US2509417A

US2509417A - High-frequency diathermy applicator

Info

Publication number: US2509417A
Application number: US712583A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar R Bowers
Original assignee: Burdick Corp
Current assignee: Burdick Corp
Priority date: 1946-11-27
Filing date: 1946-11-27
Publication date: 1950-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-30

Description

May 30, 1950 o. R. BOWERS HIGH-FREQUENCY DIATl'lERMY APPLICATOR 4 She'bS-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 194e May 30,. 1950 o. R. BOWERS HIGH-FREQUENCY DIATHERMY APPLICA'TOR` Filed Nov, 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m l N Maly 3m H95@ 0, m, BOWERS 59994K? HIGH-FREQUENCY DITHERMY APPLICATOR MEW 3U, W5@ o. m. Bom/ERS EWSUQAN HIGH-FREQUENCY DIATHERMY APPLICATOR f Filed Nov. 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 3Q, 1950 HIGH-FREQUENCY DIATHERMY APPLICATOR Oscar R. Bowers, Milton, Wis., assignor to The Burdick Corporation, Milton, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application November 27, 1946, Serial No. 712,583

The present invention relates to a high frequency diathermy applicator or, as it is sometimes called, an electrode which is particularly designed for use in diathermy treatment of individuals.

sectionalized housing within which is mountedl a single coil and which is so constructed and arranged that the diathermy effect is substantially evenly distributed over the face of the applicator and remains substantially uniform throughout the various positions of adjustment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved therapeutic applicator of sectionalized construction wherein the several sections are hingedly secured relative to each other by the coil.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved high frequency applicator including a coil which is mounted close to the face of the applicator and is therefore most effective and, furthermore, wherein the` heat generated in the applicator is conducted away from the inner face and to the back of the applicator, thereby minimizing the danger of burning the patient during treatment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent vfrom the ensuing description of an embodiment, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view, partly broken away,

illustrating an applicator constructed in accordtional view taken along the staggered line 6 6 of Fig. l, illustrating the center and outer sections of the applicator at an angle with respect 4 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 405) to each other instead of in line as illustrated in the preceding figures;

Fig. 'l is an end elevational view on a reduced scale illustrating the applicator in adjusted position to t about a curved part of the body; and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the applicator illustrating the various parts of the sectionalized housing and omitting the coil and certain of its supporting structure (including certain screws which are molded into the housing sections).

The high frequency applicator illustrated in the drawings is indicated as a whole by reference character Ill. It is characterized by its sectionalized construction and in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, it includes a plurality of relatively movable sections comprising a center section I2 and end sections I4 and I6 which are of similar but opposite construction for attachment to opposite sides of the center section. These sections are made of some suitable insulating material, preferably Bakelite,

and they may be constructed in any suitable manner, as by casting.

In accordance with one of the features of the present invention, a single plural convolution high frequency tubular coil I8 is housed within the multiple section housing. This coil contains but a relatively few convolutions or turns and these are distributed over the greater portion of the applicator, thereby to provide a uniform distribution of the diathermy current. In accordance with another of the features of the invention, the coil is utilized hingedly to support the sections of the applicator relative to each other. Accordingly, the coil is divided into center, right and left, as viewed in Fig. 1,

sections

20, 22, and 2d. The sections are joined by electrically conductive hinges, illustrated by the reference character 26 and the specific construction of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

In accordance with still another feature of the present invention, the coil I8 is supported near the face of the applicator in order that it be located as close as possible to the patient :and be most effective in use. In order to make this possible, the heat generated in the coil by electrical losses is conducted away from the patient and coil to the outer or back side of the applicator by the coil supports 28 which are secured (as will be described shortly) to the outer side of the various housing sections.

The construction of the individual housing sections will now be described. The center section I2 includes a bottom wall 30, the lower side of which has projecting from it an integral boss 32 recessed for the reception of an applicator holder 34, which may be part of the diathermy apparatus.

The center section includes also

end Walls

36 and 38 and a separable cover 4B having downwardly extending lugs 42 adapted to set upon bosses 44 extending inwardly from the

end walls

36 and 38. The lugs yand bosses are of a height such that when the applicator is flat, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the cover 4D is substantially at the same elevation as the covers of the end sec tions. The Ycover of the center section l2 it adapted detachably to be secured to the bottom wall 36 of the section in suitable manner, such as by the screws 46, passing through the cover and its downwardly extending lugs 42 into the bosses 44, and covered by plugs 41 (see Fig, 6),

In order to maintain the housing closed in the various positions of angular adjustment of `the applicator, the end walls of the center section are provided with wings BBL rand :36B and 38L and SSR and arcuate flanges EDR. .and '501, are

' connected to the bottom .by .short upright Aportions 52, as best illutrated in Figs. Y2 and i8. VThe Wings and flanges cooperate `with .portions of `the end sections to keep `the housing .closed iorthe various positions of adjustment Aas will appear shortly. The flanges i@ interconnect the wings 3BR and y3BR and the wings 36L and 38L, which also terminate in arcuate portions following the vare vof the flanges.

The end sections d'4 `and l are alike in construction and ltherefore .only one, the right one `|4, will be described in detail and the same `reference characters applied to both to illustrate the like parts.

The yend section includes a top :or cover 54 movablymounted, for `a purpose which will appear shortly, relative to Ythe cooperating Vhousing `memberV 56 having'a back 58, .sidewalls turned side anges "l2 in the cover, which slidably "receive .guide lugs 'TM at the upper edge near the V'tops of the Vwalls .tu and 152. The cover also has a downwardly extending ange le at its end, which is not inturnedbut which Vdocs serve more completely lto close :the housing.

The coil carrying portion of `the end section moves lpivotally about the hinges 2S which are,

asbestillustrated in Figs. `2 and 6, located somewhat below andto one side of the hinge pin t6.

As the end section is moved angularly, the cover movespivotally about the axis deiined by the hinge pin While .the remainder moves about an laxisdeiined'by'the hinges. Inasmuch as these two axes are displaced, it is necessary for the coverY tcrnove relative yto the other part and this 'is the reason for the use of the above-described l construction permitting such relative movement. 'In order to maintain the housing closed inthe various positions of adjustment, `the outer secf tion is also provided with `an arcuate flange 80 cooperatingwith the iiange 58. The flange 8i! is provided with arcuate extensions 82 Vwhich serve yto close the space between the vwings 3ER and Y4138.152., the end sections being preferably made ysomewhatnarrower than the center section. The

frespective flanges Sil are also located somewhat above the respective bottoms 58 and in effect constitute ilanges extending from the respective vertical Walls 84 extending upwardly from the respective bottoms 58. It may be mentioned that the flanges 50 and 80 have their respective centers of rotation at the respective axes of the hinges 26..

yThe coil is rigidly supported near the top of the applicator by the coil supports 28, to which reference has already been made. These supports are vpreferably made of heat conducting insulating material and are secured to the back walls of the individual sections by screws 86 `molded with `the bosses 88 extending away from thewall, asbest illustrated in Fig. 2. `The coil is secured "to thecoil supports in suitable manner. Preferably, a coil receiving generally U-shaped bracket 89 is secured to the top of each support. This can conveniently be done by means of a screw 89A, as again best illustrated in Fig.'2.

The .coil .is .suitably 4secured Vto the brackets as by brazing.

'The coil 'hinges 26 include tongues V95 at the Y `'opposite ends of the center coil sections 20 .and

the groove defining members 92 at the adjacent Y,ends ofthe coil sections 22 and 24. Each Ahinge includes also a screw bolt `34 kpassing through apertures in the tongue andgroove-dening'portions ofthe coil and Agood contact is Vprovided by the generally ,concavo convex washers 96.

High frequency lcurrent :is vsupplied to the coil `through the leads |00 and 182, (which may be covered'with requisite insulation-not shown) the former of which is .connected .to a terminal |04 connected in -turn to V.the Vouter .end of the coil,

f as best illustrated :in Fig. 1. lThe lead -I |12 is connected to a terminal |06, which is connected by a downwardly extending bus or strap |08 to a terminal |20 .connected to the Vinner -end of the coil, which is .located near the .center of the right coil section 22.

In operation, high frequency current is supplied-to the applicator through the leads IUD and |12 from the diathermy apparatus. The applicator is placed over that portion yof vthe -patients :body `which it is desired to treat. If the portion :is relatively nat, such as the back ofthe patient,

.the applicator will be adjusted to be substantially flat .as it is illustrated in Fig. 3. If the portion of .the `body to be treated is rounded, such as the `arm or leg or head of the patient, the sections of the applicator are adjusted to conform to the nature of the portion of the body being treated.V One position `of adjustment has been illustrated in Fig. 7.

One of the advantages ofthe applicatorV is that itis readily adjusted and the use of a single coil having its convolutions distributed over the area of the applicator insures substantially even distributionof the diathermy-eifectover the applicator. Furthermore, the effect remains substantially uniform throughout the various positions of adjustment. This is a considerable advantage, especially -in the treatment of various portions of the face, as in the treatment of sinus conditions. Even thou-gh the coi-l is located near the face of the applicator, i. e., that portion of it closest the patient, the patient will not be harmed by the heat generated in the coil. This results in the fact that the 'heat is conducted toward the back of the applicator through the coil supports 28.

Another advantage of the-applicator is its complete closure in all positions of adjustment so'that neither the patient -nor the operator can come into contact with the coil.

While but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it should be understood that the specic details thereof are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A high frequency diathermy applicator comprising a sectionalized housing, the sections being hinged together for relative movement and each having a face of application, and a high frequency conductor Within said housing arranged in the form of a single spiral having a portion substantially uniformly distributed in each section and all parts of the conductor constituting each portion being equidistant from the face of the associated section.

2. A high frequency diathermy applicator comprising a housing consisting of a plurality of separate sections, each section having side and back walls and an open face and the sections being hingedly secured together in side by side relation by hinges back of the open faces thereof, a high frequency coil contained Within said housing, said coil having portions distributed in each of the sections, covers individual to each housing section to enclose the coil and form the front face of the applicator, the cover -of one housing section being xed thereto whereas the covers of the other housing sections are slidable relative to their associated sections, and hinges interconnecting the covers of the several housing sections.

3. A high frequency diathermy applicator comprising a plurality of separate sections having back and side walls and being secured together by section hinges in side by side relation to define a flexible sectionalized housing having an open face, the axis of hinging being spaced back from said open face, a high frequency coil having portions `contained in each of the several sections, and covers enclosing the coil and forming the face of the applicator, the cover of at least one housing section being xed thereto while the covers of the other housing sections are slidable with respect to their associated section, the sliding attachment of the covers to the sections accommodating the changing total face length of the housing incident to the folding and unfolding of the housing on the section hinges.

4. A high frequency diathermy applicator, comprising a sectionalized housing having the sections hinged together for relative movement toward and away from each other, and a single multi-convolution spiral electro-inductive coil having only a portion of each convolution located in each housing section so that each convolution is completed by coil portions in all housing sections.

OSCAR R. BOWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 544,552 Wiles Aug. 13, 1895 1,109,735 Bignell Sept. 8, 1914 1,492,821 Weinbach May 6, 1924 1,758,213 Bartik May 13, 1930 2,404,283 Gieringer July 16, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 327,867 Italy July 19, 1935