Physical therapy heated personal capsule

A personalized capsule used for physical therapy that has an elongated horizontally extending bed on a portable base, which is designed to support a person in a horizontal position. The bed is covered with an overlying cover that encapsulates the person on the bed, while leaving the head exposed, and provides selected heat, bed vibrations, lamps, and heated air to warm the entire body to desired levels for physical therapy purposes. The dry heat provided by the heating system aides in improving circulation, and also temporarily relieves aches and pains as well as relaxing muscles. The cover is provided with window openings covered by transparent windows so that the patient can be observed. The windows pivot open for manipulation or other treatment of the patient without opening the entire cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a personalized enclosure which has a bed 
for supporting a patient, and a cover which encloses the body below the 
neck. A flow of heated air is used for raising the body temperature while 
the bed is vibrated selectively for temporarily providing a state of well 
being. The enclosure cover has large access windows for observing the 
patient and for access for moving or adjusting the patient for comfort and 
treatment. 
In the prior art, it is well known to provide an individual compartment or 
capsule for a personalized sauna which will permit a patient to lie on a 
bed that can be selectively vibrated while heat is provided, and which is 
used for providing a feeling of well being for the person lying in the 
bed. Total enclosure is usually provided, as shown in U. S. Pat. No. 
5,101,809. Additionally, attachments can be made for providing bright 
light therapy to this type of a capsule, as shown in co-pending 
application Ser. No. 08/340,788, filed Nov. 16, 1994. The application just 
mentioned uses the addition of color and other light stimuli for 
controllable light therapy. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a personalized environmental capsule or 
housing for permitting controlling a heated atmosphere in the capsule for 
the treatment of patients that have circulatory problems, chronic pain 
problems and for stress management. The capsule also can be used for 
aiding in relieving psychiatric and psychological disorders because the 
heat tends to relax the muscles, calm the mind, and can reduce the need 
for certain medications such as anti-depressants. 
The capsule includes a bed or platform for supporting a person, (a patient) 
and having adjustable, and selective vibration devices to selectively 
vibrate the bed in separate sections, namely for the bed in separate 
sections, the lower half of the body or the upper half, or both. 
The capsule is enclosed with a cover or housing that has see-through 
windows on the side so that: a patient's condition can be observed without 
raising the cover and disturbing the temperature on the interior. Further, 
the windows are hinged so that they will lift up and permit access to a 
patient through the window openings to turn the patient, adjust the 
bedding, or apply individual heat pads to localized sections of the body. 
The use of the windows greatly enhances the ultimate use of the unit as a 
therapeutic device. Controls are also provided so that a program can be 
set out for controls, including the temperature of dry heat, for thermal 
therapy, the intensity of the massage vibrations for circulatory therapy, 
a fan flow for face air, and also stereo sound can be regulated. 
Programmed and preset programs are selected by a physical therapist or the 
user and include various temperature setting, depending on the condition 
of the patient and the desired treatment. 
Thermal treatment for physical therapy and medical rehabilitation is a well 
known first line therapy alternative. Exposing the body to a dry heat, 
such as with the present personalized treatment capsule, increases 
perspiration and is known to increase blood circulation and dilate blood 
vessels. This will provide relief from pain and stress, and ease and relax 
tired muscles and thus aid in the treatment of strains, stiffness and 
muscle spasms. 
The heated dry air flows downward over the body from a pattern of ports on 
the interior of the cover creating a general "air shower", and except for 
the head and face which is outside the environmental capsule the heat 
system delivers whole body therapy. 
An adjustable separate dorsal heat pad can be used on the bed, for the back 
and thigh heating and this heating pad can extend from the shoulders to 
the knees. vibration will provide temporary relief from minor aches and 
pains and helps to ease tired and/or strained muscles. Further, providing 
selected intensity ultra violet lights to the skin of a patient for relief 
of psoriasis or other skin problems. A transparent bed is used when all 
sides of the patients body are to be exposed to the UV light. 
The treatment capsule is mounted on locking caster wheels for providing 
mobility and easy cleaning beneath the unit. The clear acrylic, 
see-through access windows that are built into the capsule cover, are 
large for easy access, and they are hinged so that they can open easily 
utilizing normal large size cabinet hinges that are spring loaded to 
maintain the windows in their open position. 
The unit is ready to use, in that it is self-contained, once it is plugged 
in.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EBODIMENTS 
The physical therapy heated capsule illustrated generally at 10 comprises a 
vibratory bed assembly 11 including a supporting pedestal 12. The interior 
of the pedestal provides a lower portion of a chamber or compartment 19 
for a person. A blower and heated air flow duct system indicated generally 
at 13 (FIG. 3) provides uniformly directed, heated, recirculated air over 
a person in the capsule. The pedestal 12 supports a bed or cushion 14, and 
an individual patient shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 at 16 is supported 
on the bed 14. The construction is shown essentially in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,101,809. The bed 14 is mounted relative to the pedestal frame on 
resilient members 15, to permit vibrating the bed. The resilient members 
15 are rubber balls supported in sockets 15A on the pedestal 12 and socket 
15B on the supports for the bed. 
As shown the capsule has a head portion 17, the pedestal including wings 18 
that come up around the sides of a head of a user. A support wall 18A is 
used for supporting the head of the user on a suitable pillow or pad. The 
body compartment shown at 19 is support the entire body except for the 
head of the user. Wing members 18 are hollow, and provide space for air 
flow ducts so that cool air can be directed from an inlet, through a fan 
28 and compartment 29 and through vents 21, as desired to blow across the 
sides of the face of the user. The fan 28 can be controlled by a suitable 
adjustable speed switch and the fan outlets are adjustably louvered to 
direct the air flow. 
The pedestal 12 can be supported on suitable locking casters 25 for 
convenience of movement and for ease of cleaning underneath the bed 
assembly 14. 
Suitable speakers 22 are provided for sound therapy. Stereo music or other 
sounds may enhance the therapeutic environment. 
The blower duct system 13 provides uniformly heated, downwardly directed 
recirculating air. The duct system 13 is mounted on the cover member or 
hood 36 of the capsule, which overlies the pedestal and encloses the body 
compartment 19. The cover member 36 has a foot end 38 and a head end 40 
which define length of the body compartment 19. The cover member 36 is 
hinged to the pedestal 12 at the foot end 38 and extends substantially 
along the entire length of the bed 14. The hinge is shown at 39 in FIG. 3. 
A head end opening 42 is provided for the neck of a user so the head can 
extend out from the body compartment 19. 
A resilient seal along the lower edges of the cover, indicated generally at 
43 in FIG. 1 can be utilized for sealing the compartment 19. A main 
control panel 44 is provided and is accessible to an attendant and can 
have suitable controls as will be explained, for temperature, vibration, 
and sound volume, or other features used. Control switches can be on the 
face of the control panel of the unit or can be on a remote control panel 
accessible only to an attendant. For example, controls may be on the 
exterior of the wings 18 as will be discussed. 
The cover 36 is provided with a pair of large openings 36A and 36B, on the 
respective sides of the cover. The openings extend a substantial portion 
of the length and width of the cover, These openings are for access to a 
patient lying on the bed 14, and they are removably covered with clear 
acrylic, see-through window panels 45A and 45B, that are mounted to the 
main part of the cover 36 through suitable spring loaded hinges 46. The 
hinges can be of any desired design suitable to carry the weight of the 
acrylic windows 45A and 45B and are common hinges used for large cabinet 
doors and the like. The hinges load in the closed portion and also then 
spring load at the open portion. The acrylic window 45A for opening 36A is 
illustrated in its opened position in FIGS. 2 and 4, and the acrylic 
window 45A is shown in its closed position in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
The hinges 46 are mounted onto suitable support blocks 46A that are molded 
into the top portion of the cover 36, and while shown schematically, 
reinforcing can be provided as desired for obtaining the necessary 
strength for supporting the acrylic windows and permitting them to be 
moved between the open and closed positions. 
The acrylic windows can have suitable soft seals along their edges if 
desired, to seal along the peripheries of the openings 36A and 36B, 
respectively. 
It can be seen that the large window openings 36A and 36D provide direct 
access to a patient lying on the bed 14, for taking care of necessary 
functions, such as turning, lifting, or just checking the patients 
condition such as taking the pulse or temperature of a patient, or 
performing other necessary functions. 
The blower heater duct system 13 intakes air through inlets 48, and then 
the blower 60 will blow the air as indicated by the arrow 49 across a 
heater 47 and out through a blower outlet 50 and up into an interior duct 
52. Outlet openings 56 are provided along sides of the duct 52 and opening 
56A are provided in the center of the duct 52 to direct air as indicated 
by the arrows 53 downwardly over the body. This construction also is shown 
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,809. Heated (or cooled) air driven by the blower or 
fan 60 will flow through the duct chamber 52, and provide an even air flow 
over the body of the patient. The outlet openings 56 are provided with 
deflector vane covers if desired. The housing cover 36 can be counter 
balanced with a pneumatic cylinder if desired, as well. 
Electric vibrators shown at 66A and 66B are mounted onto the bed 14. The 
bed 14 is supported on the suitable elastomeric members 15 to walls of the 
base so that the bed 14 will vibrate when the electric vibrators 66A and 
66B are energized. The vibrators 66A and 66B are placed at desired 
locations for obtaining a therapeutic or pleasurable vibration during use. 
The vibration intensity and frequency can be changed with suitable 
controls, as desired. 
The vibrators are divided into two groups, one of which is below the legs 
and knees of the user, and used vibrators 66A. Several vibrators can be 
placed in this general region, and they are independently controlled as a 
group. Controls for the vibrators may be on the control panel accessible 
to the user, but preferably are on one of the side wings 18, on the 
exterior as shown so that an attendant can control the vibration of 
frequency, intensity, and the location of the vibration. The vibrators 66B 
are in a section underneath the back and the shoulders of a patient. These 
vibrators can be varied in size and location, and then varied in intensity 
to obtain selective vibration for example, in two different locations, 
namely the legs (66A), as well as under the back, and then varied in 
intensity as well. Both groups of vibrators can be operated simultaneously 
for total body vibration. 
In certain instances, it is desirable to have extra heat added in 
particular locations of the body, and as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 a 
supplementary conventional heating pad or blanket indicated at 70 can be 
placed over the top of the bed 14, particularly as shown from a region 
below the shoulders up to under the knees which is indicated at 70A. This 
entire pad can be heated with suitable controls that are schematically 
shown, and the temperature can be adjusted. 
Controls can be made for the attendant, and as shown may be located on the 
exterior of the housing, for example up near one of the wings 18 shown in 
FIG. 1, can include a temperature control indicated at 70B for the extra 
heating blanket, as well as controls indicated at 72 for controlling the 
individual vibrator 66A and 66B. These controls 72 can be adjustable 
controls to control the intensity of vibration, in the individual sections 
of the bed. In other words, the person can have vibration applied to the 
lower portions of the body, generally below the waist, or to the upper 
portions of the body, or to both. Further, a thermostat control 73 can be 
set to adjust the heat in the interior atmosphere of the body compartment 
of the capsule which surrounds the patient. 
A program can be established for controlling the atmosphere temperature in 
a desired cycle, or at set levels. For example, a pre-programmed set of 
temperatures can include a basal body temperature of 100.degree. F. or 
38.degree. C., a low heat setting that would be higher than the basal body 
temperature and in the range of 120.degree. F. or 49.degree. C.; a low to 
moderate heat setting of between 100.degree. F. and 145.degree. F. which 
is 49.degree. C. to 63.degree. C. Moderate heat would be the higher 
settings shown. 
A moderate to high heat scale would be from 145.degree. F. up to 
175.degree. F., which would usually be the maximum. This is 63.degree. C. 
to 79.degree. C. the 175.degree. F. temperature is as hot as the system 
normally would be operating. 
The casters 25 shown are locking casters, 60 that the capsule can be set 
and in place and it will stay there, but the casters can be released for 
movement. 
In addition to the heat therapy, that is available, FIG. 6 illustrates a 
modified form of the invention in which ultra violet light can be applied 
to the body of the patient, to treat skin rashes or psoriases with ultra 
violet light and other known light techniques. 
In this form of the invention, the capsule, the openings, and the window 
covers are all the same as before, as is the pedestal arrangement and the 
duct arrangement for carrying heated air to a patient illustrated in 
dotted lines 90. 
In this form of the invention, however, the full contour bed has been 
replaced with an acrylic platform bed 92 which has suitable supports 93 
that rest on the elastomeric material balls 15 so that the unit is 
vibration isolated, for ease of interchanging the two types of beds. 
vibrators could be added to the acrylic bed 92, if desired. The acrylic 
bed 92 is clear, so light will transmit through it, and as shown an array 
of ultra violet lights 95 are mounted on a floor 96 of the pedestal, and 
are used with suitable reflectors to reflect light upwardly onto the body 
90 of the patient. Additionally, ultra violet lights shown at 98 are 
provided in the cover and extend along the length of the cover. They are 
shown as a cross section in FIG. 6, but would be elongated and extend 
along the length of the cover so that the ultra violet light would radiate 
down onto the top of the patient. 
Ultra violet light radiation has been used for treating of psoriases, and 
other skin afflictions, and the amount of ultra violet can be controlled 
by controlling the number of lights that are turned on, as well as the 
intensity of the lights utilizing a suitable control 100 shown also in 
FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows vibrator controls and heat controls as well in a 
remote control panel. 
It should be noted that if light therapy is going to be used for treating 
skin disorders, no sheets or padding would be placed on the acrylic bed 
92, but it can be contoured to be as comfortable as possible for a patient 
lying on the clear acrylic platform or bed. 
The windows 36A and 36B are again accessible for opening or closing to gain 
access to the patient to adjust the patient if desired and to check on 
other conditions. The patient can be observed through these windows, so 
that the patient does not have to be disturbed for mere observation, as is 
necessary for when a solid cover is utilized and has to be opened. 
The heat coming from above assures the patient that the patient is warm 
even when utilizing the light therapy shown in FIG. 6. The temperature can 
be maintained by having one or more temperature sensors 105 in the capsule 
which are connected to the thermostatic heater controls warm to a suitable 
temperature as set by the controls. 
For spinal cord injury patients the unit helps alleviate pressure sores 
because of its vibration and conformability, particularly when used with a 
suitable pad, and will temporarily increase grutaneous blood flow and well 
as decrease muscle spasms. Patients in chronic pain will receive temporary 
relief from aches and pains, and the audio therapy aids in directing ones 
attention away from such pain. 
For stress management therapy, the unit will aid in relaxing the muscles, 
calm the mind, and again audio therapy can be used. The temporary increase 
in circulation is helpful for diabetic patients as well as general 
vascular surgery and post-operative patients, for regular surgery and 
orthopedic surgery. Persons with physiatric or physiological problems are 
calmed, muscle relaxation occurs, and this can reduce the need for 
anti-depressants. 
Persons with sciatica also are able to get some relief because of the 
improvement in circulation caused by the raised temperature and the 
temporary relief of aches and pains caused by the vibration as well as the 
raised temperatures. 
Although the present invention has been described with reference to 
preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that 
changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention.