RU2245694C2 - Semiconductor thermoelectric device for applying local temperature treatment to human foot - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: device has bath unit and unit for changing its temperature. Balls having 2.5 to 10 mm large diameters are mounted on bottom of the bath unit manufactured from high heat conductivity metal. The balls are manufactured from high heat conductivity metal. The lower bath surface is brought in contact with the first junctions of thermoelectric battery connected to power supply source, the second junctions being coupled to liquid heat exchange unit.

EFFECT: enhanced effectiveness in producing alternating temperature modes and dosed physiotherapeutic treatment intensity.

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Description

The invention relates to medicine and is intended for local temperature effects on the lower extremities of a person, and can also be used for therapeutic massage.

Local temperature exposure is used in various physiological procedures. In particular, local hypothermia on human biological tissues, i.e. cooling them through exposure to various refrigerants that meet the requirements of inertness or harmlessness on body tissues.

The stimulatory-regenerative effect of local freezing is provided due to the stimulation of physiological systems and the regeneration of processes when exposed to a cold stimulus. In surgical stimulation of regeneration processes in conditions of local freezing, they are used in the treatment of trophic ulcers of the lower extremities [1]. In this case, carbon dioxide with ether is used, as well as spraying liquid nitrogen onto a trophic ulcer.

Carbon dioxide is not widely used due to the complexity of the freezing process and insufficiently low temperature. Liquid nitrogen, due to inertness, incombustibility, and lack of smell, has found wider application. These preparations contain a dewar vessel for storing liquid refrigerant, a forced refrigerant supply system, and interchangeable nozzles adapted to the shape of a particular organ. The disadvantage of these devices is the short duration of storage and the need for transportation in special vessels.

The analytical and synthetic activity of the cerebral cortex determines the response of the whole organism not only with general, but also with local temperature irritation. This is especially pronounced when exposed to a thermal or cold stimulus on the reflexogenic zones of thermoregulation. That is why a hot foot bath of gradually increasing water temperature (according to Gauffe) increases blood flow in the vessels of the brain.

For thermal effects on the lower extremities of a person, “contrast baths” are used [2], proceeding from the physiological basis of the action of cold and hot water procedures on the body. To obtain a favorable response, the procedure begins with immersion of the affected area in hot water for 2-3 minutes, then the foot is immersed in a bath of cold water. The procedure is repeated 4-6 times. Contrast baths have a beneficial effect on blood circulation and are indicated for functional disorders of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. The disadvantage of this method is the complexity and inconvenience of operation, since constant monitoring and maintaining the temperature of the water is required.

The aim of the invention is to develop an easy to maintain and reliable device for temperature exposure on the foot of a person, providing exposure to a dosed temperature exposure, as well as the use of various temperature conditions.

To achieve this goal, the device shown in the drawing.

The device contains a thermoelectric battery (TEB) 1, the first junctions being in thermal contact with the lower surface of the human foot 2 through a bath 3 made of highly heat-conducting material, on the bottom of which are balls 4 with a diameter of 2.5 to 10 mm, also made of highly heat-conducting material . Heat is removed from the second junctions of the fuel-heat pump 1 by a liquid heat exchanger 5. The operation modes of the heat-sink 1 are controlled by a power supply unit (not shown in the drawing).

The device operates as follows. The patient places foot 2 in the bathtub 3. The doctor begins the procedure by turning on the programmable power supply unit, which, according to the specified program, supplies electric current with the required size and polarity of thermopile 1. While some junctions of thermopile 1 are heated, others are cooled by changing the temperature of the balls 4, from the size of which depends on the degree of thermal effect, and in addition to the temperature effect, a mechanical effect is also exerted by means of the reciprocating movement of the foot along the surface of the balls 4, which allows you to simultaneously observe the effect of therapeutic massage. The required exposure temperature lies in the following ranges: cooling temperature - 15-18 ° C, heating temperature - 42-45 ° C, in the time interval: heating - 7 minutes, cooling - 7 minutes, heating - 7 minutes, cooling - 2 minutes. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated, which is determined by the attending physician.

This device is easy to manufacture, easy to maintain and highly reliable. The proposed device can operate in various temperature conditions, providing the possibility of alternating exposure to negative and positive temperatures. In addition, in addition to thermal effects, a massage effect is also observed.

The constructive simplicity of the device and the possibility of changing modes in a wide temperature range ensures its use in various fields of medicine.

Literature.

1. Apanidze V.K. Cryotherapy of trophic ulcers of the lower extremities. M .: Medicine, 1967

2. Klyachkin L.M., Vinogradova M.N. Physiotherapy, M .: Medicine, 1988

Claims (1)

A device for local temperature effects on a person’s foot, containing a bath and a device for changing its temperature, characterized in that 2.5-10 mm diameter balls made of highly heat-conducting metal are placed on the bottom of the bath made of highly heat-conducting material, while the lower surface of the bath brought into contact with the first junctions of the thermoelectric battery connected to the power supply, the second junctions of which are paired with a liquid heat exchanger.