Hydro massage system

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and apparatus for delivering a hydro-massage operation using a water jet that moves over a user in both a longitudinal direction (lengthwise) and a traverse direction (widthwise). A robotic arm maneuvers a water jet over a user's body to spray water at various locations according to user inputs such as voice commands or a prerecorded program. The program can be tailored to specific preferences of the individual user, using body measurements and pre-selected preferential locations for water delivery. The program is carried out by a microprocessor in the apparatus to control the movement of the robotic arm.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for delivering a hydro-massage comprising: 
 a bed to support a user thereon;    a cover for enclosing the bed; and    a nozzle supported over the bed, the nozzle translating in the longitudinal and traverse directions.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the translation of the nozzle is controlled by a computer.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the computer controls the translation of the nozzle according to real-time commands provided by the user.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the temperature of the water is controlled by the computer according to real-time commands provided by the user.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein a spray pattern of the nozzle is controlled by the computer according to real-time commands provided by the user.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the real-time commands provided by the user are voice commands.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the real-time commands provided by the user using a keypad.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the nozzle translates in the traverse direction along an arced path.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the translation of the nozzle in the traverse direction is driven by a belt drive.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the belt is made of a semi-rigid plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the nozzle is directed vertically as it travels along the arced path.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the computer controls the translation of the nozzle according to recalled instructions from a previous hydromassage session.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the temperature of the water is controlled by the computer according to recalled instructions from the previous hydromassage session.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein a spray pattern of the nozzle is controlled by the computer according to recalled instructions from the previous hydromassage session.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the computer controls the translation of the nozzle according to preprogrammed instructions input to the computer by the user.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the temperature of the water is controlled by the computer according to preprogrammed instructions input to the computer by the user.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein a spray pattern of the nozzle is controlled by the computer according to preprogrammed instructions input to the computer by the user.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the preprogrammed instructions are input to the computer by a user's personalized diskette  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the bed includes a plurality of holes for passing water to a collection region below the bed.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein bed is mapped by a coordinate system recognized by the computer.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the coordinate system coincides with a plurality of holes for passing water to a collection region.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising a marker adapted to align with at least one hole to locate a portion of the user to the computer.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the marker comprises a cushion.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising an acoustic sensor for evaluating a location of the user on the bed.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising pressure sensitive sensors for evaluating a presence of the user on the bed.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein a spray pattern of the nozzle is adjustable.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the nozzle is located in a carriage, and the spray pattern of the nozzle is controlled by the position of the nozzle within the carriage.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the carriage includes an eccentric track that determines the position of the nozzle within the carriage.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein a motor moves the nozzle along the eccentric track.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a pulsing mechanism for intermittently interrupting the flow of water through the nozzle.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the interruption of the flow of water is controlled by the computer.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  further comprising a motor to operate the pulsing mechanism under the control of the computer.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the pulsing mechanism can be controlled using real-time commands.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a biofeedback acquisition sensor for measuring a user's biological function and delivering the data to the computer.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the computer adjusts a hydromassage program according to the personal data.  
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for moving a water spray nozzle comprising: 
 an arm defining an arced path to be traversed by the water spray nozzle, the arm including a slot extending generally a length of the arced path;    a belt movable along the arm;    a nozzle carriage supported on the arm at the slot and movable along the slot, wherein said nozzle carriage is moved along the slot by the belt;    a nozzle housed within the nozzle carriage;    a nozzle direction control for controlling the direction that the nozzle sprays;    a nozzle spray pattern control for controlling a spray pattern of the nozzle; and    a nozzle pulsing mechanism for intermittently interrupting a flow of water through the nozzle.    
     
     
         37 . A movable water spray delivery system comprising: 
 a nozzle support for positioning a nozzle at predetermined locations over a two-dimensional surface area;    a computer operably connected to the nozzle support for controlling the positioning of the nozzle by the nozzle support;    a water supply piping providing water from a water supply to the nozzle support; and    input means for inputting commands to the computer to control the positioning of the nozzle.