Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Thermal applicators
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-04
2001-12-04
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Thermal applicators
C607S090000, C607S096000, C607S088000, C606S027000, C606S031000, C128S898000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327506
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a far infrared heating apparatus which is particularly suitable for a far infrared radiation treatment apparatus for medical or health preservation purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, various kinds of infrared radiation treatment apparatuses, using thermal effects, have been utilized for purposes such as relieving lower back pain or a stiff neck. Infrared rays are classified by their wavelengths generally as near infrared rays, far infrared rays and the like.
Near infrared rays, which cause electromagnetic wave damage like cataracts, sunstroke, and cytoclasis, must be reduced as much as possible when infrared rays are utilized for medical treatment. In contrast, due to far infrared rays significant thermal and wave motion effects (resonance (vibration) absorption phenomenon), they are not only harmless to humans but they also promote metabolism by promoting blood circulation in capillaries and they activate the automatic functions of the nervous and hormone systems, thereby activating the functions of the immune system and the spontaneous recovery system.
Radiotherapy also uses radiation which is a kind of electromagnetic wave and is employed in medical facilities particularly because it is effective in killing cancer cells. However, radiotherapy causes side effects, such as a swollen face and pain, because the radiation also damages the surrounding normal cells.
Therefore, far infrared radiation treatment apparatuses recently have become an alternative to radiotherapy apparatuses. The publication of Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Application No Hei 3-51912 discloses a far infrared heating apparatus comprising a radiator, which is made by winding a heating wire around a hollow ceramic cylinder to radiate far infrared rays.
However, conventional apparatuses, like the above, place great importance on simply heating an object to be heated by the radiating infrared rays. This results in the following problem when infrared rays are applied for the treatment of cancer and the like. During cancer treatment, cancer cells are killed by means of the heat-shock protein effect in the patient's body caused by heating the affected part (e.g. the object to he heated). When the affected part is maintained at a certain temperature, however, the part becomes used to the thermal stimulation and the heat-shock protein effect cannot be fully maximized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Wherefore, a major object of the invention is to provide a far infrared heating apparatus which continues providing thermal stimulation so that the heat-shock protein effect on the object to be heated can be further heightened.
Another object of the invention is to provide a far infrared heating apparatus with a temperature sensor to be attached to an object to be heated. A sensor control which stops, for a predetermined period of time, radiation from the far infrared radiator when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature.
A further object of the invention is to provide a timer control for radiating infrared rays intermittently from the far infrared radiator during a predetermined cycle. Also, a switching means for switching between the sensor control and the timer control as desired.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a bobbin around which a heating wire is wound and a ceramic coating applied to the exterior surface of the bobbin and the wire.
Yet still another object of the invention is to heat the object to be heated up to a maximum temperature and then cool the object to be heated by stopping the heating for a predetermined period of time. The object to be heated is then again heated, once the predetermined period of time has elapsed, until the object to be heated again reaches the maximum temperature. Due to this cycling “on” and “off”, the object to be heated feels this as a “fluctuation” in heat and, therefore, does not become used to the thermal stimulation thereby allowing the user to obtain an adequate heat-shock protein effect by using oscillating temperature. Thus, the invention can be applied to an apparatus for cancer treatment as well as for alleviating any sharp pain caused by cancer. Also, the user (the object to be heated) can undergo desired treatment by switching between the sensor control and the timer control.
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Nakashima Akira
Yogo Teruaki
Davis & Bujold P.L.L.C.
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Farah Ahmed
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