International Medical Electronics, Ltd. manufactures the Magnatherm Model 1000 and Magnatherm SSP, pulsed shortwave diathermies.

HISTORY OF DIATHERMY:

Diathermy, which literally means "through Heat" is a technique using high frequency energy to directly heat deep seated tissues and produce a therapeutic response. Diathermy was first used in 1907 by Nagelschmidt, a Berlin Physician. Its use rapidly expanded throughout Europe and America; by the 1930's Diathermy was in wide use for many conditions.

Some of the uses of Diathermy have changed over the years. In 1923, a controlled study using Diathermy to treat pneumonia patients was published by Dr. Harry Stewart. He reported a mortality rate of 42.9% among the controls versus a 19.4% mortality rate among the patients treated by Diathermy.*   Sampson, Plank, Granger, Cumberbatch, Corbus, and O'Connor, among others, wrote books detailing many and various uses for diathermy in medical practices.* 

However, by the late 1950's, with the advent of pharmacological agents to treat many of these conditions, the use of Diathermy began to decline. Recently, it has been realized that modalities such as the deep therapeutic heat of diathermy are desirable and don't have side effects. This coupled with the advent of modern, more efficacious, safer to use equipment has led to a resurgence in Diathermy use.

*  Uses discussed in these texts have not been approved by the FDA.

MAGNATHERM:

Today, Magnatherm Model 1000 and the new Magnatherm SSP are the leaders in providing therapeutic heat deep into the musculature, where it is most effective.

The Magnatherm is designed to pulse between 700 and 7000 pulses per second with a 95 microsecond pulse width. The Magnatherm pulses throughout the therapeutic range, and can provide mild, moderate, or vigorous deep heating.

Magnatherm is designed with electrostatic shielding, which suppresses electrostatic energy which conjugates on the surface and allows the electromagnetic energy to create deep seated heating.

The Magnatherm has two independent induction treatment heads which allow for the treatment of two parts of the body simultaneously, the treatment of one area of the body from two directions, or the synergistic treatment of one area both directly and remotely at the same time.

Heating is an important technique in the practice of physical medicine. Therapeutic heat treatment of deeper pathologic conditions and chronic disease processes can be achieved very easily with Magnatherm.

Heating of deep seated musculature results in many beneficial physiological effects:

• Increase in blood flow due to vasodilation
• Increase in capillary pressure and cell membrane permeability
• Increase in transfer of metabolites across cell membranes
• Increase in concentration of white blood cells and antibodies
• Increase in transfer of toxins, engulfed bacteria, and debris away from the treated area
• Improved oxygenation
• Decreased inflammation
• Relaxation of muscles and relief of muscle spasms
• Decrease in tension of collagenous tissue and increase of range of motion of collagenious tissue such as tendons and joint capsules
• Relief of pain and edema

Magnatherm is useful in the management of arthritis, bursitis, low back pain and muscle spasm, tendonitis, neuritis, and other similar conditions that benefit from mild, moderate, or vigorous deep heat therapy.

Magnatherm not only relieves pain but can often help resolve the underlying conditions.

The New Magnatherm SSP is both portable and mobile, and can bring the benefits Magnatherm provides to both the clinic and the home.

[BACK] [HOME] [ NEXT]

Copyright © 1997 by International Medical Electronics, LTD.
All Rights Reserved