GB2068733A - Apparatus for treating rheumatism and similar illnesses - Google Patents

Abstract

In apparatus for treating several illnesses, such as arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, arthrosis, bursite, etc... the patient is exposed to a magnetic field which is maintained at a constant intensity during a certain time period, which is immediately followed by a progressive decrease of this intensity to a zero value. An elongated electromagnet 5 with a winding 6 connected to an A.C. source has an electric control to progressively decrease the current feeding the winding. In another embodiment, the electromagnet 5 picks up current from rails 4 along which a carriage 1 carrying the electromagnet 5 is moved by a motor 13 and leadscrew 9. The magnet is brought adjacent a cardboard closure sheet 8 at one end of a casing 2 and is then energised, while stationary, at a constant amplitude current for an adjustable time set by a timer, whereafter motor 13 is automatically energised to move carriage 1 to the other end of casing 2, and then the current fed to magnet 5 is progressively reduced to zero by a variable transformer. Magnet 5 may have a rounded-end core of mild iron rods, a magnetically permeable tube 21 (Figs. 5, 6) defining a central bore in the core. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for treating rheumatism and similar illnesses The present invention relates to a method and to an apparatusfortreating human beings having an illness, such as rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis, bursite, lumbago, etc .

It is also possible to prevent influenza symptoms if this illness is treated at the very beginning.

It is known that a magnetic field has an influence on the bio-chemical and bio-physical behaviour of living tissues. It is also known that an electromagnetic field has beneficial results in the treatment of rheumatism. For instance, see U.S. Patent 3,337,776 dated August 22, 1967, entitled: BIO-MEDICAL APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CONTROLLABLE MAGNETIC FIELDS.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus for treating illnesses, such as rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago, arthrosis, bursite, etc..., with improved beneficial results as compared to conventional or known methods. The patient is relieved of his suffering, and, when the illness is treated at its onset, only a few treatments are required.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine for effecting a treatment of the character described, which is of simple construction and of automatical operation.

The method in accordance with the invention consists in exposing a patient to an electromagnetic field produced by an alternating current; during exposure, the magnetic field is maintained at a constant intensity for a certain period of time which is immediately followed by a progressive decrease of this intensity down to zero. The apparatus consists of an elongated electromagnet provided with an electric wire winding and formed about a straight axis and adapted to be connected to an alternating current force, whereby a magnetic field is formed in a treatment zone protecting at least one end of the electromagnet.Means are provided to maintain the magnetic field intensity within said zone substantially constant for a certain period of time, and means are provided to subsequently and progressively decrease this intensity within said zone down to a zero value, either by mechanical or electric means or by a combination of both means.

The apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment comprises an elongated casing longer than the electromagnet and in which the latter is mounted for longitudinal back-and-forth movement between two limit positions, drive means to cause said electromagnet to effect this movement, control means for the drive means to prevent displacement of the electromagnet during an adjustable time, while in one of these limit positions, and to cause, immediately thereafter, automatic movement of the electromagnet towards the other limit position and means to feed this electromagnet with alternating current, both during the stationary and the moving phase of the treatment cycle. The movement of the electromagnet is to decrease the intensity of the magnetic field produced by the same in the treatment zone.One can referto a known mathematical formula stating that the intensity of the magnetic field at a given point decreases in accordance with the square of the distance between this point and the electromagnet. The same effect, naturally, can be obtained by decreasing the current intensity fed to the electromagnet. This, again, is well known, since the magnetic field intensity is proportional to the current intensity, to the number of windings of the wire on the electromagnet and to the core magnetic permeability. The part of the human body to be treated must remain stationary within the magnetic field zone during all the time of the treatment. Precise parts of the patient are designated for treating.

The invention will become clearer by referring to the description and to the annexed drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus in accordance with one embodiment showing the electromagnet in one of its two limit positions, within the elongated casing; Figure 2 is a cross-section, taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the first embodiment of the electromagnet itself; Figure 4 is an end elevation of the electromagnet of Figure 3; and Figures 5 and 6 are views to those of Figures 3 and 4, respectively, but showing a modified embodiment of the electromagnet.

In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a carriage 1 is mounted within an elongated casing 2 and is fitted with rollers 3 to rotate on rails 4, made of copper or other electric conductor. An electromagnet 5 is mounted within carriage 1. Electromagnet 5 includes an electric winding 6 arranged about a straight axis and surrounding a core 7 composed of several mild iron rods, indicated at 7a. Each end 7b of core 7 is rounded and protrudes externally at the end of the carriage 1. Electromagnet 5 is fed with alternating current, preferably of 60 cycles per second, through the intermediary of rails 4 and rollers 3. The inside of casing 2 has a length aboutthree times the length of the carriage 1 and of its electromagnet 5.Carriage 1 can move between two limit positions, one of which is shown in Figure 1, wherein the end 7b of core 7 of the electromagnet abuts a cardboard sheet 8, which closes an opening made in each of the two terminal walls of casing 2, as shown in Figure 1. The cardboard sheet can be replaced by a sheet of any mater- This print reflects (an) amend ment(s) to the request for grant effected pursuant to Rule 35 of the Patents Rules 1978.

The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

ial permeable to a magnetic field.

Carriage 1 is moved between its two limit positions by mechanical means, for instance by a threaded rod 9, which is screwed within a nut 10 carried by a support 11 fixed to the top of carriage 1.

Threaded rod 9 is rotatably supported at its free end by a support 12, which is fixed underneath the top wall of casing 2, whereas the other end of the threaded rod 9 is drivingly connected to the drive shaft of a reversible electric motor 13 through the intermediary of a transmission 14.

When the carriage 1 attains one or the other of its two limit positions, it actuates a limit switch 15 and 16, respectively, mounted at the inside face of the two end walls of the casing 2, as shown in Figure 1. These limit switches cut electric current fed to the electric motor 13. A suitable electric circuit which includes switches 15 and 16 and which is not shown because it is conventional, feeds electricity from a conventional 110-volt, 60-cycle alternating current supply to the electric motor 13 and to the electromagnet 5, and this electric circuit is partially located, for example, at 17 within a secondary box 18 mounted on the side of the casing 2, as shown in Figure 2. The top of the secondary box 18 includes a control panel 19. This control panel includes a control knob to adjust a timer, for instance between zero and 100 seconds.This timer controls the time the electromagnet 5 remains stationary in one or the other of its two limit positions. The electric circuit also enables to know precisely, if desired, the position of the electromagnet during its movement within the casing and if the treatment cycle is at the startoratthe end.

It is also to be noted that the two ends of the casing 2 can be placed in contact with or in the vicinity of the part of the patient's body to be treated and consequently the carriage 1 can be brought to one or the other of its two corresponding limit positions within the casing 2 in order to effect the appropriate treatment. The electric control circuit is arranged so as to cause displacement or movement of the elec tromagnetto the required one of its two limit positions without the electromagnet being fed with electricity. The timer is set so that the electromagnet will remain in its intended limit position during the time specified for treatment of the patient at a maximum and uniform magnetic field.At the termination of the time indicated by the timer, the latter automatically causes the controls to actuate the electric motor 13 in the required direction to cause the electromagnet to move away from the patient and therefore decrease the intensity of the magnetic field in the treatment zone and to which the patient is exposed.

When the electromagnet reaches the other end of the casing, the voltage of the current fed to the electromagnet is progressively brought down to zero by means of, for instance, a variable transformer if the casing 2 is not long enough for the magnetic field intensity in the treatment zone to have then attained a zero value. Once the magnetic field intensity has reached zero value, the treatment cycle is term inated. Obviously, the treatment can be repeated if required.

Electromagnet 5 of figures 1 to 4 can be replaced by electromagnet 20 of figures 5 and 6. In the latter, the electric wire winding 6 is also arranged about a straight axis being wound around a core 7' made of straight mild iron rods 7a. However, this core 7' has a central bore defined by an axial tube 21 made of a material which is permeable to the magnetic field.

Axial tube 21 is open at both ends and is straight.

Electromagnet 20 is also fed with the same type current as electromagnet 5 of the figures 1 to 4 but the orientation of the lines of force of its magnetic field is modified. Preferably, tube 21 has a maximum diameter of 20mm.

As an example, excellent treatment results have been obtained with an electromagnet of either of the above noted types producing a magnetic flux of 0.3 weber, the electromagnet being fed with a 60-cycle per second alternating current. The patient remained exposed within the magnetic field for one minute while the latter remained constant and for another minute during which the magnetic field was progressively decreased down to a zero value. The duration of the decreasing final phase of the treatment can be shortened to a minimum of 10 seconds.

Claims (10)

1. A method for treating a patient having an illness such as arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, arth rosisetc... comprising exposure of the patient to a magnetic field produced by an electromagnet fed with alternating current and during this exposure the maintenance of the intensity of the magnetic field in the treatment zone at a constant value for a predetermined time and immediately thereafter the progressive decrease of this intensity to a zero value.

2. An apparatus for treating illnesses such as arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, arthrosis etc... comprising an elongated electromagnet provided with an electric wire winding arranged about a straight axis adapted to be fed with alternating electric cur rentto produce a magnetic field in a treatment zone in at least one of the ends of the electromagnet, means for maintaining the intensity of the electromagnet field within said zone substantially constant for a predetermined period of time and means for subsequently and immediately progressively decreasing said intensity within said zone down to a zero value, the said apparatus enabling the patient to be exposed within said zone.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising an elongated casing, longer than said electromagnet and in which the latter is mounted for longitudinal back-and-forth movement between two limit positions within said casing, power driven means to cause said electromagnet to effectthis back-and-forth movement and means to feed electricity to said electromagnet both during the time it is in its limit position and during the time it is moving within said casing.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said electromagnet includes a straight core made of several mild iron rods themselves surrounded by said electric wire winding.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein said electromagnet includes a core made of a plurality of straight rods of mild iron, said core having an axial tube made of a material permeable to magnetic field and open at both ends and defining a central bore for said core, said core being surrounded by said electric wire winding.

6. An apparatus as defined in claims 2 or 3, wherein said electromagnet has a straight core made of a plurality of straight rods of mild iron with the core being rounded at both ends, said ends protruding from the winding whereby the core can be positioned close to the part of the human body to be treated.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further including control means including a timer manually settable to determine the time the electromagnet will be fed with current while in one of its two limit positions and means operable at the expiry of the set time of the timer to automatically move the electromagnet away from said limit position towards its other limit position with the electromagnet remaining fed with electric current.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the casing has terminal walls, each having a hole in alignment with the core of the electromagnet when the latter attains its limit position, said hole being closed by a sheet of a material permeable to a magnetic field.

9. Apparatus for treating illnesses such as arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, arthrosis and the like substantially as claimed herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-4ofthe accompanying drawings.

10. Apparatus for treating illnesses such as arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, arthrosis and the like substantially as claimed herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings including the modification of Figures 5 and 6.