Submersive therapy apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The device of this invention concerns an ultra-sound delivery apparatus incorporating multiple treatment modalities in a bath.
The bath can be made of a heat, stain and shatter-resistant material such as plastic, fiberglass, Kevlar or equivalent material.
The inner lining of the bath has multiple treatment heads around all sides and on the bottom of the tub basin to deliver ancillary optional treatment modalities including pulsed or continuous acoustic ultrasound and neuromuscular electrostimulation.
In addition to the application of sound energy in the present invention, a pulsed or continuous electric and electromagnetic field is created by a separate circuit.
When a medicament is added to the aqueous environment, the invention becomes a drug delivery apparatus with a variety of protocols for phonophoretic, iontophoretic and electromagnetophoretic treatments.
In the submersive therapy apparatus of this invention the tub or tank surrounds the anatomical placement of the body or body part, such as a foot, arm, hand or knee, contained in an aqueous environment to administer ultrasound, pulsed electro-magnetic radiation or an electric field in connection with a liquid drug or aqueous medium.
The internal floor and/or walls of the submersive therapy apparatus tub are embedded with ultrasound heads, a plurality of electrodes, and magnetic coils that are focusable toward a body surface, enabling the submerging of a body or body part to obtain drug delivery and/or physiotherapy.
Furthermore, the ultrasound heads and electrode placement aims the delivery of acoustic ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, and electrical current directionally at various angles and levels toward and around a targeted body part placed in the center of the bath.
Delivery of submerged ultrasound therapy to a body part is known to be safe when given within a short distance from the ultrasound heads to avoid the danger of burning.
When the liquid used in this apparatus is medicated, the ultrasound energy increases absorption of such drug through the skin