RU2290166C2 - Thermoelectric semiconductor device for local temperature affect on reflexogenic zones of human lag - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine, applicable for local temperature affect on reflexogenic zones of human lower extremities, may be also used for a curative massage.

SUBSTANCE: in a rubber cloth the device has elements consisting of a thermoelectric module, whose first junctions are in a thermal contact with an applicator, which has a great number of metal lugs, and the second junctions - with a heat exchanger. Supply circuits of the thermoelectric modules are laid in the rubber cloth. The device represents a bag having the shape of the human lower extremity, it is made of rubber cloth and provided in the upper section with a tie for tightening and a branch pipe for connection of the vacuum cleaner hose. The applicator is made in the form of a metal plate, one of its plane surfaces has saw-tooth lugs, and the other is in a thermal contact with the first junctions of the thermoelectric module. The gap between the heat exchanger made in the form of an air aluminium radiator and the metal plate free of the thermoelectric module is filled with a dielectric compound. The thermoelectric modules are connected to the supply circuits so as to obtain a staggered temperature field.

EFFECT: produced an arbitrary temperature gradient of the applicator.

3 dwg

Description

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

Today, non-drug methods, among which the leading place is reflexotherapy, are becoming more widespread for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.

Of the many factors of reflexotherapy, the most effective is thermal (warming and cooling), which is due to irradiation and the depth of heat penetration. Under the influence of heat, arterioles expand, pressure and blood flow in the capillaries increase. The expansion of blood vessels and increased blood circulation lead to hyperemia and an increase in skin temperature. Hyperemia is accompanied by an increase in metabolic processes, the formation of biologically active substances, which helps to strengthen the regeneration process, and resorption of tissue decay products. Thermal exposure promotes the expansion of blood and lymph vessels, relieving vascular spasms and facilitating the cleansing of blood and lymph, accelerates the metabolic processes in the body, destroys or inhibits the activity of many pathogens. All this causes an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic and absorbable effect. Local cold exposure leads to a local slowdown in the level of metabolic processes in chilled tissues, a decrease in their oxygen consumption (and the need for it) and nutrients by cells.

A device is known which is a massager of acupressure action on active points of the foot with elements of temperature, antistatic and magnetic effects [RU 2134096 C1, 08/10/1999], containing elements included in the rubber sheet containing a thermoelectric module in thermal contact with a metal applicator, including a large number of metal protrusions and a heat exchanger, while in the rubber sheet laid the power circuit of thermoelectric elements.

A disadvantage of the known devices is the impossibility of creating a temperature gradient of the applicator according to arbitrary schemes, as well as the difficulty of clamping to the entire surface of the impact.

The aim of the invention is to develop an easy-to-maintain and reliable device for the temperature effect on the reflex zones of the lower extremities, combining mechanical and temperature effects on the entire surface of the lower part of a person’s legs, and also allowing to create an applicator temperature gradient according to an arbitrary scheme.

To achieve this goal, the device shown in figure 1.

The device is a bag 1, having the shape of the lower part of a person’s legs, made of a rubber sheet. The rubber web includes elements 2, consisting of a thermoelectric module (TEM) 3, which is in first junctions in thermal contact with the applicator 4, including a large number of metal protrusions. The second junctions of the TEM 3 are in thermal contact with the air aluminum radiator 5. The applicator 4 is made in the form of a metal plate, one of the flat surfaces of which has a sawtooth protrusions, and the other is in thermal contact with the first junctions of the TEM 3. The gap between the air aluminum radiator 5 and a metal plate, free of TEM 3, is filled with a dielectric compound 6. TEM 3 are connected to power circuits 8 with the possibility of obtaining a “checkerboard” temperature field.

To strengthen the bag 1 on the person’s leg in its upper part is a tie 9, which is tightened after the location of the legs in the bag. In the upper back of the bag there is a pipe 10 for connecting a vacuum cleaner hose.

The device operates as follows. Before starting the procedure, the device is fixed on the person’s leg. A vacuum cleaner is turned on, connected to the nozzle, which is necessary for pumping out air, and under the influence of atmospheric pressure the “bag” is pressed to the foot, providing tight contact of the leg with the applicator 4.

The procedure begins with the inclusion of a power supply unit that supplies electric power with the required size and polarity of the TEM 3. The dose and duration of the temperature exposure are determined by the attending physician, and he also monitors the patient's condition. Air radiator 5 is designed to remove excess heat from external junctions of TEM 3 when exposed to low temperatures.

The wiring diagram of the power circuits of thermoelectric modules in the fabric of the device is shown in Fig.3. Thermoelectric modules are connected to power circuits with the possibility of obtaining a "checkerboard" temperature field. By changing the polarity of the supply current, the exposure mode changes, i.e. thermal applicators are converted to cold and vice versa.

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 reflex effect is 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, in particular in rehabilitation departments and medical institutions of a wide profile.

Claims (1)

A thermoelectric semiconductor device for local temperature effects on the reflexogenic zones of a person’s legs, containing elements included in the rubber sheet, consisting of a thermoelectric module that is in first junction in thermal contact with an applicator that includes a large number of metal protrusions, in the second junction - with a heat exchanger, in the rubber sheet power circuit of thermoelectric modules, characterized in that the device is a bag having the shape of the lower part of the legs a sheep made of rubber cloth and equipped at the top with a tie for tightening and a nozzle for connecting the vacuum cleaner hose, the applicator is made in the form of a metal plate, one of the flat surfaces of which has sawtooth protrusions, and the other is in thermal contact with the first junctions of the thermoelectric module, the gap between the heat exchanger, made in the form of an air aluminum radiator, and a metal plate, free of the thermoelectric module, is filled with a dielectric compound, while m thermoelectric modules are connected to power circuits with the possibility of obtaining a "checkerboard" temperature field.

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