Apparatus for enhancing venous circulation and massage

• US 5,383,842 A
• Filed: 09/25/1992
• Issued: 01/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bertini, Millo
• Original Assignee: Bertini, Millo
• Inventors: Bertini, Millo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenberg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANLON, BRIAN EMMETT
• Application Number:
  US07/951,108
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 128/24 R, 128/38-40, 128/64
• US Class Current: 601/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5053 mechanically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enhancing venous circulation in persons having venous insufficiencies and/or for effecting muscular massage for preventing muscle atrophy. This is attained by a wrap or sleeve adapted to circumscribe the portion of the body to be treated which includes an inflatable flexible tubing or tube which is inflated and deflated for producing a smooth, progressive massaging force on the body portion being treated. In operation, a fluid pressure inflates the respective tubes in a progressive manner whereby a massaging force is progressively applied against the body part as the tubes are sequentially inflated and which massaging force is relieved when the tubes are deflated. A control circuit is provided to control the inflation and deflation of the flexible tubing to effect a repetitive cycle in a predetermined time sequence. In one form of the invention, a wrap or sleeve circumscribes two body parts to be treated, each wrap or sleeve including a plurality of inflatable flexible tubes which are progressively inflated in an alternating sequence. Associated with the respective wrap or sleeve is a control manifold with a reciprocating valving member operating to effect a progressive inflation of the respective tubes in one sleeve as all the inflatable tubes in the other sleeve are simultaneously deflated, and the cycle repeated.

Claims

1. A massaging appliance for alternately massaging two body parts comprising

a supply manifold including a pair of cylinders,

a piston reciprocally mounted in each of said cylinders,

means interconnecting said pistons whereby one of said pistons follows the other of said pistons in a predetermined manner,

a pair of wraps,

a plurality of spaced apart inflatable tubes adapted to circumscribe a body part to be massaged connected to each of said wraps,

means connecting each of said inflatable tubes of each of said wraps to its corresponding cylinder,

means for introducing an actuating fluid into each of said cylinders for sequencing said piston therein in an alternating manner whereby the piston in one of said cylinders successively inflates the inflatable tubes of one of said pair of wraps connected thereto to impart a progressive massaging action on a body part as the inflatable tubes of the other of said wrap connected to the other of said cylinders are simultaneously deflated to release the massaging effect on the other body part,

a housing,

said pair of cylinders being connected to said housing,

a pulley mounted in said housing,

and said interconnecting means being threaded about said pulley, and having opposed ends connected to each of said pistons.

2. A massaging appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means connecting said pistons is a flexible cord.

3. A massaging appliance as defined in claim 1 and including

an end wall closing the end of each of said cylinders,

and a vent opening formed in each of said end walls.

4. A massaging appliance as defined in claim 1 and including

a control circuit for alternately actuating said cylinders,

said control circuit including a source of fluid pressure, and

a control valve,

said valve having a first position for directing fluid pressure to one of said cylinders for inflating the inflatable tubes of the associated wrap as the fluid pressure in the other cylinder is being exhausted to effect deflation of the inflatable tubes of said other wrap;

and a second position for alternating the cycle.

5. A massaging appliance as defined in claim 4 and including a timer for timing the actuation of said control valve between said first and second positions.

6. A massaging appliance comprising

a supply manifold including a pair of juxtapositioned cylinders,

a housing connected to one end of said pair of cylinders,

an end wall closing the other end of each of said pair of cylinders,

a vent opening disposed in each of said end walls,

inlet means connected to each of said pair of cylinders for introducing thereinto an actuating fluid pressure,

a piston reciprocally mounted in each of said cylinders,

a pulley mounted on said housing,

a flexible connector threaded about said pulley, said flexible connector having its opposed ends connected to each of said pistons whereby one of said pistons follows the other of said pistons,

a mounting bar connected to each of said cylinders and extending longitudinally thereof,

a plurality of spaced apart holes formed in each of said mounting bars disposed in communication with its corresponding cylinder,

a wrap connected to each of said mounting bars,

each of said wraps including a sheet of flexible material adapted to be wrapped about a body part to be treated,

means for securing each of said wraps in its operative position about a corresponding body part,

a plurality of inflatable tubes connected to each of said wraps,

means for connecting each of said inflatable tubes in communication with a corresponding hole of said mounting bar to dispose said inflatable tubes in communication with its corresponding cylinder,

means connected to each of said inlet means for alternately introducing and exhausting fluid pressure into and out of said cylinders for progressively imparting a massaging force on one of said wraps, as the other is being simultaneously relieved of the massaging force.

7. A massaging appliance as defined in claim 6 and including a control means for alternating the inflation and deflation of the inflatable tubes of the respective wraps in a timed sequence,

said control means including a source of fluid pressure,

a control valve,

means connecting said source of fluid pressure to said control valve,

an exhaust valve connected to said control valve,

and means for timing the actuation of said control valve between a first and second position,

said control valve in said first position directing pressurizing fluid to one of said cylinders for progressively inflating said inflatable tubes connected to its associated wrap while directing the fluid in the other cylinder to said exhaust valve to effect the deflation of the inflatable tubes in the other wrap,

and said control valve in its second position reversing the said direction of fluid pressure to and from said cylinders.