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the two compartments (20.1, 20.2) are individually connected to the pump member (25) via associated respective pipes (22.1, 22.2).
10. An appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the pump member (25) is designed to deliver two respective amounts of suction in the independent pipes (22.1, 22.2) which are individually adjustable by means of two associated knobs (27.1, 27.2).
11. An appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the hollow body (11) and its internal partition (16) is made of translucent material, e.g. glass or an appropriate plastics material.

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