US853645A - Vibratory apparatus for ear treatment. - Google Patents

Description

. I PATENTE .MAY-14.1967.

, ffii MEYER. A

V'IBRAATURY APPARATUS PoR BAR TREATMENT)y APPLICATION FILED Dimm, 19'06.

Mums-SHEET z.

l 9M 17% j EUGENE MEYER, or lNEW YORK, 1N', Y.

vlBnAroRY .APPARATUS FOR EAR TREATMENT.

- Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented. May i4, 190'?.

'. Application filed December 24,1906. -Serial No. $49,312.

To 'all whom it nzety concern.'

Be it known that I, EUGENE MEYER, a citi .zen of the United States, residing in the bor- `ough of Manhattan, city, county, and State lof-New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vibratory Apparatus for Ear Treatment, of. Whichthe following is al specification,

My improvements relatel to apparatus for treatingthe'tympanum of the ear to airpulsations orl vibrations for remedial purposes and the invention consists inthe special arrangement and combination of parts herein described and claimed.

'In4 the accompanying -drawing's,=-Figure 1, is a side elevation of my apparatus; Fig. 2, is a plan ofthe same; Fig. 3, a central longitudinal sectional elevation upon plane of line 3-3"Fig. 2 ig. 4, is a section upon plane The diaphragm m, is preferably, though not necessarily, made of mica on account of its resilience, durability and unehangeability 'under changes of temperature and-atmospheric conditions. It is preferably of circular form and its edges are supported by and between annular gaskets n, n, which may consist of rubber tubing as indicated in Figs. 3A and 4,-the lower gasket resting upon an annular shoulder n', in' the air chamber d, and the upper gasket being confined by an annular peripherally threaded ring a2, screwing into the upper edge ofthe air cup N in which the air or diaphragm chamber d, is formed. The air cup N is shown as supported upon a standard n3, attached to the .plate a, which is in turn rigidly secured to the base A.

c, is a pipe or nipple extending through the bottom of the air cup N and communicating with the air chamber d. To this nipple c, is

attached a rubber tube r, or equivalent for conveying the air pulsations created by the vibrationcf the diaphragm m, to the ear or ears, or nostril or nostrils of the patient, as the case may require. Obviously the outer end of this tube r, 'may be bifurcated, and it may be provided with a ,nozzle or nozzles r', for direct and air tight contact with the car or nasal passages. Another tube e, protrudes from the bottom of the air cup N, communicating with the diaphragm chamber d', therein, as shown in 3, and in this tube e, andbetween the air cupiN and the vnipple e', of the tube e, is interposed asmall puppet valve fu, resting normally on a seat c',

in the casing fvg, and movable l*between said i seat c, and the aperture e3, in the top of the vcasing e?. A stop cock w, is interposed in the pipe e, between the air cup N and the valve c, so that the latter may be cut out when desired. Attached to the nipple e', is a -iexible tube a rubber bu b or equivalent F.l It will be seen that the valve v, may be designed as a double acting since it performs the' double function of a relief and a check valve.

As shown in the drawings the hammer h, is made to reciprocate by electromagnetism,.said hammer being attached to, the free end of a lever H carrying an armature k', op osed to the cores of two electro-niagnets G. The rear end of the armature le-V ver H is connected with a spring 7b2, WhiC-h'is in turn connected with an adjustingl screw h3, by which the tension of the spring may be regulated. The lever H is insulated from its fulcrum by a sleeve or bushing of insulating material i, shown in Fig. 3, and carries a contact breaker h4, of any desired or well known construction.

B is a'battery or other source of electrical energy controlled by a switch S. The current, when turned on passes through the coils of the electro-magnets G, to the standard J and through the latter to the contacts y', y, and through them to the Contact breaker 7L, and lever H from which the circuit is oompleted through the connection /c,--the current being alternately opened and. closed by the action of the electro-1naguets in theusual and Well known manner. As a result the air Within the chamber d, .is alternately coinpressed and relaxed and the pulsations or variations in density or pressure are transmitted through tubing 1', to the nozzle or nozzles r, the cock w, being preferably cl sed.

When it is desired to vary the pressurey above or below normal or atmospheric pressure, the cock w, is opened, so as to render the valve c', available. Under these eonditions, if the bulb Fis collapsed slowly the excess of air will raise the valve e, slightly lroin its seat e', and allow such excess to escape upon the other end of which is ICO without perceptibly affecting the air in the diaphragm chamber d. .lf new the bulb be released its automatic .expansion will cause suction which will hold the valve o, on its seat u, and create a partial vacuum within the air chamber d 'which of course, creates suction in the tube r. If, on the contrary, it is desired to create an excess of pressure with- -in the diaphragm chamber d, and tube r, the 1o bulb F is compressed forcibly and rapidly, immediately driving .the valve 1), upward, closing the aperture r3, and forcing an excess ofair into said diaphragm chamber d and tubing 1". By these various manipulations I '15 am enabled to adapt and modify the action of my apparatus to the special requirements of patients under treatment. Thus if the ear drum is collapsed .or drawn inward, the partial vacuum or suction treatment is rezo sorted to through the external ear passages,

whereas if the tympanum is distended outward for any reason an excess of pressure is utilized in like manner. Or the vreverse treatment may be resorted to in like cases 2 5 where the treatment is administered through `the nasal passages and eustachian ducts.

I have found by actual experience that my apparatus may beeffectually used to relieve tinnitus aurium 4or fhead noises, to exerf 3o cise Vand strengthen the tympanum and remedy or correct'its position Sac. It has been found efficient in returning and even curing partial and prolonged deafness; and may be used advantageously in loosening waxy de 3 5 posits Within the inner ear. In fact, owing to lthe elasticity and resilience of the air it may be thus used'where resort to more positivel rigid means would be inexpedient or dangerous.

` My a paratus is especially advantageous and use l`in substituting elastic fluid air in lieu of liquids in the treatment of the ear,

since the practically incompressible liquids are apt to cause miiammation or even rup 4 ture unless skilfully used, and in cases Where the eustaehian tube is Wholly or partially closed my app aratus furnishes the only avail able means of effective treatment.

What I claim as my invention and desire l -to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of an air chamber, a'

" diaphragm therein, means for forcing air under pressure into sald air chamber, means for v vibrating said diaphragm consisting of a vibatory hammer lever provided with an armature actuated by electro magnetism,"and means for transmitting the resultant vibrations of air tp a patient, substantially in the 6o. manner and for the purpose described. In apparatus; of the character desig- Dated, the combination of an air chamber, 4a

, l diaphragm therein, means for withdrawing air. from said air chamber for the purpose of scribed.

reducing the tension in said chamber below atmospheric pressure, means for vibrating said diaphragm consisting of a vibratory hainn'icr lover provided with an armature actuated by electro magnetism, and means for transmittingr thc resultant vibrations of rareiied air to a patient, substantially set forth. 3. In apparatus of thc character desig'- nated, thc combination of an air chamber, va collapsible bulb connected with said air chambe'r, a rclicf and check valve interposed bc- 75 tween said air chamber and said bulb, a diaphragm in. said ai'r chamber means for vibratmg said dlaphragl'n consisting of a vibratory .hammer lever provided with an armature actuated by electro-magnetisln, and means for 8o transmitting the resultant vibrations of air to a patient, substantially in-the manner and for the purpose described.

4. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of an air chamber, 85. means for exhausting air therefrom, a relief and check valve interposed between said air chamber and said-means of exhaust, a diaphragm in said air-chamber, means for vibrating said diaphragm consisting of a vibratory hammer lever provided withl an arp mature actuated' by electro-magnetism, and l .means for transmitting the resultant vibra- IOS v`chamber, a check 'valve interposed betweensaid air chamber and said bu b, a stop cock -interposed between said air chamber and said check valve, means for vibrating said dia- -phragm and means for transmitting-the' resultant vibrations of air to a patient, substantially in `the manner and for the purpose de I I 5 7. In apparatus of the4 character desig? nated, the combinationofan air chamber, means for exhausting air therefrom, a relief valve interposed between said air chamber and said means of exhaust, a stopv cock inter osed between' said air chamber 'and said re iief valve, a diaphragm in said air chamber', i means for l vibrating said diaphragm, and f means rfor transmitting the resultant vibrations of air to a patient, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

8. ln apparatus of they character designated, the combination 'of an Vair chamber esame; ..8

meansl for exhausting air therefrom, a check tions of air to a patient, substantially in the valve interposed between said air chamber manner and for the purpose described.

and said' means of exhaust, a stop oook interposed between said air chamber and said check valve, a diaphragm in said -air chamber, means for vibrating said diaphragm, and

means for transmitting the resultant Vibra- EUGENE MEYER.

- Witnesses: A

D. W. GARDNER, GEO. WM. MIATT.

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