WO2012098076A1

WO2012098076A1 - Dry immersion equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2012098076A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/050562
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anatoly Ivanovich GRIGORIEV; Inesa Benediktovna Kozlovskaya; Umberto Orazio Giuseppe Maugeri
Original assignee: Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri Clinica del Lavora e della Riabilitazione; SIB LABORATORIES Ltd; STATE SCIENTIFIC CENTER OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL PROBLEMS OF RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Current assignee: Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri Clinica del Lavora e della Riabilitazione; SIB LABORATORIES Ltd; STATE SCIENTIFIC CENTER OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL PROBLEMS OF RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Priority date: 2011-01-17
Filing date: 2012-01-16
Publication date: 2012-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-17
Also published as: RU2441713C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dry immersion equipment. The dry immersion equipment comprises a bath for containing water with a waterproof elastic cover made of fabric fixed to the bath and covering it; it may further comprise a table with a lifting device arranged to raise and to lower a patient; it may further comprise a rack arranged to house a container with at least one electric water-heater, an electric panel with control console, a water circulation pump connected to the container to circulate water from the bath to the container and back, a power control system and a system for monitoring and registering the temperature of the water in the bath.

Description

DRY IMMERSION EQUIPMENT

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a dry immersion equipment.

Prior art

The equipment closest to the one applied for herein is a dry immersion equipment (see A.R. Razdiyevsky and V.A. Rakhubovsky, "Dry" immersion - a non-traditional method for the rehabilitation of weight-lifters, Nauka v olimpiyskom sporte [Science in Olympic Sports], 1998, N° 3, p. 68). For the purpose of "dry" immersion (i.e. being in water without contact with it), a large bath is used, wherein the temperature of the water should be not below 33°C, inducing a feeling of comfort in the user, who is laid on a waterproof fabric cover and, becoming immersed under the weight of his body, becomes suspended in the water. The "dry" immersion method is one of the methods of simulating weightlessness used in astronautics and has been proposed for use in sport.

The problems with the existing equipment include the lack of reliable means of keeping the waterproof cover on the surface of the water without the formation of folds and/or slits under the weight of the patient's body, through which water may flow towards the patient, the fact that the patient cannot be guaranteed to be held in the required position on the fabric cover, and the impossibility of keeping the water at a desired constant temperature (e.g. of 33-37°C) for the necessary time. The technical object of the present invention consists in the elimination of one or more the aforementioned problems, and also in improving the reliability of the equipment and making it more convenient to use.

The technical object of the present invention is achieved by equipment having the technical features set out in the appended claims which are an integral part of the present description.

Summary of the invention

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the dry immersion equipment includes a bath made in the form of a thermally insulated body structure with a waterproof elastic fabric cover, having a table with a lifting device and connected by (metal) pipelines or (flexible) hoses and an electric cable to a rack on which a container is placed, with at least one electric water-heater with an electric panel with control console and a centrifugal circulation pump to pump water and connected to the container by (metal) pipelines and/or (flexible) hoses to circulate the water from the bath to the container and back, the pipelines being fitted to the bath by nipples and to the container by flexible hoses and clips; the rack also has a power control system and a system for controlling and registering the temperature of the water in the bath, including a contact thermometer fitted to the bath's drain pipeline.

For stationary operation, the bath may be placed on jacks, and for mobile operation on wheels; the water temperature may be maintained automatically at constant level of 33-37°C with accuracy of ±0.2°C.

The positive-displacement electric heater may have through-flow stainless steel tubular elements.

The equipment may contain up to three heaters each of 4 kW rating.

Stainless steel may be used as the construction material for the bath.

The waterproof elastic fabric cover may be fixed to the sides of the bath by quick-release devices.

The waterproof elastic fabric cover may be made of a fabric (e.g. a synthetic, cotton or combined foundation) with an impregnation based on polyisobutylene; impregnation is preferably on one side of the fabric cover; the fabric cover may have a thickness of preferably 0.15-0.5 mm, more preferably of about 0.2 mm. Brief description of the figures

The present invention together with its advantages will be better understood from the following description to be considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. l shows a schematic three-dimensional view of a particular embodiment of the equipment according to the present invention,

Fig.2 shows a realistic three-dimensional view of the bath of the embodiment of Fig. l, and

Fig.3 shows the diagram of an electric circuit providing automatic maintenance of water temperature in the bath of the embodiment of Fig. l .

This particular embodiment should not be construed in a limitative way.

Detailed description of the invention The invention as illustrated by the drawings (particularly Fig. 1) comprises:

1 - thermally insulated body structure of the bath;

2 - waterproof elastic fabric cover;

3 - vertically moving table;

4 - lifting device, i.e. a mechanism;

5 reduction gear with handle for the movement of the table;

6 rack;

7 electric water-heater;

8 electric panel with control console;

9 centrifugal circulation pump;

10 - power control system;

11 - system for controlling and registering water temperature;

12 - contact thermometer.

The bath contains the table with the lifting device. The reduction gear with handle is mounted on the bath. The lifting device, reduction gear, table and rod are intended for raising and lowering the patient. The cover keeps the patient separated from the water. The rack is an auxiliary unit intended to house the container with heaters, the pump and the electric panel with control console.

The assembly with the dry immersion equipment is intended for conducting

"dry" immersion procedures in stationary conditions. The assembly is intended for use in premises having artificially controlled climatic conditions.

The assembly consists of two independent units: the bath and the rack, connected to each other by metal pipelines and/or flexible hoses as well as an electric cable (which comprises two or more electric wires).

The standard domestic-type circulation pump is for pumping water from the bath into the container. The pump is connected to the container by a pipeline.

A valve is fitted to regulate the flow rate of the water in the container.

The electric panel is intended to house the components of the electric automation and signalling apparatus.

The pipelines are intended for the circulation of the water from the bath to the container with the heater and back. The pipelines are fixed to nipples of the bath and container by flexible hoses and clips. The contact thermometer, fitted to the bath' s drain pipeline, is intended to set and maintain the necessary temperature of the water in the bath.

A communication device is fitted in the room for communication with and monitoring of the patient.

An external view of the bath is shown in Fig. 2.

The main part of the equipment is the bath, made in the form of a thermally insulated body structure mounted on jacks for stationary use. The bath also has wheels enabling it to be moved. The bath contains the table with the lifting device. The reduction gear with handle is mounted on the bath. The lifting device, reduction gear, table and rod are intended for raising and lowering patients. The cover is intended to separate the patient from the water. The table is under the cover. The rack is an auxiliary component intended to house the container with heater, the pump and the electric panel with control console.

Control console.

The controls on the front side of the control console on the rack are:

- button switch "Power Supply";

- switch "Control";

- (multiple) switch "Pump";

- lamp "Mains";

- lamp "Heating"

- heat controller.

The rack is made in the form of a frame structure containing the container with heaters.

Technical data.

Overall dimensions of bath:

Length - not more than 2650 mm;

Width - not more than 1480 mm;

Height of side - not more than 1100 mm;

Overall height - not more than 1260 mm;

Level of drain from top of bath - 150 mm.

Internal dimensions of bath:

Length - not more than 2100 mm; Width - not more than 990 mm;

Overall depth - 810 mm;

Table lowering depth - 500 mm.

Overall dimensions of rack:

Length - 1150 mm;

Width - 500 mm;

Height - 1360 mm.

The water temperature in the bath is automatically maintained at constant level of 33-37°C with accuracy ±0.2°C.

Power of electric heaters - 12 kW (three heaters of 4 kW each).

Dry weight of equipment not more than:

Bath - 450 kg;

Rack - 70 kg.

Weight of equipment including water not more than:

Bath - 1800 kg;

Rack - 100 kg.

Time to prepare equipment for operation at following temperatures of filling water:

Not lower than +15°C - not more than one hour;

Not lower than +40°C - not more than five hours.

It is advisable to use stainless steel mark 13x18 HIOT or alloy AM as the construction material for the bath. The positive-displacement electric heater with through-flow tubular elements is made of stainless steel. The circulation pump is an electric pump with motor drive.

The water surface is covered with a waterproof fabric cover fixed to the sides of the bath by quick-release devices. In dimensions, the cover should have a reserve enabling it to wrap round the patient immersed in the bath without releasing the fixing to the bath.

The temperature control system should provide for reaching operating temperature (33-37°C) from cold (10- 15°C) over a period of not more than five hours, and for maintaining the water temperature at a level of 36±1°C (accuracy of electric contact thermometer type TPK or other). For quick filling of the bath, and to save electricity, a mixer of the hot and cold water supply is provided. The electric heater and the pump' s electric motor should be rated for a single-phase supply of 220 V.

The assembly for lifting the patient out of the bath consists of a table or platform for supporting the patient and a lifting device; both raising and lowering of patients is possible. The perforated platform of the lifting assembly in its working position is lowered to the bottom of the bath. In this position, it should provide uniform distribution of the water flow from the heater across the horizontal cross section. The dimensions of the platform should correspond to the internal dimensions of the bath, leaving the necessary clearance for its vertical displacement (allowing for possibility of the elastic fabric cover getting into the clearance). The displacement of the platform should be done by the lifting device, taking it from the level of the top side edge of the bath to the bottom of the bath. The height of the top side edge of the bath should correspond to the height of a platform of a ladder fixed against the side of the bath so that the patient can climb it. Each step of the ladder should have a corrugated surface.

The pump' s electric motor should be fully electrically insulated from all other components, with its body ground-connected by a separate bus-bar. The electric motor is connected to the pipelines via electrically insulated flanges and rubberised hoses. The body is grounded by a separate bus-bar. The bath body is also grounded by a separate bus-bar. Operating regimes of the pump and the electric heater may be continuous or periodic, depending on the set tolerance of variation of temperature of the water in the bath. With the aim of preventing short circuits, automatic protectors with cut-offs at 50A and 16A should be used.

Operation of the temperature control system.

The principal electric circuit (Fig. 3) of the temperature control system provides automatic maintenance of water temperature in the set regime 33-37°C +0.2°C in the immersion bath. Sensor CT (contact thermometer) monitors the temperature of the water in the bath and controls the operation of electric pump M. Sensor K monitors the temperature of the water in the heating container and controls the operation of heating elements Tl, T2 and T3 (that can be selectively switch on and of alone or in combination) fitted in the heating container. When the temperature in the immersion bath falls below of e.g. 0.2°C the required level (a value in the range of 33-37°C set by servicing personnel), the contacts of sensor CT close, closing the winding circuit of relay P. Contacts KP close the winding circuit of the magnetic starter MS I , which, in turn, closes the electric circuit of electric pump motor M and supplies hot water (90°C) to the bath via a pipe from the heating container. As soon as the temperature of the water in the bath rises above of e.g. 0.2°C the required level (a value in the range of 33-37°C set by servicing personnel), contacts KP of relay P open the winding circuit of the magnetic starter Cms l, and the electric pump is switched off. Sensor K has its contacts included in the winding circuit of magnetic starter MS2 and the contacts of Cms2, so that the heating elements are disconnected from the circuit. When the temperature in the heating container falls, contacts K close, closing the winding circuit of magnetic starter MS2, contacts Cms2 operate, and the heating elements Tl, T2, T3 (in this embodiment all the heating elements are used in combination) are connected to the circuit. The lamps signal that the equipment is operating normally. For safe operation, direct current of 12 V is passed through relay Kp; automatic protectors are used to give protection against short circuits. Switches S I and S2 allow the control circuit of the motor and of the heating for the water in the bath to be switched off.

Safety measures:

- it is not permitted to use the equipment without water

- before the equipment is switched on, the presence of earthing for the bath and the rack should be checked.

The immersion arrangement simulates the effects of micro-gravity (weightlessness) on the human organism.

The "immersion bath" is a device for creating weightlessness in terrestrial conditions, which is used in space medicine, and provides a new highly efficient non-medicinal method of treatment and rehabilitation, which is being introduced into the practice of terrestrial medicine. The immersion model is closer to weightlessness than the bed regime. This applies to the degree of redistribution of blood, the elimination of support and relief of gravity stress from the body as a whole and from segments of it. "Dry" immersion is a method developed as a terrestrial method of simulating the effects of micro-gravity on the human organism. It consists of immersing the patient under test in an immersion bath filled with water, from which he is separated by a fine water-proof fabric with an area considerably exceeding that of the surface of the water. The patient is thus freely "suspended" within the water, and the pressure exerted on different parts of the body is balanced out, which recreates conditions close to those of no support. It has been shown that in such circumstances, the changes characteristic of pronounced gravity relief are recreated in the organism, and particularly in the locomotor system. These are a rapid fall in tonicity and the power properties of the extensor muscles, changes in the activity of various motor control mechanisms, disturbances to vertical posture and profound changes in the activity of the main proprioceptive systems, i.e. the support and muscle systems.

The acute disturbances to the inter-sensor interaction mechanisms which thus occur are due to the decompensation of the compensatory processes taking place in the central nervous system which help to reveal concealed neurological disturbances.

Apart from this, a period spent in "dry" immersion is accompanied by a series of physiological shifts, such as the redistribution of liquid media, resulting in an increase in liquid released from the organism, particularly during the first day of immersion, which is not unimportant for the pathologies accompanying by the oedema syndrome. The progressive reduction of muscle tonicity in conditions of immersion may significantly influence the efficiency of treatment in the pathological circumstances accompanied by hypertonicity.

Field of application: early diagnosis of concealed slowly developing neurological disturbances, cardiology, nephrology, neurology.

Immersion therapy is also indicated for patients who are allergic to medicines, or for whom they are ineffective.

Immersion therapy simulates the effects of weightlessness.

To implement the "dry" immersion method, baths filled with an immersion medium covered by an elastic waterproof fabric are used.

The area of the waterproof cover considerably exceeds the area of the water surface in the bath. This enables a human body to be freely immersed in the immersion medium and yet to remain dry, since there is no direct contact with its skin surfaces.

"Dry" immersion makes it possible to change the position and depth of immersion of the patient as desired. During the conduct of immersion therapy, there is a uniform distribution of the force of gravity over the surface of the immersion medium surrounding the body. This favourably affects the operation of the internal human organs. The micro-relaxation effect leads to a reduction in the load on the joints and spine, so that direct action can be taken on the pain syndrome in diseases of the locomotor system (osteochondrosis of the spine, dorsopathy, Bekhterev' s disease, osteoarthrosis, rheumatic arthritis); pain is reduced, more movements are possible and the quality of life is improved.

The immersion therapy method is effective in diseases of the cardio-vascular system, the gastro-intestinal tract, the liver and the kidneys. It makes it possible to normalise arterial pressure, it improves blood circulation and microcirculation, and provides pronounced psycho-emotional relief and a sedative effect.

Indicated for the application of "dry" immersion: the oedema syndrome where there is inadequate blood circulation, cirrhosis of the liver, glomerulonephritis; hypertonic disease in stages I- II; neuro-circulatory dystonia of the hypertonic type; neuroses; degenerative dystrophic diseases of the locomotor system; peptic ulcers, dyskinesis of the gastro-intestinal tract; reflectory tonic disturbances; somatoform dysfunction of the vegetative nervous system; condition after a disturbance of blood circulation in the brain; the consequences of infantile cerebral palsy, including infantile cerebral palsy itself; oedema syndrome, including alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver; hypertonic disease; varicose expansion of the veins, stage 1 ; diseases of the spine involving neurological symptomatics with pain syndrome stages 1-2; chronic fatigue syndrome; sleep disturbance; condition after suffering an infarct of the myocardium; portal hypertension; condition after alcoholic inebriation - the abstinent syndrome.

Not recommended for:

- anyone over 70 years of age;

- oncological diseases;

- conditions after considerable menstrual-type haemorrhages; - myoma of the womb;

- hypovolemia;

- lung diseases in the exacerbation stage;

- presence of, or predisposition to, thrombogenesis in anamnesis;

- acute infarct of the myocardium;

- ciliary arrhythmia;

- chronic phlebothromboses and thrombophlebites of the lower limbs;

- presence of stenoses of blood vessels of different localisation;

- pregnancy.

An immersion bath can also be used for patients with hernias or with osteoporosis, since the anti-gravity effect relieves the spine due to the force of gravity not acting on it.

The possibility exists of using the bath for the treatment of patients with suckling babes and suffering from birth traumas. It is known that in weightlessness, blood is distributed through the body non-uniformly, flowing mainly towards the head, so that relief mechanisms are immediately initiated by the organism: excessive urination has been noted in cosmonauts. This idea was taken up by paediatricians, who frequently come across infantile oedemas of the brain, or encephalopathy. In order to relieve suckling babes of excess liquid, it was decided to immerse them in 'dry' baths as used for cosmonauts, although for a shorter period. Whereas the specialists themselves, within the framework of the experiment, spent up to seven days in them, two or three immersions of 10 minutes each per day were considered sufficient for the little ones. By comparison with the medicinal method of treatment of encephalopathy (which occurs as a result of birth traumas or pre-natal infections), the 'space' method proved much more effective.

It is also proposed to use the immersion bath method for relief of emotional burn-out syndrome in top-level sport.

Finally it is to be noted that the waterproof elastic fabric cover, the table with the lifting device, the container with electric water-heater are three independent inventive aspects of the present invention and may be used alone or in combination. As it is clear from the preceding description and the following claims, there are many advantageous technical features relating to these aspects; for example, an advantageous technical feature relating to the container is the way in temperature control of the water in the bath and/or the container is carried out.

Claims

1. Dry immersion equipment comprising a bath for containing water with a waterproof elastic cover made of fabric fixed to the bath and covering it.

2. Equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that said cover is made of fabric with an impregnation based on polyisobutylene preferably on one side of said cover.

3. Equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that said fabric cover has a thickness of preferably 0.15-0.5 mm, more preferably of about 0.2 mm.

4. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a table with a lifting device arranged to raise and to lower a patient.

5. Equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that said table is under said cover.

6. Equipment according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said table is perforated.

7. Equipment according to claim 4 or 5 or 6, characterized in that the dimensions of said table correspond to the internal dimensions of said bath.

8. Equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that there is a clearance between said table and said bath, internally, allowing said cover to get into said clearance.

9. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover is fixed to the sides of said bath, preferably externally, by quick-release devices.

10. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover has a reserve enabling it to wrap round a patient immersed in the water of said bath.

11. Equipment according to claims 4 and 9 and 10, characterized in that the size of said reserve is such as to wrap round a patient immersed in the water of said bath without releasing said quick-release devices for any position of said table.

12. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a rack arranged to house a container for water with at least one electric water-heater, an electric panel with control console, a water circulation pump connected to the container to circulate water from the bath to the container and back, a power control system and a system for monitoring and registering the temperature of the water in the bath.

13. Equipment according to claim 12, characterized in that the bottom of said bath is configured so that when said perforated table is in its lowest working position, a uniform distribution of water flow from said container with heater across the horizontal cross-section of said bath.

14. Equipment according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that it comprises a temperature control system arranged to automatically maintain the temperature of the water in said bath at a constant level between 33 °C and 37°C, preferably with an accuracy ±0.2°C.

15. Equipment according to claim 12 or 13 or 14, characterised in that it comprises a temperature control system arranged to automatically maintain the temperature of the water in said container at a high level, preferably between 60°C and 90°C, more preferably at 90°C.

16. Equipment according to claim 14 and 15, characterised said temperature control system is arranged to cause water flow from said container to said bath.

17. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that for stationary operation, said bath is located on jacks, and for movement, on wheels.

18. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least one electric water-heater is of the positive-displacement type and is based on through-flow type tubular elements preferably made of stainless steel.

19. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises three electric water-heaters selectively switchable alone or in combination.

20. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that stainless steel is used as the construction material for the bath.