Submersive therapy apparatus

• US 5,741,317 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electromagnetic Bracing Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Electromagnetic Bracing Systems Limited
• Inventors: Ostrow, Alvin Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/665,092
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 607/80, 607/87, 607/97, 601/2, 604/20, 600/9-15
• US Class Current: 607/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/048 Baths using solutions, e.g. salts
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/00 Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H35/00 takes precedence; sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005; for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; isolation chambers A61M21/0094; electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 ; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A submersive therapy apparatus which includes a tub filled with an aqueous solution adapted to provide physiotherapy and drug treatment to the body or body parts of a patient, such as the hands, arms, feet or knees, such aqueous environment containing a medicated fluid and/or other liquid medium. An array of stationary ultrasonic acoustic transducers are arrayed within the walls of the tub which are connected to movable ultrasound heads. The ultrasound heads are exposed on the surface of the inner tub walls to concentrate ultrasound energy on a body part target area. Additionally and alternatively to the delivery of ultrasound energy, rows of electrodes and coils are arranged around all sides of the inner walls or panels of the tub in alternating positive or negative polarities to deliver an electric current and/or provide an electromagnetic field.

Claims

1. A submersive therapy apparatus comprising:

a tub having a floor, sides and an inner lining;

an aqueous solution disposed within said tub;

a multiple arrangement of electrodes housed around said sides and floor of said inner lining of said tub, said tub being of various shapes and sizes;

an electrotherapy device for providing alternating positive and negative currents to said electrodes to be used in contact with said aqueous solution for physiotherapy or iontophoresis treatment;

an ultrasound device for providing ultrasound treatment by an array of multiple ultrasound treatment heads disposed around said sides and floor of said inner lining of said tub,

a magnetotherapy device for providing magnetotherapy by an array of magnetotherapy coils contained within said sides of said tub;

said apparatus characterized by being versatile and compatible with commercially available ultrasound and electrotherapy stimulation devices, said apparatus further including means for connecting an adapter console with a male or female jack adapter to accommodate said commercially available ultrasound and said commercially available electrotherapy stimulation devices for the providing of physiotherapy and enhanced drug delivery depth penetration by physical stimulation and acceleration of metabolic absorption resulting from enhanced membrane permeability of a patient'"'"'s skin by acoustic, electrical, or electromagnetic energies.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said console can include an acoustic, electrical and/or electromagnetic power sources built therein to supply power directly to said apparatus.

3. A submersive therapy apparatus comprising:

a tub having a floor, sides and an inner lining;

an aqueous solution disposed within said tub;

a multiple arrangement of electrodes housed around said sides and floor of said inner lining of said tub, said tub being of various shapes and sizes;

an electrotherapy device for providing alternating positive and negative currents to said electrodes to be used in contact with said aqueous solution for physiotherapy or iontophoresis treatment;

an ultrasound device for providing ultrasound treatment by an array of multiple ultrasound treatment heads disposed around said sides and floor of said inner lining of said tub,

a magnetotherapy device for providing magnetotherapy by an array of magnetotherapy coils contained within said sides of said tub;

said apparatus further including a microprocessor having a sensor read-out that measures impedance in a patient'"'"'s skin, muscle, and fat tissues to assist a clinician in adjusting the necessary energy to be applied to said patient.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including an electromagnetic field in combination with a drug disposed in said aqueous solution to produce electro-magnetophoresis.

5. A submersive therapy apparatus comprising:

a tub having a floor, casing walls and an inner lining;

a fluid medium disposed within said tub;

an array of magnetotherapy coils for generating a magnetic field when energized, said magnetotherapy coils contained within said casing walls of said tub with said magnetotherapy coils positioned perpendicularly with respect to a target area defined within said tub, said magnetotherapy coils consecutively distributed within said casing wall for simultaneously generating an electromagnetic field in said fluid medium;

wherein said casing walls of said tub are composed of a magnetic shielding substrate material or composite material to create a "rebound effect" off said casing walls to increase the continuity of the magnetic field aimed toward a body treatment target area defined in said tub; and

further including a microprocessor having a sensor read-out that measures impedance in a patient'"'"'s skin, muscle and fat tissues to assist a clinician in adjusting the necessary energy to be applied to said patient.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including with said electromagnetic field a drug disposed in said fluid medium to produce electro-magnetophoresis.

7. A submersive therapy apparatus comprising:

a tub having a floor, sides and an inner lining;

an aqueous solution disposed within said tub;

an array of multiple, movable ultrasound treatment heads disposed around said sides and floor of said inner lining of said tub, said tub being of various shapes and sizes, said ultrasound heads focusable at a desired angle and in contact with said aqueous solution;

means for providing ultrasonic energy to said ultrasound treatment heads; and

means for using at least one ultrasound and drug delivery treatment regimen as desired to an injured or diseased body member, said apparatus characterized by being versatile and compatible with commercially available ultrasound devices, said apparatus further including means for connecting an adapter console with male or female jack adapter to accommodate said commercially available ultrasound stimulation devices for the delivery of physiotherapy by acoustic energy.