US1795893A - Therapeutic device - Google Patents

Description

.1. ROSETT 1,795,893

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE March 10, 1931.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1929 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS March 10, 1931. J, -r1- THERAPEUTIC DEVICE 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5,

INVENTOR VJ/4i. find C BY 21517 4hr, ATTORNEYS 10, 1931. ROSETT THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed June 5. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H INVENTOR M 4M, 5M1 V ZN.

ATTORNEYS Patented Man 10, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSHUA ROSETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Application filed June 5, 1929.

This invention relates to therapeutic de vices of the general type described and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,608,239 granted to me November 23, 1926.

5 The general object of this invention is to provide a device of the character'to which said patent is directed by which a massaging or kneading action may be imparted to the tissues of only three general sides of a par ticular part of the patients body, leaving the fourth side free and unobstructed, i. e., out

of contact with and unhampered by the apparatus.

Two forms of the apparatus embodying the invention are herein shown and described, one being a helmet-like structure adapted to be applied to the head of a patient for treating the scalp, neck and cheeks, and the other being a pad-like structure upon which the patient is placed and by which treatment may be administered to either the back or the back and sides of such patient.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form of apparatus applied to the head of a patient; Figure 2 is a front view of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the device; Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the device showing the relation of the several pneumatic tubes to each other; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing how the corresponding transverse tubes in the various sections are related to their longitudinal tubes; Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of certain of the transverse tubes; Figure 7 is a plan view of a pad-like structure by which treatment may be administered to either the back or the back and sides of a patient; and Figure 8 is an end view of the modified form of apparatus showing the shape which it assumes a when applied to a patient in such manner as to render it effective upon the back and sides of a patient.

In Figures 1 to 6 inclusive one form of the device embodying this invention is shown as comprising what may be considered a pneu- Serial No. 368,466.

matic helmet or hood-like structure, including a plurality of transverse tubes arranged in upper and lower groups U and L, respectively, there being six tubes Nos. 1 to 6 inclusive in each group. These tubes are constructed of a suitable material, such as rubberized cloth, in the manner described in the above patent, and are arranged in a parallel and adjacent relation within the body of the helmet. The four uppermost tubes of the helmet extend entirely around the head portion of the helmet, whereas the remaining tubes are of a generally semi-circular contour.

In order that the tubes may be held in a proper relation to each other, they are suitably connected to the inner wall of an outer cover 10, which includes an upper or head portion A, a central or cheek portion B, and a lower or neck portion C, the structure being reinforced by a spring member 11, which is disposed intermediate the transverse tubes and the cover 10 and extends along the back of the helmet from the lower edge of the central portion B upwardly and forwardly to a point just in front of the vertical axis of the head portion A. Additionally, the structure is reinforced by a thin flat spring member 13, which is coextensive with the width of the central portion B and is suitably held between the transverse tubes of such central portion and the outer cover 10, there being for this purpose a suitable connection, not shown, between the spring 11 and the spring 13 at their point of contact with each other. As shown, the side walls of the central portion B of the helmet extend an appreciable distance forwardly of the front of the head. portion A, thus forming wing sections 14 which are adapted to engage the cheeks of a patient, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. These wing sections 14 are given a definite shape, which is dependent upon the curvature of the flat spring 13, the spring being preferably such that its end portions first converge and then diverge, with the result that a free and unobstructed passage is at forded between the outer ends of the wing sections to accommodate the patients nose and mouth, thus permitting treatments by means of this device to be carried out without subjecting the patient to any discomfort. The spring 13 not only serves to render the helmet self-sustaining, but it also serves to maintain the transverse tubes of the cheek portion B in yielding engagement with the patients face, its inherent resiliency be ing taken advantage of in conjunction with periodic inflation and deflation of the tubes to impart a rolling or partly rotary massaging action to the patients face, as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

Preferably, adjustable securing means are provided by which the outer ends of the wing sections 1a may be connected together so that the expansion action of the spring 13 may be limited as desired, thus causing the transverse tubes common to the intermediate section B to exert more or less pressure upon the cheeks of the patient as desired. Obviously, various forms of securing means may be employed. In the device illustrated in the drawings, this means comprises a tab 16 which is suitably connected to one of the wing sections 14 and carries at its free end a plurality of hooks 17 adapted to cooperate with a plurality of eyelets carried by the other wing section. As above stated, the securing means for the wing section 14 serve to limit the extent to which the spring 13 may be expanded, with the result that the pressure exerted upon the patient by the transverse tubes, which are common to the intermediate section B, may be varied as desired. For example, if the wing sections are secured together so as to permit maximum expansion of the spring 13, there will be only a relatively slight pressure exerted generally upon the forward portion of the patients cheeks, leaving the intermediate section free to expand and to move rearwardly under the influence of the pressure exerted generally upon the back of the patients neck and head by the transverse tubes; if the ends of the wing sections are secured closer together, there will be less expansion of the spring 13 with the result that a greater pressure is applied by the transverse tubes and since, under such conditions, pressure is applied more forwardly to the patients cheeks, due to the more nearly complete embracing relation of the intermediate portion to the patient, the tendency of the intermediate section to move rearwardly by reason of pressure exerted generally upon the back of the patients head and neck is somewhat counteracted by the opposing force exerted upon the patients cheeks by the adjacent ends of the transverse tubes. It will be appreciated, however, that as the wing sections are secured closer and closer together, and the pressure exerted by the transverse tubes at all points will be greater and greater, and the rearward movement of the intermediate portion will become less and less and hence the rolling massaging action will be diminished so that the action of the device will approach that of the device shown, described and claimed in the above patent by which only a wave-like ac tion upon the tissues is effected.

Inflation and deflation of the transverse tubes may be carried out in the order described in the above patent by the use of a suitable valve mechanism, not shown for controlling the passage of pressure from a suitable source to the transverse tubes during the period of inflation and for controlling the escape of pressure from such tubes to the atmosphere during the period of defiation. F or transmitting the pressure to and away from the transverse tubes there are provided a plurality of longitudinal tubes, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4:, 5' and 6, which are connected, respectively, to the transverse tubes Nos. 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, and 6 of the upper and lower groups U and L.

As will be understood, the order of inflation and deflation of the transverse tubes longitudinal tubes are placed, respectively, i communication with a source of pressur and with the atmosphere by the above-ment is dependent upon the order in which the;

tioned valve mechanism. As to this, how\ ever, it is desirable that the expansion oft each transverse tube shall take place before the adjacent preceding transverse tube has begun to collapse, and as soon as the expansion of a tube has been accomplished the air in the preceding adjacent transverse tube should be promptly released. By this method of inflating and deflating the transverse tubes, such tubes are caused to exert waves of pressure upon the tissues of such parts of the patients body as are undergoing treatment in the general direction of the flow of the venous blood and lymphatic fluids.

Due to the construction and arrangement of parts entering into the apparatus herein shown, the cheeks of the patient are subjected, in addition to the above described wavelike pressure, to a rolling massaging movement which is accomplished as follows: As the transverse tubes of the central portion B are progressively inflated and moved into more intimate contact with the tissues of the cheeks, a series of pressures are exerted in a generally downward direction, and at the same time such central portion is moved generally rearwardly by reason of the fact that the semi-circular transverse tubes rest upon the back of the patients head and when there inflated cause the central portion of the device to retract. Additionally, the central portion B is subjected to an expansion action as the transverse tubes common to that portion are inflated, due to the fact that such tubes tend to straighten out the spring 13. This expansion causes that part of the device which is in contact with the front of the patients cheeks to move in opposite directions laterally, with the result that the extreme front areas of the patients checks are correspondingly moved at the same time pressure is applied by the transverse tubes in a generally down ward direction. Since there exists a suiticient amount of friction between the semicircular transverse tubes and the patients checks to prevent slippage between the checks of the patient and such portions of the device as are in contact therewith, the tissues of the cheeks are forced to move in correspondence with such movement as is imparted to the central portion B, and inasmuch as pressure in a generally downward direction is exerted upon the patients cheeks at the same time the central portion B is moved in a generally rearwardly direction, as described, it follows that the tissues of the patients cheeks are subjected to a rolling massaging action from which certain benelicial results are to be attained.

The form of invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 is particularly adapted to be used in treating the back or generally three sides of the patient and includes a pad-like structure, comprising a plurality of sections of trans verse tubes at which are adapted to be progressively inflated and deflated, as above described. In administering treatment with this form of device the patient is placed upon the structure in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position, and the side portions I) are folded up along the sides of the patient and are secured to each other by suitable means.

The securing means for the side portions Z) are herein shown as a plurality of hooks 0 which are attached to one flap or outer margin of a backing (Z of suitable material upon which the transverse tubes a are carried, the other flap or outer margin of such backing being provided with a plurality of eyelets adapted to cooperate with the books 0. By this type of securing means, the side portions 7) may be held in such a relation to the sides of the patient as to limit the pressure, as desired, in a manner similar to that set forth in connection with the helmet-like structure hereinbefore described. That is to say, the closer the ends of the side portions 7) are secured together, the greater will be the pressure exerted upon such parts of the patients body as contact with the end margins of the transverse tubes, inasmuch as such tubes are restrained against straightening out under the influence of pressure therein, and the greater will be the massaging action exerted by the outer margins of the transverse tubes. Since the patients body is lifted and subjected to a wave-like motion, corresponding to the wave-like motion of the transverse tubes as they are inflated. while the end margin of the transverse tubes exert wave-like pressures upon the sides of the patients body, there will be imparted a rotary massaging action to such portions of the patients body as contact with the end margins of the transverse tubes in the same manner as the rotary massaging action is exerted upon the patients checks by the helmet-like device previously described.

From the above, it will be understood that while the forms of the invention herein shown are materially different from a structural standpoint, the operation of the two devices are substantially identical, and that in each case a portion of the patients body is out of contact with and unhampered by the device, in the helmet-like device, such portion being the nose, mouth and the area in the vicinity of the eyes, and in the pad-like structure such portion being the uppermost side of the patients body, inasmuch as the securing means for the side portions 5, corresponding to the securing means for the wing sections 14 of the helmet-like device, is well above the free side of the patient, as will be readily understood from Figure 8, wherein the position of the patients body is diagrammatically illustrated.

Thus far, the form of the device shown in Figures 7 and 8 has been described as for use in treating more than one side of the patients body, but it will be understood that the device may be employed for treating only one side of the patients body, if desired, in which case the patient would be placed upon the transverse tubes and the side portions Z) would be permitted to lie fiat, that is to say,

they would not be folded up out of their nor-' mal position into contact with the patient. When the device is employed in this manner, there will be no rolling massaging action, as the apparatus will function to produce only wave-like pressures which are transmitted to that portion of the patients body which is in contact with the transverse tubes.

It is, of course, to be understood that the embodiments of the invention, herein described, are merely illustrative and that they may be modified in many respects without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a therapeutic device, a tubecarryiug section adapted to only partially embrace that part of a patient which is to be treated, a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said section and adapted to contact with and only partially embrace that part of the patient which is to be treated and having their respective ends spaced from each other, said tubes being adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the extremity of that part of the patient to which treatment is to be administered and to cause the free ends of said section to undergo movement with respect to such part of the patient, whereby a resultant movement of the tissues undergoing treatment is effected in a direction depending upon the direction of travel of said waves of pressure and the direction of said movement of said free ends of said section.

2. In a therapeutic device, a tube-carrying section adapted to only partially embrace that part of a patient which is to be treated, a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said section and adapted to contact with and only partially embrace that part of the patient which is to be treated and having their ends spaced from each other, said tubes being adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the extremity of that part of the patient to which treatment is to be administered and to cause the free ends of said section to undergo movement with respect to such part of the patient, whereby a resultant movement of the tissues undergoing treatment is effected in a direction depending upon the direction of travel of said waves of pressure and the direction of said movement of said free ends of said section, and adjustable means for securing the adjacent free ends of said section together and for varying said movement of the free ends of said section, whereby said resultant movement may be correspondingly varied.

3. In a therapeutic device adapted to be applied to the head of a patient, a helmet-like structure including a yieldable section adapted to overlie the cheeks of a patient, a plural ity of collapsible tubes associated with said helmet-like structure and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the extremity of that part of the patient to which said helmet-like structure is applied.

4. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a head section adapted to be applied to the head of a patient and another section adapted to overlie the patients cheeks, a spring member associated with the second named section, and a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said sections and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the scalp and checks of the patient.

5. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a head section adapted to be applied to the head of a patient and another section adapted to overlie the patients cheeks, a curved spring member associated with the second named section and adapted to urge such section into firm contact with the patients cheeks, and a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said sectlons and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the scalp and checks of the patient.

6. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a head section adapted to be applied to the head of a patient and another section adapted to overlie the atients cheeks, a substantially U-shaped spring member associated with the second, named section and adapted to urge said section into firm contact with the patients cheeks, the free ends of said spring member being divergently disposed at the front of the second named section and there holding the forward ends of such section in a diverging relation, and a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said sections and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the scalp and cheeks of the patient.

7. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a head section and another section adapted to overlie the patients cheeks and terminating at its front in wing portions, a substantially U-shaped spring associated with the second named section and .having its free ends divergently disposed,

the diverging ends of said spring member serving to hold said wing portions also in a diverging relation, and a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said sections and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the scalp and cheeks of a patient.

8. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a head section and another section adapted to overlie the cheeks of a patient, reenforcing spring associated with said head section for rendering such section self-sustaining, a substantially U- shaped spring member associated with the second named section and attached at it intermediate point to the first named spring, the free ends of the second named spring being located at the front of the second named section, a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said helmet-like structure and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the scalp and cheeks of the patient.

9. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a head section, and intermediate section, and a neck sect-ion adapted to embrace respectively the head, cheeks and neck of a patient; resilient means for urging said intermediate section into firm engagement with the cheeks of a patient; and a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said sections and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the scalp, cheeks and neck of a patient.

10. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a head section, and intermediate section, and a neck section adapted to embrace respectively the head, cheeks and neck of a patient; resilient means for urging said intermediate section into firm engagement with the cheeks of a patient; and a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with said sections and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exert Waves of pressure upon the scalp, cheeks and neck of a patient, and a reenforcing spring included in said helmet-like structure for rendering sections thereof self-sustaining, said reenforcing spring being located at the rear of said structure and extending from the vicinity of the lower section thereof to a point in the vicinity of the center of said head section.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

- JOSHUA ROSETT.

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