FR2583978A1 - Pneumatic massage apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a pneumatic massage apparatus. The apparatus according to the invention includes a compressed air source, an assembly for distributing the air coming from the said source and at least one accessory provided with inflatable juxtaposed chambers, fed with air via the distribution assembly and disposed around and/or on a part of the body of the patient and is characterised in that the massage accessories intended to be disposed around at least one part of the body to be treated include an opening 9 running over their whole length laterally delimited by the ends of the juxtaposed inflatable chambers and closure means so that when the said accessory is closed around at least one part of the body, one edge of the opening 9 including the ends of the inflatable juxtaposed chambers covers the other edge including the other ends of the same chambers so as to fit to all sizes of the parts of the body to be treated.

Description

The present invention relates to a pneumatic massage device.

In addition to manual techniques, pneumatic massage or pressotherapy is of increasing use and is obtained by surrounding the region to be treated with an element consisting of one or more inflatable enclosures, put under pressure intermittently from a source. compressed air.

When the element is put under pressure, the liquids contained in the venous or lymphatic vessels are expelled upstream, that is to say towards the heart and the lymph nodes.

During rest, as a result of their elasticity, these vessels regain their initial size and, thanks to the presence of the valves, make suction, at the level of the capillaries, into the interstitial fluid where stasis often forms which is always the cause or the consequence. limb pathologies.

 I1 is known massage devices ensuring circulatory activation based on the above principle and using two different techniques: the non-layered technique and the layered technique. The first technique, which does not ensure good orientation of the drainage of the liquid masses, has been abandoned in favor of the layered technique which allows acting at the extremity of the member before compressing the root.

The devices commonly used nowadays are therefore based on this layered technique and include massage elements consisting of several independent and juxtaposed inflatable enclosures.

But as a whole these devices are not entirely satisfactory because of the drawbacks they present.

These drawbacks are located at the level of the massage elements and at the level of the constitution of the supply assembly for said massage elements.

Indeed, the massage elements currently existing on pressure therapy devices have fixed dimensions at rest both in length and in diameter.

These elements consist of several inflatable enclosures formed by the union of two walls or by the interposition of partitions between the external wall and the internal wall but these enclosures, in the case of a massage element for a member, are annular and are arranged against each other without being able to be adjusted in spacing.

The elements thus formed are intended to be threaded on a member and require for a fine member up a very large volume of air to be able to exert sufficient compressions on the surface of said member. In addition, for a long member these elements cannot act on the whole of it and do not make the liquid masses move sufficiently towards the root.

On the other hand, the supply of independent speakers of these elements is generally carried out from a group of valves, each supplying an enclosure, controlled by a sequential program.

These air distribution assemblies are therefore expensive and require careful maintenance.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a pneumatic massage device which comprises at least one massage accessory adaptable to any type of member and an air distribution assembly supplying at least one accessory, which is very flexible. of use and requiring virtually no maintenance.

To this end, the massage device according to the invention comprising a source of compressed air, an assembly for distributing the air coming from said source and at least one accessory provided with juxtaposed inflatable chambers which are dependent or independent of each other. others, supplied with air by the distribution assembly and arranged around and / or on a part of the patient's body, is essentially characterized in that the massage accessory (s) have an opening running over their entire length delimited laterally by the ends of the inflatable and juxtaposed chambers and closing means, so that when they are closed around at least one part of the body to be treated, one edge of the opening comprising the ends of the inflatable chambers covers the other edge comprising the others ends of the same inflatable chambers in order to be able to press on and adapt to all sizes of the parts of the body to be treated.

In addition, the inflatable and juxtaposed chambers are arranged between two flexible walls joined together on the edges of the opening of the accessory, on the ends of said accessory and in the inflatable and juxtaposed chambers, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the accessory so as to be able to move said chambers apart or apart from one another in order to be able to adapt the accessory to all the lengths of the parts of the body to be treated.

According to another characteristic, the massage device according to the invention is characterized in that the massage accessory is provided with inflatable and juxtaposed chambers and with air supply independent of each other and in that the distribution assembly air is constituted by a rotary distributor ensuring the successive inflation and deflation of the chambers of at least one accessory one after the other according to the direction of drainage used, at a desired speed and at a pressure regraded according to the desired massage depth.

Other advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the following description illustrated in the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting example - Figure 1 is a schematic view of the device according to a first embodiment according to the invention said version "A".

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus according to a second embodiment known as version "B".

- Figure 3 is an overview of a massage accessory for the lower limbs of the device according to version A.

- Figures 4 and 5 are respectively views of the rear face and in median section of the fixed barrel of the rotary distributor.

- Figures 6 and 7 are respectively front views and in median section of the rotary drawer of the rotary distributor.

- Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a massage accessory according to a first embodiment according to the invention.

- Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a massage accessory according to a second embodiment.

- Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a massage accessory according to another embodiment according to the invention.

- Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a massage accessory according to yet another embodiment.

- Figure 12 is a plan view of a back massage accessory according to the invention.

- Figures 13 and 14 are plan views of an abdomen massage accessory according to two embodiments according to one invention.

- Figures 15 and 16 are respectively front views of the device according to versions A and B.

- Figure 17 is a schematic view of a massage accessory for the lower limbs of the device according to version B.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the massage device according to the invention comprises a source of compressed air 1, a distribution assembly 2 of the air from said source and at least one accessory 3 with chambers 4 inflatable and juxtaposed dependent or independent of each other, supplied with air by the distribution assembly 2 and disposed around and / or on at least part of the patient's body.

The air source 1 is formed by a primary circuit 1A which comprises an air compressor 5 of known type, a compressed air tank 6 supplied by the compressor 5 and a pressure gauge 6A indicating the primary pressure and by a secondary circuit 1B which comprises a holder 7 of the membrane type or the like, a buffer tank 8 and a pressure gauge 8A indicating the pressure of the secondary circuit.

The secondary circuit 1B receives the air from the primary circuit 1A and supplies the distribution assembly 2.

The distribution assembly 2 supplies at least one accessory 3 provided with inflatable and juxtaposed chambers and disposed around and / or on at least one part of the patient's body.

The accessory (s) 3 according to the invention intended to be arranged around at least one part of the patient's body such as at least one lower and / or upper limb, either the waist or else on parts whose circumference must be massed, comprise an opening 9 running over their entire length delimited laterally by the ends of the inflatable chambers 4 and juxtaposed so that when they are closed around at least one part of a body to be treated, an edge of the opening 9 comprising the ends of the inflatable and juxtaposed chambers 4 covers the other edge comprising the other ends of the same inflatable and juxtaposed chambers 4 so as to be able to adapt to all the sizes of the parts of the body to be treated.

In addition, near each of the edges of the opening 9, the accessory (s) according to the invention include closing means.

The massage accessories 3 according to the invention are arranged around at least one part of the body by closing around them and over the entire length of the part or parts to be treated and by pressing against them by sliding from one edge of the opening 9 on the other edge and by means of the closing means.

On the other hand, the inflatable and juxtaposed chambers 4 are arranged between two flexible walls 10 joined together on the edges of the opening 9 of the accessory on the ends of said accessory and in the spaces residing between the inflatable chambers 4 and juxtaposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the accessory so as to be able to move said chambers apart or apart from one another in order to be able to adapt the accessory to all the lengths of the parts of the body to be treated.

The flexible walls 10 of the massage accessories according to the invention are preferably made of fabric and are joined together by seams.

The walls 10 thus secured define housings in which the inflatable and juxtaposed chambers 4 are located.

These chambers 4 are arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the accessory and are closed at their two ends, the said ends being located on the edges of the opening 9 come one on the other during the closing. The chambers 4 are preferably made of a flexible and elastic material.

Advantageously, said chambers may have at least one current fold on their edges in order to have the shape of a bellows allowing their development in one direction during inflation.

According to an alternative embodiment, the chambers 4 partially overlap in fish scales as shown in FIG. 11.

On all along at least one edge of the opening 9 are fixed stiffening elements or said edges such as whales, so that it or these can be placed properly and be maintained the one on top of the other when closing the massage accessory around at least one part of the body.

The closing means of the accessories preferably consist of and as shown in FIG. 3 by straps 11 and loops 12 fixed respectively near each of the edges of the opening 9 and on the flexible external wall 10. Each strap and each passing in front of cooperating are fixed on the flexible wall 10 at the level of an inflatable chamber 4.

Advantageously, the straps 11 carry on their surface a material making it possible to keep them closed.

 It goes without saying that the closure means are not limited to this embodiment and can be formed by lacing along the length of the accessory or by stapling or the like.

These closing means ensure a clamping of the massage accessory around the parts to be treated.

Preferably, the accessories of the massage device according to the invention have a general shape corresponding to the part of the body around which these are intended to be arranged.

Indeed, the massage accessory intended to be arranged around a lower member as shown in Figures 3 and 17 has an increasing cross section from bottom to top, that is to say from the foot to the thigh.

In addition, the accessory for the lower limb has a bent part that fits on the ankle of the lower limb.

Said accessory has over its entire length the opening 9 and is placed on the lower member by closing on it from the foot to the top of the thigh.

The accessory for the upper limb (not shown) also has an increasing cross-section from the bottom to the top, that is to say from the hand to the armpit and is arranged identically to the lower accessory by closing the along the upper limb.

According to a preferred embodiment, the accessories of the massage device according to the invention comprise nine inflatable and juxtaposed chambers 4, but it goes without saying that this number of chambers is in no way limiting.

The massage device according to the invention makes it possible to provide two types of massage maneuvers: the so-called "call" massage maneuvers and the so-called "fulling" massage maneuvers.

The calling maneuvers are carried out by applying bracelet straps gradually from the root of the limb towards the end in order to facilitate resorption at the capillaries. The pressures are intermittent, that is to say that the pressure phase follows a relaxation phase.

The fulling maneuvers are carried out in the opposite direction to the calling maneuvers, from the extremity of the member towards its root and ensure the drainage of the liquid masses upstream of said member.

For the upper limbs the calling maneuvers are carried out from the armpit to the hand, the fulling maneuvers are carried out in the opposite direction and for the lower limbs the said calling maneuvers are carried out from the groin to the foot, the maneuvers of treading being carried out from the foot towards the groins.

Fulling maneuvers drain the liquid masses towards the lymph nodes which are at the level of the groins and at the level of the armpits.

The massage device according to the invention is intended to ensure this drainage in the appropriate direction by successive and progressive compression on the parts of the body to be treated by successive and progressive pressurizations in the desired direction of drainage of the inflatable and juxtaposed chambers 4 .

This displacement of pressures can be obtained in two different ways either in a first version called version A by successively inflating the chambers one after the other or in a second version B by making the chambers communicate with each other by narrow passages.

To this end, the massage device according to a first embodiment known as version A according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises at least one massage accessory disposed around and / or on at least one part of the body to be treated which is endowed with chambers 4 inflatable and juxtaposed and with independent supply one from the other and includes an air distribution assembly 2 which is constituted by a rotary distributor 13 ensuring the deflation and the successive deflation of the chambers 4 one after the other at least one accessory in the desired drainage direction, at a desired speed and at an adjustable pressure depending on the desired massage depth.

Each chamber 4 of the massage accessory is provided with an air supply pipe 14 to which a pipe 15 for supplying air from the rotary distributor 13 is connected.

Said rotary distributor 13 is constituted, according to a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, by a rotary motor-reducer 16, by an assembly 17 for adjusting the speed of rotation of the motor-reducer 16 and its timing, by a slide 18 driven in rotation by the motor-reducer 16 and by a fixed barrel 19 against which the slide 18 rotates and in which are provided at least one air intake light 20 and lights 21 supplying at least one room 4 or at least one group 40 of rooms 4 of at least one accessory 3.

The motor-reducer 16 is of the direct current electric type and is fixed on a support plate of the compressed air source 1. The speed of rotation of the motor-reducer 16 is adjusted from the assembly 17 consisting of components electronic devices of known type. In addition, this assembly 17 allows by a time delay to continue to operate the motor-reducer 16 even after the operation of the air source 1 has stopped in order to allow total deflation of the accessory or accessories that the distributor 13 supplied.

At the end of the shaft 22 of the electric gear motor 16 are mounted the slide 18 and the fixed barrel 19.

The drawer 18 is integral in rotation with the shaft 22 by any known means for example by keying or pinning aans a slot formed behind the said drawer to catch wear.

The barrel 19 is coaxial with the drawer 18 and is fixed relative to the shaft 22. For this purpose, the said barrel is fixed on the shaft 22 by a ball bearing and is fixed in rotation and in translation relative to the said shaft 22 and to the drawer 18 by securing with the support plate of the source 1 by means of l9A lugs and by a nut 23 screwed at the end of the shaft 22 resting on the inner ring of the barrel bearing. The drawer 18 and the barrel 19 are preferably circular and of the same diameter. The drawer 18 is pressed against the rear face of the barrel 19 by a spring 24 coaxial with the shaft 22.

Said drawer having to rotate against the rear face of the barrel 24, it goes without saying that these two elements are made of materials limiting friction and preventing their wear. Preferably, the barrel 19 is made of metal such as copper and the drawer 18 is made of a plastic material. The spring 24 also makes it possible by its action to ensure airtightness between the barrel 19 and the drawer 18 as well as to make up for the play which could be produced by wear. Preferably, the rear face of the drawer 18 is conical in order to distribute the thrust forces at the spring 24 of the said drawer against the fixed barrel 19.

In the fixed barrel 19 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an inlet light 20 for air coming from the buffer tank 8 from the source 1 of compressed air is provided and lights 21 for supplying at least one massage accessory . The supply ports 21 are formed on the same radius of the barrel 19 and are arranged at regular or variable angular spacings for reasons which will be explained later.

In addition, on the front face of said fixed barrel are fixed in each supply lumen 21 a connection tube to at least one massage accessory.

The intake port 20 is formed on a radius which is smaller than that on which the supply ports 21 are arranged and receives on the front face of the barrel 19 a connection tube for a conduit for supplying air from of the buffer tank 8 of the source 1 of compressed air. The rear face of the fixed barrel 19 is flat and is in contact with the rotary slide 18 which by its rotation and its structure allows the distribution of the air supplied by the light 20 to the supply lights 21.

For this purpose in the front face of the drawer 18 pressing against the rear face of the fixed barrel 19 as shown in FIG. 6 are formed an annular groove 25 for collecting air produced on a circumference of radius equal to that where the air intake port 20, at least one recess 26 produced on the side or sides of the groove 25 perpendicular to the circumference thereof and over a length such that the said recess comes successively opposite the lights 21 of feed formed on the same circumference and at least one groove 27 formed on a circumference of the same radius as that where said feed lights are arranged and on at least a portion of a circle and at the bottom of which at least one air exhaust port 28.

During the rotation of the drawer 18, the latter being kept in contact against the rear face of the fixed barrel 19 by the spring 24, the recess 26 in communication with the air collecting groove 25 passes in front of the supply lights 21. At each passage of the recess 26 in front of a light 21, the chamber 4 connected with this light swells.

The chamber 4 after being inflated, deflates when a groove 27 comes opposite the light 21 to which the said chamber is connected, thus the air contained in this chamber escapes through the orifice 28 formed in the bottom of the groove 27 of the rotary drawer 18. The inflatable chambers 4 for massage accessories are pressurized one after the other and are also deflated one after the other.

Advantageously, the groove 27 is asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the recess 26 in order to obtain, in the direction of rotation of the drawer 18, a pressure maintenance of the chambers 4 different according to the type of massage maneuver desired, each corresponding to a direction of rotation. As shown in FIG. 6, the arrow Fl gives the direction of rotation of the drawer 18 corresponding to a call massage and therefore 9 keeping the chambers 4 very short. The arrow r2 gives the direction of rotation corresponding to a fulling massage and therefore to keeping the chambers 4 longer under pressure.

 It goes without saying that at the output of each supply light 21 can be connected several conduits 15 each supplying an inflatable chamber 4 with a massage accessory and that therefore several accessories can operate at the same time with the same rotary distributor 13 .

When the recess 26 is located during the rotation between two slots 21, an increase in pressure is created. Because of this, the rotary distributor 13 is supplied from the buffer tank 8.

As stated previously, the massage accessories intended to be arranged around the limbs have an increasing cross section from their lower end to their upper end and that consequently, the inflatable chambers 4 have an increasing volume in proportion to the increase. of the cross section of said accessory.

These chambers 4 therefore require a greater volume of air to reach the required massage pressure and therefore requires a longer inflation time.

In order to obtain the appropriate pressure in the larger volume chambers, the intake ports 21 of the fixed barrel 19 to which these larger volume chambers are connected have a counterbore on the rear face of said barrel symmetrically with respect to their axis. oblong curve 29 opposite which the recess 26 passes during the rotation of the drawer 18.

Thus, the inflation time of the chambers 4 connected to the lights 21 having this counterbore is longer than for the chambers connected to a light 21 not having this counterbore.

The supply lights 21 can be spaced at a variable angle depending on the volume of the chamber that said lights supply.

As shown in Figure 6 the spacing between the lights following the direction of rotation given by the arrow F gradually increases from the light 21 for supplying the first chamber 4 of the massage accessory to the light 21 supplying the last chamber which has a larger volume.

But it goes without saying that the spacing between the chambers can also be regular.

The rotary distributor 13 operates in continuous rotation and therefore performs a massage all along the member in one turn.

Advantageously, between each revolution of the distributor 13 or between each massage cycle, a dead center is created in order to allow after the end of each cycle the complete deflation of the accessory before recommencing a cycle. To this end, the angular spacing separating the last lumen 21 of the barrel 19 intended to supply the chamber 4 of the accessory or the group 40 of chambers 4 having the largest volume and the first lumen 21 supplying the chamber 4 or the group 40 of chambers 4 of smaller volume, is very large compared to the other spacings between the lights 21.

The massage accessories supplied by the rotary distributor 13 are removably connected to the said distributor by means of a connection plug.

The lights 21 for supplying a fixed barrel 19 are connected to the male part 30 of the connection plug fixed in front of the casing 31 containing the air source 1 and the rotary distributor.

This male part 30 has as many orifices as there are lights 21 for feeding. On this male part 30 is mounted the female part 32 on which are fixed at the end of the conduits 15. Advantageously the male part has a seal providing airtightness when the female part is connected.

Each supply lumen 21 having to be connected to a determined chamber 4 of the inflation device, it goes without saying that a positioning pad of the female part 32 on the male part 30 is provided.

For accessories having a smaller number of chambers than that of the accessories used for the members, the female part is provided with a number of orifices equal to the number of chambers while the male part remains unchanged.

On the other hand, it is planned to supply several accessories from the same rotary distributor 13 and therefore it is necessary for the casing 31 to have several male parts 30 on its front face in order to be able to connect several accessories.

Advantageously, when an accessory is not connected to the male part 30, provision is made to place a buffer on the latter in order to avoid air leakage on this male part 30.

The rotary distributor 13 to which at least one massage accessory with independent inflatable chambers 4 is connected makes it possible to obtain around the part of the body to be treated a constrictive ring moving in the desired direction, at a desired speed and at the pressure desired thus exerting a real massage from the lightest to the deepest and from the slowest to the quickest.

The front face of the casing 31 of the device according to the invention presents the manometers 6A and 8A displaying the working pressure and the pressure in the tank 6 upstream of the regulator, a pressure adjustment slider 34, a button 35 adjustment of the speed of rotation of the rotary distributor 13 by means of the electronic assembly 17, a contactor 36 for putting into service, an inverter 37 of the direction of rotation of the rotary distributor 13, the male parts 30 of the connection plugs, a timer button 38 and a plug 38A for the connection of a remote control usable by the patient.

The timer allows at the end of a given massage time to stop the operation of the air source 1. The timing of the electronic assembly 17 then allows to stop the rotation of the distributor 13 to allow the total deflation of the accessories massage 3 connected to it.

It is also provided for the device according to the invention to carry out an automatic control of the massage allowing over time to vary the direction, the pressure and the speed of said massage automatically.

According to a second embodiment of the massage device according to the invention known as version B and shown in FIG. 2, the massage accessory 3 comprises inflatable chambers 4 dependent on each other by at least one tube 41 of determined diameter to the accessory and the air distribution assembly 2 consists of at least one electropneumatic valve 43 connected to the air source 1 and each supplying at least one massage accessory 3 with dependent inflatable chambers 4.

According to this version B, the massage accessories 3 comprise inflatable chambers 4 dependent on at least one tube 41 of determined diameter arranged between two juxtaposed chambers as shown in FIGS. 9 and 17.

Said juxtaposed chambers are placed as before between two flexible walls 10 and the tubes 41 connect the juxtaposed chambers by being placed between the flexible walls 10 or else by being placed outside these walls 10.

Preferably between the juxtaposed chambers 4 is disposed a single tube 41.

The air inlet tube 41 and the air outlet tube 41 of the same chamber are preferably arranged opposite each other to allow proper inflation of the chambers 4 and are arranged so not to be covered when the accessory is closed in order to always allow the passage of air between the chambers.

The connection tube 14 of the air supply pipe 15 is disposed on the first inflatable chamber 4 and the last inflatable chamber is provided with a leak limiter 45 or calibrated nozzle.

The massage accessory 3 according to this version B is supplied with air by a single electropneumatic valve 43.

According to this embodiment, the distribution assembly 2 comprises at least one valve 43 supplying at least one accessory 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air distribution assembly 2 comprises two valves 43 to which at least one accessory 3 is connected by the pipes 15.

These valves 43 are directly connected to the compressed air tank 8 of the air source 1 and can send the pressurized air to the two accessories either alternately or simultaneously or be controlled by the heart rate.

To this end, said valves are controlled by a set of controls 46 which makes it possible to operate the valves 43 simultaneously or one after the other depending on the type of accessories which are connected to them. In addition, a switch 47 makes it possible to switch the two valves 43 on and / or off and selectively with respect to one another.

Preferably, an adjustment device 48 controls the opening times and the closing times of each solenoid valve 43.

Advantageously, this adjustment device 48 includes a connection 49 for a cardiac sensor in order to operate the valves 43 at this rate.

According to this embodiment, the pressure, speed and direct ion of the massage are also regulated.

The direction of the massage can be reversed by changing the connection of the air intake pipe 15 and by placing the latter on the leak limiter 45, the latter being open and by placing on the tubing 14 a leak limiter. .

According to this embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the reservoir 8 is under pressure and each time that one of the valves 43, which are connected to it, opens, this has the effect of pressurizing the first chamber of the massage accessory 3 which is connected to said valve 43.

The opening of the valve 43 can be adjusted over time by a timer of the electronic type 48.

The air contained in the first chamber gradually escapes into the next chamber through the tube 41. This air cannot return to the source because when the valve 43 is closed it can only escape through the tube 41 or else when the valve 43 is open the pressure of the reservoir 8 to which the valve is connected is higher than that of the first chamber 4.

The air is exhausted from one chamber to the other due to the pressure differences between the chambers and due to the presence of the leak limiter 45 on the last chamber.

By this play of pressure difference between the chambers the air progresses all along the accessory in the manner of a pressure wave which runs all along the member.

By the timer 48 the closing time of the valve 43 is adjusted and when this has elapsed the valve 43 opens, for a time determined by the timer 48, and allows the sending of an air flow in the first accessory chamber.

By adjusting the opening and closing times of the valves 43 and the regulator 7 which limits the pressure in the reservoir 8, the massage depth and its frequency can be adjusted, which can also be adjusted by the heart rate. .

Advantageously as shown in Figure 2 on the air intake of the compressor 5 of the air source 1 can be mounted a filter 5G, a leak valve 51, a vacuum gauge 52 and at least one suction cup 53. On the suction cups 51 a medical current is supplied by a generator 54. It goes without saying that the device according to version A can also receive the elements described above.

The front face of the casing 31 of the device according to this version B shown in FIG. 16 has, as before, the manometers 33, a button 34 for adjusting the pressure, a socket 3A for the connection of a remote control and a button for timer 38.

In addition, the front face of the housing has connections 55 for the connection of massage accessories, a switch 46 for the selection of the valves 43, another switch 47 for the selection of the simultaneous or alternative operation of the valves 43, a socket 56 for the connection of a cardiac sensor, two connections 57 for the vacuum sockets for the suction cups 53, a vacuum gauge 52, a vacuum adjustment button 58, a medical current adjustment button 59 and two adjustment buttons 60 and 61 of the valve opening and closing times 43.

According to a third embodiment of the massage device according to the invention, the massage accessories 3 comprise groups 40 independent of at least two inflatable chambers 4 dependent on one or more of the others and the distribution assembly of air 3 is constituted by the rotary distributor 13 making it possible to supply the independent groups 40 one after the other.

Said groups consist of at least two inflatable chambers 4 placed in dependence on one another by a tube 41 of determined diameter.

A single inflatable chamber 4 of group 40 is supplied from the rotary distributor, the other chambers of group 40 come out inflated by the air leakage through the tube 41 of the chamber which precedes them.

According to this embodiment, the massage accessory 3 is as described previously in version A except for the presence of the tube 41 between two chambers 4 of a group 40 and the presence of a single supply tube 14 for each group. 40 of chambers 4. This embodiment makes it possible to significantly reduce the number of lines 15 between the accessory and the distributor and thus simplifies the apparatus according to the invention.

Advantageously on the last chamber 4 of a group 40 can be mounted a leak limiter 42 or calibrated nozzle for the exhaust of air.

The rotary distributor 13 comprises a number of intake ports 21 equal to the number of independent groups 40 of dependent rooms 4.

In addition, the lights of the fixed barrel 19 of said distributor are arranged so as to allow long inflation times and the rotation of the distributor is adjusted so that the inflation of the next group 40 is carried out when the last chamber 4 of the previous group 40 is deflated.

It will easily be understood that to change the direction of the massage, the pipe 15 is connected to the leak limiter 42, the latter being open as much as possible, the tube 14 plays the role of limiting the air leak and the rotation of the rotary distributor. 13 is reversed.

Advantageously, provision is made for the massage device according to the irrl: tinn diVers typ of massage accessories each intended to be arranged around and / or on a specific part of the body.

 Figures) and 17 shows a mdssage accessory 3 intended to be arranged around a lower member. This massage accessory is preferably constituted according to the first embodiment with inflatable chambers 4 independent, but it goes without saying that it can also be constituted according to the other embodiments.

This accessory allows the drainage of the liquid masses upstream of the lower limb.

In order to complete this drainage and more particularly the lymphatic drainage towards the ganglia being at the level of the groins, at least one inflatable chamber 4 is put in communication with a massage accessory of the size.

This waist massage accessory consists of a belt, the ends of which overlap and press around the patient's waist.

Preferably, this massage belt comprises at least two inflatable chambers 4, independent or not, and produces lymphatic drainage towards the ganglia of the groins and therefore in the opposite direction of the massage of the lower limb.

The connection between the leg massage accessory and the waist massage accessory is made by communicating the penultimate and the last chamber 4 of the leg compaction accessory with the first and the second chamber 4 of the waist massage accessory.

The connection can also be made by pooling the last chamber of the member's accessory with a single chamber of the waist accessory when this waist massage accessory has 4 dependent chambers. In this case the leak limiter is placed on the last chamber supplied with the abdomen massage accessory. Thus the massage of the abdomen is simultaneous and in the opposite direction to the massage of the upper leg.

 It goes without saying that two leg massage accessories can be connected to the abdominal massage accessory.

For the massage of the upper limbs it can also be provided to make a connection identical to the previous one between the massage accessory (s) of the upper limbs with a massage accessory from the upper torso in order to carry out the lymphatic drainage of these parts of the body simultaneously and in the direction of the lymph nodes located at the level of the armpits.

On the other hand, it has proven useful for lying patients to perform a back massage to achieve simultaneous drainage to the groins and to the armpits.

To this end, the accessory as shown in FIG. 12 is made up from version B of the device, that is to say dependent, parallel and identical chambers 4. According to this version the air circulates according to the arrows X and Y.

According to version A, that is to say for accessories with independent chambers 4 preferably supplied by the rotary distributor 13, the massage is carried out in the order as designated in FIG. 12 chronologically by letters. But it goes without saying that the massage can be carried out in various directions, not limited to those designated above.

In addition, there is provided in the apparatus according to the invention an accessory for massaging the abdomen consisting of inflatable chambers 4 arranged relative to one another according to the arrangement of the intestines as shown in FIG.

The chambers of this accessory have a gradually decreasing volume from the first chamber to the last and the inflation of this accessory begins with the pressurization of the first chamber 4 having the largest volume up to the smaller volume.

According to another embodiment of the massage accessory for the abdomen as shown in FIG. 14, the chambers 4 are arranged and arranged in a spiral. The massage therefore follows a substantially spiral path in the direction of intestinal transit.

 It goes without saying that several accessories can be connected in series, for example it is possible to put the lower limb massage accessory 3 into communication with the abdomen massage accessory. So many combinations are possible between different accessories.

Advantageously, there may be provided terminals comprising the regulator 7, a pressure gauge 33, a buffer tank 8 and a distribution assembly 2 independently connected to a central air source comprising a compressor 5, a tank 6 and a pressure gauge 33. Several terminals can therefore be connected to the same central air source.

The massage device according to the invention allows the drainage of the liquid masses in a given direction, at a determined speed and at the desired pressure as a function of the determined massage depth.

 It goes without saying that the present invention can receive all arrangements and all variants in the field of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of this patent.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS of the parts of the body to be treated. chambers (4) in order to be able to adapt to all the large other edge comprising the other ends of the same tees of the chambers (4) inflatable and juxtaposed covers the body with an edge of the opening (9) comprising the extremi the closing of said accessory around at least one juxtaposed part and closing means such that when laterally by the ends of the inflatable chambers (4) an opening (9) running over their entire length delimited around at least one part of the body to be treated include massage accessories (3) intended to be placed on a part of the patient's body, characterized in that the distribution seems (2) and arranged around and / or on (4) inflatable and juxtaposed, powered in air by the said source and at least one accessory (3) with chambers  (1), a set of distribution (2) of the air from 1  R1 / Massage device with a source of compressed air  the desired massage depth.  a desired speed, and at a pressure adjustable according to  one after the other according to the desired drainage direction, at  successive chambers (4) of at least one accessory (3)  rotary stopper (13) ensuring inflation and deflation  air distribution tele (2) consists of a distri  independent of each other and in that the whole  inflatable and juxtaposed chambers (4)  terized in that the massage accessory (3) is provided with R3 Massage device according to claims 1 and 2 charac  in order to be able to adapt the accessory to all loncueuis gone .iu crps to be treated  expensive or move said rooms away from each other  longitudinal of the accessory so as to be able to  (4) inflatable and juxtaposed transversely to the axis  accessory and in the spaces between the rooms  the opening (9) of the accessory, on the ends of the said  flexible (10) secured together on the edges of  massage accessory (3) are arranged between two walls  what the inflatable and juxtaposed chambers (4) of the ac- R2 / Massage device according to claim 1 characterized in  of inflatable dependent chambers (4).  air one after the other said groups (40) independent  by a rotary distributor (13) making it possible to supply  what air distribution assembly (2) consists of  dependent on the one or the other and in  groups (40) independent of at least two inflated chambers  terized in that the massage accessory (3) is provided with R4 / Massager according to claims 1 and 2 charac  dan Les through tanks (43A).  massage accessory (3) with inflatable chambers - (4)  on the air source (1) each supplying at least one  killed at least one electropneumatic valve (43) connected  in that the air distribution assembly (2) is constructed  inflatable chambers (4) dependent on each other and  terized in that the massage accessory (3) is provided with R5 / Massage device according to claims 1 and 2 charac  and the fixed barrel (19).  ensuring air tightness between the rotary drawer (18)  minus a massage accessory (3) and a spring (24)  inflatable or at least one group (40) of chambers (4) of  lights (21) supplying at least one chamber (4)  at least one air intake lumen (20) and  which turns the drawer (18) and in which are housed  by the gear motor (16), a fixed barrel (19) con  motor-reducer of a drawer (18) driven in rotation  conductor, a direction reverser (37) of the rotation of the  (17) for adjusting the speed of rotation of said motor-d  consisting of a rotary gear motor (16), an assembly  characterized in that the rotary distributor (13) is R6 / Massage device according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 8  air exhaust port (28).  tu26) and at the bottom of which at least one  stick relative to the longitudinal axis of the offset  and at least on an asymmetric portion of a circle  same radius as that where the lights are arranged (21)  at least one groove (27) formed on a circumference of  (21) feeds arranged on the same circumference and  recess comes successively next to the lights  ference of it and over a length as said  sides of the groove (25) perpendicular to the circumference  fixed, at least one step (26) made on the one or more  where is the air intake light (20) of the barrel  of air produced on a circumference of radius equal to that  (19) are formed an annular groove (25) collector  rotating pressing against the rear face of the fixed barrel  characterized in that in the front face of the drawer (18) R7 / Massage device according to claims 1, 3, 4 and 5  (4) or group (40) of rooms (4) of large volume.  to obtain a longer inflation time for these chambers  (26) during the rotation of the drawer (18) so  oblong curved counterbore (29) next to which the strip passes  fixed barrel (19) symmetrically with respect to their axis a  at least one accessory present on the rear face of the  an independent group (40) of large rooms (4)  an independent inflatable chamber (4) of large volume or  swam in the fixed barrel (19) and intended to supply  characterized in that the supply lights (21) mé R8 / Massage device according to claims 1, 3, 4 and 6  (4) or a group (40) of rooms 4 of large volume. R9 / Massage device according to claims 1, 3, 4 and 6 characterized in that the angular spacings between the intake lights (21) gradually increase starting from the light (21) supplying a chamber (4) or a group (40) of chambers (4) of small volume of at least one accessory (3) towards the light (21) supplying a chamber  fixed barrel (19) are regularly spaced.  characterized in that the intake lights (21) of the R10 / Massage device according to claims 1, 3, 4 and 6  Roll / massage device according to claims 1, 3, 4 and 6 characterized in that the angular spacing separating the last lumen (21) from the fixed barrel (19) intended to supply the chamber (4) or the group (4 which of c-iamures (4) of at least one accessory having the largest volume and the pr i er i i i mi (21) supplying the chamber (4-) or the group of chambers (4) of lower volume is very large compared to the other spaces between the lights (21) in order to allow at each end of the massage cycle the complete deflation of the accessory (s).  with each other by at least one tube (41) of determined diameter.  or independent groups (40) are in communication  characterized in that the chambers (4) of the accessory (3) R12 / Massage device according to claims 1, 2, 4 and 5  opening time and closing time of the valves (43).  characterized in that it includes a timer (47) of the  R13 / Massage device according to claims 1,2 and 5 R14 / Massage device according to claims 1, 2 and 5 characterized in that it comprises a connection socket for a cardiac sensor so that the latter controls the frequency of openings and closings of the valves (43).  characterized in that it comprises a switch (46A) for selecting the valves (43) and a switch (46) for controlling the alternative or simultaneous operating mode of the valves (43).  R15 / Massage device according to claims 1, 2 and 5