RU2459610C2 - Thermoelectric device for thermomagnetic massage of reflexogenic zones of human leg - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to medical equipment ad is intended for local temperature and magnetic impact on reflex zones of human lower extremities and can also be used for therapeutic massage. Device contains rubber strap in form of lower part of human leg, provided in its upper part with string for tightening and socket for connecting vacuum cleaner hose, which includes massage elements, consisting of thermoelectric module, massage applicators and air aluminium radiator. In rubber strap circuits of thermoelectric module supply are located. Source of magnetic field for magnetic impact is located between massage applicator and thermoelectric module, massage elements, contacting lower surface of foot being made in form of flat plate, containing rod from highly heat-conducting material, which has relief surface, formed by projections of rounded shape with different radii of curvature and sizes of projections. Rod is fixed on plate with possibility of its free rotation around its axis.

EFFECT: application of invention makes it possible to extend arsenal of means of local temperature and magnetic impact on reflex zones.

3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to medicine and is intended for local temperature and magnetic 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 (heating 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.

The magnetic field significantly increases the efficiency of lymphatic drainage, enhances metabolic processes, stimulates microcirculation, promotes resorption of fibrous tissue, and improves conductivity.

The ability of low-frequency magnetic fields to affect the body at the cellular level allows you to normalize metabolic processes, improve microcirculation in all layers of the skin, and stimulate collagen synthesis.

With the simultaneous use of physical factors, the mutual potentiation of their physiological and therapeutic effects is more pronounced than with the combined (sequential) use of the same factors. The combined methods also make it possible, without prejudice to the patient, to reduce the number of treatment methods used daily, and provide a great saving of time spent on several separate procedures.

A device is known which is a massager of acupressure action on the 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 an arbitrary scheme, as well as the difficulty of applying pressure to the entire surface of the impact.

The prototype of the invention is a device [RF patent No. 2290166, 2006], which is a bag having the shape of the lower part of a person’s foot made of a rubber sheet, which includes elements consisting of a thermoelectric module that is in first contact in thermal contact with the applicator, including a large number of metal protrusions. The second junctions of the thermoelectric module are in temperature contact with an air aluminum radiator.

The disadvantage of this device is the impossibility of combining in one device the functions of heating, cooling and magnetic action, as well as the creation of arbitrary temperature schemes.

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, temperature and magnetic effects on the entire surface of the lower part of a person’s legs, as well as 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 rubber sheet 1 in the form of a lower part of a person’s legs. Massage elements 2 and 3 are included in the rubber sheet 1. The massage element 2 (Fig. 2) located in the upper part of the rubber sheet consists of a thermoelectric module 4 (TEM), which is in first contact in thermal contact with the massage applicator 5, including a large number metal ledges. The second junctions of the TEM 4 are in temperature contact with the air aluminum radiator 6. The massage applicator 5 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 TEM 4. Massage element 3 (Fig. 3) in contact with the bottom surface of the foot, made in the form of a flat plate 7 containing a rod 8 made of a highly conductive material having a relief surface 9 formed by round-shaped protrusions with various the radii of curvature and the size of the protrusions, while the rod 8 is mounted on the plate 7 with the possibility of its free rotation around its axis. The massage element 3 also contains TEM 4, which is in first junctions in thermal contact with the plate 7, the second junctions of which are also in thermal contact with the air aluminum radiator 6. The gap between the air aluminum radiator 6 and the metal plate, free from TEM 4, is filled with a dielectric compound 10. TEM 4 are connected to power circuits 11 with the possibility of obtaining a temperature field. In this case, the magnetic action in the device is created using magnetic field sources 12 located between each of the massage applicators and the TEM.

To strengthen the rubber sheet 1 on the human foot in its upper part is a tie 13, which is tightened after placing the foot on the rubber sheet 1. In the upper rear part of the rubber sheet there is a pipe 14 for connecting the 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, which is connected to the nozzle, which is necessary for pumping out air, and under the influence of atmospheric pressure, the rubber sheet 1 is pressed against the foot, providing tight contact between the foot with the massage applicator 5 and the foot with the relief element 9.

The procedure begins with the inclusion of a power supply unit that supplies electric current with the required size and polarity of the TEM 4. The dose and duration of the temperature exposure are determined by the attending physician, and he also monitors the patient's condition. Massage elements that are in thermal contact with the lower surface of the foot by means of a raised surface 9 allow mechanical impact on the reflexogenic zones of the lower surface of the foot when moving the foot in a direction perpendicular to the fastening of the rod. The air radiator 6 is designed to remove excess heat from the external junctions of the TEM 4 when exposed to low temperatures.

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 the thermal effect, a reflex effect and magnetic effect are 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 device for thermomagnetomassage of the reflexogenic zones of the human leg, containing a rubber sheet in the form of the lower part of the human leg and equipped with a tie for tightening in the upper part and a nozzle for connecting the vacuum cleaner hose, which includes massage elements consisting of a thermoelectric module, massage applicators and air aluminum radiator, in the rubber sheet laid the power circuit of the thermoelectric module, characterized in that between the massage applicator and thermoelectric This module contains a magnetic field source for magnetic effect, and massage elements in contact with the lower surface of the foot are made in the form of a flat plate containing a rod made of highly heat-conducting material, having a relief surface formed by round-shaped protrusions with different radii of curvature and protrusion sizes, with this rod is mounted on the plate with the possibility of its free rotation around its axis.

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