LU82317A1 - HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE TREATMENT OF VERTEBRAL ALGIA - Google Patents

Description

/ * OC 51.094

Patent application for ..... April 1 ... 1.9.8o Designation of the Inventor (1) The undersigned ....... Monsieur Jacques ... de.Muy ser./. 35., .... bld ....... Ro.yal., .........................

.............................................. Luxembourg (Luxembourg) .................................................. ..............................

acting as edMddsèÂï / - as agent for the depositor - (-) .......... SOCIETE GENERALE ... DES ... EAUX ... MINERALES. .D.E .... VI.TTEL., ... Avenue..des .....

................... Baths at .. VITT.EL. / .... y.QS.g.es. ,,. Pr.an.ce ............. ................................ .....................................

(3) of the invention relating to: __________ "Apparatus .d. '. Hydro.th.ärap.ie ,, ... in particular ..for..the ... treatment ·. ....... ..algia..vertebral "., ........................................ .................................................. .......

designated as inventor (s): 1. Name and first names ....?. sPyl .... Lpuis .. GAUTIER ....................... .................................................. .........................

Address ........ Belmont-sur-Vair, at VITTEL .. Vosges. ^ .- grance ......................... ..............

2. Surname and first names ........................ ..................... ........................................ .......... .................................................. ...........

Address .................................. ............... .................................................. .................................................. .........................

3. Surname and first names ............................................. .................................................. .................................................. ................

Address ................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ................................

He affirms the sincerity of the above-mentioned indications and declares to assume full responsibility for them.

- Luxembourg ............. ... Je lo avril ........ 198o.

\ \ \ \ '\ \ \, \ .V, · v ..

(signature) A 63026__ ·. _ (1) Last name, first names, firm, address.

OC 51.094

CLAIM OF PRIORITY OF FILING OF PATENT APPLICATION

IN FRANCE FROM APRIL 4, 1979 Description Brief filed in support of a request for

PATENT

at

Luxembourg

formed by: SOCIETE GENERALE DES EAUX MINERALES DE VITTEL

, for: "Hydrotherapy device, in particular for the treatment of spinal pain".

The present invention relates to a hydrotherapy apparatus, in particular crenotherapy, in particular for the treatment of spinal pain.

We already know different treatments for the 5 vertebral pains using various shower devices. The results obtained with these known hydrotherapy devices are not perfectly satisfactory, in particular insofar as their shower devices are not suitable for the local treatment of spinal pain.

A shower installation is known, for example, which has two vertical rows, offset, of nozzles sending fine jets of water under pressure in two vertical planes, also inclined on the vertical plane of symmetry of the two rows of jets. This known shower installation is not specially designed for the treatment of spinal pain; in particular, the planes of the jets of the nozzles make a dihedral angle at most equal to 70 degrees, and preferably equal to 45 degrees, which corresponds, for each jet, to an angle of incidence on a treatment surface (for example the patient's back).

20 substantially parallel to the two vertical rows of nozzles, which is at most equal to 35 degrees; such a small angle of incidence is unfavorable to the treatment of vertebral pain by the mechanical and thermal action of fine jets of water under pressure. On the other hand, in this known shower apparatus, the spacing of the nozzles of each row is less than 5 cm, which is ill-suited to the average height of the human vertebrae. Finally, the use of this known showering device does not make it possible to differentiate the treatment of the cervical vertebrae from that of the dorsal vertebrae, while the first, more sensitive, would risk poorly enduring treatment with fine jets. pressurized water.

The hydrotherapy, in particular crenotherapy, apparatus according to the present invention also comprises two vertical rows, offset, of nozzles sending fine jets of water under pressure in two vertical planes, also inclined on the vertical plane of symmetry two rows; it is characterized in that the two rows of nozzles are mounted respectively on the vertical sides of a tubular frame, substantially * '·· »2 rectangular, which is supported at the height of the patient's back, and which is connected to a mixed water source for the common supply of the two rows of nozzles as well as a sprinkler head, mounted on the upper side of said rectangular frame, so as to be directed towards the neck of the patient, and that the nozzles are oriented so that the planes of their respective jets make between them a dihedral angle of at least 90 degrees, the patient being placed at a distance from the tubular frame such that the two rows of fine jets come respec-10 tively hit his spinal gutters.

Thanks to these provisions, the hydrotherapy device according to the present invention makes it possible to subject the cervical vertebrae, which are particularly sensitive, to the treatment of a single sprinkling head, delivering a spread jet of water under a fairly reduced pressure. ; on the other hand, if the patient's back is placed approximately parallel to and at an appropriate distance from the vertical plane of the two rows of nozzles, each fine jet of pressurized water strikes, at a determined height, l '' one of the patient's vertebral aligners, at an angle of incidence at least equal to 45 degrees, that is to say under optimal conditions to ensure mechanical, massage, and thermal treatment, on these particularly vertebral areas sensitive, on the corresponding posterior vertebral artery, and the vessels which diverge therefrom to supply the nerve plexuses, as well as on the muscles situated on either side of said vertebral aligners. This results in a circulatory and vasodilatory action on said artery and the vessels which diverge therefrom, a calming action, due to the relatively high temperature of the water, at the level of the vertebral conjugation holes, and finally a relaxing action. on the muscles mentioned. The combination of these various actions ensures a rapid reduction of spinal pain, regardless of their location.

In a preferred embodiment of. 35 the hydrotherapy device according to the present invention, the planes of the jets of the nozzles make an angle close to 90 degrees, the spacing of the two rows of nozzles is approximately 68 cm., 3 and the spacing of the nozzles of each row is approximately 12 cm. With this dimensioning, the patient's back must be placed approximately 30 cm from the orifices of the nozzles; under these conditions, the jets produced by two neighboring nozzles of the same row strike points of the same vertebral groove of the patient, the spacing of which corresponds substantially to the height of six of his vertebrae, and this at an angle incidence of the jet having a particularly favorable value, close to 45 degrees. While the two rows of fine jets 10 treat all the dorsal vertebrae, in particular at the level of the vertebral gutters, the spread jet produced by the sprinkler provides moderate, mainly thermal, treatment of the cervical vertebrae.

* Preferably, the two rows of nozzles 15 have six and five nozzles respectively, distributed regularly along the vertical sides of the tubular frame, the total height of which is close to 75 cm.

According to another characteristic of the invention, intended to allow easy adaptation of the hydro-therapy apparatus as a function of anthropometric variations, and in particular of the size of the patients, each nozzle and the sprinkler can be oriented by relative to the tubular frame, for example by means of ball joints. For the same purpose, the tubular frame can be slidably mounted vertically on a support, for example on vertical guide rails, fixed for example to a vertical wall, and suitable means are provided for bringing said tubular frame to the height desired on its guide rails. This last characteristic also makes it possible to vertically move the hydrotherapy device 30, and in particular its nozzles as well as the sprinkler head, during the same treatment, so as in particular to subject the action of jets of pressurized water successively the different points of the patient's vertebral aligners, without discontinuity.

Finally, the tubular frame of the hydro therapy apparatus according to the present invention can be supplied with water at a temperature preferably close to 40 degrees centigrade, arriving, for example by a flexible tube, from 4% from of a mixing valve, the outlet of which, as well as each of the cold and hot water inlets, are each associated with a tap, a pressure gauge and a thermometer, means being furthermore provided for adjusting the pressure precisely 5 mixed water, up to a maximum value of approximately 4 bars.

By way of example, an embodiment of the hydrotherapy apparatus according to the present invention has been described below and illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of this embodiment.

Figure 2 is a rear view, in elevation, illustrating the action of the hydrotherapy apparatus of Figure 1 on the spine of a patient.

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view illustrating the action of the hydrotherapy apparatus according to the present invention.

In its embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the hydrotherapy device according to the present invention includes a tubular frame 1, for example made of stainless steel tube, having a diameter of 6 cm; this frame, 1, has a substantially rectangular shape. On its small horizontal, upper side, a usual shower head, producing a "runny" jet, 2, is mounted by means of a ro-tule connection, 3, allowing it to be oriented relative to the frame. tubular 1. On the vertical sides, lb, le, of the tubular frame, 1, two rows of nozzles, 4b and 4c, are mounted by means of ball joints, 5b and 5c, so that they can also be oriented with respect to said tubular frame 1. In the embodiment considered, the spacing of the two rows of nozzles, 4b and 4c, which roughly corresponds to the length of the short, horizontal sides of the rectangular frame 1, is d 'about 68 cm, and the height of its vertical sides, lb and le is about 75 cm; the right row (in Figure 1) has five nozzles 4c, while the left row has six, 4b; in each of the two rows, the nozzles have the same vertical spacing, of approximately 6 cm, which corresponds * 5 substantially to the height of six vertebrae of an adult. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the two right and left rows of nozzles are offset from each other, so that the fine jets of water produced for example by the nozzles 5b are propagate in substantially horizontal planes, equidistant from the horizontal planes in which the jets produced by the two closest nozzles, 5c, of the other row propagate.

The tubular frame, 1, is slidably mounted ver-10 tically on two vertical guide rails, 7b and 7c, which are themselves supported by fittings, 8b and 8c, fixed, for example screwed, in a vertical wall (not shown), for example one of the walls of the shower room. On the two guide rails, 7b and 7c, sliding sleeves 9b and 9c are respectively mounted slidingly, which are connected directly to the sides 1b and the of the tubular frame, 1, by arms 10b and 10c; the upper side 1a of the rectangular frame is connected by an arm 10a to a threaded sleeve 9a, which is screwed onto a vertical threaded rod, 7a; this is supported by a fitting 8a, screwed 20 to the vertical wall, and it is provided with an operating handwheel 11, making it possible to vertically move the tubular frame, 1, over a total height of the order of 60 cm , which corresponds substantially to the height of each of the guide rails 7b and 7c.

The lower side, ld, of the tubular frame, 1, 25 is connected by a flexible tube, 12, to the outlet pipe, 13a, of a mixer, 14, which can be fixed to the same vertical wall as the fittings 8a at 8c. In the outlet line, 13a, a tap, 14a, a pressure gauge, 15a, and a thermometer 16a are inserted. The mixer, 14, is supplied with hot water and cold water under pressure, respectively by supply lines, 13b and 13c, in each of which is fitted a tap, 14b or 14c, a pressure gauge, 15b or 15c, and a thermometer 16b or 16c.

To apply an analgesic shower to the spine of a patient, by means of the hydrotherapy device which has just been described, the taps 14a, 14b and 14c are first opened, the mixer is adjusted , 14, so that the thermometer, 15a, indicates a temperature of about 40 degrees centigrade, and the pressure is adjusted (by means not shown) so that the pressure gauge, 15a, indicates a pressure of 3, 5 to 4 bars. The patient then places himself in front of the tubular frame 5, 1, so that his back is at a distance of approximately 30 cm. nozzles outlet ports, 4b and 4c.

Using the handwheel, 11, the sliding sleeve is moved, 9a, so as to vertically move the tubular frame, 1, along its guide rails, 7b and 7c, so as to place said frame. , 1, relative to the back of the patient at the relative height visible in FIG. 2, that is to say so that the fine jets, 6b and 6c, strike the spine of the patient at different points regularly spaced on Its entire height, while the sprinkler, 2, is located substantially at the level of its nape. The orientations of the nozzles, 4b and 4c are then adjusted, so that the jets, 6b and 6c, which they project, strike the two vertebral aligners Gb and Gc respectively (FIG. 3) of the patient's spine, V, this is obtained substantially when the vertical planes 20 of the two groups of jets are also inclined, by about 45 degrees, on the vertical plane of symmetry, P, of the two. rows of jets. With the dimensioning indicated above, in fact, the points of incidence of the jets, 6b and 6c, are spaced, in the horizontal direction, by a distance of the order of 25 to 6 centimeters, which corresponds substantially to the spacing of the vertebral aligners, Gb and Gç, of an adult. The sprinkler head, 2, is then oriented, using its connector. with ball, 3, towards the neck of the patient, so as to send a runny jet, under lower pressure, towards the cervical vertebrae of the patient.

During the shower, the pressure and the temperature of the water can be modified if necessary, according to a pre-established program; it is also possible to move the entire tubular frame in the vertical direction so as to continuously shower the vertebral gutters, Gb and Gc, over their entire height, the orientation of the watering head 2 can also be modified so corresponding.

The hydrotherapy apparatus, in particular crenotherapy •, according to the present invention is capable of embodiments different from that which has just been described.

The temperature and pressure of the supply water are optional materials, as well as the mounting, sliding vertically, of the tubular frame of the device. The sizing of the hydrotherapy device according to the present invention is itself an optional subject; to obtain the desired analgesic effects, it is however essential that the planes of the fine jets of pressurized water produced by the two rows of nozzles make a dihedral angle of at least 90 degrees between them, and that the patient is placed at a distance from the tubular frame such that the two rows of fine jets come respectively punched, per his vertebral gutters.

Claims (6)

8 " 1. Hydrotherapy apparatus, in particular crenotherapy, in particular for the treatment of spinal pain, apparatus comprising two vertical rows, offset, of nozzles sending fine jets of water under pressure in two vertical planes, also inclined on the vertical plane of symmetry of the two rows of jets, and characterized in that. the two rows of nozzles are mounted respectively on the vertical sides of a tubular frame, substantially rectangular, * 10 which is supported at the height of the patient's back, and which is connected to a source of mixed water for feeding common of the two rows of nozzles as well as a sprinkler, mounted on the upper side of said rectangular frame so as to be directed towards the neck of the patient, and that the nozzles 15 are oriented so that the planes of their respective jets make between them a dihedral angle of at least 90 degrees, the patient being placed at a distance from the tubular frame such that the two rows of fine jets respectively hit their vertebral aligners. 2. Hydrotherapy device according to claim 1, characterized in that the planes of the jets of the nozzles make an angle close to 90 degrees, that the spacing of the two rows of nozzles is approximately 68 cm. , and that the spacing of the nozzles in each row is approximately 12 cm. 3. hydrotherapy device according to which conch of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the two rows of nozzles respectively have six and five nozzles, distributed regularly along the vertical sides of the tubular frame, the total height of which is close to 75 cm. 4. Hydrotherapy device according to which conch of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each nozzle and the sprinkler are orientable relative to the * tubular frame, for example by means of ball joints. 5. Hydrotherapy device according to which con-35 of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tubular frame is mounted sliding vertically on a support, for example on vertical guide rails, fixed for example 9 * to a vertical wall, and that suitable means are provided for bringing said tubular frame to the desired height on its guide rails. 6. Hydrotherapy device according to any one of the claims of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that its tubular frame is supplied with water at a temperature preferably close to 40 degrees centigrade, arriving, for example by a flexible tube, coming from a mixer, the outlet as well as each of the inlets, of cold water and hot water, 10 are each associated with a tap, a manometer and a thermometer, and that means are provided for precisely adjusting the pressure of the mixed water, up to a maximum value of approximately 4 bars. * * ·