GB726154A - Massaging equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A massage appliance has two or more applicators, in the form of sleeves, cuffs or suction cups which are actuated sequentially, to urge the blood along a limb etc., the timing of their pulsations being determined by the action of the heart so as to coincide with the natural flow of blood through the limb. The heart action may be ascertained by pick-up electrodes applied to the body or by a piezo-electric, electromagnetic or electrostatic device actuated by the pressure of a pulse or microphonically. In one form of the apparatus, see Fig. 1 (not shown), pick-up electrodes receive heart pulsations which are then amplified and employed to actuate a relay which, by causing condensers to be charged at different rates, allows valve controlling magnets to be operated at the appropriate intervals. These control magnets actuate valves associated with pressure or vacuum sources and connected to individual massage applicators. A number of outlets, each connected with a different pressure regulator, may be connected with a single source or separate sources may be employed. In another arrangement, see Fig. 2 (not shown), a microphone placed against the heart, determines the initial timing and sequentially operated valves are timed by a relaxation oscillator feeding into a ring counter. Each valve of the counter is associated with a pressure control valve and the instant of operation of the latter is determined by the adjustable charging time of a condenser. In an electromechanical arrangement, see Fig. 7 (not shown), a timing valve, controlled by a microphone, causes cam discs to be driven by an electric motor and these drive the means for producing the varying pressures.