WO1993008786A1 - Massage device - Google Patents
Massage device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1993008786A1 WO1993008786A1 PCT/GB1992/001960 GB9201960W WO9308786A1 WO 1993008786 A1 WO1993008786 A1 WO 1993008786A1 GB 9201960 W GB9201960 W GB 9201960W WO 9308786 A1 WO9308786 A1 WO 9308786A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- massage
- tissue
- electrode
- current
- rotatable
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000000638 stimulation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 210000001519 tissue Anatomy 0.000 description 12
- 210000003205 muscle Anatomy 0.000 description 10
- 230000003387 muscular Effects 0.000 description 10
- 208000037265 diseases, disorders, signs and symptoms Diseases 0.000 description 7
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 6
- 230000002232 neuromuscular Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 description 5
- 206010033799 Paralysis Diseases 0.000 description 4
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000002490 cerebral effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 201000010099 disease Diseases 0.000 description 4
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 4
- ZKHQWZAMYRWXGA-KQYNXXCUSA-J ATP(4-) Chemical group C1=NC=2C(N)=NC=NC=2N1[C@@H]1O[C@H](COP([O-])(=O)OP([O-])(=O)OP([O-])([O-])=O)[C@@H](O)[C@H]1O ZKHQWZAMYRWXGA-KQYNXXCUSA-J 0.000 description 3
- ZKHQWZAMYRWXGA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Adenosine triphosphate Natural products C1=NC=2C(N)=NC=NC=2N1C1OC(COP(O)(=O)OP(O)(=O)OP(O)(O)=O)C(O)C1O ZKHQWZAMYRWXGA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229920002527 Glycogen Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 208000035475 disorder Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 206010016256 fatigue Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229940096919 glycogen Drugs 0.000 description 3
- 210000001087 myotubule Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 230000001225 therapeutic effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 206010008748 Chorea Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 206010028372 Muscular weakness Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 230000035508 accumulation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 2
- HVYWMOMLDIMFJA-DPAQBDIFSA-N cholesterol Chemical compound C1C=C2C[C@@H](O)CC[C@]2(C)[C@@H]2[C@@H]1[C@@H]1CC[C@H]([C@H](C)CCCC(C)C)[C@@]1(C)CC2 HVYWMOMLDIMFJA-DPAQBDIFSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000004087 circulation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000034659 glycolysis Effects 0.000 description 2
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 2
- JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N lactic acid Chemical compound CC(O)C(O)=O JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007774 longterm Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004060 metabolic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007659 motor function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004118 muscle contraction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000036473 myasthenia Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000000653 nervous system Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000001575 pathological effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001148 spastic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000004003 subcutaneous fat Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- XTWYTFMLZFPYCI-KQYNXXCUSA-N 5'-adenylphosphoric acid Chemical compound C1=NC=2C(N)=NC=NC=2N1[C@@H]1O[C@H](COP(O)(=O)OP(O)(O)=O)[C@@H](O)[C@H]1O XTWYTFMLZFPYCI-KQYNXXCUSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000002970 ATP quantitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 102000011767 Acute-Phase Proteins Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108010062271 Acute-Phase Proteins Proteins 0.000 description 1
- XTWYTFMLZFPYCI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Adenosine diphosphate Natural products C1=NC=2C(N)=NC=NC=2N1C1OC(COP(O)(=O)OP(O)(O)=O)C(O)C1O XTWYTFMLZFPYCI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 208000009017 Athetosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010003694 Atrophy Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000014644 Brain disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000035473 Communicable disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000005819 Dystonia Musculorum Deformans Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000244160 Echinococcus Species 0.000 description 1
- 208000032843 Hemorrhage Diseases 0.000 description 1
- HTTJABKRGRZYRN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Heparin Chemical compound OC1C(NC(=O)C)C(O)OC(COS(O)(=O)=O)C1OC1C(OS(O)(=O)=O)C(O)C(OC2C(C(OS(O)(=O)=O)C(OC3C(C(O)C(O)C(O3)C(O)=O)OS(O)(=O)=O)C(CO)O2)NS(O)(=O)=O)C(C(O)=O)O1 HTTJABKRGRZYRN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 208000002972 Hepatolenticular Degeneration Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010020772 Hypertension Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000006083 Hypokinesia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- 208000019430 Motor disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010061533 Myotonia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 201000009859 Osteochondrosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000007542 Paresis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphorus Chemical compound [P] OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 208000035965 Postoperative Complications Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000028872 Progressive muscular dystrophy Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000027522 Sydenham chorea Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010042928 Syringomyelia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000007536 Thrombosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 201000005485 Toxoplasmosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010000269 abscess Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000000202 analgesic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001407 anti-thrombic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000001367 artery Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000037444 atrophy Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000017531 blood circulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000004204 blood vessel Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 201000011510 cancer Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 210000004027 cell Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000003169 central nervous system Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000012000 cholesterol Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 208000012601 choreatic disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000006111 contracture Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002124 endocrine Effects 0.000 description 1
- 206010015037 epilepsy Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000005713 exacerbation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002414 glycolytic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229960002897 heparin Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229920000669 heparin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000007794 irritation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004310 lactic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000014655 lactic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000003902 lesion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003041 ligament Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000003137 locomotive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002751 lymph Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004899 motility Effects 0.000 description 1
- 201000006417 multiple sclerosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000010125 myocardial infarction Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000001537 neural effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002569 neuron Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000000056 organ Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 125000005461 organic phosphorous group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 206010033675 panniculitis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 244000045947 parasite Species 0.000 description 1
- 208000012318 pareses Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007170 pathology Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000005259 peripheral blood Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000011886 peripheral blood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052698 phosphorus Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011574 phosphorus Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002980 postoperative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000750 progressive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 201000008752 progressive muscular atrophy Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035807 sensation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002027 skeletal muscle Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 208000017520 skin disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000037377 skin turgor Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000002320 spinal muscular atrophy Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000004936 stimulating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000004304 subcutaneous tissue Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009885 systemic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002435 tendon Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000002560 therapeutic procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009424 thromboembolic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 201000005060 thrombophlebitis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000018724 torsion dystonia Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001228 trophic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003462 vein Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000001835 viscera Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
- A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
- A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
- A61N1/20—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes continuous direct currents
- A61N1/26—Electromedical brushes; Electromedical massage devices ; Combs
Definitions
- This invention relates to massaging devices and is concerned with such devices which are capable of providing electrobiomechanical stimulation to living tissue.
- the stimulation of neuromuscular structures of the human body by electric current in combination with massage is one of the most efficacious methods of preventing and treating hypodynamia, various disorders of motor functions, post-operative complications and other diseases.
- Electric stimulation prevents accumulations of lactic acid, controls the cholesterol content, and stimulates anaerobic tracts of the metabolism creating thereby optimal conditions for the rational utilization of oxygen by the viscera.
- Electric stimulation evidently increases the amount of free heparin, the antithrombic activity of arterial blood, the K index and the recalcification time both in the veins and in the arteries i.e. it efficiently prevents complications associated with thrombogenesis in pathologic states.
- the therapeutic and training value as well as the comfort of the sensations during electric stimulation depend, to a consideration extent, on the dimensions and configuration of the stimulating electrodes.
- the application of constant on-skin electrodes of small dimensions does not make it possible to activate a large number of muscular fibers whereas the use of extensive electrodes placed upon motor points of a denervated or paralysed muscle does not provide the contraction of the whole muscle over the whole range of power values used; only the muscular fascicles directly under the electrodes contract. This appears to be a considerable drawback, since powerful muscular contraction under the effect of electric stimulation is one of the major factors in rehabilitating locomotor system functions in which tendons, ligaments, skeletal muscles are subjected to training exercise.
- a tissue massaging device comprising a first electrode in the form of at least one rotatable massage element for contacting the tissue and formed of electrically conductive material and a second electrode for placing in contact with the tissue, the device including means for rotating the or each element and means for supplying electric current to the electrodes so that the tissue is subjected to simultaneous biomechanical massage and electric stimulation.
- the massaging device is pressed against, and moved over, the tissue of the body so that the body is subjected to neuromuscular electric stimulation by physiological impulses and biomechanical massage of the rotating massage element(s), in combination.
- the or each rotatable massage element is spherical in shape.
- Preferably three massage elements are present and are mounted on a rotatable spindle at 120° to each other and in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the spindle.
- Each massage element is preferably freely rotatable about an axis which is at an angle of from 25 to 35° to the axis of the spindle.
- Massage elements of non-spherical shape such as cylinders and ellipsoids may be used provided that their axes of rotation are such that, in use of the device, they roll over the tissue without causing pain or traumatisation of the skin.
- the means for rotating the element(s) is an electric motor in which case a means is preferably provided to control the electric current fed to the motor so that the speed of rotation of the massage element(s) can be varied from, for example, zero to 130 revolutions per minute whereby the intensity of the biomechanical massage can be varied.
- the device advantageously includes a means of controlling the electric current supplied to the electrodes so that the current passing through the tissue can be varied from, for example, zero to 100 mAmps. In this way, the patient being treated can voluntarily regulate the device in accordance with the biological peculiarities of his body and the degree of comfort required.
- the first electrode is detachably secured to the device and a plurality of first electrodes having rotatable elements of different sizes or different inter-element spacing or having different numbers of rotatable elements is provided. In this way it is possible to obtain optimum stimulation of various body areas.
- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic part-sectioned side view of a first embodiment of a massaging device of the present invention
- Figure 2 is an end view of the device of Figure 1
- Figure 3 is a view, corresponding to Figure 1, of a second embodiment of the massaging device.
- the device comprises a housing 1 containing a DC motor 2 having an output shaft driving a spindle 3 via a reduction gear 4.
- a first electrode comprising a holder 5 for three massage elements 6 in the form of balls.
- Each ball is freely rotatable about its axis 7 and the three balls are fixed at an angle of 120° to each other in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindle 3.
- the balls are made of electrically conducting material and their axes of rotation 7 are inclined at an angle of 25° to 35° to the axis of rotation of the spindle 3.
- the device is connected to domestic AC mains (e.g. 220V and 50/60 Hz) and includes two electric circuits.
- One of the circuits includes rectifier 8 and current regulator 9 and feeds current to the DC motor 2 which rotates the spindle 3, and hence the holder 5, at a reduced number of revolutions by virtue of the reduction gear 4.
- the other electric circuit has one of its phases connected to the conductive balls 6 via a collector 12.
- the other phase is connected through a current regulator (10) to a flexible second electrode 11 of relatively large area and formed of electrically conductive material.
- the current regulator 10 may be provided in the phase connected to the balls 6.
- the current strength regulator 10 allows the electric impulses to be adjusted over a range of from 0 to 100 mAmps so that the amplitude of the pulses can be varied. Also, the speed of rotation of spindle 3 can be adjusted by current regulator 9. Hence the massaged area of the body is subjected to mechanical and electric stimulation and the patient himself is able to adjust the amperage and the spindle rotation frequency according to his or her requirements and thereby provide complete comfort.
- a first circuit includes rectifier 8 and current regulator 9 and supplies the DC motor 2. This rotates the holder 5 via reduction gear 4 and spindle 5.
- the rectifier 8 is also the current source for a generator 13 of physiological impulses.
- it includes a second circuit including the generator 13, the collector 12 and the balls 6 whereby physiological impulses are transmitted to the balls 6 which massage the muscle on which they are placed as a consequence of rotation of the holder 5.
- the flexible second electrode 11 is placed at the other end of the muscle and is connected to the regulator 10 and generator 13 to complete the circuit. Stimulation through the skin of subcutaneous tissues by means of the device enables human neuromuscular structures to be switched to the active state and provides an analgesic effect. In motor disorders it prevents the development of atrophies, accelerates rehabilitation processes of various functions, increases muscular tension and normalizes trophicity. Also it increases muscular animal force, endurance and mass and extends motility volume in the joints.
- Neuromuscular electric stimulation carried out simultaneously with massage by means of the device of the invention is an efficacious way of normalizing peripheral blood circulation which improves skin turgor and subcutaneous fat and strengthens the muscular walls of blood vessels.
- An advantageous favourable feature of stimulation by means of the device of the invention is irritation of extensive receptor areas of the skin which provide additional flow of efferent impulsation from peripheral regions. This is extremely significant in pathologic states and may be widely used as a treatment procedure.
- the present invention makes it possible to set various values of power, duration and volume of contraction to achieve maximum effect. Also, and simultaneously, mechanical massage, of any duration, of not only a group of muscles, but of all neuromuscular- cutaneous structures of the patient is possible.
- Indications for therapeutic use of the present device are the following: limited volume of active movements in joints, undue muscular fatiguability
- the device may be used for the treatment of residual signs of cerebral circulation (haemiplegiae and haemipareses following haemorrhages and thromboses), injuries of the central nervous system, infantile cerebral paralyses, and lesions of the peripheral part of the nervous system complicated by motor function disorders (patients with flaccid paralyses, spastic paralyses, spastic pareses complicated by joints 1 contractures).
- the present device proves itself rather efficacious in the prevention of post-operative thromboembolic complications during acute periods of myocardial infarction.
- Mechanical massage simultaneous with neuromuscular electric stimulation decreases the area of cutaneo- subcutaneous fat and the total amount of depositioned fat.
- Therapeutic indications of the present device may be commonly prescribed in orthopaedic pathologies, especially during the rehabilitation period of patients following operative treatments of the osteomuscular system and also in complex therapy of osteochondrosis. There are no absolute contra-indications for the use of electric stimulation assisted by mechanical massage.
- hereditary-familial progressive systemic diseases of the nervous system progressive muscular dystrophy, neural form of progressive muscular atrophy, myotonia, myasthenia, atony, hepatolenticular degeneration, torsion dystonia, double athetosis, chorea
- epilepsy syringomyelia, multiple sclerosis (in the phase of exacerbation), syphilitic tabes, Sydenham's chorea, other infectious diseases in acute phases of cerebral circulation disorder (acute period), malignant tumors of organs and tissues, cerebral and spinal abscesses, brain diseases induced by parasites (Cysticercus, toxoplasmosis, Echinococcus), critical forms of hypertensive disease, acute and subacute thrombophlebitis, and cutaneous diseases in the acute phase complicated with other diseases (endocrine etc).
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Massaging Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A massaging device comprises a first electrode comprising at least one rotatable massage element (6) and a second electrode (11). The electrodes are pressed against the tissue to be massaged and current is passed between them whilst the first electrode is rotated to produce combined electric stimulation and biomechanical massage of the tissue. The device may include means (9, 10) for varying the speed of rotation of the massage element(s) and the current supplied to the electrodes.
Description
Massage device This invention relates to massaging devices and is concerned with such devices which are capable of providing electrobiomechanical stimulation to living tissue.
The stimulation of neuromuscular structures of the human body by electric current in combination with massage is one of the most efficacious methods of preventing and treating hypodynamia, various disorders of motor functions, post-operative complications and other diseases.
In living tissue, continuous metabolism occurs under biochemical and biophysical conditions. The electric current initiates the transfer of charged particles and causes polarization and ionization in living tissue as in other physical media. These phenomena themselves affect the fundamental processes taking place in the membranes of cells and in nervous and muscular fibers and influence blood and lymph flow. In addition, there is a significant phenomenon inherent only in living tissues and that is the occurrence, at a certain threshold value reached by the current, of excitation of the nerve cells and nervous and muscular fibers, afferent and efferent impulsation being caused artificially. Muscular excitation is exhibited as a specific reaction of muscular contraction in response to the stimulation.
As a result of long-term studies carried. out on healthy and sick individuals, it has been found that electric stimulations not only effect trophic and other processes in neuromuscular structures, but also they cause non-specific affects on major functions of the integral human organism. By exercise assisted by electric stimulation, muscular power potential and the activity of fermental systems increase. This phenomenon enhances the oxidation processes and the
transformation, in the muscles, of one of the major energetic substrates, namely glycogen, which becomes more open to fermental effects. The glycogen content in muscles increases after electric stimulation for 3-5 days, and the amount of change depends on the duration of each treatment and the number of treatments. An increase in glycolysis following long-term electric stimulation is associated not only with an increase in the glycogen content of the muscles, but also with the rising activity of the glycolytic fermental system as in an ordinary sporting exercise. The muscular mass may increase by 20%.
It is generally known that intensive contractile exercise carried out until the onset of fatigue leads to a reduction of the adenosine triphosphate content and an increase in the amount of adenosine diphosphate and non-organic phosphorus. In non-stimulated muscle, fatigue exercise causes considerable decomposition of adenosine triphosphate and accumulation of non-organic phosphorous, whereas when carrying out a similar exercise with electrical stimulation of the muscle, decomposition of adenosine triphosphate occurs less prominently, i.e. glycolysis and, associated with it, resynthesis of adenosine triphosphate proceeds more intensively.
Electric stimulation prevents accumulations of lactic acid, controls the cholesterol content, and stimulates anaerobic tracts of the metabolism creating thereby optimal conditions for the rational utilization of oxygen by the viscera. Electric stimulation evidently increases the amount of free heparin, the antithrombic activity of arterial blood, the K index and the recalcification time both in the veins and in the arteries i.e. it efficiently prevents complications associated with thrombogenesis in pathologic states.
The therapeutic and training value as well as the
comfort of the sensations during electric stimulation depend, to a consideration extent, on the dimensions and configuration of the stimulating electrodes. The application of constant on-skin electrodes of small dimensions does not make it possible to activate a large number of muscular fibers whereas the use of extensive electrodes placed upon motor points of a denervated or paralysed muscle does not provide the contraction of the whole muscle over the whole range of power values used; only the muscular fascicles directly under the electrodes contract. This appears to be a considerable drawback, since powerful muscular contraction under the effect of electric stimulation is one of the major factors in rehabilitating locomotor system functions in which tendons, ligaments, skeletal muscles are subjected to training exercise.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a massaging device which will overcome the above disadvantage. According to the present invention there is provided a tissue massaging device comprising a first electrode in the form of at least one rotatable massage element for contacting the tissue and formed of electrically conductive material and a second electrode for placing in contact with the tissue, the device including means for rotating the or each element and means for supplying electric current to the electrodes so that the tissue is subjected to simultaneous biomechanical massage and electric stimulation. In use, the massaging device is pressed against, and moved over, the tissue of the body so that the body is subjected to neuromuscular electric stimulation by physiological impulses and biomechanical massage of the rotating massage element(s), in combination. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the or each rotatable massage element is spherical in shape.
Preferably three massage elements are present and are mounted on a rotatable spindle at 120° to each other and in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the spindle. Each massage element is preferably freely rotatable about an axis which is at an angle of from 25 to 35° to the axis of the spindle.
Massage elements of non-spherical shape, such as cylinders and ellipsoids may be used provided that their axes of rotation are such that, in use of the device, they roll over the tissue without causing pain or traumatisation of the skin.
Advantageously, the means for rotating the element(s) is an electric motor in which case a means is preferably provided to control the electric current fed to the motor so that the speed of rotation of the massage element(s) can be varied from, for example, zero to 130 revolutions per minute whereby the intensity of the biomechanical massage can be varied. Also, the device advantageously includes a means of controlling the electric current supplied to the electrodes so that the current passing through the tissue can be varied from, for example, zero to 100 mAmps. In this way, the patient being treated can voluntarily regulate the device in accordance with the biological peculiarities of his body and the degree of comfort required.
In an embodiment, the first electrode is detachably secured to the device and a plurality of first electrodes having rotatable elements of different sizes or different inter-element spacing or having different numbers of rotatable elements is provided. In this way it is possible to obtain optimum stimulation of various body areas.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic part-sectioned side view of a first embodiment of a massaging device of the present invention, Figure 2 is an end view of the device of Figure 1, and
Figure 3 is a view, corresponding to Figure 1, of a second embodiment of the massaging device.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the device comprises a housing 1 containing a DC motor 2 having an output shaft driving a spindle 3 via a reduction gear 4. Mounted on the spindle 3 is a first electrode comprising a holder 5 for three massage elements 6 in the form of balls. Each ball is freely rotatable about its axis 7 and the three balls are fixed at an angle of 120° to each other in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindle 3. The balls are made of electrically conducting material and their axes of rotation 7 are inclined at an angle of 25° to 35° to the axis of rotation of the spindle 3. By positioning the balls in this way, it is possible to stimulate uniformly the whole body area under massage while the free motion of the balls avoids seizing and injury to the skin. The device is connected to domestic AC mains (e.g. 220V and 50/60 Hz) and includes two electric circuits. One of the circuits includes rectifier 8 and current regulator 9 and feeds current to the DC motor 2 which rotates the spindle 3, and hence the holder 5, at a reduced number of revolutions by virtue of the reduction gear 4. The other electric circuit has one of its phases connected to the conductive balls 6 via a collector 12. The other phase is connected through a current regulator (10) to a flexible second electrode 11 of relatively large area and formed of electrically conductive material. This is to be placed on the skin
adjacent to the area to be massaged by the balls 6 but spaced from the balls 6. (Alternatively, the current regulator 10 may be provided in the phase connected to the balls 6. ) The current strength regulator 10 allows the electric impulses to be adjusted over a range of from 0 to 100 mAmps so that the amplitude of the pulses can be varied. Also, the speed of rotation of spindle 3 can be adjusted by current regulator 9. Hence the massaged area of the body is subjected to mechanical and electric stimulation and the patient himself is able to adjust the amperage and the spindle rotation frequency according to his or her requirements and thereby provide complete comfort.
Referring now to Figure 3, parts corresponding to parts of Figures 1 and 2 are denoted by like reference numerals.
In this case, a first circuit includes rectifier 8 and current regulator 9 and supplies the DC motor 2. This rotates the holder 5 via reduction gear 4 and spindle 5. The rectifier 8 is also the current source for a generator 13 of physiological impulses. Thus it includes a second circuit including the generator 13, the collector 12 and the balls 6 whereby physiological impulses are transmitted to the balls 6 which massage the muscle on which they are placed as a consequence of rotation of the holder 5. The flexible second electrode 11 is placed at the other end of the muscle and is connected to the regulator 10 and generator 13 to complete the circuit. Stimulation through the skin of subcutaneous tissues by means of the device enables human neuromuscular structures to be switched to the active state and provides an analgesic effect. In motor disorders it prevents the development of atrophies, accelerates rehabilitation processes of various functions, increases muscular tension and normalizes
trophicity. Also it increases muscular animal force, endurance and mass and extends motility volume in the joints.
Neuromuscular electric stimulation carried out simultaneously with massage by means of the device of the invention is an efficacious way of normalizing peripheral blood circulation which improves skin turgor and subcutaneous fat and strengthens the muscular walls of blood vessels. An advantageous favourable feature of stimulation by means of the device of the invention is irritation of extensive receptor areas of the skin which provide additional flow of efferent impulsation from peripheral regions. This is extremely significant in pathologic states and may be widely used as a treatment procedure.
As distinct from traditional methods of electric stimulation, the present invention makes it possible to set various values of power, duration and volume of contraction to achieve maximum effect. Also, and simultaneously, mechanical massage, of any duration, of not only a group of muscles, but of all neuromuscular- cutaneous structures of the patient is possible.
Indications for therapeutic use of the present device are the following: limited volume of active movements in joints, undue muscular fatiguability
(except for myasthenia), lowered muscular tension, and atrophias of muscular groups. The device may be used for the treatment of residual signs of cerebral circulation (haemiplegiae and haemipareses following haemorrhages and thromboses), injuries of the central nervous system, infantile cerebral paralyses, and lesions of the peripheral part of the nervous system complicated by motor function disorders (patients with flaccid paralyses, spastic paralyses, spastic pareses complicated by joints1 contractures). The present device proves itself rather efficacious in the
prevention of post-operative thromboembolic complications during acute periods of myocardial infarction.
Mechanical massage simultaneous with neuromuscular electric stimulation decreases the area of cutaneo- subcutaneous fat and the total amount of depositioned fat. Therapeutic indications of the present device may be commonly prescribed in orthopaedic pathologies, especially during the rehabilitation period of patients following operative treatments of the osteomuscular system and also in complex therapy of osteochondrosis. There are no absolute contra-indications for the use of electric stimulation assisted by mechanical massage. There may be relative contra-indications in the following diseases: hereditary-familial progressive systemic diseases of the nervous system (progressive muscular dystrophy, neural form of progressive muscular atrophy, myotonia, myasthenia, atony, hepatolenticular degeneration, torsion dystonia, double athetosis, chorea), epilepsy, syringomyelia, multiple sclerosis (in the phase of exacerbation), syphilitic tabes, Sydenham's chorea, other infectious diseases in acute phases of cerebral circulation disorder (acute period), malignant tumors of organs and tissues, cerebral and spinal abscesses, brain diseases induced by parasites (Cysticercus, toxoplasmosis, Echinococcus), critical forms of hypertensive disease, acute and subacute thrombophlebitis, and cutaneous diseases in the acute phase complicated with other diseases (endocrine etc).
Claims
1. A tissue massaging device comprising a first electrode in the form of at least one rotatable massage element for contacting the tissue and formed of electrically conductive material and a second electrode for placing in contact with the tissue, the device including means for rotating the or each element and means for supplying electric current to the electrodes so that the tissue is subjected to simultaneous biomechanical massage and electric stimulation.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each massage element is spherical.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein three of said massage elements are mounted in a rotatable holder at an angle of 120° to each other.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said massage elements is rotatable about an axis which is at an angle of from 25 to 35° with respect of the axis of rotation of the holder.
5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim and including a control means to vary the current.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the control means is adapted to vary the current from 0 to
100 mAmps.
7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim and including a control means to vary the speed of rotation of the or each massage element.
8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the control means is adapted to vary the speed from 0 to 130 revolutions per minute.
9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first electrode is detachably connected.
10. A device as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9123384.1 | 1991-11-04 | ||
| GB9123384A GB2261377A (en) | 1991-11-04 | 1991-11-04 | Massaging and electro-stimulation device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1993008786A1 true WO1993008786A1 (en) | 1993-05-13 |
Family
ID=10704037
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB1992/001960 WO1993008786A1 (en) | 1991-11-04 | 1992-10-26 | Massage device |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2261377A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993008786A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109498988A (en) * | 2018-11-26 | 2019-03-22 | Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 | Fission screen electronic equipment and control method |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1359974A2 (en) * | 2001-01-16 | 2003-11-12 | B.M.R. Research and Development Limited | Apparatus for stimulating a muscle of a subject |
| DE20200790U1 (en) * | 2002-01-19 | 2002-05-16 | Wik Far East Ltd., North Point | Massage attachment for a motor-driven foot care device |
| US20070232966A1 (en) * | 2005-11-30 | 2007-10-04 | Robert Applebaum | Apparatus for skin and muscle treatment |
| US7634314B2 (en) | 2005-11-30 | 2009-12-15 | Ak Beauty Enterprises, Llc | Powered stimulation device |
| JP6415431B2 (en) * | 2013-05-22 | 2018-10-31 | 株式会社 Ｍｔｇ | Massage device |
| US10327980B1 (en) * | 2018-05-20 | 2019-06-25 | Zafer Termanini | Facial roller massager |
| UA121436C2 (en) * | 2018-08-31 | 2020-05-25 | Микола Григорович Ляпко | MASSAGER |
| CN110693172B (en) * | 2019-10-30 | 2020-07-14 | 广州欧慕生物科技有限公司 | Device is evenly paintd to skin care cosmetics |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1557417A (en) * | 1923-06-15 | 1925-10-13 | Charles W Cheney | Massage apparatus |
| FR731434A (en) * | 1932-02-15 | 1932-09-02 | Electric massage device | |
| CH313679A (en) * | 1953-10-24 | 1956-04-30 | Baechler Baehler Elisa | Massage machine |
| FR1436552A (en) * | 1960-04-23 | 1966-04-29 | Advanced massage device | |
| US4175551A (en) * | 1977-11-11 | 1979-11-27 | Electromed Incorporated | Electrical massage device |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2510173A1 (en) * | 1975-03-08 | 1976-09-16 | Erich Kloeckner | Electro-magnetic hand massager - with independently rotating massager discs on both ends of a curved handle |
| DE2636626A1 (en) * | 1976-08-13 | 1978-02-16 | Hans Dr Med Weiers | Electro massage roller with metal handle - has electrode plates around surface for emitting DC pulses |
| DE3537081C2 (en) * | 1985-10-18 | 1994-01-27 | Rudolf Buschky | Medical treatment device |
| DE3905517C1 (en) * | 1989-02-23 | 1990-03-01 | Hans-Christian 7560 Gaggenau Ruerup | Humidifying, heating, vibrating, electrifying and illuminating therapy ball massage roller |
-
1991
- 1991-11-04 GB GB9123384A patent/GB2261377A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1992
- 1992-10-26 WO PCT/GB1992/001960 patent/WO1993008786A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1557417A (en) * | 1923-06-15 | 1925-10-13 | Charles W Cheney | Massage apparatus |
| FR731434A (en) * | 1932-02-15 | 1932-09-02 | Electric massage device | |
| CH313679A (en) * | 1953-10-24 | 1956-04-30 | Baechler Baehler Elisa | Massage machine |
| FR1436552A (en) * | 1960-04-23 | 1966-04-29 | Advanced massage device | |
| US4175551A (en) * | 1977-11-11 | 1979-11-27 | Electromed Incorporated | Electrical massage device |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109498988A (en) * | 2018-11-26 | 2019-03-22 | Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 | Fission screen electronic equipment and control method |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9123384D0 (en) | 1991-12-18 |
| GB2261377A (en) | 1993-05-19 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US20210308459A1 (en) | Stimulation to guide physical therapy | |
| Beaulieu et al. | Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation to reduce pain or improve sensorimotor impairments: A literature review on parameters of application and afferents recruitment | |
| US6102875A (en) | Apparatus for combined application of massage, accupressure and biomagnetic therapy | |
| Watson | The role of electrotherapy in contemporary physiotherapy practice | |
| RU2387467C1 (en) | Method for correction of muscular imbalance in children with fault in posture and scoliosis 1 and 2 degree | |
| Lake | Neuromuscular electrical stimulation: an overview and its application in the treatment of sports injuries | |
| Szecsi et al. | Force–pain relationship in functional magnetic and electrical stimulation of subjects with paresis and preserved sensation | |
| McMiken et al. | Strengthening of human quadriceps muscles by cutaneous electrical stimulation | |
| US20090076421A1 (en) | Frequency Stimulation Trainer | |
| CN1081096A (en) | Manual acupressure massage therapeutic instrument | |
| Duffell et al. | A comparison of FES and SCS for neuroplastic recovery after SCI: historical perspectives and future directions | |
| US20100113862A1 (en) | Treatment of amelioration of arthritic joint pain | |
| WO1993008786A1 (en) | Massage device | |
| CN1095385C (en) | Multifunctional bionic electrotherapeutic apparatus | |
| Pavlović et al. | Electro-muscle stimulation-the application in practice | |
| RU7867U1 (en) | APPLICATOR | |
| KR100843249B1 (en) | Microcurrent Pulse Stimulator | |
| RU2725688C1 (en) | Method of treating lumbar pains in skeletal muscles in protrusions of lumbar spine | |
| RU2334458C2 (en) | Method for treatment of erectile dysfunction | |
| Guo | Electroacupuncture | |
| RU2818977C1 (en) | Method for complex rehabilitation of children with infantile cerebral paralysis | |
| Marquez-Chin et al. | Functional electrical stimulation therapy: A closer look | |
| WO2024071567A1 (en) | Skin stimulation massager using energy harvesting | |
| Davis | Microcurrent | |
| Osterwald | Effective electrical stimulation parameters for use in a physical therapy setting |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): JP UA US |
|
| AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL SE |
|
| DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
| EX32 | Extension under rule 32 effected after completion of technical preparation for international publication |
Ref country code: UA |
|
| 122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |