US993447A - Osteopath's electric operating-table. - Google Patents

Description

Patllted May 30, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. W. HOTGHKISS.

OSTBOPATHS ELECTRIC OPERATING TABLE.

APPLIGATIQN FILED 1330.3, 1909. 993,447.

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C. W. HOTCHKISS.

OSTBOPATHS ELECTRIC OPERATING TABLE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED DBO. a, 1909.

993,447. I Patented Mayo, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

YlZNoRRIs PETERS co1, wAsHlNGroN, n. c2

UNITED STAES CHARLES W. HOTGI-IKISS,

OF SANDWICH, ILLINOIS.

OSTflil0Il?A'.l.I-IS ELECTRIC OPERATING-TABLE.

Specioaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1911.

App1icaton filed December 3, 1909.V Serial No. 531,280.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. Horen- KIss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandwich, in the county of Dekalb and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Osteopaths Electric Operating-Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in a table for use by Osteopaths and masseurs for the purpose of electrically treating patients, the object being to provide simple, eiiicient and safe means for giving electric treatments, and consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention: Figure l is a top plan view partly broken away and partly in section of a table and appurtenances constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail plan section partly in elevation showing the casing for batteries and induction coil mounted on the table. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of a shoe to be worn by the operator and which is adapted to conduct the electric current. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4L, showing the means for conducting the electric current through the sole of the shoe. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of a movable fioor plate adapted to be substituted for the iioor conductor illustrated in Fig. 1.

My invention has for its particular object '40 to provide a very convenient method of insuring the closure of the secondary circuit from the induction coil through the operator and patient `at any point around the operating table on which the patient rests and pro- .'45lviding for the control of said circuit by means of the feet of the operator either to open or close the same and also to vary the same, it being a feature of my invention that the operator is subjected to the same current ofas his patient thus preventing excessive currents through the body of the latter and a consequent superstimulation or sudden shocks.

The table employed may be of any of the usual varieties of operating tables consisting of the middle portion A supported on 'the legs B and provided at either end with a hinged head-rest C and foot-rest D, respectively, adjustably supported by means of the toothed quadrant E and an engaging member mounted upon the frame of the table. All of these parts are common to all operating tables and do not in .and of themselves constitute any part of my invention.

Secured to the bottom of the middle portion A of the table is a receptacle F containing a plurality of primary batteries G and an induction coil I-I, the primary circuit through which is closed by the usual and well -known make and -break device commonly employed in all so-called medical batteries. An additional compartment I is provided in said receptacle for a purpose hereinafter described. The battery circuit is controlled by means of a switch J interposed therein and which is disposed on the table within easy reach of the operator.

One pole of the secondary circuit -is connected by means of wire K with a metallic yplate L mounted on thebottom of one of the legs of the table and the other pole thereof is connected with a covering M of wire cloth covering the table and likewise the said head-and-foot-rests thereof. In place of the covering M of the table, the usual handle N may be used which is held by the patient and is connected by means of flexible wire cord with the last-named pole of the secondary circuit as indicated in Fig. 3.

Disposed upon the licor surrounding the table is a continuous strip O of wire cloth or other good conductor forming a rectangle within which said table stands which is connected with the first-named pole of the secondary circuit by means of a branch strip P extending inwardly and upon which the said metallic foot-piece L rests. In some instances it may be necessary to dispense with said wire cloth O and use in place thereof a movable floor plate Q, shown in Fig. 6, which is connected by flexible wire R. with said metallic plate L, said plate Q being adapted to be moved by the operator to any convenient point around the table depending upon where he is operating. The said plate Q, is preferable for use in connection with a portable table and when not in use is inserted in the additional compartment I of the receptacle F, the latter being also adapted to receive the strips O which may be rolled up for the purpose. The magnetic core S of the induction coil is longitudinally movable into and out of the same to vary the secondary current in the usual and well-lniown manner, said armature being operable by hand and conveniently located for this purpose.

The operator wears the shoe T, the sole of which is equipped externally and internally with metallic plates U secured by means of rivets or other electrical conductors passing through said sole, the current thus passing through his body and thence to the patient upon resting the lower plate U upon the wire cloth O or the floor plate Q and placing the hands in contact with the body of the patient. Two of said shoes are worn by the operator and by resting either one or both of same upon said wire cloth O the current is conducted with greater or less strength to the patient and by removing both feet from said Wire cloth O the secondary circuit is opened and hence no current i'lows through the body of the patient or operator.

t is preferable to employ the wire cloth covering M on the table so that the electric current is distributed more generally throughout the entire body but obviously it will concentrate at the point of the body where the circuit is completed by contact of the operators hands therewith. That is to say, that where the body rests upon the said wire cloth covering and contacts with the same at a plurality of points the effect produced is different from that resulting from the patients holding the handle N for the reason that in the latter case the current passes through the arm and thence takes the most direct course to the point of contact of the operators hands with the body and the stimulating eilect produced is accordingly more localized. By passing the current through the body of the operator the latter is at all timesr fully aware of its intensity and is accordingly better enabled to properly regulate it to suit the needs of the patient.

I claim as my invention:

l. Apparatus of the kind specified, comprising a table, an electric battery carried thereby, an induction coil interposed in the battery circuit, the secondary circuit being normally open, a covering of conduct-ive material on said table connected with one pole ot the secondary circuit, a metallic foot-piece on one of the table legs connected with the other pole of the secondary circuit, and a rectangular floor piece oil conductive material surrounding the table and electrically connected with said foot-piece o't` the table leg, said secondary circuit being adapted to be closed through the bodies oli' the patient and operator.

2. Apparatus oi the kind speciiied, comprising a table, an electric battery carried thereby, an induction coil interposed in the battery circuit, the secondary circuit being normally open, a covering of conductive material on said table connected with one pole of the secondary circuit, a metallic footpiece on one of the table legs connected with the other pole of lthe secondary circuit, and a rectangular floor piece of conductive material surrounding the table and electrically connected with said toot-piece ot the table leg, and shoes for the operator equipped with electrically conductive soles, said secondary circuit being closed through the bodies of the patient and operator and its intensity varied by contact of one or both shoes with said floor piece.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES lV. HOTCHKISS. liVitnesses RUDOLPH VM. Lorz, E. H. MaoDoNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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