US2014009A

US2014009A - Tympanic pneumo massage device

Info

Publication number: US2014009A
Application number: US624526A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arlyn T Vance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-07-25
Filing date: 1932-07-25
Publication date: 1935-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1952-09-10

Description

A. T` VANCE Sept. 10, 1935.

TYMPANIC PNEUMO MASSAGE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1932 Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNETE'D STATES kPATENT FFEQE l. Claim.

My invention relates generally to therapeutic appliances and more particularly to a device for producing pneumo massage upon the tympanic membrane and the nerves associated therewith, also upon the ossicles and the external auditory meatus and the principal object of my invention is, to provide a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive device that may be conveniently employed for producing air pressure or partial vacuum within the auditory meatus and thereby impart gentle pneumo massage that is highly benerlcial to all parts of the auditory canal, the tympanic membrane and nerves and to the ossicular chain.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a tympanic pneumo massage device of the character referred to having graduated scales and means associated therewith for indicating the degree of pressure produced by the device while applying treatment to a patient and likewise the degree of applied vacuum and which pressure and vacuum it will be understood correspond respectively with the pressures prevailing below sea level and the decrease in pressure or rarity of the air in different altitudes above normal or sea level air pressure.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a tympanic pneumo massage device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the upper portion of the hollow handle of the device and showing the air inlet and outlet opening therein.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the upper portion of one of the legs of the gauge tube and showing the air inlet and outlet opening therein.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view partly in section of that portion of the device that is applied to the outer end of the meatus or external auditory passage.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, IB designates a hollow cylindrical member that may be formed of metal, hard rubber or the like and which serves as a handle for the device and connected to a stem or nipple ll that projects from the lower end of said handle, is one end of a small iexible tube I2. Connected to this exible tube is a bulb I3 of rubber.

Projecting upwardly from the upper end ofthe hollow handle I8, is a short tubular nipple i4 and formed through the wall thereof, is an aperture I5 that is surrounded by 'an externally ar- 5 ranged flange I6.

Secured to and projecting upwardly from stem I4, is a small tube l1, preferably of metal, and rigidly secured to the upper end of this tube is a tube i8, preferably of metal, that is slightly in- 10 clined with respect tothe axis of tube H.

Secured to the forward end of tube 18, is an applicator I9, preferably a small bulb of metal, hard rubber or the like and formed through the outer end of this applicator, is an aperture 2i?. 15

The rear end of tube I3, or the end opposite the bulb I9, receives a readily removable cap such as 2l (Fig. 4), or where the device is utilized with a pressure and vacuum gauge as illustrated in Fig. l, one end of a ilexible tube 22 is connected 20 to the rear end 'of said tube I8.

The opposite end of tube 22 is connected to the upper end of one of the legs of an elongated U- shaped glass tube 23 and which latter is secured in any suitable manne-r to an upright panel 2&5 25 and said panel being supported upon a suitable base 25.

A small manually operable valve 26 'forms a section between one of the legs of. tube 23 and the flexible tube Z2 and secured to the upper end of 30 the other leg of the tube, is a tubular member 2l, in the upper end of which is seated a yscrew 28.

Formed through the wall of tubular member '2l is an opening 29 and when the screw 28 is screwed into member 2'! to its limit of movement, the inner 35 portion of said screw closes said opening 29.

The lower portion of tube 23 contains a body of mercury and under normal conditions the level of this body of mercury in the two legs is approximately midway between the upper and lower ends 40 of the tube.

Appearing on the face of panel 24 in horizontal alignment with the level of the body of mercury within tube 23, is a Zero mark 30 and appearing on the face of panel above this zero mark and 45 adjacent to the leg of the tube to which flexible tube 22 is connected, is a scale that is graduated and marked so as to indicate increasing altitudes above sea level,

Appearing on the face of. panel 24, below the 5U Zero mark 30 and adjacent to the leg of tube 23 to which flexible tube 22 is connected, is a graduated scale marked to indicate air pressures below sea level.

Appearing on the face of panel 24 above the zero 55 Cil mark 30 and adjacent to the leg of tube 23 that carries the tubular member 2'I and screw 28, is a graduated scale that indicates pounds of air pressure and appearing on the face of panel 24 below the Zero mark 30 and adjacent to the leg of tube 23 that carries tubular member 2'I at its upper end, is a graduated scale that indicates pounds of minus pressure or vacuum.

In the use of my improved pneumo massage device, the bulb I9 is inserted snugly in the external auditory meatus and the thumb or finger of the hand that grasps the handle I is placed on rib or flange IB so as to close aperture I and the rubber bulb I3 is now compressed, thereby forcing air under pressure through flexible tube I2, handle I0 and tubes II and I8 into the external auditory passage and such pressure forces the tympanic membrane inwardly and produces movement of the ossicuiar chain.

To produce suction and consequent vacuum within the auditory canal, the thumb or finger is removed from aperture I5 and bulb I3 is compressed to discharge the air therefrom, after which the bulb I9 is inserted in the entrance to the meatus and thumb or linger is positioned so as to close the opening I5 and as bulb I3 is permitted to expand, the suction through aperture in bulb I9 and through the device will produce a partial vacuum within the auditory canal so as to draw the tympanic membrane outwardly and produce corresponding movement in the ossicular chain.

The operations just described may be repeated alternately so as to apply pressure and partial vacuum alternately within the auditory passage, with the result that the tympanic membrane, the ossicular chain and the nerves associated therewith will be gently massaged and thereby greatly beneted.

As bulb I3 is compressed to produce pressure as just described, air passing through tube 22 and into the upper portion of the leg or tube 23 to which said tube 22 is connected, will force the body of. mercury downward through said leg and upwardly through the leg that carries tubular member 21.

As the bulb I3 is permitted to expand after having been collapsed to produce suction or partial vacuum in the auditory canal, the body of mercury within tube 23 will lower in the leg that carries member 2l and will rise in the leg to which tube 22 is connected and by reading the levels of the body of mercury in the legs of said tube 23, the approximate pounds pressure or of vacuum produced by the device and likewise the theoretical altitude or below sea level conditions may be readily observed.

The pneumo massage action produced by the device upon the tympanic membrane and ossicular chain is highly beneficial for the prevention of adhesions with diminished mobility of the sound conducting elements and also for the breaking down of adhesions already formed.

The gentle massage action produces a sedative eiect upon subjective ear noises resulting from removing the thumb from aperture I5 so as to permit sudden inrush of air through the device into the auditory canal. This action produces no pain and is extremely beneficial in restoring ossicular movement.

In the event that it is desired to use the device without the column of mercury and the indicating scales associated therewith, flexible tube 2?. is detached from the end of tube I8 and a cap 2l is applied to the end of said tube, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

When the panel 24 carrying the tube 23 is placed in a horizontal position, for instance, when the apparatus is packed for storage or transportation, valve 2@ is closed and screw 28 is screwed down so as to close aperture 29 and thus the mercury within tube 23 is prevented from discharging from said tube.

Applicator bulb IS tapers gradually from its intermediate portion toward its forward end in order that it may conveniently t any external auditory canal or meatus.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a tympanic pneumo massage device that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very elective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved tympanic pneumo massage device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a tympanic pneumo message device, the combination with a panel of a transparent U-shaped mercury containing tube positioned on the face of said panel, the face of said panel adjacent to the legs of said tube bearing a graduated pressure and vacuiun indicating scale, a hollow handle, a exible tube connected to one end of said handle, a collapsible bulb connected to said exible tube, a tube projecting from the other end of said handle, an applicator bulb carried by said tube, said bulb being provided with an orifice, a flexible tube connecting the end of one of the legs of the mercury containing tube with the bulb carrying tube at a point between said bulb and said hollow handle, the upper portion of the other leg of the mercury containing tube being provided with an orice and adjustable means for closing said last mentioned ori- ARLYN T. VANCE.