US1387607A

US1387607A - Therapeutic apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1387607A
Application number: US391273A
Authority: US
Inventors: Meyer William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1920-06-24
Filing date: 1920-06-24
Publication date: 1921-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1938-08-16

Description

W. MEYER.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24.1920.

Patented Aug. 16,-1921..

UNITED STATES WILIJZAI KEYED,- OI' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

Specification of LettenPatent. Patented Aug. 16 1921- Application filed June 24, 1920. Serial Io. 891,273.

To allwhomz'tma concern:

Be it known t at 1, WILLIAM MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certaln new and useful Improvement in Therapeutic A paratus, of which the following is a full 0 ear, concise, and exact description, re erence being had to the accompanying drawmgs, formi a part of this specification.

My mvention relates to therapeutic apparatus, and more particularly to a h gh tension electrode for admmlster electrical treatments to internal organs 0 the body such as the prostate gland.

While my. invention is particularl useful and ada ted for use to this particu ar part, and whi e I am illustrating one particular embodiment, it is, of course, to be understood that the fundamental principle underlying this invention is not necessarlly limlted to a prostatic electrode, but is applicable to any electrode, whether of analogous form, or dissimilar form.

I-Ieretofore, thisform of electrode comrised a las vacuum electrode having a ulbous siiaped tip adapted for insertion, an insulated glass mantle and a. handle serving as one terminal. The glass mantle is disposed contained therein surrounding the tip and handle and insulated by means of a body of air between the tube connecting the tip and handle, which are exhausted of air to a degree where high frequency waves will be transmitted. The entire surface of the tip imparted or was transparent to the current, thereby presenting the difliculty of being unable to control or concentrate the dischar e to any particular point. I have found t at, in the application of therapeutic treatments to the internal organs, it is more feasible and often times necessary, due to the sensitiveness of the delicately constructed tissues which generally surround the part to be treated, to concentrate the high frequency current only on the part being treated without imparting the current to, or disturbing the ad oining parts; thereby greatly reducing the discomforture of the patient.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an electrode having the insert end both opaque and transparent to the transmission of high frequency current, so that current may be controlled and concentrated through the transparent portion at the organ to be treated without being imparted to the surroundin tissues.

A further 0 ject of the invention is to provide an electrode for use in treatment of internal organs, which are accessible only through an orifice, which will localize the discharge of high frequency current to a certam surface on the tip adapted for insert1on and treatment, and thereby enable the therapist to concentrate the discharge only on the affected organs.

Accordingto my invention, I provide an electrode having an outer lass tube in which is disposed a smaller tu e. This interior tube connects with the handle at one end, the other end terminating in a suitable portion which is fused with the surface of the outer glass tube, for cooperating with the organ to be treated. The interior tube, together with the handle is coated with a medmm having electro-conductive qualities, thereby obviatin the necessity of exhausting thls portion 0 the electrode.

As a further object of my invention, an insulating medium better than air may be employed between the outer lass tube and the interior tube. This insu ating medium is allowed to surround the tip thereby preventing the waves from propagating about the tip except where the two tubes are fused together.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrode which will be highly efiicient in its operation, inexpensive in construction, yet durable in its use.

In order to apprise those skilled in the art, how to construct and practise the use of my invention and I shall now describe one preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan View of an electrode embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

The electrode 5 shown in the drawings comprises the outer glass tube 6 or mantle and the inner glass tube 7, both of which may be of any othersuitable dielectric. One end of the tube 6 is formed into a handle 8, while the distal end is formed bulbous shape, as indicated at 9. The inner tube 7 is inserted in the tube 6 While the handle 8 is formed, the adjacent end of the tube the organ.

7 being enlarged and joined to the handle by means of fusing, which is indicated at 10, so as to render the interior of the tube incoinmunicalblewith the tube 6. The handle 8 is formed at any suitable angle to the remaining part of the electrode, which has for its purpose the providing of'a convenient grip for the operator. It is, of course, to be understood that the design, shape or form will alter and vary according to the diiferent uses to which the electrode will be ut.

he front end, or what may be termed the insertion end, of the tube 7 is also pro- Vided with a bulbous portion 11, adapted to lie within the bulb 9 without contacting with the sides thereof except at the portion designated 12. This portion 12 represents the part of the electrode which comes in contact with the organ to be treated, the shape of which varies with the contour of In this instance, it is dished or concave and the bulb 11, having a cooperating surface, is fused thereto. While it is shown and mentioned that this cooperating surface of the tube 11 is fused with the dished portion of the bulbous tip 9, I am aware of the fact that any suitable con-' nection may be provided, such as inserting a conductor between the two portions or other member which may be capable of transmitting the current. The purpose underlying thls arrangement is to provide the tip 9 opaque to the transmission of the current except at the dished portion 12, which is transparent to the transmission.

The end of the handle 8 is provided with an opening 13 which permits the interior thereof to communicate with the atmosphere. The inner walls of the handle 8, tube 7 and bulb 11, are coated with a medium 15 of high conductivity such as silver or the like. This permits the high frequency waves to be conducted through this portion of the electrode. In practice the electrode may be attached to any terminal of any source of current of suitable frequency and voltage, depending upon the adaptation of the device. Current is taken through the handle, which serves as one terminal and concentrating a dischar e at the portion 12.

In prior devices the insulation of the portion of the electrodes between the handle S and bulb' 9, was accomplished by means of a body of air obtained by providing atmospheric vents therein.

I have found that if the current is to be confined and localized to some particular discharging area, a more efiicient operation may be secured if an insulating medium other than air is employed, so as to surround the bulb 11 and tube 7. I contemplate using such an insulating medium 14, such as oil or other material having suitable insulation qualities, which may be poured into the tube through any suitable inlet, not shown.

It is to be understood that while I have I other than air, may, be applied equally as.

well to other electrodes.

I claim:

1. An electrode having, in combination, insert and handle end portions, separated by an intermediate portion, telescoped tubes with closed inner ends, forming said intermediate and insert end portions, the inner tube being enlarged to hermetically seal the other tube, and extending beyond the same to form the handle end portion.

2. An electrode having, in combination, telescoping tubes with closed inner ends, the inner tube terminatin tube, said, tubes lying in contact at one side over a limited area corresponding in size and shape to the organ to be treated, and a short of the other dielectric medium spacing the ends and sides of the tubes to prevent the discharge of current except where the two tubes are in contact.

3. An electrode for treating an organ so located that the electrode can be positioned adjacent thereto but not inserted therein, comprising, in combination, tubes spaced apart and separated by a dielectric, except for a contact area at one side of the tube, whereby the discharge from the electrode is directed laterally away from the same.

4. An electrode for treating an organ so located that the electrode must be positioned beside the same, comprising insert and handle end portions separated by an intermediate portlon of suflicient length to position the insert end adjacent the organ, the entire outer surfaces of said intermediate and insert end portions being opaque to the passage of current, except for a small area on one side of the insert end ortion.

5. A11 electrode for dehvering a localized flow of current from a predetermined portion of its area, comprising telescoping tubes in contact only over said area, the condition of the space between said tubes being such that it has greater insulating strength than am 6. An electrode for concentrating the action of the current delivered thereby on an organ lying at one side of said electrode, comprising a tube having a dished portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the organ, with its concavity facing the Same, and

means for roducing a current discharge from the dished portion of the electrode only.

7. An electrode having, in combination, a tube, said tube having a portion of one side dished about a center laterally spaced from said tube, and means for producing a discharge of current from said dished portion only.

8. An electrode for treating an organ to which direct access cannot be had, comprising a dielectric tube, means for positioning said tube as near said organ as possible, and means for producing a localized discharge of current from the portions of said tube nearest the organ.

9. An electrode, having, in combination telescoped tubes, separated by a space of high dielectric strength, a portion of the inner tube adjacent its end lying in contact with the outer tube to define the area of discharge.

10. An electrode having, in combination, telescoped tubes separated by a space of high dielectric strength, a predetermined portion of said tubes lying in contact to define the area of discharge, the inner tube being enlarged to seal the end of the outer tube and continued to form a handle portion.

11. An electrode having, 1n combination, telescoped tubes separated by a hermetically sealed space of high dielectric strength.

12. An electrode having, in combination, an outer tube of substantially constant diameter, and a combined inner tube and handle telescoped Within said outer tube, said handle formingashoulder Where it joins the inner tube, said shoulder sealing the outer tube, said tubes lying in contact over a predetermined portion of their surfaces to define the area of discharge.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of June, 1920.

WILLIAM MEYER.