US4044772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for cardiovascular conditioning and other physiological purposes
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-03-29
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1996-03-29
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for cardiovascular conditioning, alternative bodily waste elimination and other physiological purposes includes a chamber in which a person is subjected to an environmental temperature elevated sufficiently to cause profuse sweating and increased heart rate. Very low humidity air is blown across the persons's body to achieve rapid evaporation of the perspiration. A dehumidifying system which may be associated with the chamber includes means for recovering the evaporated perspiration and expired moisture. Heart exercise is achieved by a regimen of periodic sessions in the chamber, over the course of which the environmental temperature progressively is raised to place increasing demand on the heart and vascular system. Cardiovascular conditioning results from the increased heart activity and concomitant increased blood flow to the eccrine glands that produce the perspiration. The person is quite comfortable, since the rapid sweat evaporation leaves the body surface comparatively dry, with very little increase in internal body temperature. The apparatus can be used as a substitute for an artificial kidney, since the waste products in blood can be eliminated by sweat glands. The patient remains in the chamber until the amount of recovered evaporated perspiration has a urea and uric acid, creatinine, etc. content equivalent to that which normally would be eliminated by the kidneys in the time between sessions in the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin Schloss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H33/00; A61H33/06; A61H2230/00; A61H2230/04; A61H2230/06; A61H2230/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A physiological apparatus useful for cardiovascular conditioning and other physiological purposes, comprising: a chamber, heater means for introducing heated air into said chamber at a controlled, elevated temperature to promote profuse perspiration of a nude person in said chamber, and evaporation means for circulating said introduced heated air over said person in said chamber at a flow rate sufficient to achieve continued rapid evaporation of said perspiration and of moisture expired by said person, and for continuously, rapidly removing from said chamber air containing evaporated perspiration and expired moisture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A physiological apparatus useful for cardiovascular conditioning and other physiological purposes, comprising: a chamber, heater means for introducing heated air into said chamber at a controlled, elevated temperature to promote profuse perspiration of a nude person in said chamber, and evaporation means for circulating said introduced heated air over said person in said chamber at a flow rate sufficient to achieve continued rapid evaporation of said perspiration and of moisture expired by said person, and for continuously, rapidly removing from said chamber air containing evaporated perspiration and expired moisture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said introduced air is provided to said chamber at a low humidity, and fan means for rapidly circulating said low humidity heated air within said chamber over the body of said person.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said provided low humidity air has a relative humidity of less than about 20 percent, and wherein said fan means comprises a fan of adjustable speed situated in direct communication with said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said evaporation means comprises: an evaporator, exhaust blower means for exhausting perspiration-laden air from said chamber via said evaporator, said perspiration condensing out from said exhausted air in said evaporator, and collection means for collecting the perspiration condensed in said evaporator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising: means for returning said dehumidified air from said evaporator to said chamber, said heater means heating said returned air, and including means for replenishing oxygen to and exhausting carbon dioxide from said returned air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said evaporation means further comprises: a coolant system including a compressor, connected to provide a coolant to said evaporator, and wherein said collection means comprises a bottle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said fan means comprises a fan situated in a recess communicating to said chamber via an opening, said recess and opening being larger than said fan so as to provide a flow path for air from said chamber around said fan to the space therebehind, said fan being pointed so as to blow air from said space toward said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said evaporation means removes from and provides to said chamber a volume of air equal to the chamber volume at least every three minutes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a control panel in said chamber including: a temperature control for said heater means and adjustable by said person to obtain an air temperature sufficiently high so as to cause increased heart pulse rate of said person, a heart rate monitor for indicating said increased heart rate of said person, and an air flow control, cooperating with said evaporation means, for controlling the circulation of said low humidity air in said chamber to a rate sufficient to achieve rapid evaporation of perspiration from said person.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for cardiovascular conditioning utilizing the physiological apparatus according to claim 9, comprising: placing a person in the chamber of said apparatus and connecting said heart rate monitor to said person, adjusting said temperature control to cause heating of the air in said chamber to a level that results in an elevated heart pulse rate in said person as indicated by said monitor, adjusting said air flow control to achieve rapid evaporation of perspiration from said person so that there is no appreciable elevation of the internal body temperature of said person, and maintaining said conditions of heat level and air flow rate for a sufficiently long duration to provide prolonged exercise to the cardiovascular system of said person.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus useful for cardiovascular conditioning, bodily waste elimination, and other physiological purposes, comprising: a chamber dimensioned to hold a person, a temperature controlled heater for heating the air in said chamber to a temperature adjustable up to a temperature sufficient to cause profuse perspiration of a person in said chamber, an air dehumidifying system for exhausting and condensing the waste from the perspiration-laden air from said chamber, and a fan situated to create a current of said low humidity air within said chamber sufficient to assist in the removal of perspiration from the skin of said person.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus useful for cardiovascular conditioning, bodily waste elimination, and other physiological purposes, comprising: a chamber dimensioned to hold a person, a temperature controlled heater for heating the air in said chamber to a temperature adjustable up to a temperature sufficient to cause profuse perspiration of a person in said chamber, an air dehumidifying system for exhausting and condensing the waste from the perspiration-laden air from said chamber, and a fan situated to create a current of said low humidity air within said chamber sufficient to assist in the removal of perspiration from the skin of said person.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said dehumidifying system includes: an evaporator, a blower for exhausting perspiration-laden air from said chamber via said evaporator, and collector means cooperating with said evaporator for collecting the water, derived from evaporated perspiration, which condenses in said evaporation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system for cardiovascular conditioning using an apparatus according to claim 12, comprising: placing a person in said chamber, adjusting said heater to achieve a chamber air temperature sufficient to cause said person's heart rate to become elevated, thereby exercising the person's heart, adjusting said fan speed to obtain an air current sufficient to cause said person's perspiration rapidly to evaporate, collecting and measuring the evaporated perspiration condensed in said evaporator, continuing said heart exercise for a selected time duration, and replenishing by dietary supplement to said person the same quantity of minerals that would be contained in the perspiration from which said collected and measured water is derived.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
A system for removal of bodily waste in the blood plasma using an apparatus according to claim 12, comprising: periodically placing in said chamber a person having impaired or no kidney function, adjusting said heater to achieve a chamber air temperature sufficient to cause said person to perspire profusely, adjusting said fan speed to obtain an air current sufficient to cause said person's evaporated perspiration to be rapidly removed from the person's skin, collecting and measuring the water derived from the perspiration condensed in said collector means, and continuing said perspiration and perspiration evaporation for a sufficiently long time duration so that the urea, creatinine, uric acid and other waste product contents of said perspiration correspond to the normal kidney output for the time duration between periodic sessions in said chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
A process for physiological conditioning of a person, comprising: a. subjecting said person to an environmental temperature elevated to a level that promotes profuse perspiration of said person, b. circulating low humidity air over said person's body at a sufficient flow rate to accomplish rapid evaporation and continued removal of said perspiration without appreciable increase in the person's internal body temperature, and c. continuing said (a) subjecting and (b) circulating steps for a sufficient time duration to achieve physiological benefit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
A process for physiological conditioning of a person, comprising: a. subjecting said person to an environmental temperature elevated to a level that promotes profuse perspiration of said person, b. circulating low humidity air over said person's body at a sufficient flow rate to accomplish rapid evaporation and continued removal of said perspiration without appreciable increase in the person's internal body temperature, and c. continuing said (a) subjecting and (b) circulating steps for a sufficient time duration to achieve physiological benefit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process according to claim 15 utilized for cardiovascular conditioning, comprising the further step of: d. monitoring the heart rate of said person while subjected to said elevated environmental temperature, said elevated environmental temperature being set to a level that results in an elevated heart rate, and repeating said (a) - (d) steps over a prolonged time period with gradually increasing environmental temperature levels to achieve cardiovascular exercise at concomitantly gradually increasing heart rates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process according to claim 15 utilized for bodily waste elimination to assist a kidney having impaired function, comprising the further step of: e. collecting by condensation from said circulated air the water from the perspiration evaporated from said person, and f. measuring the amount of water, derived from perspiration, collected during said step (c) time duration, and repeating said steps (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) at sufficient intervals so that the measured amount of evaporated and collected perspiration at each such repetition contains an amount of urea, creatinine, uric acid and other waste products in the blood plasma commensurate with that eliminated from the body by an operative kidney in a like between-repetition time interval.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said chamber interior has thin metal walls together with heat insulation exterior of said metal walls, said chamber exhibiting rapid heat equilibrium and low heat capacity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said evaporation means is housed in a separate equipment chamber removably attached to said chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said evaporation means includes: a blower for blowing room air through said heater means into said chamber via an inlet, the resultant heating causing the relative humidity of said room air to drop to a low level, and an outlet for exhausting air from said chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said inlet is on one wall of said chamber, and wherein said outlet is on an opposite wall of said chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising: pre-flooding means for saturating said evaporator with water prior to collection of perspiration by said collection means, said saturation insuring that all condensed perspiration will be collected with no initial accumulation of condensed perspiration in said evaporator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
A physiological apparatus for cardiovascular conditioning, bodily waste elimination, and other physiological purposes, comprising: a chamber dimensioned to hold a person, and first means for circulating heated, low humidity air into and then out of said chamber, the temperature of said heated air being sufficient to cause said person to perspire, said low humidity air producing continued evaporation and removal of the perspiration and expired moisture of said person.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
69 words
A physiological apparatus for cardiovascular conditioning, bodily waste elimination, and other physiological purposes, comprising: a chamber dimensioned to hold a person, and first means for circulating heated, low humidity air into and then out of said chamber, the temperature of said heated air being sufficient to cause said person to perspire, said low humidity air producing continued evaporation and removal of the perspiration and expired moisture of said person.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising: second means for blowing the air within said chamber around the body of said person further to accelerate the removal of said evaporated perspiration and expired moisture.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
85 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said first means comprises: a heating element, a blower for blowing room air over said heating element and into said chamber, and an outlet opening to permit exhaust of air from said chamber, the rate of said blower and the heating capacity of said element causing said room air to be heated to a temperature sufficient to cause perspiration and to drop the relative humidity to a level sufficient to produce said evaporation and removal of perspiration.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
61 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said first means comprises: a closed recirculation path exiting from said chamber and leading back to said chamber, said recirculation path including: means for exhausting air from said chamber, through said path, and back into said chamber, and an evaporator in said path for condensing moisture from air passing through said recirculation path.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said second means comprises a blower situated in direct communication with the interior of said chamber for blowing the air within said chamber over said person's body.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A physiological apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said closed recirculation path, said evaporator and said blower all are situated in an equipment compartment detachably connected to said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |