Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
  • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H7/00—Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for
  • A61H7/007—Kneading
  • A61H7/008—Suction kneading

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an improved apparatus making it possible to carry out massage operations in a simple and effective manner, both on human beings and on animals (horses, cattle, etc.).
• A-2 574 601, US-A-3 297 024, FR-A-409 202, FR-A-1 590 131, have proposed to associate with a phenomenon of aspiration a mechanical action exerted by the rollers, balls which allow to exert on the body an action of pressure and or displacement and / or friction by vibration.
• the devices described in the aforementioned documents comprise, mounted inside a manually actuated box, two parallel rollers, preferably with a smooth surface, mounted free or driven positively in rotation inside the box.
• the rollers can be mounted on the housing either at a fixed center distance or in such a way that they can move apart and come close to each other automatically during the massage operation.
• the housing is connected to suction means via a conduit whose end opens into the space between the rollers, which therefore creates a depression between the latter when they are applied against the patient's body, so as to form a skin fold pressing against the surfaces of the rollers.
• the device according to the invention is very compact, of very simple design, and is easy to maintain. It has a structure such that despite its compactness, it allows a skin fold having a very large surface to be taken.
• such a device can be used interchangeably by exerting a push or a pull and this, with the same efficiency in both directions.
• the device according to the invention is advantageously designed to exert a jerky action on the skin fold.
• Such an action can be obtained, for example, by mounting said device at the entrance a suction circuit comprising means for varying the air flow.
• a suction circuit comprising means for varying the air flow.
• such a circuit may include a solenoid valve produced in accordance with the teachings of patent WO 95/09596 which not only makes it possible to obtain an all or nothing operation, but also a flow rate controlling the air flow between two determined values, possibility of adjustment between said values.
• the invention therefore relates to a massage device consisting, as described in FR-A-901 787, of a treatment head proper connected to a suction circuit, said treatment head comprising a housing comprising an internal chamber inside which opens the suction circuit, and in which the skin fold formed under the effect of the suction when the device is applied to the patient, bears directly against the edges convex shape of said chamber.
• the device according to the invention is characterized in that the chamber open at its base forms a window delimited by two side walls and two transverse walls, the skin fold formed under the effect of the suction pressing at least against the lower edges of the transverse walls, said edges having the shape of convex surfaces of opposite curvature, the active surfaces constituted by the lower edges of the transverse walls being able to receive a displacement making it possible to vary their spacing between two predetermined positions.
• the lower edges of the transverse walls defining the suction chamber and against which the skin fold is supported are designated by the expression "active surfaces”.
• the variation in the spacing between two predetermined positions of the active surfaces can be obtained either by moving one of its surfaces relative to the other which remains fixed, or preferably by simultaneously moving the two surfaces.
• the transverse walls are constituted by one or two partitions attached to the interior of the body proper of the housing.
• Such a device makes it possible, thanks to the action of bringing two walls together, to carry out a new mechanical massage in a simple manner.
• this wall is constituted by a partition articulated around an axis disposed in the upper part inside the housing and parallel to the window; it is kept normally separated from the wall opposite it, a wall which is fixed, under the action of thrust means (springs), and its pivoting is obtained under the effect of the vacuum and / or the pressure difference between the one inside the chamber and the external pressure which is equal to atmospheric pressure.
• the transverse walls are constituted by two partitions attached to the inside of the housing, articulated around two axes arranged symmetrically with respect to a median plane at the lower window.
• the two articulated partitions are mounted on a flat spring which tends to keep them separated from one another by pressing against the body of the housing.
• This flat spring extends over the entire width of the chamber of the treatment head and when the two walls tend to approach one against the other under the action of suction, it ensures the tightness inside the treatment chamber despite the pivoting of the walls.
• the housing of a device according to the invention is preferably made by molding and essentially consists of a central body which defines a chamber open towards the outside, the side walls being in turn formed by two flanges attached on the side. and other of the central body and fixed to the latter by any appropriate means such as screws.
• the side walls may possibly be transparent, thus making it possible to visualize the fold of skin formed inside the chamber during the treatment.
• the lateral flanges serve as guide elements for the mobile wall (s) and it is possible to integrate therein pushing means making it possible to maintain the active surfaces normally separated from one of the 'other, their approximation being obtained simply under the effect of aspiration.
• FIG. 1 is a detail showing the structure of the pushing means for keeping normally apart the two active surfaces from one another;
• FIG. 6 and 7 are respectively side views and exploded perspective showing the structure of a massage device according to the invention in which the two active surfaces can be moved towards or away from each other simultaneously.
• FIGS. 1 to 5 show, substantially on scale 1, two massage devices produced in accordance with the invention.
• only one of these active surfaces can be moved in order to be brought closer or apart from the other, while in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the two active surfaces can be brought together simultaneously.
• the massage device which makes it possible to carry out treatments combining an action of aspiration and mobilization of the skin fold, essentially consists of a treatment head, designated by the reference general (1), connected, by any suitable means such as fitting (2), to a suction circuit not shown and which comprises means making it possible to vary the pressure and the air flow, means constituted for example, as indicated above, in accordance with the teachings of patent application WO 95/09996, and which will therefore not be described in detail for the sake of simplification.
• the head (1) can be actuated manually and it can possibly include a handle or have a specific shape so that the operator can take it directly in hand.
• This head (1) consists essentially of a housing comprising a central body, comprising two sides (11) which define between them a chamber (3) open at its base. On either side of the central body, two lateral flanges (12), transparent or opaque, are attached. These lateral flanges (12) are fixed to the central body by means of screws designated by the reference (14), a seal being possibly provided between the surfaces in contact.
• the central body (11) and the lateral flanges (12) define between them a treatment chamber (3) inside which opens a suction circuit (2).
• the chamber (3) is open at its base and forms a window delimited on the one hand by two side walls (4) formed by the internal face of the lateral flanges (12) and, on the other hand, two transverse walls (6,7), the lower edges (8,9) of which constitute the active surfaces of the device, the two walls or at least one of these walls being able to receive a movement making it possible to vary the spacing between the active surfaces (8, 9) between two predetermined positions.
• the radius of curvature of the active surfaces (8,9) as well as the spacing between the two lines of tangency with the subject to be treated, will be adapted according to the treatment to be carried out and the area of the body to be treated.
• the radius of curvature of the active surfaces (8.9) is 10 mm, the maximum spacing between the two lines of tangency with the subject to be treated being of the order of 45 mm, this spacing can be reduced to approximately 30 mm when moving under the effect of suction.
• one of the walls namely the wall (6), is constituted by the internal face of one of the two sides (1 1) of the central body of the housing , the other wall (7) being constituted by the internal face of a pivoting partition (20) attached to the interior of the body of the housing.
• This partition (20) is articulated around an axis (X) disposed in the upper part at inside the box and parallel to the open window. Its retention inside the housing is obtained by means of two lateral axes (21) which fit into the interior of bearings (22) provided on the lateral flanges (4).
• the amplitude of pivoting inside the chamber is limited between two extreme positions, one (see Figure 2) according to which between the two active surfaces (8,9) is at most, the other ( Figure 3) whereby the active surface (9) be brought closer towards the active surface (8).
• the amplitude of the movement is limited by the presence of two fixed lugs (23) provided in the lower part of the partition and which can be moved inside two chambers (24) provided in the lateral flanges (4).
• the pivoting partition (20) is kept normally spaced from the active surface (8).
• Such a spacing can be obtained by means of pushing means which are integrated inside the lateral flanges (4) and the structure of which emerges from the detailed view in FIG. 5. These pushing means are integrated into the inside a duct made in the side flanges and are accessible from the outside. This duct opens opposite the chambers (24) inside which the pins (23) can move.
• a stop (25) is supported on each lug (23), a stop which is subjected to the action of a spring (26) whose compression ratio can be adjusted by a countersunk screw (27).
• Such a possibility of adjustment therefore makes it possible to modulate at will the movement of the active surface (9) in the direction of the second active surface (8) under the action of suction.
• the skin fold (10) is formed by the action of suction between the two active surfaces (8, 9) and when the operator moves the device, not only does it causes displacement of said skin fold (10) but also exerts pressure and bending against the area at the rear if we consider the direction of movement, bending whose intensity depends on the action exerted by the operator. If the suction varies cyclically, we obtain a successive grip and relaxation of the skin fold resulting in a stimulating and invigorating massage action under the effect of the pinching action which can be adjustable in intensity and frequency.
• FIGS 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment according to the invention in which the two active surfaces (8,9) can be moved simultaneously.
• the two pivoting partitions (20) are identical and are arranged symmetrically face to face between the two sides (11) of the central body of the housing.
• the structure and the manner in which these two partitions are mounted is similar to the example described above.
• the maintenance in position of maximum spacing as illustrated in Figure 6 is obtained under the action of a flat spring (30), substantially U-shaped, and which bears against the internal surfaces of the walls (11) above the active surfaces. Maintaining this flat spring (30) is obtained in a simple manner by means of a block (31) screwed into the bottom (32) of the chamber (3).
• the width of this block (31) is such that it limits the amplitude of the bringing together of the two active surfaces from one another under the effect of the suction.
• the active surfaces can be made of identical materials, they can possibly be made of different materials, for example one of the surfaces which can be very smooth having received an appropriate treatment (Teflon for example), the other having a higher coefficient of friction and being made for example of elastomer.
• the two active surfaces can be smooth, it could be envisaged to have active surfaces having protuberances, for example in the form of small spherical or other portions.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but it covers all the variants produced in the same spirit, it being understood that the dimensions of the device can be either greater or less than the concrete examples given above. .

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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ID=9495078

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (5)

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Family Cites Families (18)

• 1996
  • 1996-08-09 FR FR9610237A patent/FR2752159B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1997
  • 1997-07-24 ES ES97935623T patent/ES2202631T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-24 CN CNB971971137A patent/CN1153558C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-24 AU AU38542/97A patent/AU722444B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1997-07-24 US US09/051,570 patent/US5961475A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-24 DK DK97935623T patent/DK0917452T3/da active
  • 1997-07-24 AT AT97935623T patent/ATE243988T1/de active
  • 1997-07-24 RU RU99104507/14A patent/RU2185805C2/ru active
  • 1997-07-24 BR BR9706641A patent/BR9706641A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-07-24 DE DE69723269T patent/DE69723269T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-24 JP JP50944298A patent/JP4011627B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-24 EP EP97935623A patent/EP0917452B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-24 WO PCT/FR1997/001388 patent/WO1998006371A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-07-24 EE EEP199900041A patent/EE9900041A/xx unknown
  • 1997-07-24 KR KR10-1999-7000859A patent/KR100470073B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-07-24 PT PT97935623T patent/PT917452E/pt unknown
  • 1997-07-29 TW TW086110803A patent/TW364847B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-08-08 AR ARP970103618A patent/AR009036A1/es active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-08-08 UY UY24662A patent/UY24662A1/es not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-12-28 HK HK99106157A patent/HK1020865A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation

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