[Russian electrophysiotherapeutic apparatus. The problems of its design and production]

The topical organizational problems of design, production, and use of physiotherapeutical equipment (PTE) are discussed. PTE is considered to be basic tools employed in physiotherapy. The therapeutical effect of PTE on man is produced by currents of different frequency and shape by means of electrodes (which come in contact with a patient's body) or an electromagnetic field having different frequency-modulation characteristics via non-contact method by means of radiating elements. The devices which transform electromagnetic to mechanical energy may be subsumed under a separate group that includes ultrasonic therapeutical apparatuses, mechanical massage and mechanical stimulation equipment. The leading PTE designer is "VNNIMP-VITA Co. which has developed and launched about 20 varying = purpose PTE models into practice. The interest displayed by the conversed enterprises of the military industrial complex in the manufacture of medical equipment items and primarily PTE has recently caused unsystematic development of new PTE which have not been positively assessed and introduced into medical practice. New PTE models should be designed by strengthening the relations between those who design this type of medical equipment and the new structures of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.