FR2630911A1 - Moving and modulated hydrotherapy bath device - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a moving and modulated hydrotherapy bath device. It consists of the combination, first of a bath tub 1 or of a defined space of a larger tank, comprising a headrest 2 and a footrest 3 which can be adjusted in height and which hold the patient 4 afloat, and which is equipped with heads which are fixed or tilt 5 using a motor system 11, the heads being provided with spray nozzles 6 directed towards the body, secondly, of a pump 9 with a filter delivering into a manifold 12 which supplies the nozzles individually and recycles the water from the bath, this water being temperature-controlled and containing solid, liquid or gaseous therapeutic products, and finally, of a programming means 7 which synchronises the sequential supply of the nozzles and their pivoting movements. It is intended to increase the effectiveness of hydrotherapeutic treatments by subjecting the patient to passive active or active/passive exercises under the action of directed and modulated jets.

Description

DYNAMIC BATH
The present invention relates to a moving and modulated hydrotherapy bath device.

It is intended to increase the effectiveness of hydrotherapeutic treatments by making the patient perform passive active and activo-passive gymnastics under the action of directed and modulated jets.

The devices produced to date take advantage of the relaxing, invigorating and curative power of baths, the results being reinforced by playing on thermal variations, the projection of jets or the addition of gases, salts, mud, etc.

But the action of current hydrotherapy treatments is anarchic, superficial and approximate.

The device according to the present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks. Indeed, it allows the patient to perform passive, active and activo-passive gymnastics and deep relaxation by transmitting precise, varied and modular movements of anterior posterior, lateral, and combined crawling in order to obtain - a decoaptation of the vertebral joints by passive and gentle mobilization ensuring a softening of the spine, - a revival of the general and capillary circulation allowing the restoration of chemical exchanges at the muscular and intra-articular level in order to slow down or cause the regression of any pathology not infectious of the vertebral axis, - an induced, measured and precise muscular activity, - a psychic relaxation giving access to higher levels of consciousness.

 I1 is constituted by the combination first of all, of a bathtub, or of a determined space of a bath of larger dimension, comprising a headrest and a footrest adjustable in height keeping the patient in a floating state , and fitted with fixed or oscillating heads thanks to a motor system, fitted with projection nozzles directed towards the body thereafter, a pump with filter delivering into a distributor supplying the nozzles individually and recycling the bath water , this water being temperature controlled and containing solid, liquid or gaseous therapeutic products, finally, a programming means ensuring the synchronization of the sequential supply of the nozzles and their oscillating movements.

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example of one of the forms of the invention
Figures 1, 2, 3 schematically represent the device with oscillating nozzles, seen in longitudinal section (fig 1), in plan (fig 2) and in cross section (fig 3).

Figures 4, 5, 6 show in the same way the device with fixed nozzles.

The device, FIGS. 1 to 3, consists of a bathtub 1 or a specific space of a larger bath, filled with water containing therapeutic products, comprising a headrest 2 and a support feet 3 adjustable in height keeping the patient 4 in a floating state, and equipped with pivoting heads 5 provided with projection nozzles 6 whose field of action covers the surface of the bather's body 4. The pivoting heads 5, consisting of a envelope fixed to the walls of the bathtub 1, or on immersed supports, and of a movable part carrying the nozzle 6, are aligned on the bottom 7 or on the side walls 8 of the bathtub and are supplied by a pump 9 recycling bath water. The flow of liquid propelled by the nozzles 6 scans a space and creates a thrust which moves with the rotation and the relaying of the different heads.

As the moving parts of the heads 5 are connected to each other by a linkage system 10 ensuring perfect synchronization of the movements of oscillations generated by one or more motors 11 and that they are successively supplied by a distributor 12, the result will be a wave moving on the body of the bather 4. The shape of this wave may be multiple, according to the choices made for the switching operations, the durations, speeds, pressures and flow rates, these choices being adjustable and programmable by means of a control means 13 preferably consisting of in a microprocessor system acting both on the distributor 12 and on the motor or motors 11. A filter and a temperature regulator complete the device.

Figures 4 to 6 show the same device, but with fixed nozzles 6, mounted on ramps 14 fixed longitudinally on the bottom 7 or the walls 8 of the bath 1 or on submerged supports. The liquid flows propelled by the nozzles 6 of different flow rates and successively pressurized create a wave which progresses. Different figures can be envisaged as a function of the switching sequences of the distributor 12 controlled by the programming means 13.

Thanks to the numerous possibilities of adjustment and programming, allowing a great diversity of induced modular movements, and resulting in a notably increased efficiency of hydrotherapeutic treatments, the device which has just been described is particularly suitable for the realization of bath installations in all establishments where this therapy is applied.

The positioning of the various constituent elements gives this device a maximum of useful effects which had not been obtained to date by similar devices.

However, the shapes, dimensions and arrangements of the various elements may vary within the limit of equivalents, without changing the general conception of the invention which has just been described.

Claims (2)

CLAIMS 1 "Movable and modulated hydrotherapy bath device, characterized by the combination of a bathtub (1), comprising a headrest (2) and a footrest (3) adjustable in height and maintaining the patient (4) in floating condition, and fitted with pivoting heads (5) consisting of envelopes fixed longitudinally on the bottom (7) and the side walls (8) of the bath (1) or on submerged supports, and provided with nozzles (6 ) supplied individually and whose field of action covers the surface of the body of the bather, with a sequence assembly consisting on the one hand of a pump (9) delivering in a distributor (12) ensuring a supply independent of each nozzle (6) and on the other hand, a linkage assembly (10), ensuring perfect synchronization of the oscillation movements of the nozzles (6), and actuated by one or more motors (11) being controlled and synchronized by a programming means (13) preferably with microprocessor, acting on r the duration and speed of sequencing, pressure and flow in order to create pressure waves of any shape on the patient's body (4). 20 Device according to claim 1 and an alternative embodiment, characterized by fixed nozzles (6) of variable shapes and flows mounted on ramps (14) arranged longitudinally on the bottom (7) and the side walls (8) of the bathtub, or on immersed supports. 30 Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized by the use of filters and temperature regulators, and the addition to the bath water of solid, liquid or gaseous products.