MXPA00002048A - Massage apparatus operating by suction and mobilisation of the skin tissue - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a massage apparatus operating by suction and mobilisation of the skin tissue, in the form of a manually operated set (1), essentially comprising a housing connected to a suction source and including an inner chamber (4) open on its surface designed to be in contact with the patient's body and means for exerting a mechanical action on the skin fold formed inside said chamber (4) during the massage. The invention is characterised in that the suction chamber extends transversely over the whole width of the housing and is open at its two lateral ends;the means for exerting a mechanical action consist of at least two mobile sets (7, 8) laterally arranged on each housing (3) side, resting sealed against the side walls and obstructing the lateral openings of the suction chamber.

Description

MASSAGE APPARATUS EXERCISING AN ACTION OF SUCTION AND MOBILIZATION OF THE SKIN TISSUE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved massage apparatus that allows to perform in a simple, effective manner, massages in which it is exerted on the patient, which can be a human being as well as an animal (horses, bovids. ..), an action of aspiration and mobilization of the cutaneous tissue. For decades it has been proposed to make apparatuses of this type, as in particular of FR-A-409,202, Swiss patent 168,279, US patents 3,297,024 and 2,574,601, as well as FR-A-1,590,131. and 2.057.51 ~ 4 ~, to realize such apparatuses in order to facilitate the work of the masseur. In a general way, it can be said that these apparatuses allow to exert on the body a pressure action, of displacement, of friction by vibration-, of aspiration ... More recently, in the European patents 224,422, 284,527 and FR- - 2,723 .310, the inventor of the present application has proposed improved massage apparatuses that allow simple, effective massages of the "palpated-wound" type. In a general manner, the apparatuses described in these latter documents consist essentially of two rollers mounted on a structure according to two parallel axes, which can be mounted either with fixed distance between axes or with variable distance between axes, which can be driven positively rotating, said structure that is connected to means comprising a conduit whose end opens into the space between the rollers, allowing to create a depression that tends to suck the skin in such a way that it forms a fold on which the rollers exert a Impingement. Such apparatuses provide complete satisfaction from the practical point of view, but they need some skill on the part of the operator, particularly when it is desired to operate rapid changes of direction of the massage action. On the other hand, in this type of apparatus, a friction against the side walls occurs, which drives a relatively forceful action on the part of the operator, and then a fatigue for the latter. In addition, these frictions are sometimes felt unpleasantly by the patient. Now, it has been found, and this is the object of the present invention, a new type of massage apparatus that, like the apparatuses of the aforementioned type, allows to exert an action of aspiration and mobilization of the cutaneous tissue which has a great efficiency and that on the other hand, it is much more manageable, ductile of use and pleasant for the patient. On the other hand, such an apparatus also offers the possibility of instantaneous action at 360 ° as well as practically non-existent friction on the skin, making the massage feeling much more pleasant. Furthermore, taking into account the fact that the apparatus according to the invention produces limited frictions, this allows to realize sets of non-motorized massages of great di e n s ion. In a general manner, the new massage device according to the invention and which allows the patient to exert an action of aspiration and mobilization of the cutaneous tissue, is presented in the form of a manually operable assembly essentially comprising a structure connected to a source of aspiration and comprising an internal chamber open on its face intended to be in contact with the body of the patient as well as means that allow to exert a mechanical action on the skin fold formed inside the chamber at the time of operation of massage, and is characterized because: - the aspiration chamber extends transversely over the entire width of the structure and is open at its two lateral ends; - the means for exercising the mechanical action are constituted by at least two mobile assemblies, arranged laterally on each side of the structure, in support against the side walls in a sealed manner, and which seal the side openings of the suction chamber. According to a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the structure is constituted by a monobloc assembly comprising an internal chamber connected to a suction source and forming a transverse light open at its ends, intended to act in support against the body of the patient, the active elements that are mounted on the side walls of the structure sealing the side openings of the chamber. According to this embodiment, the active elements are constituted, for example, by two discs mounted free in rotation about an axis carrying the structure. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the suction produced inside the chamber is obtained by means of a plurality of conduits that open into the upper wall of said chamber. If the lower edges of the light can be rectilinear, it can be considered to have a configuration of the inner chamber so that the lower edges that make up the light are concave or convex or otherwise. Furthermore, it can also be considered to mount active transverse rollers in the interior of the chamber which act in a manner similar to the information of the patents mentioned above in the name of the inventor. Finally, the apparatus according to the invention will be connected to the outlet of an appropriate suction circuit. Preferably, this suction circuit will comprise an electromagnetic valve made in accordance with the information of patent application WO 95/095961 which allows to obtain not only an all-or-nothing operation, but also a control flow rate of the air fluid between two predetermined values , with possibility of regulation between these values, which allows to obtain a "sequential, pulsation, rhythm" operation, the degree of aspiration varies in a cyclical manner, such as occurs during the massage operation. The invention and the advantages it provides will be better understood, however, thanks to the exemplary embodiment given below, which is indicative but not limiting, and which is illustrated with the attached diagrams in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view in perspective of a massage device made according to the invention, the means for performing the aspiration action not being represented.; Figure 2 is a side view of the structure comprising an apparatus according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a bottom view of Figure 2, which comprises a partial cut in its central part according to AA of said figure and on which the lateral active elements are represented; Figure 4 is a sectional view according to the axis AA of Figure 2, in which the lateral active elements are also represented. With reference to the appended diagrams, the massage apparatus according to the invention which allows the patient to exert an action of aspiration and mobilization of cutaneous tissue, is then presented in the form of an assembly, designated by the general reference (1 ), manually actuable, and which is permanently or movably connected by means of a conduit (2) to a suction source (not shown). This assembly (1) is presented in the form of a structure (3) comprising an internal chamber (4) open on its face intended to be in contact with the body of the patient, camera that is associated with means that allow to exert an action mechanics on the skin fold formed inside said chamber at the time of the operation of majeus. According to the invention, the suction chamber (4) extends transversely over the entire width of the structure and is open at its two lateral ends. The dimensions of this camera will be adapted depending on the type of massage that you want to perform, for example treatment on an important surface or on the contrary on a very localized area, treatment of subjects of different morphology, for example children, adults, animals ... In general, a range of devices whose width of structure is between 1 cm and 10 cm, and the opening of the groove between 1 cm and 6 cm, allows practically treating any type of subject and any area of the body. By way of indication, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a massage head according to the invention ~ substantially at scale 1 in size or size. The lower edges (5, 6) of the chamber will preferably be rounded in order to facilitate the formation of the skin fold. According to the invention, the means for exercising the mechanical action are constituted by two mobile assemblies (7, 8) arranged laterally on each side of the structure (3), in abutment against the side walls, in a sealed manner, and which seal the side openings of the suction chamber (4). The structure (3) is advantageously presented in the form of a monobloc assembly, the active elements (7, 8) which are advantageously constituted by two discs mounted free in rotation about axes (9) carried by the structure (3). ), the assembly is carried out in a conventional manner by means of suitable bearings and bearings. The diameter of the discs will generally be between 1 cm and 12 cm, which allows a complete range of devices to be used to treat any type of subject and any area of the body. However, the upper limit of 12 cm given above is not limiting and can be considered to have a larger disc diameter. The aspiration inside the chamber to form the skin fold, is formed through one or ducts (10) that open into the upper wall (11) of the chamber (4). In the given embodiment, these ducts are four in number, oriented towards the wall (11) of the chamber and open into a common duct (12) connected to the suction source. Such a conception of the apparatus then makes it possible to obtain an action on the skin fold such that, at the time of the massage operation, under the conjugated action of the aspiration and the speed of advance against the patient's body, a crease is formed that coils and the discs (7, 8) are supported on the lateral faces, discs that are driven in rotation and which then accompany the movement of the fold, practically eliminating any friction phenomenon on the surface of the skin. With regard to the above solutions, such an apparatus allows not only to obtain a massage of the "palpated-wound" type, but also presents a greater mani-bility through the presence of lateral mobile and independent support zones. It has been found that the movement of the device against the patient's body was facilitated and that the feeling of massage was more pleasant, without pain, reducing friction on the skin. In addition, it should be noted that such a structure also allows a possibility of instantaneous action at 360 °. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but all variants made with the same spirit can be applied, the organization of the structure, simply schematized in the illustrated example, which has an external form of course adapted to facilitate operator management. Furthermore, as indicated above, it is possible to adapt transverse rollers inside the chamber, mounted freely in rotation, even if possibly motorized, whose distance can be either fixed or variable and which exert a complementary action to the lateral active elements in the moment of the massage operation, being then the frictions against the skin practically non-existent.

Claims (5)

1. - Massage apparatus that exerts an action of aspiration and mobilization of the cutaneous tissue, which is presented in the form of a manually operable set, essentially comprising a structure connected to a suction source and having an internal chamber open on its face intended to be in contact with the body of the patient as well as means that allow to exert a mechanical action on the skin fold formed inside said chamber at the time of the massage operation, characterized in that: the aspiration chamber extends transversally over the entire width of the structure and is open at its two lateral ends; - the means for exercising the mechanical action are constituted by at least two movable assemblies, arranged laterally on each side of the structure, in support against the side walls, in a sealed manner, and which seal the lateral openings of the suction chamber.

2. - Massage apparatus according to the rei indication 1, characterized in that the structure is constituted by a monobloc assembly comprising an internal chamber connected to a suction source and forming a transverse light open at its ends, intended to act in support against the body of the patient, the active elements that are mounted on the side walls of the structure sealing the lateral openings of the chamber.

3. - Massage device according to claim 2, characterized in that the active elements are constituted, for example, by two discs mounted free in rotation around an axis that carries the structure, which eliminates practically all lateral friction on the skin fold.

4. - Massage device according to claim 3, characterized in that the suction produced inside the chamber is obtained by means of a plurality of ducts that open into the upper wall of said chamber.

5. - Massage device according to one of the rei indications 1 to 4, characterized in that the two active rollers t ansversales are mounted inside the chamber, which eliminates any friction against the skin fold.