Abstract: A massage device for massaging a body part of a person in an unsupervised and unattended setting is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the massage device comprises an inflatable garment (200) having a plurality of inflation bladders (250), to apply pressure to the body part, and an inflation assembly (300) includes a manifold (324) into which the pressurized fluid flows, a plurality of inflation valves (326) which control the flow of fluid from the manifold to the bladders, and a manifold valve for controlling the maximum pressure level within the bladders. The inflation assembly may have a predeterminated inflation capacity which defines a maximum bladder size as well as an array in which the bladders are arranged. The massage device may further comprise a connector for connecting tubes from the bladders to the inflation assembly, wherein the connector includes a garment-identifying component for identifying the type of garment connected to the inflation assembly.

Abstract: A massage device for massaging a body part of a person in an unsupervised and unattended setting. The massage device includes a garment, shaped to provide a snug fit and having a plurality of bladders arranged along the garment to massage the body part. An inflation assembly supplies fluid pressure to each of the bladders to inflate the respective bladders. The bladders may have approximately the same inflated volume thereby equalizing the inflation volume of the respective bladders whereby substantially even inflation timing, with substantially even applied pressure, and, thus, overall smooth massage dynamics may be provided without overly complicated inflation fluid control (e.g., an inflation assembly which supplies a substantially constant inflation capacity to each of the bladders). The garment may include a pocket having an opening communicating with the respective bladders and tubing from the inflation assembly extends into this pocket.