Until I heard about VIVY, I had not heard the term “diathermy” and I had to look it up. It turns out that this is a technology that can produce heat deep within muscle tissue. The heat causes increased blood flow, which in turn speeds healing by delivering nutrients and removing wastes and damaged tissue more quickly. I was surprised to learn that this effect was first observed by Nikola Tesla in the 1891, during the early days of experimentation with electricity in its many forms.
The VIVY relies on technology licensed from the U.S. Navy, which uses shortwave radio emissions to provide the deep heating effect. The company has developed small, lightweight, and efficient emitters that can be packaged in a simple wrap along with its controlling circuitry. The device can provide therapy sessions lasting from 15 to 30 minutes, and the rechargeable battery can last for up to four 30-minute sessions.
The product is expected to sell for $199 when it ships early in 2017. The company has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the development and production of the product. The company will also seek FDA clearance for the device for sale within the U.S. so there are plenty of hurdles to be overcome before this becomes a real product that you can purchase.
