US2434497A - Therapeutic apparatus - Google Patents

Therapeutic apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US2434497A
US2434497A US600168A US60016845A US2434497A US 2434497 A US2434497 A US 2434497A US 600168 A US600168 A US 600168A US 60016845 A US60016845 A US 60016845A US 2434497 A US2434497 A US 2434497A
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United States
Prior art keywords
light
currents
disk
terminals
frequency
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Expired - Lifetime
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US600168A
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English (en)
Inventor
William K Kearsley
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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Priority to BE468987D priority Critical patent/BE468987A/xx
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US600168A priority patent/US2434497A/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
    • A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the production of electric currents for therapy purposes, and in general to the production of currents of controlled frequency and amplitude.
  • the objects of my invention are to provide an apparatus for producing alternating currents over a wide range of frequency and which are adapted to the needs of patients being treated.
  • the frequency of electric currents which are employed for the treatment of patients should be smoothly regulated, that is, the frequency should be capable of being varied in a continuous or stepless manner as contrasted with step-by-step or intermittent change from one frequency to another.
  • a therapist having at his disposal a source of alternating (sinusoidal) currents, the frequency of which is readily controllable by stepless gradations, is in a position to readily arrive at the frequency having the most favorable therapeutic effect. For example, when it is desired to produce muscular response in the case of injured nerves to prevent atrophy of muscles of a patient, it is found that the greatest response with minimum current value is obtained at a critical range of frequency which is likely to be different for difierent patients. An apparatus permitting rapid determination of optimum frequency insures that the discomfort to the patients due to the heating effect of the current at the areas of application will be reduced to a minimum.
  • apparatus embodying my invention includes phototubes and means for subdividing and varying light received by the phototubes into pulses.
  • therapy I currents are produced in response to such light pulses and by the means provided in this new apparatus the characteristics of therapy currents best adapted for the treatment of patients may be quickly and 'emciently regulated.
  • Fig. 1 is a somewhat conventionalized perspective view of apparatus provided with hand-controlled regulators for varying and regulating therapy currents over a wide range of characteristics;
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram of an electrical converting system: and
  • Fig. 3 is a graph illustrating modulated carrier currents produced by the apparatus.
  • the drawing shows two photocells I, 2, arranged to receive light from a source 3 through a window 4 in an opaque housing which has been shown broken away except for a wall part 5 surrounding the window.
  • an opaque rotatable mask or screen 6 which is provided with a plurality of radially arranged apertures 1, constituting light-transmitting windows whereby the light beam is subdivided into pulses which activate the respective photocells.
  • the amount of light transmitted to the photocells also may be modulated by a shutter 8 which, as will be described hereinafter, is caused to pass in a controlled manner between the source of light and the photocells.
  • the screen 6 is mounted for rotation on a shaft 9 which is connected by a train of gears (later described) to an electric motor Ill.
  • the gear train includes conventional toothed gears H, I!
  • the cradle 20 slides in a trough 2i.
  • the position of the disk and ring members with respect to one another is indicated on a scale 23 by a pointer 24 which is attached to thecradle 2B.
  • the disk [3 is mounted on the shaft 25 which is driven by the motor I 0 and is urged by the sprin 26 on the shaft 25 into frictional engagement with the rubber-tired wheel IS.
  • the latter is rotatably mounted on the horizontal support 2'! which does not rotate.
  • the rubber-tired wheel 16 in turn drives the disk H which is mounted on the shaft it.
  • the bearing for the shaft M has not been shown in order to simplify the drawing.
  • the disk II in turn engages the rubber-tired wheel I! which frictionally engages tlzie disk i5 against which it is urged by the spring 2
  • the regions of engagement of the rubber-tired wheels l6 and I 1 may be adjusted on the disks l3, l4, and I5;
  • the frictional engagement of the wheels I8 and Il may be caused to occur at various distances from the center of the disks outwardly to the periphery, thereby varying the relative speeds of the driven members.
  • the highest speed is obtained when the wheel I6 bears adjacent the outer periphery of the disk I3 and also near the center of the disk I4, the wheel I1 then engaging near the periphery of the disk I4 and near the center or the disk I5.
  • lower speeds can be obtained when the wheel I8 engages near the center of the rotation of the disk I3 and the periphery of the disk I4, the wheel I'I then engaging at a region near the center of the disk I4 and with the periphery of the disk I5.
  • the rotation of the apertured disk 6 may be varied several thousandfoid. By this means the operator may cause subdivision of the light beams falling alternately upon the photoelectric cells into shorter or longer pulses.
  • the currents generated by the light pulses falling alternately upon the photoelectric cells are caused, by appropriate electronic relays, to result in carrier current of chosen milliamperage and voltage which are suitable for use in the therapy field, and the frequency of such currents may be smoothly varied over a wide range.
  • the carrier frequency of the output currents may be varied readily from one per minute to 120 per second, although wider variations are possible.
  • the shutter 8 is given an oscillating motion by a shaft 32 which is mounted between bearings as indicated in the drawing, the supports not having been shown.
  • the shaft 32 is connected by levers 33 and 34 to a. rotating disk 35.
  • the pin 36 on the disk 35 en ages with the end of the lever 34 to cause the motion of rotation of the disk 35 to be converted into oscillating motion, thereby modulating the light falling on the photocells as will be evident from the drawing.
  • the disk 35 is rotated by the disk 31 which is I mounted on the common shaft 38.
  • a spring 39 presses the disk 31 against a rubber-tired wheel 40 which in turn engagesdvith and rotates a disk 4
  • the disk 43 is mounted upon a shaft 44 driven by a slow speed electric motor 45.
  • the mountings and engagement of the driving and driven members are similar to those of the first-described adjustable gear train.
  • the position of the shaft 46 is similarly adjusted by a thumb-screw 41 to indicate on a scale 48 the relative position of the gears and hence the rate of modulation.
  • oscillating shutter is shown as an example of a light modulator, but my invention is not to be considered as limited to this particular form of modulator.
  • the wave form of the therapy currents delivered to the applicator terminals 61 and I5 (Fig. 2) is determined by the rate of change or crosssectional area of the light pulses falling on the photocells.
  • the light variations are in turn determined by the configuration or the windows in the screen 8 and the configuration of the shutter 8.
  • the photocells I and 2 should be so positioned with respect to the source of light and the spacing of the windows in the screen 6 that a desired effeet is obtained. The operation may be made more evident if it is assumed that the screen 6 has but a single window.
  • the beam of light shining through this window would sweep across photocell I, producing in an amplifying system hereinafter described one-half Of the carrier frequency wave. It would next sweep across the photocell 2 thereby producing the opposite half of the carrier frequency wave.
  • This operation is repeated rapidly and results in a continuous train of waves.
  • the amplitude of the carrier frequency waves may be varied, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • variations in the wave form of the therapeutic currents are produced.
  • variable currents in the phototube circuits resulting from the variable pulses of light falling on the photocells is amplified by relay tubes to produce desired therapy currents.
  • a system of connections for this purpose is shown in Fig. 2.
  • a photocell conventionally indicated at I, has its anode 50 and its cathode 5
  • a variable resistor 55 is provided in circuit with the cell.
  • the terminals-of the resistor 52 are connected by the conductors 56, 51 to the extremities of the series-connected capacitors 58, 59.
  • the capacitor 58 which is of relatively large capacity (e. g. 32 microfarads) is charged by the full wave rectifier 60.
  • the capacitor 58 having a smaller capacity, is maintained charged by a half-wave rectifier iii.
  • the anodes 62, 62 of the rectifier are connected by the conductors 83, 64 to the respective terminals of the secondary winding of a transformer 85.
  • the thermionic cathode 88 of the rectifier 60 is connected by a conductor 56 to one terminal of the resistor 52 and from thence to the applicator terminal 51 of the therapy outfit, a choke 68 being included between the cathode 66 and the capacitor 58.
  • the output circuit conductors 69, III of the phototube are connected respectively to the anode and the grid of a pliotron (vacuum) tube II and by the conductors I2 in series with a resistor I3 to the potentiometer 52.
  • the cathode of the pliotron II is connected to the grid of a second pliotron 14.
  • the anode of the pliotron I4 is connected to the opposite applicator terminal I5 of the therapy apparatus.
  • the cathode of the pliotron 14 is connected by the conductor 16 to a point of intermediate potential on the secondary of the transformer 65.
  • the half-wave rectifier BI is connected to the secondary of transformer 65 by the conductor 11.
  • a filter capacitor I8 and a choke 19 are provided in the charging circuit of the capacitor 59.
  • the pulses of light falling on the photocell I cause variations in the resistivity of the photocell which produce variations of the potential of the grid of the pliotron 1 I.
  • the resulting change in the current in the circuit I2 varies the potential of the cathode of the pliotron II and in turn varies the potential of the grid of the pliotron I4. Consequently the output currents derived from the capacitor 58 and transmitted by the pliotron 14 are varied in accordance with the variations of the light pulses,
  • the characteristics of the transformer secondary and the described circuits are chosen to obtain therapy currents of desired characteristics.
  • the described circuit elements constitute onehalf of the system and alone will produce variable unidirectional currents.
  • unidirectional carrier currents of opposite polarity are impressed on the applicator terminals 61, 15.
  • the corresponding parts of the lower half of Fig. 2, which contains the photocell 2 are identified by the same numerals as the upper part with the addition of a prime sign.
  • the grids of the pliotrons l4 and 14' are normally biased at a negative cutofl potential by the capacitors 59 and 59'. As previously explained, only when light activates the phototubes is the cutoff potential modified to permit current flow. As the light shines on only one photocell at any instant the potentials of the tubes 14, 14' are alternately modified, which results in the production of alternating potentials at the applicator terminals 61, I5.
  • Unidirectional current may be obtained from applicator terminals 80, 8
  • An electrotherapeutic apparatus comprising the combination of applicator terminals, a source of unidirectional electric energy, thermionic means for transmitting said energy to said terminals, photoelectric means operatively related to said thermionic means whereby the currents delivered by said thermionic means may be controlled, means for activating said photoelectric means with light pulses and means for varying steplessly the frequency of said light pulses whereby the frequency of therapeutic currents delivered to said terminals may be correspondingly varied.
  • a therapy apparatus for furnishing electric currents at a desired therapeutic characteristic which comprises the combination of a source of unidirectional current, thermionic tubes for transmitting said energy, photoelectric means connected to control the operations of said thermionic tubes, a source of light positioned to transmi t a beam of light to said photoelectric means, a rotatable opaque disk having a plurality of lighttransmitting windows located in the path of said light beam whereby said beam may be subdivided, means for rotating said disk, means for steplessly and uninterruptedly varying the rate of rotation of said disk in order to vary the frequency of light subdivision, and means for independently modulating said light beam.
  • An apparatus for transmitting an electric current at a desired frequency and amplitude which comprises the combination of a photoelectric cell, a source of light positioned to transmit light to said cell, a rotatable mask having a plurality of light-transmitting windows located in the path of light between said source to said cell whereby the transmitted light may be subdivided,
  • a therapy apparatus for furnishing electric currents of desired therapeutic characteristics which comprises the combination of applicator terminals, a plurality of sources of unidirectional electric current, transmitting circuits each containing pliotron vacuum tubes connected between said sources and said terminals, photoelectric means connected to said tubes to control the transmission of current thereby, a light source whereby a beam of light is transmitted to activate said photoelectric means, a rotatable screen having windows for subdividing said beam, a motor for rotating said screen, mechanical means for steplessly regulating the rotational speed of said screen, a light-modulating shutter in the path of each of said light beams and means for varying the movement of said shutter and thereby modulating the currents impressed upon said applicator terminals.
  • An electrotherapeutic apparatus comprising the combination of applicator terminals. a source of electric energy, thermionic device for transmitting energy from said source to said terminals, a photoelectric device connected to control said thermionic device, means for delivering a beam of light to said photoelectric device, means for subdividing said beam into pulses of desired amplitude, and mechanical means for uninterruptedly varying the frequency of the resulting light pulses in the approximate range of one cycle per minute to about cycles per second, thereby correspondingly varying the frequency of therapeutic currents delivered to said terminals.
  • An electrotherapeutic apparatus comprising the combination of a source of electric energy, thermionic means for converting said energy into therapeutic currents, a photoelectric device connected to control the operation of said thermionic means, means for activating said photoelectric device with light pulses the duration and frequency of which correspond to the desired characteristic of therapeutic carrier currents and means for modulating said light pulses at a frequency lower than the frequency of said carrier currents.
  • An electric apparatus comprising the combination of output terminals, duplicate energy supply circuits containing pliotron tubes con nected to said terminals, means for biasing the grids of said pliotrons at cutoff potential, a photoelectric cell in each of said circuits respectively connected to initiate the flow of energy through said pliotron tubes, means for alternately illuminating said cells with pulses of light and means for steplessly varying the frequency of said pulses without interrupting the operation of said apparatus.
  • An electrical apparatus comprising output terminals, duplicate energy supply circuits each containing a pliotron connected to said terminals, means for biasing the grids of said pliotrons at cutofl potential, aphotoelectric cell in each of said circuits, circuit elements between the cells and pliotrons in said respective circuits to initiate the flow of energy through said pliotrons when said photoelectric cells are illuminated, means for alternately illuminating said cells with pulses of light, means for steplessly varying the frequency of said pulses and means for modulating said pulses.
  • An electrical apparatus comprising output terminals, duplicate circuits containing electric capacitors, means for charging said capacitors, pliotron tubes respectively connected between said capacitors and said terminals, a photoelectric cell in each of said circuits, means for biasing the grids of said pliotrons at cutoflf potential, electric connections between said cells and the grid circuits of said pliotrons whereby said grid potentials are modified to permit the transmission of current from said capacitors to said terminals, illuminating means, a screen having windows for transmitting pulses of light from said source alternately to said cells, means including adjustable friction disk gearing for rotating said screen and means for modulating said light pulses.
  • a therapeutic apparatus consisting of the combination of applicator terminals, paired duplicate circuits containing electric capacitors, transformers respectively associated with each of said capacitors, rectifiers connected to charge said capacitors from the associated transformer, a pliotron tube in each of said circuits connected between the capacitor of said circuits and said applicators, means for biasing the grids of said pliotron tubes at cutoff potentials, a photoelectric cell in each of said circuits, electric connections between said cells and the associated pliotron tubes in each circuit whereby upon illumination of said cells the grid potential of the respective association pliotron tubes may be modified to transmit current derived from the associated WILLIAM K. KEARSLEY.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Radiation-Therapy Devices (AREA)
US600168A 1945-06-18 1945-06-18 Therapeutic apparatus Expired - Lifetime US2434497A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE468987D BE468987A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1945-06-18
US600168A US2434497A (en) 1945-06-18 1945-06-18 Therapeutic apparatus

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US600168A US2434497A (en) 1945-06-18 1945-06-18 Therapeutic apparatus

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US2434497A true US2434497A (en) 1948-01-13

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2678581A (en) * 1949-11-30 1954-05-18 Rca Corp Signal comparison apparatus
US2861564A (en) * 1955-03-28 1958-11-25 Fischer & Co H G Therapeutic pulsing system
US2936762A (en) * 1952-06-05 1960-05-17 Bernard Pierre Denis Application of modulated decreasing frequencies to the body
US3276240A (en) * 1963-07-23 1966-10-04 F W Stewart Corp Speed comparator
US4148321A (en) * 1973-11-26 1979-04-10 Wyss Oscar A M Apparatuses and methods for therapeutic treatment and active massages of muscles
US4620543A (en) * 1984-06-15 1986-11-04 Richards Medical Company Enhanced fracture healing and muscle exercise through defined cycles of electric stimulation
US5301493A (en) * 1992-09-25 1994-04-12 Chen Tsung Yen Steplessly adjustable pre-stretched film wrapping apparatus
US5476481A (en) * 1991-11-15 1995-12-19 Robert Ley Electrotherapy apparatus with superimposed AC fields

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1475583A (en) * 1921-05-20 1923-11-27 Gen Electric Variable-current generator
US1916356A (en) * 1931-02-05 1933-07-04 Wired Radio Inc Phase multiplier
US2213820A (en) * 1937-07-16 1940-09-03 Burdick Corp High frequency apparatus for therapeutic and surgical uses
US2243591A (en) * 1939-07-29 1941-05-27 Gen Electric Electric valve converting apparatus
US2311935A (en) * 1939-03-13 1943-02-23 Joseph H Dobert Electrophysiotherapeutical apparatus
US2333760A (en) * 1941-09-02 1943-11-09 Birtcher Corp Therapy apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1475583A (en) * 1921-05-20 1923-11-27 Gen Electric Variable-current generator
US1916356A (en) * 1931-02-05 1933-07-04 Wired Radio Inc Phase multiplier
US2213820A (en) * 1937-07-16 1940-09-03 Burdick Corp High frequency apparatus for therapeutic and surgical uses
US2311935A (en) * 1939-03-13 1943-02-23 Joseph H Dobert Electrophysiotherapeutical apparatus
US2243591A (en) * 1939-07-29 1941-05-27 Gen Electric Electric valve converting apparatus
US2333760A (en) * 1941-09-02 1943-11-09 Birtcher Corp Therapy apparatus

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2678581A (en) * 1949-11-30 1954-05-18 Rca Corp Signal comparison apparatus
US2936762A (en) * 1952-06-05 1960-05-17 Bernard Pierre Denis Application of modulated decreasing frequencies to the body
US2861564A (en) * 1955-03-28 1958-11-25 Fischer & Co H G Therapeutic pulsing system
US3276240A (en) * 1963-07-23 1966-10-04 F W Stewart Corp Speed comparator
US4148321A (en) * 1973-11-26 1979-04-10 Wyss Oscar A M Apparatuses and methods for therapeutic treatment and active massages of muscles
US4620543A (en) * 1984-06-15 1986-11-04 Richards Medical Company Enhanced fracture healing and muscle exercise through defined cycles of electric stimulation
US5476481A (en) * 1991-11-15 1995-12-19 Robert Ley Electrotherapy apparatus with superimposed AC fields
US5301493A (en) * 1992-09-25 1994-04-12 Chen Tsung Yen Steplessly adjustable pre-stretched film wrapping apparatus

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