WO2000021479A1

WO2000021479A1 - Treatment device, treatment bed to be used therein and the use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2000021479A1
Application number: PCT/FI1999/000815
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kari Viherlahti
Original assignee: Kari Viherlahti
Priority date: 1998-10-09
Filing date: 1999-10-04
Publication date: 2000-04-20
Also published as: EP1119331A1; AU6091299A; FI982199A0; FI104404B

Abstract

The invention is concerned with a treatment device (1) for the treatment of people, having a tub (2) and a treatment bed (7), on which the treatment is intended to take place. The treatment bed (7) consists of a frame (3) and a formable part (5), which is fastened to the frame part (3). In the treatment device (1), there is a mechanism (13), with which the treatment bed (7) can be transferred between an upper position and a lower position. In the upper position the treatment bed (7) is almost or completely in a horizontal position, whereby the formable part (5) lies on the frame (3) and in the lower position the frame part (3) of the treatment bed (7) is in the lower position, which formable part (5) forms itself after the person to be treated by means of a support (8) at the knees. Optionally, the treatment device (1) has a lid (10) allowing the head part of the treatment bed (7) to be outside the lid (10), when the lid is closed. The invention is also concerned with the use of the treatment device for peat treatments, vapor treatments, clay and other such treatments, for the washing of people, vapor saunas and ozone closets.

Description

TREATMENT DEVICE, TREATMENT BED TO BE USED THEREIN AND THE USE THEREOF

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention is concerned with a treatment device intended for the treatment of people, with a tub and a treatment bed inside the tub, on which bed the people are intended to be treated. The invention is also concerned with a treatment bed to be used in the treatment device and the uses of the treatment device.

BACKGROUND ART

There are different beauty and health treatments for people, such as peat treatments, generally used by e.g. cosmetologists, bathing institutes and treatment institutes. In addition to the peat treatments, e.g. vapor-treatments, ozone treatments and other kinds of baths are used. Such treatments are generally carried out in a tub, sauna, on a treatment bed or vapor cabin.

In peat treatments, peat is used for health and beauty by bringing natural, moist peat in contact with the skin. The active substances contained therein penetrate the skin with positive effects on the health. For this operation, the person to be treated is usually placed on a conventional treatment table. Treatment peat is applied over the skin and after that plastic and blankets are wrapped around. In the treatment, the warming is carried out by an external heat source. This method is uncomfortable for the patient, because it is unpleasant to be inside the plastic and the blankets. Furthermore, the removal of the peat by washing is unpractical, as the patient has to be moved from the treatment table for the washing operation, for example to the shower, whereby the peat is easily splashed around. Another way is to place the patient in a tub with peat dissolved in water Afterwards, the washing of the patient can take place in the same tub The disadvantage is, however, the high consumption of peat, ca 30-80 kg for each treatment

Also conventional saunas have been used in peat treatments but the use of the sauna is naturally not very economical and the risk is that the peat dries on the skin, where after the washing is very difficult

Vapor treatments are used because of the health effects of warm steam In previously known vapor cabins the patient is in a sitting position inside a cabin, which has a door, and the head is outside There are also vapor cabins, wherein the patient is lying

From the Finnish patent 17052, there is known a movable bench for vapor-baths and sweating-baths, consisting of a frame and a bed of wooden bars fastened to it, on which the bath taker rests during the bath The bench is placed on a conventional bath tub or other tub In this patent the bed can also be made of strings or of a net and its reinforced with transversal lists

From the US patent 5,441 ,529, there is known a treatment device which consists of a two-piece enclosure, there the top portion works as a lid and the lower part as a basin and which has a adjustable seat for the patient The adjustable seat has openings for the water flow

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is concerned with a treatment device, by means of which different treatments can be carried out in a more practical and comfortable way than with previously known methods The treatment device of the invention is mainly characterized in that, the treatment bed consists of a frame and a formable part, which is fastened to the frame part, and in which treatment device there is a mechanism, with which the treatment bed can be transferred between an upper position and a lower position in which upper position the treatment bed is almost or completely in a horizontal position, whereby the formable part rests on the frame and in which lower position the frame part of the treatment bed is in a lowered lower position, which formable part is forms itself after the person to be treated by means of a support at the hollow of the knees and optionally, the treatment device has a lid allowing the head part of the treatment bed to be outside the lid , when the lid is closed

In the preferable embodiments of the invention the position of the knee support can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction after the length of the person so that it moves supported by rails at the edges of the tub The mechanism with which the treatment bed is transferred between the upper and the lower position is a shaft mechanism or the like known in itself The frame is articulated at desired places, preferably at the shoulder of the person to be treated and at the place, from which the frame continues near the bottom of the tub, the treatment bed being in the lower position

The formable part consists of transversal bars, which are fastened to steel wires going through the bars thus forming a hammock together with the bars The hammock is fastened to the frame at the joint One end of the hammock is fastened to the tub A part of the bars at the foot end are fastened to separate support means, which are fastened at the frame, whereby the bars at the foot end form a foot support

The wires are loose in the upper position of the treatment bed but are tightened when the treatment bed is lowered, whereby the wire is empty of bars at the part forming the foot support There are advantageously showers in the lid of the treatment device, with which the person to be treated can be rinsed Fresh air can be blown with a blower against the face of the person to be treated There might furthermore be a thermostat in the treatment device, by means of which the desired temperature is maintained in the treatment device The heating device is regulated with a thermostat

The device of the invention can also advantageously be used in vapor-baths, since the patient can be in a comfortable position throughout the treatment In addition, the device of the invention can be used in mud and corresponding treatments, for washing of the patients, as a vapor-sauna and as an ozone bath cabin

The device of the invention has several advantages compared with known devices In the first place, the patient can be in a very comfortable position during the treatment in the device of the invention thanks to the treatment bed that forms itself after the position of the patient The treatment device is also very comfortable for the treatment staff, especially, when the patient to be treated is disabled As the patient to be treated is first placed on the treatment bed in a straight position, and the treatment bed is not lowered with a mechanism until for the time of the treatment, the changing of the position of the patient is very easy The invention is especially advantageous for use in peat treatments In spite of the fact that there is used complete peat applied over the skin, the treatment will not be uncomfortable, as there is no need to wrap the patient in plastic and carpets, as the temperature can be kept constant easier in a closed room

One advantage in the invention is also that, there usually is used complete peat in the treatment, which is both more efficient and active than peat dissolved in water

Furthermore, the amounts of peat needed are only 1 - VA kg for each treatment

The washing of the patient can take place in the same tub and in the preferable embodiments of the invention, showers are installed in the lid of the device for the washing operation From the view of the treatment institutions, the peat treatment device of the invention is very advantageous, as non-returnable peat packages can be used therein, and thus the treatment institution only has to invest in the device as the peat can be ordered afterwards in small batches Often, the maintenance of the treatment capacity requires storing and transports of big amounts, and the investments in connection with treatment devices are huge

Earlier, non-returnable packages have only been possible to be used in methods, wherein the patient is wrapped in plastics, which is not satisfactory from the patient's point of view

The peat treatment device of the invention can advantageously also be used for other treatments than peat treatments One use for the device of the invention is the vapor-bath treatment, for which use it is especially good, since the patient can be in a very comfortable position during the treatment The invention suits also for geriatric use, for example as a treatment device for old or disabled people, when it can be used for washing, as a sauna and for different mud and such treatments

In the following, the invention is presented in detail by means of an advantageous embodiment The invention is not restricted to the details of this embodiment

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In figure 1 , the treatment device of the invention has been presented as a side view, the treatment bed being in its upper position

In figure 2, the treatment device of the invention is presented as a side view, the treatment bed being in its lower position

In figure 3, the treatment device is presented as a top view

In figure 4, an advantageous use of the treatment device of the invention is presented DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In figure 1 , the treatment device of the invention is generally marked with reference number 1 The treatment device 1 of the invention advantageously includes a tub 2 Inside the tub 2, there can be a frame 3 of for example acid resistant steel The frame 3 is articulated at the shoulders at joint 4 to the tub 2 and at joint 6 A hammock 5 is fastened to the frame 3 at joint 4 The hammock 5 consists in this embodiment of bars 5", through which four steel wires 9 can go The steel wires 9 are fastened to the tub 2 One end 5' of the hammock 5 is thus fastened to the tub 2 from the wire 9 Thus, these steel wires 9 do not go through those bars 5" which are in the foot end of the hammock 5 over a distance A In this part of the hammock 5, the bars are supported with different support means, for example support rods 9e, preferably so that the rod 9e goes through the wooden bars and form a uniform hammock of blocks These bars form a foot support 5c The frame 3 and the hammock 5 form together a treatment bed 7, on which the patient to be treated is placed In figure 1 , the frame 3 and the hammock 5 are in their upper position, whereas the treatment bed 7 is straight and the wires 9 are loose By means of a shaft mechanism 13, known in itself, or with another method, the treatment bed 7 can be lowered in the lower position, whereby the wires are tightened and the bars in the foot-end of the hammock are separate from the rest of the hammock 5 In the lid 10 of the treatment device, which is shut in figure 1 , there are showers 11 inside the roof in a preferable embodiment of the invention, by means of which the person to be treated can be washed The temperature of the peat treatment device is adjusted with a thermostat (not illustrated) Fresh air can be blown with a blower 14 (not illustrated) to the face of the person to be treated The vapor heat source of the treatment device 1 is marked with reference number 12' The wash waters are removed from the outlet 18

In figure 2, the treatment device of the invention is presented in the lower position The patient is placed on the treatment bed 7 When the treatment bed 7 is lowered by means of a mechanism 13, the frame part 3 of the treatment bed 7 is folded from the joints 4 and 6 and the hammock part 5 forms itself after the person to be treated in a flexible way and independently of the frame 3, except of the places, to which the hammock 5 is fastened

In figure 3, the treatment device 1 of the invention is presented from the top The hammock 5 consists of transversal bars 5", which are fastened to preferably four steel wires 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, which go through the bars 5" and form a hammock 5" together with the bars 5" All four wires 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d are fastened to the end of the tub 2 The hammock 5 is supported with a knee support 8 at the knees of the person to be treated The knee support 8 is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the tub after the length of the person The knee support 8 is a transversal support fastened to the tub 2 and it is formed by a bar or the like Rails 8b are fastened to the edges of the tub 2 The knee support 8 is fastened to the rails 8b with fastening means in such a way that it is movable being supported by the rails and its position is taken after the length of the person to be treated One end 5' of the hammock 5 is fastened by means of the wire 9 to the tub 2 A part of the bars in the foot end of the hammock are fastened directly to the frame 3 in such a way that they form a foot support 5c at the foot blades when the treatment bed is lowered in the lower position of figure 2

In the upper position of the treatment bed 7 of figure 1 , the bars 5" are supported against the frame 3, but when the treatment bed 7 is lowered, a part of the bars 5" are left to be supported by the wires 9 and form thus a uniform part only with them The lifting and lowering of the treatment bed is carried out by a shaft mechanism 13 known in itself The lifting and lowering of the treatment bed can also be arranged non-stepwise When the treatment bed 7 is lowered in a position of figure 2, the frame 3 is lowered so that the first end 5d of the bed, against which end the head of the person to be treated will come, is lifted up while its frame part 3 is folded from the joints 4 and 6 After the joint 6, the frame is preferably in a horizontal position close to the bottom of the tub 2 As can be seen in figure 2, there is a free space B between the front end of the hammock 5 and the foot support over a given length When the treatment bed is lifted again in its upper position, this space is closed The treatment device 1 of the invention is preferably used for peat treatment and advantageously so that the persons to be treated are placed in accordance with figure 4 so that the treatment bed 7 is in its upper position. After that a thin peat layer is applied over the person's skin. The treatment bed 7 is lowered by means of a shaft mechanism 13 known in itself, whereby a hammock 5 is formed therein, on which the person to be treated easily can relax during the treatment. The hammock 5 is supported after the length of the person to be treated at the knees with an adjustable knee support 8 as is described in connection with figures 2 and 3. The lid 10 of the tub 2 is closed and during the treatment the heating takes place with water steam. The wished temperature is kept or regulated with a thermostat. If the person to be treated so wish, fresh air can be blown over the head with a blower. When the treatment is finished, the showers 11 in the lid 10 wash the skin so that it is clean and there is no need for moving to an external shower, which might make the environment dirty.

A person skilled in the art can naturally vary the details of the peat treatment device in scope of the invention, and the intention is not to restrict the invention to the presented embodiment.

Claims

1. Treatment device (1) for the treatment of people, having a tub (2) and a treatment bed (7), on which the treatment is intended to take place, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, the treatment bed (7) consists of a frame (3) and a formable part (5), which is fastened to the frame part (3), and in which treatment device (1), there is a mechanism (13), with which the treatment bed (7) can be transferred between an upper position and a lower position, in which upper position the treatment bed (7) is almost or completely in a horizontal position, whereby the formable part (5) lies on the frame (3) and in which lower position the frame part (3) of the treatment bed (7) is in the lower position, which formable part (5) forms itself after the person to be treated by means of a support (8) at the knees and optionally, the treatment device (1) has a lid (10) allowing the head part of the treatment bed (7) to be outside the lid (10), when the lid is closed.

2. Treatment device (1 ) of claim ^characterized in that, the position of the knee support (8) can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction after the length of the person so that it moves supported by rails (8b) at the edges of the tub (2).

3. Treatment device (1) of claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mechanism (3), with which the treatment bed (7) is transferred between the upper and the lower position is a shaft mechanism or the like known in itself.

4. Treatment device (1) of any of claims 1 -3, characterized in that the frame (3) is articulated at desired places (4,6), preferably at the shoulder of the person to be treated and at the place (6), from which the frame (3) continues close to the bottom of the tub(2) while the treatment bed (7) is in the lower position.

5. Treatment device (1) of any of claims 1 -4, cha racte r i ze d in that the formable part (5) consists of transversal bars (5"), which are fastened to steel wires (9) going through the bars (5") thus forming a hammock (5) together with the bars (5").

6. Treatment device (1) of any of claims 1 -5, character ized in that the hammock (5) is fastened to the frame (3) at the joint (4).

7. Treatment device (1 ) of any of claims 1 -6, characterized in that one end of the hammock (5) is fastened to the tub (2).

8. Treatment device (1) of any of claims 1 -7, characterized in that a part of the bars at the foot end are fastened to separate support means (9e), which are fastened at the frame (3), whereby the bars (5") at the foot end form a foot support (5c).

9. Treatment device (1) of any of claims 1 -8, cha racte r i ze d in that the wires (9) are loose in the upper position of the treatment bed (7) but are tightened when the treatment bed (7) is lowered, whereby the wire is empty of bars (5") at the part forming the foot support (5c).

10. Treatment device (1) of any of claims 1 -9, characterized in that there are showers (11) at the edge of the treatment device (1), with which the person to be treated can be rinsed.

11. Treatment device (1 ) of any of claims 1 -10, characterized in that there is a blower coupled to the treatment device, with which fresh air can be blown against the face of the person to be treated. Treatment device (1 ) of any of claims 1 - 11 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that there is a thermostat in the treatment device, by means of which desired temperature is maintained in the treatment device (1 )

Treatment bed (7), which belong to the treatment device of any of claims 1 -12, on which the treatment of the person to be treated is intended to take place, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the treatment bed (7) consists of a frame (3) and a formable part (5), which is fastened to the frame (3), which treatment bed (7) can be transferred between an upper position and a lower position by means of a mechanism (13), in which upper position the treatment bed (7) is almost or completely in a horizontal position, whereby the formable part (5) lies on the frame (3) and in which lower position the frame (3) of the treatment bed (7) is in a lowered lower position, and the formable part (5) of the treatment bed (7) is fastened to the frame (3) in such a way that it forms a hammock (5) when the treatment bed (7) is in its lower position, which fformable part (5) forms itself after the person to be treated by means of a support (8), which is fastened to the hollow of the knee of the person to be treated and optionally, the treatment device (1) has a lid (10) allowing the head part of the treatment bed (7) to be outside the lid (1 ), when the lid is closed

Use of the device of any of claims 1 - 13 for peat treatments, vapor treatments, clay and other such treatments, for the washing of people, vapor-saunas and ozone closets