US1402396A - Therapeutic vapor-lamp appliance - Google Patents

Description

F. F. BURDICK AND F. A. ANDERSON.

THERAPEUTIC VAPOR LAMP APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. 1920.

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F. F. BURDICK AND F. A. ANDERSON.

THERAPEUTIC VAPOR LAMP APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED APR'.I5.1920.

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FRED F. BUR/DICK AND FRITZ ARTHUR ANDERSON, OF MILTON, WISCONSIN.

THERAPEUTIC VAPOR-LAMP APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3, 1922.

Application filed April 15, 1920. Serial No. 374,139.

To ailaohom it may concern:

8 it known that we. FRED F. BURDICK and FRITZ A. ANDERSON, citizens of the mted States of America, and residents of Milton, county of Rock, and State of Visconsin. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Therapeutic Vapor- Lamp Appliances, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to radio-therapeutic appliances. The main objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of lamp support and casin to provide an improved form of controlling means for the ray generator or lamp proper, adapted espeorally for mercury vapor lamps; to provide an improved method and means for adjustmg the casing. adapted to facilitate better and more eff cient control and direction of the rays: to provide for effective ventilation and cooling of the device, especially where large and powerful lamps are to be used; to provide a casing of jointed sectional form adapted for variable adjustment with ready means for operation and control. and with relative sliding movement of the wall mem bers past one another for adjusting the aperture of the ray opening; to provide in the casing adjustable means for collecting and reflecting the otherwise ineffective rays and directing them forward in a common beam with the direct rays; to provide manual means of improved form adapted for ready operation to adjust the ray aperture, the reflector. and the position of the generator respectivelyfrom outside the casing; to provide in connection with said casing an improved form of attachment, for use when desired. adapted for concentrating and conducting the rays. as through a tubular passageway for a considerable distance from the mam body of the casing. directly to the body or part to be treated; to provide for universal movement or swinging of the casing to project the rays in any direction re quired; and to provide against hot mercury falling on the patient in case of lamp breakage while in use.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal axial section through the casing, positioned as in Fig. 2 for projecting rays horizontally, and showing the apparatus contained therein.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device with a tubular ray conducting attachment in place, and with the casing tilted downward.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device as shown in Fig. 5.

* Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device as a whole, with the shutters drawn apart to provide a horizontally facing aperture, as viewed from the left of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view at 66 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view at 7-7 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a section at 8-8 on Fig. 3, showing a reducing diaphragm or iris at the outer end of the tube.

Fig. 9 is a plan of the iris diaphragm of Fi 8.

Tn the construction shown in the drawings the ray generating unit or lamp 1 is mounted in a casing 2, which in turn is supported by an arm or bracket 3, which bracket is normally secured to an adjustable support 4. preferably mounted slidably on an upright frame 5 or the like, as shown in Fig. 4.

The casing 2. as a whole, when closed is cylindrical in shape with closed ends 6 and 6 connected rigidly by a half cylindrical wall member T and a pair of quadrant members 8 in the form of arcuate shutters, having segmental ends 9 mounted to swing concentrically about the main axis of the easing on pivots 10 and 10 carried by the bracket 3.

The mercury vapor lamp 1 is carried directly by a tiltably moimted frame 11 pivotally supported at 12 on the U-shaped axially mounted bracket 13, and said frame is provided with tilting means for starting the lamp, as hereinafter described.

One end of bracket 13 is ring-shaped and receives the inner end of the pivot 10 in tight-fitting relation and is rigidly fastened thereto. as by means of a set screw 14:. The other end of said bracket is provided with an integrally formed barrel member 15 pro ecting axially outward into the hollow pivot 10 to which it is turnably related.

The pivot 10 is cup-shaped with a knob or handle 16 secured to its outer end and with an outwardly disposed radial flange 17 at its inner end to which the casing wall 6, reinforced at this point by ring 6", is secured rigidly as by means of screws 18. A

stop ring 19 is provided on said pivot and 1 secured thereto by said screw 20, between which ring and the flange 17 is disposed the axially disposed body .part or bar 22 slidable lengthwise in the handle 16 and in the adjacent bracket end 15 in non-turning relation to the handle 16 and pivot 10, being rectangular in section to fit the correspond with bracket 13 as above indicated. Said ingly shaped hole 23 in said pivot. The inner end of said bar fits turnably relative to the hollow bracket head 15, but is normally prevented from turning therein by means of the T-lock cross-head 24 fixed to the shank 22', said cross-head having inwardly turned tips 24 to engage the circularly disposed series of depressions 25 in the bracket part 15.

The helical compression spring 26 is mounted in the chamber 27, provided by the hollow head 15 and pivot 10 and is disposed to bear at one end against the inner endwall of said chamber and at the opposite end against a shoulder 28 on the middle part of said bar 22' whereby the lock is urged outward to hold the T members in its efiective non-turning position, though the locking tips 24 may be released from bracket 13 by inward pressure of the hand on the handle 29 on the outward tip of said bar 22.

The lock 22 is rovided with a centering pin 30 integral with bar 22 and projecting through the part 24 and into the centrally apertured bearing cap 31 fixed on the inner end of the bracket head 15. I

The pivot 10 .at the opposite end of bracket 13 comprises a hollow metallic casing 32 with a core 33 preferably of insulating material, the casing 32 being held rigid pivot 10' is perforated endwise and contains a manually operable crank-shaft 34 extending therethrough and journaled therein;

41 in said pivot and thence to-a pair of in- I sulated terminals 42 and 43 respectively, fixed on the bracket 13. The electrical con tacts on the ends of the lamp 1 are connected 1 to said terminals by means of flexible bead insulated conductors 44 and 45 respectively.

In order that the lamp 1 may be suitably The frame 11 is substantially U-shaped,-

with detachable arms '47. and 47 adapted for the particular form of lamp or tube used. The outer ends of the arms are apertured to receive the corresponding ends of the vapor tube. Arm 47 has a perforation 48-and the otherarm 47 has a socket 49 providedwith a detachable fastening 50 to grip the upturned tip of the mercury holding lower end of the tube.

In order to increase the efiiciency of the lamp and help directthe rays in the desired direction, a reflector 51 is mounted centrally on the bracket 13 in' adjustable circularrelation to the lamp. The reflector is of arcuate shape and of semi-cylindrical character. It

is carried directly by an outer concentric;

member 52 spaced somewhat therefrom, ex-

cept at the edges where it is-held by fastenings 52'. Said member 52 is provided with a slot 52" extending circumferentially to receive the headed end of a supporting lug 53, mounted on the rigid upstanding arm 54, which in turn is secured by screws 55 to the bracket 13. Said reflector is thus adapted to be oscillated through a vertical angle of nearly 180, whereby it may be manually adjusted from time totime to throw the rays in whatever direction may be required, as for instance, upward, horizontally or downward.

The main casin segment or half cylinder 7 is of double wa led character and is provided with a central slot or Ventilating aperture 56 extending from end to end. On each side of the draft vent 56 the casing comprises an outer wall 57 and an inner wall 58 with an air space 59 between. Th5 outer wall 57 is provided with a circumferential slot 60 to receive an adjustable fastening 61 for the shutters 8, as hereinafter described.

Each casing quadrant or shutter 8 is also of double wall construction with an'air space 62 between the outer wall 63 and the inner wall 64. Said outer wall is provided with a series of ventilation apertures 65 adjacent to its edge 66 which is nearest the main light aperture 67 when ,the shutters are opened. The inner wall 64 is also provided with a series of apertures 68 disposed remotely from said edge 66 so that in operation a draft passage is provided extendlng inward through the apertures 65, through the chamber 62 and thence through apertures 68 into the open interior of the casing past the lamp 1 and out at the slot 56.

Each shutter 8 is provided preferably near its center with apertures 69 adapted, for instance, to facilitate inspecting the lamp when in use. Each aperture 69 is provided with a short radially disposed sleeve or tube 70 held in place by a flange T1 at its inner end. The outer end of said tube may be provided with a lens or ray filter 72 secured in place by an inwardly flanged ring 73, as shown at the top of Fig. 2. If desired, the opposite tubular aperture may be provided simply with a closed cup 74, as shown in the; lower side of Fig. 2, or, if desired, a tubular extension 75 may be substituted in place of the cup. as illustrated in Fig. 8. It is to be understood that the several cups or tubular extensions are provided with a readily detachable connection or fastening, as for instance, a bayonet notch 67 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8. If desired, arestricted opening may be provided at the outer end of tube T5 as by means of an interchangeable washerlike member or iris 77. It is to be understood also that if desired, a concentrating lens may be used in place of said member 77 and held in substantially the same manner as shown at the top of Fig. 2. The members T2 and 7% are readily attachable and removable interchangeably by means of fastenings 76, as for instance bayonet catches.

In order to lock the shutters positively in the desired position respectively, relative to the main casing T. the said lock 61 is provided with outwardly turned teeth 78 on the cross-head T9 of the'lock plunger 80. The outer end of said plunger is provided with a handle 81 to receive the pressure of the hand for forcing the lock inward against the force of the compression spring 82 to release said teeth-from the notches 88, which are disposed in the outer casing wall 57 adjacent to the slot 60. The guide-block 8i is fixed on the outer side of the shutter adjacent to its edge 85 to support the outer part of lock 61 and house the spring 82, and to serve also as a handle for oscillating the shutter.

It is to be understood that the main supporting bracket 3. though here shown as mounted horizontally, may be arranged vertically so as to swing freely from above, if desired. though in any case the bracket 13 which is rigid therewith is preferably arranged to be held in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to provide efliciently for an intense diffused light the interior walls of the casing as a whole are coated with a thin vitreous white enamel which is a non-absorbent for therapeutic rays. The active surface of the reflector 51 is likewise glazed or enameled. Safety against burning the patient by hot mercury in case of lamp breakage is assured by normally inclining the appliance so that the lower shutter is always disposed as a receptacle to catch any falling mercury. In this connection see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The operation of the device is as follows Referring first to Figs. 3 and 4, the casing is brought to the proper height and swung horizontally to the proper position relative to the patient as provided for by the counterweight 86 and cord 8? connecting same to the rotatably mounted sleeve 4 carried by the hollow post 5. justed to throw the light in the direction required. The main casing member is then oscillated by due manipulation of the handle l6 and lock 22 to bring the main ray aperture 67 to the required position. The amplitude of the opening 67 is then adjusted by manipulating the handles 84 and latch means 6l,'whereby the shutters are adjusted. If only a small beam of rays is required. as for limited local treatments, the

shutters may be entirely closed and the casing swung to such a position that one of the apertures 69 or a tube 75 may be used. The ray generator or lamp is then started by twisting or tilting the handle 35, which operates to lift the large end of the lamp sufficiently to cause the mercury to flow momentarily to the opposite end and so start the arc. whereupon it returns by. gravity to its normal position upon releasing the handle The operation of the lamp may be observed through the colored glass window 72. The strength of the rays at any time may be' ascertained sufliciently for all practical purposes, after a little experience. by holding the hand for a brief period in the direct path of the rays and then noting the slight burning odor which is readily perceptible, upon raising the hand to th nose. the degree of such odor being a measure of the effectiveness of the lamp.

Although but one Specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described. it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted-without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A radio-therapeutic device adapted for generating and applying light therapy rays, comprising a supporting bracket. an open-sided casing member mounted pivotally thereon, a lamp also mounted on said bracket within saidcasing member but independent mechanically of the latter, clo- The reflector 51 is adsure means operatively related to said member adapted for adjusting the degree of opening, and means to variably adjust the relative position of said member and bracket, said bracket including a pair of arms having pivotal bearings disposed in horizontal alinement, and said casing memher and closure means as a whole being of cylindrical shape and mounted to turn on its main axis.

2. A radio-therapeutic device comprising a casing provided with closed ends and a cylindrical wall of sectional character including a main wall part and arcuate shutters movable concentrically therewith to provide an adjustable ray aperture, and a ray generating unit mounted axially in said casing.

3. A radio-therapeutic appliance comprising a mercury vapor lamp, a casing therefor having a ray aperture. and a support \vhereon said casing and lamp are independently mounted, said casing being tiltable to' direct the rays as may be required and said lamp being tiltable for starting, said casing also having manually adjustable means for setting the position of the casing relative to said support, and said lamp having a flexibly connected handle extending through said casing for tilting the lamp.

4. A radio-therapeutic device comprising a vapor lamp, a casing therefor having a limited ray aperture, a reflector arranged to deflect the rays through said aperture, and a tubular ray conduit having a vitreous lining adapted for insertion into a speculum to apply the rays directly to an interior part of the anatomy to be treated.

5. A radio-therapeutic device comprising a cylindrical casing, a support whereon saidcasing is rotatably mounted on its mam axis and a lamp also mounted on said support independently of said casing though contained therein, said casin including a main body part of semi-cylin rical shape and a pair of quadrant shutters adapted to more or less close the open side of said main part, each of said casing members being provided with ventilating means extending lengthwise along a medial line thereof.

6. An air cooled universal control therapy lamp comprising in combination a tiltably mounted and adjustably apertured casing, a quartz bulb mercury-arc ray generator independently tiltable therein for starting, and an adjustable reflector therefor, said casing having draft apertures to facilitate and insure adequate ventilation and cooling of the generator. 7. A therapy lamp casingof substantially cylindrical shape provided with a side opening and an adjustable axially mounted concentric shutter to open or. close said opening, said shutter being arranged to pass over the adjacent casing wall in opening and being provided With a radially acting manual latch to engage the casing for securing the shutter in any desired position.

8. A therapy lamp casing of substantially cylindrical shape provided with a side opening and an adjustable axially mounted concentric shutter to open or close said opening, said shutter being arranged to pass i over the adjacent casing wall in opening and being provided with a radially acting plunger latch having an inner cross-head with an outwardly turned catch part, and said casing having an 'arcuate' slot to receive said latch, and yielding means urging said latch outwardly to engage said casing, the latter being formed and adapted to be engaged positively by said catch part. Signed at Chicago this 7th day of April, 19 0.

FRED r. BURDICK, FRITZ ARTHUR ANDERSON.

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