Apparatus for applying fluid pressure at spaced, predetermined locations on a foot or hand including a cabinet of multi-wall construction having an interior for accommodating the hand or foot. A plenum formed by the walls of the cabinet is pressurized with a fluid to direct the fluid into contact with the hand or foot. Suitable structure is provided to position the hand or foot at a predetermined location within the interior spaced from the apertures.
A vascular treatment apparatus, comprising a chair, a horizontal housing and a retractable cover. The cover has hot and cold fluid dispensers whereby alternating and pulsating sprays of hot fluid and cold fluid treat a patient. The housing section also includes hot and cold fluid dispensers. The temperature, pulse strength and pulse rate are controlled by a central processing unit. The central process unit also correlates patient information for observing patient progress and comparing with other patients. Skin conditioner and disinfectant dispensers are included. The chair swivels for easy patient entry. The inventive method includes alternating pulsing streams of hot and cold fluid, preferably alternating 3 seconds of hot fluid with 3 seconds of cold fluid. The hot fluid is between 32 degrees centigrade and 41 degrees centigrade, and the treatment duration is approximately 25 minutes. Preferably, before treatment, the temperature of the hot fluid is gradually raised.
An air foot massaging apparatus for massaging and stimulating tired feet, and thereby creating beneficial physiological effects throughout the body and including a pair of boot shaped structures for adapting to the user's feet or a unitary fluid-tight container for retaining fluid therein and adapting to a user's feet. Each boot shaped structure has a plurality of interior compressible and expandable air nodes which engage with the user's foot, a compressor to inflate or deflate the compressible and expandable air nodes for providing an effective massaging pattern to massage the user's feet, a vibration motor for providing a vibrational massage to further provide an effective massaging pattern to massage the user's feet, and a control mechanism for controlling the inflating and deflating of the plurality of compressible and expandable air nodes.
A hydro-massage pillow assembly (10) including a pillow assembly (12) in combination with a water source (18) and a control assembly (14) for use with spa tubs (16) and the like. The pillow assembly (12) includes interchangeable membrane assemblies (44, 46), that are made of material with different permeability. The cushioned, flexible pillow (34) conforms to the shape of the tub (16) to enhance appearance and comfort. A remote control head (26) permits users to conveniently control the temperature, pressure, and other desired control parameters of the massaging effect produced by the pressurized water in the pillow assembly (12).
A device for directly applying thermotherapeutic liquid to an area upon the surface of an afflicted patient, and methods of use thereof, are described. In particular a device for applying water-based liquid at a therapeutic temperature directly to an afflicted area in order to create a localized hyperthermia, is presented. The afflicted area may be either on the skin of the patient, or subcutaneous. The device is also effective for disinfection, irrigation, lavage, and the like, when employing a suitable solution. The liquid may also have a mild oxidizing effect, which, if greater upon afflicted than upon non-afflicted cells, would enhance the therapeutic effect in conjunction with the therapy herein described.
