US1664992A - Electrotherapeutical apparatus - Google Patents

Description

s. PoNGo ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS April 3, 192s.

6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 26. 1927 S. PONGO ELECTROTHERAPEU'IICAL APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26. 1927 ,k

/lv vENroR @fr April 3, 1928. 1,664,992

s. PoNGo ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS Filed July 2e. 1927 e sheets-sheet' vs/Enron April 3, 192s..

s. PONGO ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS Filed Julbr 26. 19,27

6' Sheets-Sheet 4 s. PONGO ELEcTnTHERAPEuT-ICAL APPARATUS April 3, 1928.

' Filed July 2e. 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 nti. 1

llll

y 9 lllllllrll April 3, 1928.

s. PONGO ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS Filed July 26. 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 OOm.

A TTORNEY- Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

SIGMUND PONGO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

i ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL PPARATUS.

Application led July 26,

The pr'esent invention relates to improvements in electro-therapeutical apparatuses, and more particularly to devices of this type which are commonly called electric bat 1- 5 cabinets.

In these devices electric light and heat are employed as agencies for the treatment of the human body for the relief of ailments to which it is subjected. In one type of these apparatuses a table or couch is used, on which is mounted a casing or shell of a length to receive the prone body of-the patient. In the casing light and heat effects are produced. The casing is supported upon 5 tracks, mounted on the table, and is adapted to be removed from the said table in order to permit the patient to be removed therefrom. Various difficulties have been experienced heretofore in the handling of the casing, the latter being rather heavy.

The inain object of the present invention is to provide an electro-therapeutical apparatus, wherein a simple means is provided which balances the Weight of the casing, 5 whereby the latter may be handled with ease.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. therapeutical apparatus'which embodies means for stretching` or elongating the body of the patient for correcting certain spinal ailments, for modifying or'correcting certain defects of the joints of the human body, for imparting certain stimulating effect thereto andv for relieving pathological conditions due to abnormal or natural compression of the cartilages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and veflicient mechanism for actuating the stretching device of the apparalus and to so arrange the said means that it is adapted to be operated by the patient.

lVith these and other objects in view, which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the saine consists in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may he made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of` construction within the scope of the appended claims,

1927. serialv No. 208,555.'

without departing from the spirit or sacri- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electrotherapeutical apparatus constructed 1n accorda-nce with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a4 transverse section taken through the shell or casing of the device, on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a section taken on .line 3-3 of Fig. 2, on a still larger scale; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the end portion of the device shown in Fig. 1, the casing'being partly removed from the table portion ofthe device; Fig. 5 is a view similar to the one shown in Fig. 4, the casingy bein wholly removed from the table portion o the device; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus, the casing and other elements being removed in order to more clearly show the interior construction; Fig. 7 is a section taken 0n line 7-7 of Fig. 1, the easing being removed; Fig. 8 is an end view of the table portion of the apparatus, showing the balancing means of the casing; Fig. 9 is a section taken on line A9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a side elevation, on a largerscale, of the connecting means between the table and the casing of the apparatus; and Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 6, on a larger scale.

vThe apparatus comprises a table 12, including a top 13 mounted upon legs 14 and providing a support upon which a patient may lie. On the table top rests, between longitudinal vmarginal guide rails 13', a cushion 15, covering substantially the entire area of the table top. The top is provided with a central longitudinal slot 16, in which is mounted a channel shaped reflector 17, the latter extending into a longitudinal slot 18 in the cushion 15. The slots 16 and 18pare in alignment, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Within the reflector are disposed electric lamps 19, inserted into an electric circuit, provided withv an electric resistance 20, thel latter being adapted to be varied b turning a knob 21. The resistance and kno are disposed below the top ortion of the table. The slot 18 in the cu ion is, prefer- 1 of the drawings.

l .l ably, covered by a coarse-meshed fabric 22, to revent contact between the body of the patient and the reflector and lamps above referred to.

Onto the guide rails 13 is adapted to be placed a casing or shell 23, having an open bottom 24, fitted over the said guide rails. This casing is somewhat shorter than the table, it being constructed on a nearly ellip tical plan in transverse cross-section, and provided at its-outer end with a head l25, while to its inner end is fitted a curtain 26, provided with a sliiired opening-26, so'that it may be drawn about the neck of the patient, the patients head resting upon a pillow 27, disposed outside the casing 23. The said casing may be constructed in any suitable manner. In the present case it comprises longitudinal franie members 28, cov- .ered by a fiber board or like material 29,

to which is applied a cloth or similar covering 30. To the inner faces of the longitudina frame members 28 is' flx'ed an asbestos lining 31, and the latter is covered with a metallic refiector 32.. They head 25 is also provided with a metallic reflecting surface, not shown.

In the interior of the casing or shell is mounted a plurality of electric lamps 33,

inserted into an electric circuit 34. In 'the last-mentioned electric circuit is inserted a variable resistance 35, adapted to be regulated bymanipulating a knob 36. The resistance 35 and knob 36 are also disposed below the table top, as clearly shown in Fig. One or more windows 37 may be provided in the casinv' 23, so that the attendant may view therbody of Vthe patient as the treatment progresses;

Covered openings 38, preferably in the top of the casing 23, permit of the insertion of a thermometer to ascertain the heat in the interior of the cabinet during the treatment.

vOn the head 25 of the casing 23 are mounted casters 39, on which the said casing is adapted to stand when the latter isremoved, in a manner hereinafter to be described, from the table top.` The casing may thenbe easily moved from place to place,

when not required in the treatment of a patient. At the foot portion of the table top are mounted upon thelatter two rollers 40, one adjacent each guideway. AThe casing moves on these rollers and may be slid longitudinally onthe table top in order to remove the same from said top. With these two rollers are .adapted to o o-operate two bearing members 41 adjacent the bottom ofl'the casing 23, the said rollers being in the path of said bearing members when the casing is slid longitudinally on the table toward' the foot portion of the top thereof. Each 'of these bearing 'members is provided with a concaved portion 42, havin a radius corirespondingl to thatv of la ro ler 40 and ex- Lec-1,992

tending through an arc of not more than end of a link 48, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 49 with Aone end of a link 50. The other end of the last-men-` tioned link is pivoted at 51 to the casing 23. A. .latch 52 is adapted to slide over the joint between the links 48 and 50' and prevents breaking of the joint between the said two links. In order to remove the casing 23 from the table, the'form'er is slid toward the foot vvportion ofthe table top until the bearings 41 engage the rollers 40. The casing is then swung on the said bearings until the rollers 39 rest on the floor, that is to say into the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The joint between the links 48 and 50 of the bearings isy then broken, the elements being then in the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings and in dotted lines in Fig. 10 of the drawings, whereby the bearings may be ldisengaged from the rollers 40 in moving the casing away from the table of the apparatus.

The balancing means above referred to comprises two bars 53 (Figs. 8 and 9), connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 54, the latter being rotatably mounted in bearings 55, which are disposed a little distance below the table top and adjacent the foot portion of the latter. The bars 53 project beyond those legs which are disposed adjacent the foot portion of the table top and are provided at their lower free 'ends each with a roller 56. Around the bar 54 is lwound a heavy spring coil 57, so constructed and arranged that it has a tendency to swing the free ends of the bars 53 upwards from the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 9 of the draw-l ings into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Adjacent their free ends, the bars 53 are connected by a cross bar 58, on

which the rollers 56 are mounted, as clearly .59 engages the'Cross-bar 58 and projects up lll to the table top. The bar 59 carries below the table top a bolt 64. extending through a slot 65 in an arm 66, which is rigidly secured to a cam 67. This cam is fixed to `a spindle 68, oscillatably mounted in bearings 69 on the table and having fixed to it, outside of the table, a handle 70.

When the casing is to be mounted upon the table portion of the device, the bars 53 are first brought into the positions shown in Figs. and 9 of the drawings. The casing is then moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, in which the fixed sections' 43 of the bearing members engage the rollers 40 and the head portion 25 of the casing abuts against the rollers I5G on the bars 53. The pivoted sections- 44 ofthe bearing members are then swung into engagement with the rollers 40 and the latches 52 brought into lockingr positions to prevent breaking of the joints between the links associated with the bearings. The handle is then given one-half of a turn, from the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, whereby the latch bars 59 are dis engaged from the cross bar 58. The spring 57 is thus free to act, lifting the easing 23 into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the spring being strong enough to balance the weight of the casing. The operator then takes hold of the casing by graspin the handles 71 thereon (Figl 1), and shi ts the casing on the rollers 4() until the bottom of the said casing rests onthe guide rails 14, moving then the casing longitudinally on the table int/o the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It is obvious that before the casing is swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 0f the drawings onto the guide rails, the patient is placed onto the table top, so that the patient will be -disposed within the casing when the latter position shown in Fig. 1.

is shifted into the of the drawings.

On the table of the apparatus is furthermore mounted a device for lstretching or elongatingthe body of the patient. This device includes horizontally disposed guide rails 72 and 73, which are disposed longitudinally belowrthe table top. On the guide rails 72 is slidably mounted a head carriage 74, and on the guide rails 73' is slidably mounted a foot carriage 75. To the carriage 74 is fixed a nut 76, and to the carriage 7 5 a nut 77. With the threads of the nut 76 meshes a screw-threaded spindle 78, and with ,those of the nut 77 a similar spindle 79.

One of the spindles is in the form of a right-screw and the other one in the form of a left-screw. ,To the innercnd of the screw spindle 78 is keyed a bevel pinion 80, in mesh with a bevel gear 81. the latter being keyed to a transverse shaft 82, which is rotatably mounted in bearings 83. Similarly is keyed to the inner end of the spindle 79 a bevel pinion 84, in mesh with a.

bevel gear 85, the latter being keyed to a transverse shaft 86, `which is rotatably mounted in bearings 87. With each of the shafts 82 and 86 is associated a ratchet mechanism 88. These mechanisms are within the reach of the patient, so that by actuating the same the head and foot carriages are caused to slide on the table in directions depending upon the movement of the ratchet mechanisnis. These ratchet mechanisms are, of course, reversiblel so that the movements of the carriages may be reversed according to the requirements. Inasmuch as these ratchet mechanisms do not forni part of the present invention, it is not deemed necessary to describe the same in detail.

'lo-the head carriage 74 are fixed'tw-o longitudinally extending rods 89, which ext-end beyond the head port-ion of the table top and are there connected by a bail-shaped member 90. To this bail-shaped member are fixed straps 91, for engagement with the head of the patient. To the foot carriage are fixed straps 92, running over a bracket 93 and having secured to their free ends loops 94, through 4which the ankles of the patient. are adapted to be extended. Braces 95, provided with hooks 96,. are adapted to be anchoredin a row of sockets 97 on 'each side of the table top, said hooks being adapted to engage under the arm pits of the patient.

The operation of the device is as follows: If the patient is to be subjected to heat and light treatment only, the casing or shell 23 is first brought into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and thepatient placed upon his back upon the table with his spine directly over the slot 18 in the cushion 15. .'lhe'casing 23 is then shifted in the manner above described int-o the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the patients head extended through the curtain 26. The electric current is then turned on, its intensity being adjusted, as required, by means of the variable resistances 20 and 35. After sufiicient exposure to the heat and light within the cabinet, the lamps are ex` tinguished, and the-casing 23 shifted back into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, to prepare the patient for further treatment. If the stretching means of .the apparatus is to be made use of, the casing 23 is left in the position shown in Fig. 4 or it may be removed from the apparatus, for instance, into the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The patients head and feet are then secured to the respective carriages and the braces applied to the arm pits of the patient. The electric current is then turned on and ma beregulated by means of the lvariable reslstances so that the spine of the patient will receive light and heat from the lamps 19 and the `body of the patient generally will receive light and heat from the lamps 33, the refiecting surfaces 32 onto the patient. The patient thereupon operates the ratchets 88, whereby a pulling stress is applied to the patient, stretching or elongating the body for correcting certain ailments. If the legs only are to be stretched the head straps are ,not applied. In suchl case the arm braces 95 formfanchoring means for the patients body. f i l It is to be noted that the casing may be placed upon a bed or couch, on which the patient rests, and light and heat treatment given to the patient. This is desirable in ase the patient cannot be removed from the What I claim is 1, An electro-therapeutical apparatus, comprising a table adapted to receive a prone body, guide rails adjacent the longitudinal edges of the top of said table, a casing slidable on 4said guide. rails having an open bottom, said casing being approximate- Yly of a length correspondingv to that of the table top and the latter closing the bottom.

portion of said casing when said casing is mounted upon said table, electric lights within said casing, two rollers on the table top adjacent the foot portion of the latter, bearing members on said casing intermediate its ends, said bearing members being adapted to be brought into engagement with said rollers, whereby said table top is supported when it is swung on said bearing' members around said rollers, and means adapted to balance the weight of said casing and Vsupport it in tilted postion on said rollers.

2. An electro-therapeutical apparatus ac- `cording to claim 1, comprising casters on said casing, said casing being adapted to rest on said casters with said bearings in en'- gagement with said rollers, and means adapted for engagement with said balancing means for rendering the latter inoperative, said casing when-resting on said casters with its bearings in engagement with said rollers abutting against said balancing means 1n inoperative (position, saidl casing being swung aroun means when the latter is rendered operative.

3. An electro-therapeutical apparatus com- Erising a t-able adapted to receive a rone ody, guide rails adjacent the topo said table, a vcasing slidable on said guide rails having an openbottom, said casing being approximately of. a length \corresponding to that of the table top and the latter closing the bottom portion of said casin when s'aid casing is mounted upon said ta le, electric light-swithin said casing, two 'rollers on the4 table top adjacent the foot portion of the latter, bearing members on said casing intermediate its ends, said bearing members being Vadapted to be brought into engagement -with said rollers, casters on said casing, said casing'being adapted to be swung on said said rollers by said balancing bearing members around said rollers and to rest on said casters with said bearings in engagement with said rollers, each of said bearing members comprising a stationary member and a movable member, said movable member being adapted to be disengaged from the respective roller, whereby said casing is adapted to be removed from said table. v n 4 4. An aelectro-therapeutical apparatus according to claim 3, said table top being provided with a longitudinal slot, a trough shaped reflector in said slot, and electric lights within said reflector, the lights within said reflector and within said casing being adapted to be rendered operative when said when said easing rests upon its casters with its bearings in engagement with saidrollers.

5. An electro-therapeutical apparatus accordingto claim 3, comprising a sliding head carriage. and a sliding foot carriage upon `casing rests upon said tab-le top and also said table, to which parts of the body of v the patient resting uponsaid table are adapted to be secured, means for independently moving said head and foot carriages toward and away from one another, and' reflecting .means in said casin for directing the heat and light emanatinggirom the lamps therein onto the patientwhen said casing is swung around its bearings on saidy rollers-- and is supported by the latter. 4

6. An electro-therapeuticalapparatus comprising a table adapted to receive a rone body, guide rails adjacent the' top o said table, a casing slidable on said guide rails having an' open bottom, said casing being approximately of a llength corresponding to with said rollers, casters on said casing, said lOl ` 1l ing adapted to be brought into engagement casing being adapted tobe swungon said i bearing` members around said rollers and ,to rest on said casters with said bearing members in engagement with said rollers, each of said bearing members comprising a stationary member and a movable member, said movable member being adapted to bedisengaged from the respective roller, whereby said casing isl adapted to be removed from said table, a sliding head carriage 4and 'a sliding foot carriage upon said table, to i which parts ofthe body o the patient resting upon said table are adapted to be secured,

`means for independently moving said head and kfoot carria es toward and away from from the lamps therein onto the patient when one another, re ecting means in said casingl for directing the heat and. light emanating mogano said casi-ng is swung around itsbearings on said rollers and is supportedbythe latter; said table top 'bein provided withka longitudinal slot, a troug shaped reflector in said slot, and lectric lights within said reflector;V Y the lights .Withinsaid reflector and Within said casing being adapted to be rendered operative when said casing rests upon said table top and also willen said Acasing rasts upon its casterslwith itsbearings in` engage- Il n ment with said rollers.

Signed at New York in' 1Ehe county of New York, and State of New York, this 27 th day ofY May, A. D. 1927.

. SIGMUND PoNGo.

Images