US1620929A - Heat-therapy method and means - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1927. 1,620,929

G. "w. wALLl-:RICH

HEAT THERAPY METHOD AND MEANS 4Filed Feb. 5, 1925 coppa? PLAT/N0 0N Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNTED STATES l '1,620,929 raient ortica Gn'oncn W. wALLnn'icH, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. i

` HEAn'rHERAPY METHOD Ann Means.

Application led February 5, 1925. Serial No. 6,965.

vThis invention relates' to thermatology andl to diathermic and electrotherapeutic appliances adapted for local internal treatments and more particularly to such devices adapted for supplying any specific degree of heat or currentforvbothdesired to an inner portion of the body, and particularly4 to an internal organ.

The main objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of apparatus or appliance adapted for theready supply and control ot' heat to a limited internal area or portion of the body; to provid-e such a device, in a form most convenienttorappli-- cation Ato a pointnot generally convenient oil access where treatment is desired; to provide for effective diathermic and electrolytic treatment of such parts or organs; to provide for most e'iiective and accurate gaging of the resultant temperatures by thermometric means readily observable at all times by an attendant; to provide in intimate Contact with the active electrodea thermometer so arranged as to minimize heat insulation of the thermometer relative to said electrode; to provide a device of the character stated in the most compact, unitary and sanitary form possible consistenty with mechanical strength and durability.

An illustrative embodiment ol:` this invention is shown Vby the 'accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 shows a side elevation ot an instrument connected to electrical conductors.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the instrument.

Fig. 3 is mainly a longitudinal axial section through'the instrument.

Fig. l is an end view of the instrument as viewed from the lett of Fig. 8.

Fig. is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. y

In the construction shown in the drawings, the device comprises mainly a tubular glass rod 1 inthe form of a thermometer, having an electrically depositedshell 2 on the active` end 1 thereof and extending back over the medial body part, and aconnector terminal member 3 at thevouter end of said shell adjacent to the gage or non-sensitive end of the thermometer Where the scale a appears, in combination with a detachabletubular casing 5 ot insulating material extending from said terminal toward the act-ive tip ot the casing, but leaving thetip 2 of said shell or electrode exposed for Contact with the body tissues or organ to be treated.

The saidterminal member 3 isl formed to accommodate ready attachment of an electric wire, for which purpose it is provided with a hole 6 to receive the wir-e7 and 'a set-screw 8 for locking' the wirein place. Said terminal 3 l is also 'formed with. an interiorly threaded cup shaped part 9 concentric with the thermometer receiving'hole '10.

The'method of making'the device is tok apply an electro-deposit coating, preferably of copper, to the sensitive end and bodypart of the thermometer by means well understood by those skilled in the art. 4The ter-minaly part 3 is then applied and secured 'permanently to the electro-deposit shell with solder or equivalent means. rlhe protective insulating tube orouter shell 5 is then readily attached by slipping on over the plated end of the thermometer and screwing its terminal engaging end into place in the threaded cup part 9 of said terminal, whereupon thede- 4 vice is ready for use.

In using the instrument, as for instance vin the treatment of endocervicitis, the device is applied, by'inserting it into the affected organ. A pair `of conductors 7 and 7 leading to a source of suitable. electric current, are then connected.. one to theinstrument terminal 3 and the` other to an electrode 11 placed against the outside of the body at some point adjacent to the part to be treated.

Currenty control' means not here shown may be interposed in the circuitv 7 7', as will be understood without further explanation. The outside electrode may well comprise a metal plate 11, to which the wire 7 may be attached and this plate should be provided with a layer of fibrous material. 12 interposed between the plate and the surface of the body, said material being saturatedwith sol a suitable conducting liquid, as for instance av lather of soap andwater. The electrode orcopper'plating 2 is very thin so that the small amount of current used, usually 800 to 1,000 milliamperes' of a high frequency current.I will maintain the desired degree of heat, 116 to 118, at theltip 2. Themoistened pad 12 distributes the contact of the. elect-rode 11 over a large surface, 'so that the exterior electrode 11 becomes inactive or in-l different, while theelectrode 2 becomes the active electrode. The body of the active v elect-rode extends'through a mass of packingmaterial 14 which bears against theinsulating shell 5. The tip of theelectrode 2 projects-into the organ being treated, where the heat is maintained at any desired intensity for Whatever period is necessary to effect the result sought after. By the arrangement dcscribed, a desired degree of heat may be locally applied to the interior o'f the body, and also the electrical current is caused to How through the tissues of the body to the external electrode.

Although but lone speciic embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted Without departing;` from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims. l

I claim:

1. In an electro-therapeutic device, a glass tube thermometer, an electrode comprising a thin coating of copper formed on the surface of the sensitive end oi the glass thermometer tube, and an insulating tube covering the thermometer and electrode with tip of said end exposed. y

2. In an electroftherapeutic device, a glass tube thermometer, an electrode comprisinga thin coating of copper formed on the surface of the sensitive end of the glass thermometer tube, an insulating tube around the thermometer leaving the lower tip of theV electrode exposed, and means for connect-ing one lead from an electrical source to the electrode coating. i

Signed at Chicago this 2nd day of Feb., 1925.

GEORGE W. VALLERICH.

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