WO1995014450A2

WO1995014450A2 - Humid heat dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1995014450A2
Application number: PCT/BR1994/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ovídio ALVES DE LIMA
Original assignee: Goncalves Ribeiro Ajax
Current assignee: Goncalves Ribeiro Ajax
Priority date: 1993-11-26
Filing date: 1994-11-25
Publication date: 1995-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 1996-05-26
Also published as: AU1529495A; BR9304876A; WO1995014450A3

Abstract

Humid heat dispenser, comprising a vaporizer (1) provided with a liquid chamber (2), a pair of electrodes (4) connectable to electric energy supply means and capable of boiling the liquid inside the liquid chamber (2) and producing vapour, which is collected in a vapour chamber (11) provided with a dispensing opening (12); a flexible conduit (14) connected to the said dispensing opening (12) by a first of its ends and to an opening (19) of a thermic bag (17) by a second and opposite end thereof, for supplying vapour to the inside of the thermic bag (17); a flow regulating means (15) connected in series with the said flexible conduit (14) for allowing control of the amount of vapour supplied to the inside of the thermic bag (17); the said flexible conduit (17) comprising means (32, 33, 35) for preventing condensate water to accumulate in the flexible conduit (14) thus avoiding free flow of vapour therethrough; the thermic bag (17) being provided with orifices (21) through which vapour can pass and heat/humidity retaining means (22, 23, 24) for being applied to the body of a user; and termperature control means (10, 18, 42-45), associated with the electrodes (4) of the vaporizer (1) for maintaining the temperature of the thermic bag (17) in a desired value.

Description

Title: "Humid heat dispenser"

The present invention refers to a humid heat dispenser to be used in medical heat treatments and which uses vapour as heat source to provide humid heat required for the treatment of contusions, sprains, articular inflammations, and the like.

The following methods are presently used in thermotherapy: 1- hot water bath; 2- hot water compresses, us¬ ing either a rubber bag or a humid towel, in direct contact with the skin; 3- parafin application (bath); 4- thermic blan¬ kets (using electrical resistances); 5-application of infrared radiation; 6- application of shortwaves; 7- application of ul¬ trasonic waves; 8- application of microwaves. All these meth¬ ods have some kind of limitation which, in one way or the other, reduce the treatment efficiency, either due to the method itself or by the manner' in which it is implemented; and, sometimes, are not confortable or even indicated for the particular patient being treated.

It is an objective of the present invention to use vapour as a source of humid heat, turning more practical, safe and effective the application of heat in thermotherapy, be¬ cause, besides avoiding the need of periodic renewal of the material to be applied to the body of a patient, it avoids risks of electric shocks, temperature oscillation and burning of the patient's skin, allowing an homogeneous temperature during the whole treatment and, since it is a humid heat, pro- vides for a better penetration in the body's tissue.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows an schematic view of a preferred em¬ bodiment of the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B show cross sections of a thermic bag in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 3-5 show three further preferred embodiments of the present invention;

Figures 6A and 6B respectively show upper and side views of the dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing in dashed lines the inner parts thereof;

Figures 7A and 7B show the construction of a flexi¬ ble conduit according to an alternative embodiment of the in- vention;

Figures 8A and 8B show the connector which engages the vapour output opening of the vaporizer shown in figure 1; and

Figure 9 shows a simplified circuit diagram of the dispenser in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

Referring firstly to figure 1 of the drawings, it can be seen that the dispenser in accordance with the present invention is provided with an electrical vaporizer 1, which comprises a liquid chamber 2 containing a liquid 3 to be vaporized, which, as it is well known, can be a mixture of wa¬ ter and sodium bicarbonate or any other appropriate electrolyte. The basic principles of operation of the vaporizer 1 are conventional and not intended to be protected by the present application, only its construction represents part of the inventive concept intended to be protected herein. The liquid chamber 2 is provided with an inner cham¬ ber 2' within which are mounted two electrodes 4 intended to produce an electric current therebetween, heating the liquid which passes from the liquid chamber 2 to the region adjacent to the electrodes through a passsage 5 in the inner chamber, thus producing vapour which is collected in a vapour chamber 11 above the electrodes 4.

The vapour chamber 11 has an opening 12 through which the vapour leaves the chamber 11. The opening 12 is con¬ nected to a flexible conduit 14 by an appropriate connector 13 which engages the opening 12 such that a passage is left con¬ necting with a return chamber 7 which, in turn, connects with a drain 6 leading to the inside of the liquid chamber 2, so that any excess liquid accumulated in the flexible conduit 14 can be returned back to the liquid chamber 2.

The end of the flexible conduit 14, opposite to the connector 13 is provided with a flow regulating valve 15, and is connected to a threaded opening 19 of a thermic bag 17 (to be described below) by means of an appropriate connector 16.

The electrodes 4 are connected to an electric energy source (not shown) by any convencional means and, preferably, are provided with a voltage controlling device 10, which will be described in more detail in connection with figure 9. Referring now to figures 2A and 2B, the flexible thermic bag 17 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described.

The thermic bag 17 comprises an innermost flexible and water impervious bag 20 provided with a plurality of orifices 21, through which the vapour supplied to the thermic bag 17 can pass, and an outer bag 22 removably adjusted over and surrounding the said innermost bag 20. The said outer bag 22 is preferably made of a porous foam material internally and externally coated with a fabric 23, 24 and has a threaded opening 19, which communicates with the inside of the said in¬ nermost bag 20. The reference number 18 designates a thermoelectric sensor provided within the thermic bag 17, which will be described in more detail in connection with fig¬ ure 9. The thermic bag 17 also comprises an inner flexible screen 25, designed to act as a spacer between the inner walls of the innermost bag 20 and thus facilitate the introduction of vapour into the thermic bag 17.

With the above construction, vapour supplied to the thermic bag 17 by the vaporizer 1 and through connector 13, flexible conduit 14, flow regulating valve 15 and connector 16, passes through the orifices 21 and heats and humidifies the outer bag 22, which will be applied to the body of a pa- tient.

The amount of vapour supplied to the thermic bag 17 is controlled through the said flow regulating valve 15, so that the thermic bag 17 of the present invention can be used for a plurality of different applications where different amounts of vapour are required.

Referring now to figures 3 to 5, taken in connection with figure 1, some possible alternatives for the utilization of the present invention are exemplified. As it can be seem, a single vaporizer 1 can be provided with a plurality of vapour outputs in the vapour chamber 11, each of which provided with its own return chamber 7, connector 13, flexible conduit 14, flow control valve 15, connector 16 and thermic bag 17; or even the same vapour output can be provided with a single flexible conduit 14 which may have a branch or a by pass con- nection therein. As it can be readily understood, this pro¬ vides an advantageous arrangement to be used in hospitals or clinics where several patients in different locations of the building must undergo heat treatments of different types.

Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a preferred con- struction of the vaporizer in accordance with the present in¬ vention.

As shown in figures 6A and 6B, the vaporizer 1 preferaby comprises a head 30 containing the connector 13 to be engaged by the flexible conduit 14 and a pilot lamp 27 to indicate that the vaporizer is turned on. The portion of the head 30 which extends downwardly into the liquid chamber 2 de¬ fines the said inner chamber 2'. A removable water container 28, defining the liquid chamber 2 is mounted inside the vaporizer cabinet 1 which also includes a compartment 29 for the voltage controlling device 10.

This arrangement is responsible for a high degree of compactness of the dispenser of the present invention, whereby a user needs only to remove the head 30, take out the remova¬ ble water container 28 fill it with water and return it to its position inside the cabinet 1.

Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a preferred embodiment of the flexible conduit 14 in accordance with the invention, which comprises an inner tube T made of a flexible and water impervious material having orifices 35 distributed along its lenght, so that adjacent orifices are shifted from an angle of 90 relative to each other resulting in a configuration whereby orifices 35 are provided in the "side" and "bottom" walls of the tube T, when this latter is considered in its op- erating position.

The inner tube T is coated with a first fabric layer 32, a foam layer 33 and a second fabric layer 32, so that any water accumulated inside the inner tube T can flow through the orifices 35 and be retained in the fabric layers 32 and foam 33, this latter additionally providing thermal insulation for the inner tube T, so that heat is not lost through the orifices 35. With this arrangement water is prevented from ac¬ cumulating in the inner tube T and form a water "seal" which would prevent a free flow of vapour inside the inner tube T. The flexible conduit 14 still comprises a threaded connection 31 in one of its ends, engageable with the said connector 13 in the vaporizer 1, the said connection 31 being associated with a fixing ring 34 for fixing the connection 31 to the flexible conduit 14. Referring now to figures 8A and 8B in conjunction with figure 1, the connection 13 between the opening 12 of the vapour chamber 11 and the flexible conduit 14 is described. The connection 13 consists of an outer threaded sleeve 36 for coupling with the flexible conduit 14 by means of the con- nection 31 described in relation to figures 7A and 7B.

Small orifices 40 are provided around the outer sleeve 36 inclined in the longitudinal direction of the con¬ nection 13 and radially extending towards an inner secondary sleeve 39 of circular cross section, through which the vapour collected in the vapour chamber 11 flows to the flexible conduit 14.

The connection 13 still comprises a flange 37 pro¬ vided with orifices 38, to allow the connection 13 to be fixed to the heead 30 of the vaporizer 1. In its lower portion, the flange 37 has a radially extending circular cross section pas¬ sage 41, intended to provide a drain for the water condensed inside the inner tube T of the flexible conduit 14, making it flow to the return chamber 7 described in connection with fig- ure 1.

The voltage and temperature control characteristics of the dispenser of the present invention will now be de¬ scribed in connection with figures 1 and 9.

Figure 9 shows a simplified block diagram of the temperature control circuit of the present invention. The reference number 1 corresponds to the vaporizer described in connection with figure 1 and here seen as the electrical re¬ sistance created by the electrolyte between the two electrodes 4. The reference number 10 represents the voltage controlling device, as previously described. The voltage controlling de¬ vice 10 controls the average supply voltage for the electrodes 4.

Designated by 42 is a photo-coupler which optically isolates the electrical energy supply from the temperature control circuit. A pulse generator 43 is provided for generat¬ ing control pulses for the circuit of the voltage controlling device 10, in response to the output signals of a thermo¬ electric sensor 18 which continuously monitors the temperature inside the thermic bag 17, thus automatically controlling the voltage controlling device 10, so that a desired temperature can always be maintained in the thermic bag 17. A digital tem¬ perature indicator 44 is also provided, so as to permit a user to visually controlling the temperature of the thermic bag 17. Finally, a manual adjustment control 45 is provided in order to permit manual adjustment of the thermic bag temper¬ ature.

This circuit, which controls the temperature of the thermic bag 17, used in conjunction with the above described flow regulating valve 15, provides the dispenser of tthe pres- ent invention with extremely versatile characteristics, in that it permits that the dispenser be used in virtually all the applications of thermotherapy. For example, in an inhalation device, where it is necessary a relatively large amount of vapour but the temperature can not be too high. It should be noted that, while the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be limited only by the scope of the follow¬ ing claims.

Claims

1. Humid heat dispenser, comprising an vaporizer (1) provided with a liquid chamber (2), a pair of electrodes (4) connectable to electric energy supply means and capable of boiling the liquid inside the liquid chamber (2) and producing vapour, which is collected in a vapour chamber (11) provided with a dispensing opening (12); a flexible counduit (14) con¬ nected to the said dispensing opening (12) by a first of its ends and to an opening (19) of a thermic bag (17) by a second and opposite end thereof, for supplying vapour to the inside of the thermic bag (17); a flow regulating means (15) con¬ nected in series with the said flexible conduit (14) for al¬ lowing control of the amount of vapour supplied to the inside of the thermic bag (17); the said flexible conduit (17) com- prising means (32, 33, 35) for preventing condensate water to accumulate in the flexible conduit (14) thus avoiding free flow of vapour therethrough; the thermic bag (17) being pro¬ vided with orifices (21) through which vapour can pass arid heat/humidity retaining means (22, 23, 24) for being applied to the body af an user; and temperature control means (10, 18, 42-45), associated with the electrodes (4) of the vaporizer (1) for maintaining the temperature of the thermic bag (17) in a desired value.

2. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible conduit (14) is connected to the dispens¬ ing opening (12) of the vapour chamber (11) by means of a con¬ nection (13) which comprises an outer threaded sleeve (36) for coupling with the flexible conduit (14), a plurality of orifices (40) are provided around the outer sleeve (36) in- clined in the longitudinal direction of the connection (13) and radially extending towards an inner secondary sleeve (39) of circular cross section, through which the vapour collected in the vapour chamber (11) can flow to the flexible conduit (14).

3. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with claim 2, wherein the connection (13) further comprises a flange (37) provided with orifices (38), to allow the connection (13) to be fixed to the head (30) of the vaporizer (1), the flange (37) having in its lower portion a radially extending circular cross section passage (41), defining a drain for water con- densed inside the flexible conduit (14).

4. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein said flexible conduit (14) comprises an inner tube (T) having orifices (35) distributed along its lenght, the inner tube (T) being coated at least with a first layer (32) of fabric; and at least one layer (33) of a humidity/heat retaining and thermic insulating material.

5. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with claim 4, wherein said inner tube (T) is further coated with a second fabric layer (32), so that the said layer (33) of humidity/heat retaining and thermic insulating material is sandwiched between the two layers of fabric (32).

6. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with claim 4 or 5, wherein said humidity/heat retaining and thermic insu¬ lating material is plastic foam.

7. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein said thermic bag (17) com¬ prises an innermost flexible and water impervious bag (20) provided with a plurality of orifices (21), and an outer bag (22) removably adjusted over and surrounding the said inner- most bag (20) and has a threaded opening (19), which communi¬ cates with the inside of the said innermost bag (20) and an inner flexible screen (25), designed to act as a spacer be¬ tween the inner walls of the innermost bag (20).

8. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with claim 7, wherein the said outer bag (22) is made of a porous foam mate¬ rial internally and externally coated with a fabric (23, 24).

9. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said flow regulating means (15) is a flow valve.

10. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein said temperature control means comprises a photo-coupler (42) which optically isolates the electrical energy supply from the temperature control cir¬ cuit, a pulse generator (43) is provided for generating con- trol pulses for the circuit of the voltage controlling device (10), in response to the output signals of a thermo-electric sensor (18) which continuously monitors the temperature inside the thermic bag (17), thus automatically controlling the volt- age controlling device (10).

11. Humid heat dispenser in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a digital temperature indicator (44) to permit a user visually to control the temperature of the thermic bag (17) .

12. Humid heat dispenser in accordance to claim 10 or 11, further comprising a manual adjustment control (45) provided in order to permit manual adjustment of the thermic bag temperature.

13. Thermic bag (17) to be used with a humid heat dispenser for thermotherapy purposes, comprising an inlet opening (19), an innermost flexible and water impervious bag (20) provided with a plurality of orifices (21), and an outer bag (22) removably adjusted over and surrounding the said in¬ nermost bag (20), the said inlet opening communicating with the inside of the said innermost bag (20) and an inner flexi¬ ble screen (25), designed to act as a spacer between the inner walls of the innermost bag (20).

14. Thermic bag (17) in accordance with claim 13, wherein the said outer bag (22) is made of a porous foam mate- rial internally and externally coated with a fabric (23, 24).

15. Flexible conduit (14) for use with a humid heat dispenser for thermotherapy purposes, comprising an inner tube (T) having orifices (35) distributed along its lenght, the in¬ ner tube (T) being coated at least with a first layer (32) of fabric; and at least one layer (33) of a humidity/heat retain¬ ing and thermic insulating material.

16. Flexible conduit (14) in accordance with claim 15, wherein said inner tube (T) is further coated with a sec¬ ond fabric layer (32), so that the said layer (33) of humidity/heat retaining and thermic insulating material is sandwiched between the two layers of fabric (32).

17. Electrical vaporizer for use as a vapour sup¬ plier for thermotherapy purposes, comprising a cabinet (1) provided with a removable water container (28) defining a liq- uid chamber (2) intended to contain the liquid to be vaporized, a head (30) containing means (13) to engage a conduit (14) intended to direct vapour produced by the vaporizer to an application location and a pilot lamp (27) to indicate that the vaporizer is turned on, a portion of the said head (30) extending downwardly into the said liquid cham¬ ber (2) defining therein an inner chamber (2'), inside which are provided a pair of electrodes (4) connectable with an electric energy supply to boil the water immediately adjacent thereto and produce vapour, a vapour chamber (11) provided in the upper portion of the said head (30) to collect vapour produced by the vaporizer and having a dispensing opening (12) for the vapour; and a compartment (29) being provided inside the said cabinet (1) for housing electrical circuits (10) of the vaporizer.