KR20020004219A - Whole body thermotherapy treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A thermal therapy apparatus for the whole body is provided to make far infrared rays reach a certain deep portion of the body within a short time without causing a low temperature burn to a patient. CONSTITUTION: The thermal therapy apparatus is comprised of a bed part(1) consisting of a body mounting portion(3) and a base portion(4); a cover portion(2) covering a specific site corresponding to the body of a patient lying on the body mounting portion; a far infrared rays source for irradiating specific far infrared rays capable of raising a temperature of a certain deep portion of the site corresponding to the body; a ventilation opening for the site corresponding to the body; and an air duct(10) communicating with the ventilation opening.

Description

Systemic Thermal Therapy Device {WHOLE BODY THERMOTHERAPY TREATMENT APPARATUS}

The present invention, by irradiating the body with a systemic heat treatment device, in particular far-infrared, as well as the treatment of various diseases, malignant tumors, and viral diseases, as well as to increase the body surface temperature and deep body temperature, promote blood circulation, The present invention relates to a systemic heat treatment apparatus that alleviates stiffness, pain, and paralysis symptoms caused by disease in various parts.

Until now, treatments such as surgical resection, irradiation, and drug administration have been used to treat malignant tumors such as cancer and sarcoma, but metastasized tumors have been difficult to treat. Even early stage tumors have the problem that surgery and other methods can cause very severe pain in the body, impair immune function, and lead to tumor recurrence and other diseases. Viral disease cannot be cured unless a suitable vaccine is present. For example, there is no effective treatment for people infected with the AIDS virus.

In recent years, it has been found that these malignant tumor cells and viruses die when heated to a temperature above 41 ° C., and thus, a great deal of attention has been focused on heat therapy. The method was developed and infrared irradiation devices began to be used.

However, the therapy of immersing the patient in warm water takes a long time to heat the interior of the body because the therapeutic effect is seen when heat is conducted from the body surface, which causes severe pain to the body. In addition, although the infrared rays used in the infrared irradiation apparatus manufactured and marketed to date are far infrared rays, they actually have a structure which contains a large amount of near infrared rays, and an infrared ray source is formed in a single unit. Since near-infrared light has a large energy and shows low permeability to the body, it takes a long time to heat a deep part of the body, and in order to protect the patient from moving, the patient must be anesthetized during treatment. In addition, since the body is exposed to ultraviolet rays containing near infrared rays for a long time, the energy applied to the body surface is increased, which may cause a low temperature burn in the patient. In order to alleviate this problem, expensive control means must be provided.

Accordingly, the present inventors have invented a far-infrared irradiation apparatus capable of reaching far-infrared to a deep part of the body in a short time without causing a low-temperature burn to a patient in view of the above problems caused in the prior arts (US Pat. No. 6,004,344). Reference).

In addition, the present inventors have made efforts to improve the thermal treatment apparatus using the infrared irradiation device, and reach far infrared rays to the depths of the body within a short time without causing a low temperature burn on the body, and arbitrarily select the intensity of radiation for each part of the body. Not only can it be set, but the invention has also invented a thermal treatment apparatus that can increase the therapeutic effect and keep the chamber environment in a good state by maintaining the air in contact with the body in an optimal state.

In other words, the thermal therapy device according to the invention comprises the following components:

a) body mount;

b) a cover portion covering a body corresponding site on the body mount;

c) a source of far-infrared light that irradiates the body's site with far-infrared radiation that can raise the temperature of its deep parts;

d) vents to ventilate the body site; And

e) ventilation ducts through the ventilation openings.

According to this structure, since a ventilation duct communicating with the ventilation port is provided, air in contact with the body inside the cover part is provided when the end of the ventilation duct opposite the end communicating with the ventilation port communicates with the outside of the chamber or processing device. It can be prevented from entering directly.

Thus, since the air contacting the body through ventilation is kept in an optimal state, good heat treatment can be achieved and deterioration of the temperature, humidity, and smell of the internal environment of the chamber can be prevented. In addition, the interior environment of the chamber does not deteriorate even when a plurality of thermal treatment devices are arranged in the chamber.

It is preferable that a plurality of vents are arranged in a distributed manner, and one conventional vent duct provided in these multiple vents.

According to the above structure, since a plurality of vents are distributedly arranged to vent each site in the body air, it is possible to make the air of the whole body more easily and uniformly than when only one vent is provided for ventilation.

In addition, since a plurality of ventilation holes distributed in order to collect air to be vented are provided with one conventional ventilation duct, exhaust air can be collectively discharged from the plurality of ventilation holes.

As a result, the air in contact with the whole body can be made uniform, the heat treatment effect can be enhanced, and the ventilation process can be performed more reasonably.

Preferably, the ventilation port is provided with a ventilation fan.

According to the above structure, since the ventilation fan is disposed in each of the ventilation holes, the ventilation amount of each of the ventilation holes can be adjusted to make the air of the whole body more easily and uniformly as a whole.

Therefore, the heat treatment effect can be further enhanced.

In this regard, a ventilation fan may be arranged in all or some of the ventilation holes.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a heat treatment device according to the present invention.

2 is a vertical front cross-sectional view of the thermal treatment apparatus of FIG. 1.

3 is a vertical side cross-sectional view of the thermal treatment apparatus of FIG. 1.

4 is a plan view of the thermal treatment apparatus of FIG.

The objects, advantages, features, and aspects of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the thermal treatment apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the thermal treatment apparatus includes a couch 1 and a lid 2, and includes a heating means and a ventilation means. 2 to 4, the couch 1 is composed of a body mount 3 and a base 4 provided in such a way that the body mount 3 can be drawn freely. The body mount 3 includes a caster wheel 3a that facilitates the internal and external operation of the body mount relative to the base 4. The base unit 4 may be provided with a power supply unit, a control unit, a device for measuring and displaying a state of a patient, an oxygen supply device, and the like.

The cover part 2 is to cover the corresponding site of the body on the body mounting part 3, and freely opens and closes up and down with respect to the point R of the fulcrum so that the patient's accommodation, diagnosis, and sensor processing can be performed. It is installed on the base 4 to pivot. For example, the opening and closing pivot actuating means may be a means for opening and closing with human force or a means for opening and closing using a hydraulic driver (hydraulic cylinder or hydraulic motor) or an electric drive (electric motor or electric cylinder), and any of these means may be used. One can be adopted.

2 to 4, the lid portion 2 is formed of a semi-cylindrical lid body 2A, the head of the lid body 2A in such a manner as to leave the insertion opening 2a in the neck portion of the body. A head portion protective cover 2B for opening and closing, and a foot protection cover 2C for opening and closing of the foot side of the cover main body 2A. The cover main body 2A and the foot protection cover 2C are completely formed. The cover main body 2A and the foot protection cover 2C have a three-layer structure in which a heat insulating base 5c is inserted between the outer panel 5a and the inner panel 5b. Since the head protective cover 2B is mounted on the main body 2A so as to be able to freely open and close the pivot operation, the body can enter and exit without opening the cover main body 2A. It is preferable to make all or part of the upper protective cover 2B by using a transparent member so that it can function as a window for observing the inside.

The heating means is a means for heating the inside of the body placed on the body mounting part 3 by irradiating far-infrared rays containing no near infrared rays having a wavelength of 4 μm or less to the body corresponding site on the body mounting part 3. 2 to 4, a far infrared ray source 6 for irradiating far infrared rays having a wavelength of 5 to 20 μm, preferably 8 to 15 μm, includes a cover body 2A, a foot protection cover 2C, and a body. It is attached to the inner surface of the mounting part 3. In addition, a reflective member 7 is attached to a part of the inner surface of the lid body 2A and the foot protection lid 2C to which the far infrared ray source 6 is not attached. In particular, each of the site corresponding to the chest, the site corresponding to the abdomen, the site corresponding to the upper leg, and the site corresponding to the lower leg in the lid body 2A has a plurality of far-infrared sources 6 arranged in a circumferential direction. Is provided. The foot protection cover 2C is provided with a plurality of far-infrared sources arranged in a lateral direction. The body mount part 3 is provided with a far-infrared source 6 of a size capable of irradiating far-infrared light to the whole body except above the neck of the body. Here, it is preferable that the far-infrared source 6 at each site can independently adjust the far-infrared radiation dose.

The far infrared source 6 is made of a heater element that is heated by an energization and an inorganic-system element surrounding them. The inorganic-system member is preferably made of a ceramic, such as a zirconia-system or an alumina-system, to block near-infrared rays having a wavelength of 4 μm or less in the infrared rays generated by the heater element or to convert such near-infrared rays into far-infrared rays. The power supply cord of the far infrared ray source 6 arranged in the cover part 2 is arrange | positioned inside the heat insulation base material 5c. The larger the thickness of the ceramic in the inorganic-system member is, the better, it is possible to block or divert near-infrared rays that may be produced by temperature rise. By using such a far-infrared source 6, the therapeutic effect can be obtained by raising the temperature of the deep part of the body.

In order to effectively reflect far infrared rays, a stainless steel substrate, various thin plates, or a member coated with aluminum is preferable as the reflective member 7. As shown in the figure, the reflective member 7 is made of a member different from the inner surface panel 5b. However, the inner surface panel 5b may be made of a reflective material so that the inner surface panel 5b can function as the reflective substrate 7. In this case, it is preferable to install the far-infrared source 6 to the inner surface panel 5b via an insulating or insulating material.

The ventilation means may ventilate the body's air such that the whole body of air on the body mount 3 is maintained at a temperature of 40 to 80 ° C. or at an optimal temperature depending on the symptoms and treatment purpose. Referring to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the ventilation means is constituted as follows: A plurality of ventilation openings are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction at the center of the lid portion 2 in the circumferential direction of the lid body 2A. (8; two ventilation openings are shown in the figure, but the number of the ventilation openings can be changed accordingly), and one ventilation opening 8 is disposed in the foot protection cover 2C, and within each ventilation opening 8 Ventilation duct comprising a ventilation fan (9) is arranged for forced ventilation, and the exhaust fan (10a) and filter F for collecting the air discharged from each ventilation opening (8) and forcibly discharging these air to the outside of the chamber 10 is disposed.

It is preferable that the ventilation fan 9 can adjust the ventilation amount independently. Duct portion 10A of the ventilation duct 10, which collects exhaust gas by mounting a generally semi-cylindrical member on the outer panel 5a that forms a passage with the upper surface of the outer panel 5a of the lid 2. Make The duct portion 10B connected to the duct portion 10A includes a bellows portion 10b disposed at the end of the exhaust gas to lead out of the chamber. Due to the presence of the bellows portion 10b, the ventilation duct 10 turns smoothly according to the opening / closing pivot movement of the cover portion 2.

By adjusting the ventilation amount from each of the ventilation openings 8 by using such ventilation means, it is possible to easily control the air of the body so that the air of the body is maintained at a constant temperature. In addition, since exhaust gas containing moisture and odor components and the like can be released to the outside of the chamber, there is no fear that the inside of the chamber will be contaminated with the exhaust gas, and the patient or examinee in the chamber will not feel uncomfortable.

The thermal treatment device manufactured as described above is used in a state where the head of the body is placed outside. Sensors required to check the patient's body condition, such as temperature, blood pressure, and pulse of each part of the body, may be mounted on the patient being treated. In addition, when far-infrared rays are irradiated, the irradiation intensity is increased in the initial stage to raise the body temperature as quickly as possible, and when the temperature reaches a certain level, the irradiation amount is adjusted to control to a certain level.

Other Example

(a) In the embodiment described above, a plurality of far infrared rays sources 6 are arranged in a dispersed manner. However, one large far infrared source 6 may be arranged in the thermal treatment apparatus of the present invention.

(b) In the embodiment described above, it is shown that a plurality of vents 8 are arranged. However, the number, formation position, size, shape, and the like of the ventilation openings 8 can be changed as appropriate.

(c) In the embodiment described above, it is shown that one ventilation fan 9 is arranged in the ventilation port 8 and one exhaust fan 10a is also arranged in the ventilation duct 10. However, the exhaust fan 9 may be disposed only in the ventilation opening 8, and the fan may not be disposed in the ventilation duct 10. In contrast, an exhaust fan may be provided only in the ventilation duct 10 and no fan may be disposed in the ventilation opening 8. In the latter case, it is preferable to provide a damper in the ventilation opening 8 so that the ventilation amount can be adjusted to make the air in contact with the whole body uniform. Needless to say, it is also possible to adopt a structure in which ventilation depends only on natural ventilation.

(d) In the embodiment described above, the cover body 2A and the foot protection cover 2C constituting the cover portion 2 are completely formed so as to be able to freely open and close in a vertical direction with respect to the point R at the foot end. do. However, the cover part 2 can be divided into several parts in the direction of the lying body. In other words, the cover part 2 may be divided into a thorax, an abdomen, a leg, etc. of the body, of which only each part may be pivoted relative to the point at the foot end, and portions other than the part may be located at a point on the side of the base. A structure that can be opened and closed laterally can be adopted.

(e) Opening and closing, which may be connected to various measuring devices, provided that the sensors required to check the patient's condition, such as temperature, blood pressure, and pulse of each part of the body for treatment, are provided. The door may be arranged in one or several places on the side of the cover part 2. Connecting the necessary sensors to each part of the patient via the opening and closing doors can reliably prevent long wiring or obstruction, thus providing the advantage of easy operation and increased device convenience.

Since the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the essential details of the invention. This embodiment is intended to illustrate the present invention, but not limiting, the equivalents falling within the scope of the claims are also included in the present invention.

The present invention provides an improved thermal therapy apparatus that does not cause cold burns in a patient and can reach far infrared rays to deep parts of the body in a short time.

Claims (10)

In the heat treatment apparatus, a) body mount; b) a cover portion covering a body corresponding site on the body mount portion; c) a far-infrared source for irradiating said body corresponding site with far-infrared radiation which can raise the temperature of a deep portion therein; d) a vent for ventilating said body site; And e) ventilation ducts communicating with said vents Thermal treatment apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 1, A plurality of said ventilation openings are arranged in a distributed manner, and said conventional ventilation duct is provided in said several ventilation openings. The method of claim 2, The heat treatment device is provided with a ventilation fan in the ventilation port. The method of claim 2, Said cover portion being generally semi-cylindrical, said vent being provided at least on top of said lid and said ventilation duct communicating with said vent. The method of claim 1, And an exhaust fan configured to collect air discharged from the vent port in the ventilation duct and forcibly discharge the air to the outside of the chamber. The method of claim 5, Heat treatment device is disposed on the upper side of the exhaust fan. The method of claim 1, And a bellows portion wherein the ventilation ducts are disposed at their rear ends to perform the opening and closing pivoting action of the lid portion. The method of claim 3, An exhaust fan is provided in the ventilation duct for collecting air discharged from the ventilation port and forcibly discharging it out of the chamber; A filter is disposed above the exhaust fan; And a bellows portion in which the ventilation ducts are disposed at their rear ends to perform an opening and closing pivoting action of the lid portion. The method of claim 2, The cover part consists of a semi-cylindrical cover body, a head protective cover for opening and closing the head side of the cover body in a manner that leaves the neck insert of the body, and a foot protective cover for opening and closing the foot side of the cover body. Heat treatment device. The method of claim 3, The ventilation port and the ventilation fan ventilate the air contacting the body on the body mount so that the entire air contacting the body has an optimal temperature according to the symptom and treatment purpose, and the whole or part of the head protection cover is a transparent member. Heat therapy device made.