Patent GB-227654-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for carrying out radiotherapeutic treatments of diseases
IPC: A61N5/01
Filed: 1924-02-20
Abstract: 227,654. Cappelli, L. Feb. 20, 1924. Radiations, treating diseases with; gagging-appliances; tongue-depressors and like appliances.-In treating diseases by means of radium, the radioactive material is mounted on two supports to which rotary motion is imparted in opposite directions. Preferably, the supports are arranged to rotate at slightly different speeds, and are enclosed within a casing or shell conforming in shape to the part of the body to be treated. A construction of apparatus suitable for treating diseases of the skin comprises, as shown in Fig. 1, a casing 1 divided into two parts 13, 14, the part 13, which contains the driving mechanism for the supports, being closed and the part 14, in which the supports are mounted, being open and having windows 8 to permit free access of air. The supports 15, 16 are, mounted on concentric shafts 17, 18 respectively, as shown in Fig. 4, these shafts being driven, as shown in Fig. 1, from a flexible shaft 7 and a shaft 5 by bevel gearing so arranged that the supports are rotated in opposite directions at slightly different speeds. The supports 15, 16 are offset and are slightly inclined one towards the other; they may be curved if the part to be treated has the form of a bulge or swelling. The radioactive material is hold in small casings which. in use with supports of the kind shown in Fig. 4. are tied to the supports by means of silk thread. An alternative construction of support is described comprising, as shown in Fig. 34, a frame 118 to which toothed rods 117 of triangular crosssection are hinged. The radium containers for use with this support, have, as shown in Fig. 36 toothed ribs 119, 120 with which the teeth on the rods 117 are adapted to engage, the containers being thereby held against flanges on the frame. The rods 117 are locked in position by means of screws and are provided with scales so that radium containers may be arranged at equal intervals in the frame. In operating the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the radioactive material is affixed to the supports and the appliance secured to the part to be treated by means of rings, as at 3, a rubber ring 12 being preferably provided to soften the pressure of the apparatus on the patient. Fig. 5 shows a construction of apparatus for treating the uterovaginal channel. The supports 43, 44 are mounted on concentric shafts 29, 30 which are driven, as in the construction first described, from a flexible shaft 28 and a shaft 26. The supports are enclosed in a cylinder 35 threaded at 36 so that one or more similar cylinder may be screwed on if it is desired to filter the radiations. The shorter sides of the supports are offset, as shown in Fig. 11, and the longer sides are slightly inclined. A similar construction designed for the treatment of the rectum is described in which the two supports are made to rotate in opposite directions but at the same speed. A construction of apparatus for treating the mouth is shown in Fig. 12. The frame 45 - - 48 has rigid upper and lower parts, shaped to fit the dental arches, and threaded. sleeves 49, 50 by means of which the upper part may be adjusted. As shown in Fig. 17, the supports for the radioactive material, together with their driving gear, are mounted in a bell-shaped member 60 adjustably fixed to a slotted rod 59 which can be clamped to the sleeve 49. Plates 64, 65 are fitted to the frame to support the palate and depress the tongue respec. tively, or alternatively, as shown in Fig. 20. two plates hinged together at 68 and jointed at 69 may be used for this purpose.