US2384670A - Therapeutic device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. ll, 1945. L. FISHER TAL 2,384,670

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE INVENTORS leona/a His/7er ,@a/ h FAS/7er* BY /o J? 5%. WHORNEY Sept 1,1, l945 L FISHER Erm'. 2,384,570

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 11, 1945 THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Leonard Fisher and Ralph Fisher, l

San Francisco, Calif.

Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,489

9 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to therapeutic devices, particularly one in which heat and light are applied.

In Patent 2,097,455 of November 2, 193'?y one of us disclosed a device wherein light, heat and vibration were employed therapeutically to advantage. We have now found that heat and light produced in accordance with this invention can be advantageously employed alone therapeuticaily in the treatment of extended exposed areas of the body.

It is well known that the generation of light is attended with heat. Consequently, if one attempts to apply light to any extended surface of the body, some amount of risk of burning the skin may be involved. In accordance with this invention we have devised a successful apparatus permitting intense light, particularly infra-red rays, to be applied to the body while little sensation of heat, except to a pleasant degree, is experienced. Over an extended period of time, devices utilizing the present invention for light and heat generation and application have been successfully employed therapeutically with complete safety.

In applying infra-red rays to the human body for treatment, particularly over extended areas, it was found that even though relatively cold sources for generating the infra-red rays were employed, a sensation of burning would be felt on the skin. This difficulty we have been able tn overcome successfully by employing a reecting device having a diameter and a radius of curvature so related to one another that aberration occurred. Thus, instead of the reiiector focusing the infra-red rays at one or more points on the patient, convergence of the rays was avoided. The optical principles of aberration are well understood and need not be further expounded here. aberration, we have found, is assisted 1f the reiiector, instead of being a true reflector, is a diffusing reflector. To this end we have successfully employed devices having a reflecting surface such that the energy waves are broken up and scattered by the roughness or irregularity of thek reflecting surface.

In the device disclosed in the aforementioned patent skin' surface vibration was secured by vibration of an element in contact with the skin. We have now found that by vibrating the skin with sound waves, either in the phonic or the ultraphonic range, at the same time that the vibrated area is heated, burning is obviated and a deeper penetration of heat into the tissues is secured. The sound wave vibration apparently vibrates the skin and increases blood circulation.

(Cl. 21S-34) This is effective to carry away heat reaching the skin and tissues into the adjacent area and to deeper tissues. Instead, the light and heat generation source, vibrating constantly, provides a 5 generalized heat and light source, one effective over the entire area of the reflector without localization. In this way it is possible for a point source to be effective in generating heat or light which is reected from a single point on the reiiector constantly and is yet distributed over an area instead of being focused on one point. This in addition reduces any likelihood of burns or uncomfortable sensation of heat or light rays. In addition, the vibrating heat and light source tends to produce therapeutic energy effective in producing a relatively deep body penetration. Thus, instead of one continuous ray emanating from one focus, an energy flux is, in effect, generated which penetrates into the body tissue, causing more blood to circulate through the treatment area.

We have also discovered that advantageously subjection of the human body t heat and light rays may be varied; that is, the application can advantageously be an intermittent one with the application repeated at timed intervals for a definite period of time. This involves employment of a timing device; the inclusion of such a timing device also has the advantage that subjection of the patient to a treatment is not left to the whim of an operator, vthe timing device being set for a definite period of operation, preferably a cyclic one. In this way possible harm to the patient as from burning or excessive treatment is avoided.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present preferred device embodying the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a inachine embodying the present invention. y

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section through the reflector light source unit and certain associated supporting mechanism.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4 4 of Figure 3 illustrating the construction of the vibrating 50 unit.

Figure 5 is a section taken through adjusting means for the device while Figure 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

As appears in the drawings I provide a suitable base structure 1 movably supported .by casters 8 upon a suitable supporting surface such as floor l. A flexible cable II extends from the base to a suitable source of electrical energy. Mounted upon the base is a pedestal I2 extending upwardly to carry control panel Il and provide a suitable support standard I5. The pedestal and support standard are preferably hollow to permit installation of suitable presently described wiring and electrical instruments and control devices employed in conjunction with therapeutic device Il. An extending hollow arm or boom I8 is adjustably mounted on the standard and extends therefrom to carry the presently described therapeutic device of this invention, the device being generally indicated at II.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the arm or boom I8. Mounted upon the standard l is a suitable casting I! slotted to receive an ear 2| formed as part of a casting 22. The ear is positioned on a shaft 26 which will now be further described. The shaft 25 has a head 21 thereon. Abutting the head and carried by a non-circular portion 28 is a worm wheel 29. The shaft is supported for rotation in casting I9 by circular portions 3l and 32. These are spaced apart by another non-circular portion 33 fitting in a cooperatively formed receptacle in ear 2I. A stud 34 carrying a washer 3G is screwed into the shaft to retain it in place. The successive elements on the shaft, that is, non-circular portion 28, bearing 3|, non-circular portion 33 and bearing 32 are each successively of smaller diameter. With the worm wheel in place, the shaft can be inserted in position and the stud and washer secured to retain the shaft in position. Thereafter closures 37 are placed in the casting i9 to enclose the worm wheel and the shaft. The worm wheel is engaged with a worm 4I carried upon a shaft 42 suitably mounted for rotation in casting I9. Shaft 42 also carries a worm wheel 43 engaged with a worm 44 on a shaft I6.

4In this manner a double reduction is effected and the position of the boom I8 can be adjusted nicely, shaft 46 extending from the casing and carrying hand Wheel I8.

To support the boom and enable its position to be adjusted to a nicety, a bracket 5| is secured to the casting I9 by a stud 52 at one end thereof; at the other end of the bracket an ear 53 extended into a bifurcated end 54 on tube 56. A plunger 5l is hinged as at 58 on the boom Il, the plunger extending into tube 50. A spring 59 is positioned in the tube to abut the plunger; the boom is thus supported flexibly by the bracket 5I and by the extensible arm provided by the plunger, spring and tube 58.

The angular position of the therapeutic device I 'I on the end of the boom is readily adjusted and to this end we mount a casting BI on the end of the boom. This casting is bifurcated as at 62 to receive the apertured ear 63 from the supporting head 64 of the therapeutic device. The position of the ear is adjusted by means of the bolt 66 and hand wheel 61, rotation of the hand wheel being .effective to draw the bifurcated ends 62 of the casting 6I together to clamp the ear 33 in a selected position.

As appears in Figures 3 through 6, standard I6, castingy I9, boom I8, casting 6I and ear il are apertured or channeled, as are the other devices in the path, to permit suitable cables for the distribution of electrical energy to the therapeutic device to be threaded unobtrusively through the apparatus.

The therapeutic device I'I, as previously mentioned. includes a. head 'caslng structure M. In this is mounted a magnetic core 'II having a suitable coil 12 wound thereon. A passage for a movable rod or plunger 'Il is provided through the core. The plunger is movably supported from the core by a flexible and resilient B-shaped member 14 secured to the core as by rivets 1I. The 8shaped member carries a magnetic member Il These cooperate with the coil to provide an electromagnetic vibrator capable oi' vibrating rod or plunger I3 about 7,200 times per minute.

The plunger extends through the core to support and vibrate a, heating element generally indicated at 11, the element including a. ceramic base 1l on which is carried a metallic heating element 10, the ceramitbase being engaged and positioned by a nut on the rod 13. The upper end of the casing is closed by a suitable closure member Il. To the lower end of the casing is attached a stationary reflector l2 and an outer stationary casing Il, the reflector being spaced from the outer casing to permit air circulation between the two so that one cannot touch the reflector and be burned if the reflector for any reason should become heated. The heating element passes through an aperture in closure member N at the end of the reflector.

Across' the face of the outer stationary shell 83 is provided a suitable grille 86. This is ordinarily made of a screen of relatively large mesh, a half inch or so. The screen is provided for protective reasons to ensure that one cannot touch the heating element and to retain any portions if the element should break and portions fall therefrom.

As I have previously mentioned, the form and nature or the reflector are highly important. The reflector diameter and curvature should be such that aberration occurs, that is.' heat and iight waves generated by the heating element should not become focused at any point or even at any plurality of points but instead should generally be diffused more or less evenly across the entire area beneath the reflector. In this way one can expose the human body safely without fearof burning the body either due to heat or infrared ray application.

Another highly important factor is the diffusing nature of the reflector; The reflector can accordingly be made of any material which will diffuse the reflected light and heat waves. Pre!- erably we have employed spun, unpolished aluminum to provide a simple and inexpensive reflector structure.

Referring particularly to Figure 2 a suitable source of electrical energy is indicated by power lines IIII and |02. A suitable timing device indicated generally at III is provided, this device ordinarily controlling a relay IM to handle the heavy current supplied by lines IUI and Il2. 'Ihe timing device is such that it controls the periods of energization as well as the periods of deenergization of the heating element segments |08, IUI and IIII as well as the vibrator so that one setting of the timing device causes the elements to be operated in a cyclic manner as will presently appear further herein. One side of vibrator coil I2 is connected to line IUI while the other side is connected by line IUI to switch III to relay IM controlled by the timer. The vibrator can operate at various rates of vibration. We prefer a high rate, about per second, but this can be less (25 per second) or more (240 per second).

In general, the rate of vibration to be employed should not be one which is objectionable to the patient and one can use any rate in the phonic or ultraphonic range. Of course, vibration at extremely high rates gives rise to special construction problems but these can be readily solved by those skilled in thel art for they are purely mechanical problems entirely incidental to practise of the invention.

The heating element includes three segments |08, |08 and H0. These preferably are capable of supplying different degrees of heat. Each Velement is respectively connected by a line III,

H2 and H3 to line I 0| while the other side of each element is respectively connected by a line IIN, H5 and H6 to switches H1, H8 and H0 to line |06. A tell-tale lamp |20, |2| and |22 is connected in parallel with elements |08, |08 and I I0. The lamps, switches and the timer are conveniently mounted on the panel I4.

Under the control of timer |03, the operator can selectively energize element |08, |09 or H0 by closing switches III, H8 or H9 selectively. At the same time, the elements can Ibe vibrated or4 permitted to heat without vibration depending upon whether or not switch I0I is closed. In one successful device the elements |08, |09 and H0 respectively had a power consumption of 200, 300 and 500 watts. These could .be operated independently or together in any desired combination to provide heat from 200, 300, 500, 700, 800 or 1,000 watts of power; the element can be made to provide any desired heat output and with any number of sections.

Timer |03 is effective to permit energy supply to the selected heat unit, with or without the vibrator, for a selected time period, say 90 seconds. The timer then cuts oil the power for say 30 seconds, whereupon it turns it on for another 90 seconds. The time intervals are by way of example and other intervals can be used in the cyclic operation.

From the foregoing we believe it will be clear v that we have provided a new and novel therapeutic device which we intend to claim broadly herein within the scope of the appended claims.

This is a continuation in part of our application Serial Number 418,040, filed November 6, 1941.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, an aluminum reflector having a diiluse reflecting surface of a diameter and a curvature suillcient to produce substantial aberration, an electrical heating element extended substantially along the longitudinal axis of said reflector and spaced therefrom, means for energizing said elements independently of one another, and means for vi- :bx-ating only said element at about '1,200 vibrations per minute.

2. In a device of the character described. an aluminum reflector having a difluse reflecting surface of a diameter and a curvature suiflcient to produce substantial aberration, anelectrical heating element extended substantially along the longitudinal axis oi.' said reflector and spaced therefrom, and means for vibrating only said element at about '1,200 vibrations per minute.

3. In a device of the character described, an aluminum reflector having a diffuse reflecting surface of a diameter and a curvature sufllcient to produce substantial aberration, an electrical heating element including a base yand having a plurality of independent heating segments thereon, said element being positioned substantially along the longitudinal axis of said reflector and spaced therefrom, and means for rapidly vibrating only said element at a rate at least in the phonic range. l

4. In a device of the character described, a reflector having a diameter and a curvature sufilcient to produce substantial aberration, an electrical heating element including a base and having a plurality of independent heating segments thereon, said element ybeing positioned substantially along the longitudinal axis of said reflector and spaced therefrom, and means for rapidly vibrating only said element at a rate at least in the phonic range. f

5. In a device of the character described, an aluminum reflector having a diffuse reflecting surface of a diameter and a curvature sufficient to produce substantial aberration, an electrical heating element extended substantially along the longitudinal axis of said reflector and spaced therefrom, and means for rapidly vibrating only said element at a rate at least in the phonic range.

6. In a device of the character described, a reflector having a diffuse reflecting surface, said refiectorhaving a diameter and a curvature sufilcient to produce substantial aberration, a heat source positioned cooperatively to said reflector for reflection of heat and light from said reflector, and means for rapidly vibrating only said source relative to said reflector at a rate at least in the phonic range.

'7. In a. device of the character described, a reflector, a heat source cooperatively `positioned 'with respect to said reflector to supply light and heat 'waves thereto for reflection, and means for rapidly vibrating only said heat source at a rate at least in the phonic range.

8. In a device of the character described, a reflector, a heat source cooperatively positioned with respect to said reflector to supply light and heat waves thereto for reflection, and means for vibrating only said heat source at a rate in the phonic range.

9. In a device of the character described, a reflector, a heat source cooperatively positioned with rspect to said reflector to supply light and heat waves thereto for reflectionI and means for vibrating only said heat source at a rate in the ultraphonic range.

LEONARD FISHER. RALPH FISHER.

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