GB1359485A - Physiotherapy apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1359485 Physiotherapeutic apparatus NATTIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP 28 July 1971 [16 June 1970] 29009/70 Heading A5R Physiotherapeutic apparatus comprises an elongated arm 6, Fig. 1, having a terminal device 8 at one end thereof for engagement with a patient, a support 1, means 7 for connecting the arm adjacent the other end thereof to the support and affording at least three degrees of freedom in adjustability, said one end of arm 6 being longitudinally reciprocable relative to the other end by extension and contraction of the arm 6, and means for automatically reciprocating said one end of arm 6 relative to its other end under the action of two opposed forces of individually adjustable magnitude and duration. The apparatus may be attached to a bed-frame or a free-standing frame by means of frame members 1 to 5. A clamp 7 allows adjustment of arm 6 relative to parts 7a, b of clamp 7 and relative to member I as indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. The terminal device may comprise a sling or a pad having a stiff backing 8a, screwed to arm 6, and a part 8b having a smooth flexible covering over resilient padding. The apparatus may include one or more similarly mounted arms which do not have reciprocating means and engage the patient to act as reation members relative to the reciprocated arm. The reciprocation may be effected by a piston-and-cylinder 9 incorporated in the arm 6, the piston of which is reciprocated by pressurised air supplied from a source 10, Fig. 2, alternatively to the ends of the cylinder by a valve 11 having two states. Valve 11 is controlled via valves 12, 13 actuated manually or by a plunger 14 reciprocated by a piston in a cylinder 15 supplied with air via valve 11. Adjustable pressure-reducers 18 and 19 allow the two opposed forces applied to the patient to be individualy varied. Adjustable throttle valves 16 and 17 allow the frequency and mark/space ratio of the reciprocation of terminal device 8 to be adjusted. Alternatively, hydraulic, electromechanical, or hybrid operation, using pneumatic or hydraulic reciprocation of device 8 and electronic frequency and mark/space ratio control, may be used.