Moist heat in vapor form health and beauty therapeutic system

• US 5,938,693 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Carminucci, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US08/498,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/99, 607/104, 607/108-112, 607/84, 607/83
• US Class Current: 607/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0003 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0029 Arm or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0062 the gas being steam or water vapour
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0085 Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids

Abstract

A therapeutic system comprises a generator for generating moist heat in vapor form. The generator comprises a housing having a vapor chamber and a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir for receiving a fluid to be vaporized. The housing further contains a heater for heating the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in a first controlled manner to produce the moist heat in vapor form, wherein the moist heat in vapor form produced is contained in the vapor chamber. An interface remote from the generator interfaces the moist heat in vapor form with a desired treatment area. A delivery mechanism connected between the generator and the interface delivers the moist heat in vapor form from the generator to the interface in a second controlled manner. Lastly, a controller connected with the generator and the delivery mechanism controls the heating of the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in the first controlled manner and further controls the delivery of moist heat in vapor form to the treatment area in the second manner. The generator further provides for the inclusion of a treatment additive to the moist heat in vapor form.

Claims

1. A therapeutic system for applying a moist heat in vapor form to a desired treatment area requiring therapeutic treatment, said system comprising:

means for generating a moist heat in vapor form, said generating means comprising a housing having a vapor chamber, a vapor output port, and a fluid reservoir for receiving a fluid to be vaporized, the housing further having means for heating the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in a first controlled manner to produce moist heat in vapor form, the moist heat in vapor form produced being contained in the vapor chamber;

interface means remote from said generating means for interfacing the moist heat in vapor form with the desired treatment area, wherein said interface means comprises an inner liner and an outer liner, wherein the inner liner comprises a breathable fabric of a first permeability for allowing the moist heat in vapor form therethrough and further for placement in proximity to the desired treatment area, and wherein the outer liner is of a second permeability that is less than the first permeability, whereby the desired treatment area is exposed to the moist heat in vapor form;

delivery means connected between and extending a predetermined distance from said generating means and said remote interface means for delivering the moist heat in vapor form from said generating means to said interface means in a second controlled manner, and

control means connected with said generating means and said delivery means for controlling the heating of the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in the first controlled manner and further for controlling the delivery of moist heat in vapor form to the treatment area in the second manner,.

said interfacing, delivery and control means being associatively adapted to selectively apply moist heat in vapor form to any external body part for which treatment is desired.

2. The therapeutic system of claim 1, wherein

said interface means further comprises a mask, wherein the mask comprises the inner liner and the outer liner, the mask having a shape in conformity with the desired treatment area.

3. The therapeutic system of claim 1, wherein

said interface means further comprises a pad, wherein the pad comprises the inner liner and the outer liner, wherein the inner liner is for placement in intimate contact with the desired treatment area.

4. The therapeutic system of claim 1, wherein

said interface means further comprises a tent, wherein the tent comprises the inner liner and the outer liner, the tent providing a controlled atmosphere of the moist heat in vapor form around the desired treatment area.

5. The therapeutic system of claim 1, wherein

said interface means comprises an inner liner and an outer liner, wherein the inner liner comprises a breathable fabric of a first permeability for allowing the moist heat in vapor form therethrough and further for placement in proximity to the desired treatment area, and wherein the outer liner is of a second permeability that is less than the first permeability to effectively prevent the moist heat in vapor form from escaping therethrough, whereby the desired treatment area is exposed to the moist heat in vapor form.

6. A therapeutic system for applying a moist heat in vapor form to a desired treatment area requiring therapeutic treatment, said system comprising:

means for generating a moist heat in vapor form, said generating means comprising a housing having a vapor chamber and a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir receiving a fluid to be vaporized, the housing further having means for heating the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in a first controlled manner to produce moist heat in vapor form, the moist heat in vapor form produced being contained in the vapor chamber, said generating means further comprising a vapor output port and means for providing a treatment additive to the moist heat in vapor form;

interface means remote from said generating means for interfacing the moist heat in vapor form with the desired treatment area, said interface means comprising an inner liner and an outer liner, wherein the inner liner comprises a breathable fabric of a first permeability for allowing the moist heat in vapor form therethrough and further for placement in proximity to the desired treatment area, and wherein the outer liner is of a second permeability that is less than the first permeability, whereby the desired treatment area is exposed to the moist heat in vapor form;

delivery means connected between said generating means and said interface means for delivery the moist heat in vapor form from said generating means to said interface means in a second controlled manner wherein said delivery means comprises a pump connected to the vapor chamber of said generating means for pumping moist heat in vapor form from the vapor chamber through the vapor output port, and wherein said delivery means further comprises a flexible tubing connected between the vapor output port and said interface means for transporting pumped moist heat in vapor form to said interface means; and

control means connected with said generating means and said delivery means for controlling the heating of the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in the first controlled manner and further for controlling the delivery of moist heat in vapor form to the treatment area in the second manner,

said interfacing, delivery and control means being associatively adapted to selectively apply moist heat in vapor form to one or more body part selected from the face and any other external body part.

7. The therapeutic system of claim 6, wherein

said treatment additive providing means comprises a means positioned within the vapor chamber, for containing the treatment additive and for exposing the treatment additive directly to the moist heat in vapor form, wherein the treatment additive is absorbed into the moist heat in vapor form.

8. The therapeutic system of claim 6, wherein

said generating means further comprises a means positioned within the fluid reservoir for providing a treatment additive directly to the fluid to be vaporized, wherein the treatment additive is incorporated into the moist heat in vapor form.

9. A therapeutic system for applying a moist heat in vapor form to a desired treatment area requiring therapeutic treatment, said system comprising:

means for generating a moist heat in vapor form, said generating means comprising a housing having a vapor chamber and a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir receiving a fluid to be vaporized, the housing further having means for heating the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in a first controlled manner to produce moist heat in vapor form, the moist heat in vapor form produced being contained in the vapor chamber, said generating means further comprising a vapor output port and means for providing a treatment additive to the moist heat in vapor form;

interface means remote from said generating means for interfacing the moist heat in vapor form with the desired treatment area and comprising an inner liner and an outer liner, wherein the inner liner comprises a breathable fabric of a first permeability for allowing the moist heat in vapor form therethrough and further for placement in proximity to the desired treatment area, and wherein the outer liner is of a second permeability that is less than the first permeability, whereby the desired treatment area is exposed to the moist heat in vapor form;

delivery means connected between said generating means and said interface means for delivering the moist heat in vapor form from said generating means to said interface means in a second controlled manner wherein said delivery means comprises a pump in connection with the vapor chamber of said generating means for pumping moist heat in vapor form from the vapor chamber through the vapor output port, and wherein said delivery means further comprises a flexible tubing connected between the vapor output port and said interface means for transporting pumped moist heat in vapor form to said interface means; and

control means connected with said generating means and said delivery means for controlling the heating of the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in the first controlled manner and further for controlling the delivery of moist heat in vapor form to the treatment area in the second manner,

said interfacing, delivery and control means being associatively adapted to selectively apply moist heat in vapor form to any external body part for which treatment is desired.

10. The therapeutic system of claim 9, wherein said interface means further comprises a mask, wherein the mask comprises the inner liner and the outer liner, the mask having a shape in conformity with the desired treatment area.

11. The therapeutic system of claim 9, wherein said interface means further comprises a pad, which pad comprises the inner liner and the outer liner, wherein the inner liner is for placement in intimate contact with the desired treatment area.

12. The therapeutic system of claim 9, wherein said interface means further comprises a tent, which tent comprises the inner liner and the outer liner, the tent providing a controlled atmosphere of the moist heat in vapor form around the desired treatment area.

13. The therapeutic system of claim 9, wherein said treatment additive providing means comprises a means positioned within the vapor chamber, for containing the treatment additive and for exposing the treatment additive directly to the moist heat in vapor form, wherein the treatment additive is absorbed into the moist heat in vapor form.

14. The therapeutic system of claim 9, wherein said generating means further comprises a means positioned within the fluid reservoir for providing a treatment additive directly to the fluid to be vaporized, wherein the treatment additive is incorporated into the moist heat in vapor form.

15. A therapeutic system for applying a moist heat in vapor form to a desired treatment area requiring therapeutic treatment, said system comprising:

means for generating a moist heat in vapor form, said generating means comprising a housing having a vapor chamber and a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir receiving a fluid to be vaporized, the housing further having means for heating the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in a first controlled manner to produce moist heat in vapor form, the moist heat in vapor form produced being contained in the vapor chamber, said generating means further comprising a vapor output port and means for providing a treatment additive to the moist heat in vapor form;

interface means remote from said generating means for interfacing the moist heat in vapor form with the desired treatment area and comprising an inner liner and an outer liner, wherein the inner liner comprises a breathable fabric of a first permeability for allowing the moist heat in vapor form therethrough and further for placement in proximity to the desired treatment area, and wherein the outer liner is of a second permeability that is less than the first permeability to effectively prevent the moist heat in vapor form from escaping therethrough, whereby the desired treatment area is exposed to the moist heat in vapor form;

delivery means connected between said generating means and said interface means for delivering the moist heat in vapor form from said generating means to said interface means in a second controlled manner wherein said delivery means comprises a pump in connection with the vapor chamber of said generating means for pumping moist heat in vapor form from the vapor chamber through the vapor output port, and wherein said delivery means further comprises a flexible tubing connected between the vapor output port and said interface means for transporting pumped moist heat in vapor form to said interface means; and

control means connected with said generating means and said delivery means for controlling the heating of the fluid received in the fluid reservoir in the first controlled manner and further for controlling the delivery of moist heat in vapor form to the treatment area in the second manner,

said interfacing, delivery and control means being associatively adapted to selectively apply moist heat in vapor form to any external body part for which treatment is desired.