# US 10,123,937 B2 · Cold/heat-assisted distributed wave vibration therapy > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,123,937 B2 - Document ID: US10123937B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/173,999 - Filed: 2016-06-06 - Published: 2017-12-07 - Granted: 2018-11-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-06 - Assignees: Perumala Corporation - Applicants: Perumala Corporation - Inventors: Madhavan Pisharodi; Dinesh Rabindran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10123937B2 ## CPC - A61H 23/004: {With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient} - A61F 7/007: {characterised by electric heating} - A61F 7/02: Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling - A61H 23/0263: {using rotating unbalanced masses} - A61F 2007/0027: {Lower part of back} - A61F 2007/0044: {Ankle} - A61F 2007/0071: {using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated} - A61F 2007/0075: {using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled} - A61F 2007/0086: {with a thermostat} - A61F 2007/0096: {with a thermometer} - A61F 2007/023: {with pockets for receiving packs or pouches} - A61F 2007/0231: {hook and loop-type fastener} - A61F 2007/0233: {connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments (A61F2007/023 takes precedence)} - A61H 2023/0272: {multiple masses each rotated by an individual motor} - A61H 2201/0207: heated - A61H 2201/0214: cooled - A61H 2201/10: with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy - A61H 2201/1626: Holding means therefor - A61H 2201/1642: Holding means therefor - A61H 2201/1645: contoured to fit the user - A61H 2201/5002: Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient - A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors - A61H 2201/5082: Temperature sensors - A61H 2205/081: Back - A61H 2205/106: for the lower legs - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Methods and systems for providing pain therapy by utilizing cold/heat-assisted distributed vibration therapy. The pain therapy device includes a plurality of vibration motors that are located along a grid. The device is portable and can be adaptable to the body part requiring pain therapy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for masking pain at a target body part, the device comprising: a plurality of vibration motors, wherein each of the vibration motors is arranged along an actuatable grid located on a medium, wherein a spacing between a first vibration motor and a second vibration motor is a predetermined distance, wherein the medium is configured to be attached to the body part; and a vibration intensity parameter controller operatively coupled to the plurality of vibration motors, wherein the vibration intensity parameter controller is configured to designate a vibration amplitude and a frequency of each of the vibration motors; and a wave vibration therapy controller operatively coupled to the plurality of vibration motors wherein, at designated time intervals, the wave vibration therapy controller stimulates specific vibration motors arranged along the grid to generate a sensation of a wave vibration, and wherein the wave vibration therapy controller is configured to provide an automatic or built-in decay time to allow the target body part to react each time the wave vibration passes through, and wherein the wave vibration controller is configured to provide a radial wave that travels inward towards a trigger point where pain is concentrated and a radial ripple wave that travels outward from the trigger point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the medium has a generally planar first surface, the first surface providing the plane of contact with the target body part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the medium is made of a flexible material with an ability to conform to a body part of a user or another object in contact with a body part of the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the device further comprises a plurality of thermoelectric modules to provide active heating and cooling to the body part of the user, wherein the thermoelectric modules are attached to the medium using a thermally conductive adhesive layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein one or more of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are positioned in series with one or more of the vibration motors for collocated pain therapy with heating and cooling. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein one or more of the plurality of thermoelectric modules are positioned in parallel with the vibration motors for non-collocated vibration therapy with heating and cooling. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the vibrations are perpendicular to the first surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein the device comprises a mechanism for regulating a predetermined temperature, frequency, amplitude, wave pattern, and time delay between waves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism further enables pre-programming a specified pattern of the spatiotemporal wave for a playback, and further enables a user to review the pre-programmed wave pattern for confirmation prior to the playback via a user-interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism is a wired extension in operative communication with the controller, or is an extension in wireless communication with the device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism comprises a touchpad screen or button interface to facilitate creation of the therapeutic wave pattern, and regulate a predetermined temperature, frequency, amplitude, wave pattern, and time delay between waves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration motors are electro-mechanically driven and heat of the electro-mechanically driven vibration motors provides passive heating of the body part of the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the electro-mechanically driven vibration motors are selected from a group consisting of a coin shaped motor and a disc shaped motor. ### Claim 14 A method for masking pain, the method comprising steps of: providing a device having a medium for attachment to a target body part; arranging a plurality of vibration motors along a grid pattern on the medium; facilitating movement of the vibration motors along a Z axis, wherein a plane of attachment of the medium and the body part of the user are along a X-Y axis; designating a vibration amplitude and a frequency for each of the vibration motors; creating a sensation of a wave vibration by stimulating specific vibration motors arranged along the grid at designated time intervals, wherein the sensation of the wave vibration modulates a perception of pain; facilitating an automatic or built-in decay time to allow for a tissue to react each time the wave passes through; and wherein the wave vibration created comprises a radial wave that travels inward towards a trigger point where pain is concentrated and a radial ripple wave that travels outward from the trigger point. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the vibrations are perpendicular to a surface in contact with a target body part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising altering the amplitude, the frequency and a speed of the wave vibrations. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, further comprising pre-programming a wave pattern, a trigger point, the amplitude, the frequency and the speed of the wave vibrations, and the automatic decay time between the wave vibrations for a playback. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising reviewing the pre-programmed wave pattern for confirmation prior to the playback. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising creating waves that travel substantially sideways. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising creating waves that travel horizontally. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising creating waves that travel substantially vertically. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising creating a combination therapy pattern, wherein the combination therapy pattern has waves that travel radially, in a ripple pattern, substantially sideways, horizontally and substantially vertically.