# US 8,769,733 B2 · Computer-controlled hydrotherapy system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,733 B2 - Document ID: US8769733B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/764,533 - Filed: 2007-06-18 - Published: 2008-12-18 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-18 - Applicants: E. Taylor Galyean; Tinsley A. Galyean - Inventors: E. Taylor Galyean; Tinsley A. Galyean - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769733B2 ## CPC - A61H 33/00: Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes (A61H35/00 takes precedence; {sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005;} for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; {isolation chambers A61M21/0094; } electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 {; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54}) - A61H 33/005: {Electrical circuits therefor} - A61H 2201/5007: computer controlled - 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) ## Abstract A hydrotherapy system uses a plurality of water sources, each of which produces water at a fixed temperature. The water from the fixed temperature sources can be mixed to form several mixed water streams, each with a predetermined temperature, by an array of computer-controlled on-off solenoid valves. Solenoid valves can also be used to apply the mixed water streams with different flow rates selectively to different body zones. The solenoids are controlled via sequences that can be created and maintained with an intuitive graphical user interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrotherapy system for treating a plurality of body zones, comprising: a plurality of fixed-temperature water sources, each water source providing water with a temperature different from other water sources; a plurality of on-off solenoid valves, the on-off solenoid valves being arranged in sets, with all valves in each set being connected by pipes to a single one of the water sources; a plurality of nozzles, with a nozzle for each body zone; a plurality of pipes, each pipe connecting the on-off solenoid valve sets to the nozzles so that, for each body zone, one and only one on-off solenoid valve in each on-off solenoid valve set is connected to the nozzle for that body zone in order to combine water streams from selected water sources and apply the combined stream to that body zone; and means for opening and closing selected ones of the plurality of on-off solenoid valves to provide water streams simultaneously to each body zone in a pattern of temperature and flow rates that changes over time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrotherapy system of claim 1 wherein each fixed temperature water source comprises a thermostatic mixing valve connected to a hot water supply and a cold water supply. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydrotherapy system of claim 1 wherein each fixed temperature water source comprises a motorized mixing valve connected to a hot water supply and a cold water supply which remains in a fixed position during a portion of the temporal sequence. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hydrotherapy system of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel, wherein each solenoid valve of said plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel comprises a first connection point and a second connection point, wherein the first connection point of each solenoid valve of said plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel is connected to a pipe from said plurality of pipes connecting the on-off solenoid valve sets to the nozzles, and wherein the second connection point of each solenoid valve of said plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel is connected to a nozzle of said plurality of nozzles; and means for opening and closing at least one of the plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel in order to change the water flow rate to the nozzle connected to said at least one of the plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hydrotherapy system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel comprises at least three solenoid valves connected in parallel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hydrotherapy system of claim 1 wherein the means for opening and closing the solenoid valves comprises an electronic controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hydrotherapy system of claim 6 wherein the means for opening and closing the solenoid valves further comprises a plurality of sequences stored in a memory that control the controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The hydrotherapy system of claim 6 wherein a program generates a graphic user interface that can be manipulated to create and maintain the plurality of sequences. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydrotherapy system of claim 1 comprising four fixed temperature water sources. ### Claim 10 A method for operating a hydrotherapy system for treating a plurality of body zones, comprising: (a) providing a plurality of fixed-temperature water sources, each water source providing water with a temperature different from other water sources; (b) providing a plurality of on-off solenoid valves, the on-off solenoid valves being arranged in sets, with all on-off solenoid valves in each set being connected by pipes to a single one of the water sources; (c) providing a nozzle for each body zone and a plurality of pipes, each pipe connecting the on-off solenoid valve sets to the nozzles so that, for each body zone, one and only one on-off solenoid valve in each on-off solenoid valve set is connected to the nozzle for that body zone in order to combine water streams from selected water sources and apply the combined stream to that body zone; and (d) opening and closing selected ones of the plurality of on-off solenoid valves to provide water streams simultaneously to each body zone in a pattern of temperature and flow rates that changes over time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising: (e) changing the water flow rate to a given body zone by opening and closing at least one of a plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel, wherein each solenoid valve of said plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel comprises a first connection point and a second connection point, wherein the first connection point of each solenoid valve of said plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel is connected to a pipe from said plurality of pipes connecting the on-off solenoid valve sets to the nozzles, and wherein the second connection point of each solenoid valve of said plurality of solenoid valves connected in parallel is connected to a nozzle of said plurality of nozzles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein step (d) comprises storing a plurality of sequences in a memory and opening and closing the solenoid valves in response to the stored sequences. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising generating a graphic user interface that can be manipulated to create and maintain the plurality of sequences.