IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC EXHAUSTING APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Brierley, of Halifax, in the County of York,
Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PNEUMATIC EXHAUSTING APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES." A commu-
nication from abroad by Christian Friedrich Albert Behnke, of Feldberg, in
the Grand-Dukedom of Meclenburg, Empire of Germany,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Brierley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1879.
WALTER BRIERLEY, of Halifax, in the County of York, Patent Agent and
Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC EXHAUSTING APPARATUS
FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Christian Friedrich
Albert Behnke, of Feldberg, in the Grand-Dukedom of Meclenburg, Empire of
Germany.
The physiological influence of vacuum to the human body is in conformity with
the researches of physiologists as follows:-
The arteries are filled, the veins are swelled, and the appearance a troublesome
feeling of an elevated temperature of the skin, and a heightened respiration is to
note.
The exhalation of carbonic acid is augmented, and the blood becomes more
abundant of oxygen.
All these symptoms demonstrate that the employment of vacuum for medical
purposes will produce the most favorable results.
The apparatus of my Invention bas the purpose to open by its employment the
blood vessels, and the finest capillaries in which endosmose and exosmose is
produced for an energical compensation of derangements caused by an incorrect
assimilation or a deficient excretion.
There may be constructed apparatus in different modifications suitable to operate
upon fingers, toes, hand, wrist, feet, knuckle, knee, leg, head, etc, and any other
part of human body.

page_text: There are all apparatus fitted with an air tight closing consisting in a caoutchouc
disk of peculiar construction, and with a regulating mechanism.
There is a small apparatus with glass cylinder closed at its bottom by a metal
box cemented, and stuffed there with tallow, hemp, cord, and by stuffing box.
There is screwed to the bottom of the box the suction pipe of a pneumatic pump.
There is also fitted to the bottom of the cylinder a small valve, which is operated
by a lever and closed by a spring when air is to be let in to the apparatus.
The upper end of the glass cylinder is fitted with the said india rubber disc for
the air tight termination.
This construction consists of a metal ring on which the india rubber disc is
tended, and on which ring it is secured by its elasticity, and by a second ring.
The glass cylinder is pushed into the ring and stuffed in the same manner as the
box at the bottom of the cylinder.
The india rubber disc which serves as air tight locking is of formn of a round
capsule with a small round and concentrical hole in its bottom, which may be
enlarged and regulated by a proper mechanism.
There are bag formed radial channels arranged on the plan surface of the india
rubber disc.
In these bag formed channels are pushed a number of small levers which have
their fulcrum on the bord of ring, and are held in position by forks.
The shorter arms of the lever passing the bord of the ring are held by a hook
formed section of a screwed ring.
In screwing down, the longer arms of the levers are raised and the hole of the
india rubber disc may be enlarged enough to let in the member to be experimented
upon finger, toe, hand.
The finger or toe having passed into the apparatus, the pressure of the india
rubber disc can be moderated by regulating the nut.
There is an apparatus consisting of two metal cylinders with observation glasses
and with a glass bottom.
The air pump is fitted to the upper part of the apparatus, the india rubber
disc and the mechanism is equal to the before described.
The air entering valve is likewise fitted to the upper part.
The lower part being unscrewed can be secured in the upper one, so forming
a pocket apparatus.
There is an apparatus of greater dimensions to operate arms and legs.
It consists as the former, likewise of two parts screwed together, the upper one
bearing the air entering valve, and the fitting for application of the air pump
combined with a suction valve.
The india rubber disc and the enlarging levers are of the same construction as
aforesaid, only the mechanism to regulate the ring is otherwise.
There is a metal shoe with observation glasses.
In combining the before described upper part of apparatus with this shoe or
with a cylindrical tube with observation glasses, and the aforesaid shoe by
screwing this part together, the apparatus will be rendered proper to operate the
foot and leg till beyond the knee.
Combining the upper part of an apparatus of smaller dimensions with a metal
glove fitted with observation glasses, it will be proper to operate the wrist as well
as elbow alone, or elbow, wrist, and hand together.
In lieu of the metal connecting pieces there may also be employed leather or
india rubber tubes stiffended by metal rings.
To the upper part of apparatus may be applied a vacuum indicator, or a safety
valve.
The mechanism to regulate the india rubber disc is as follows:—
There is a stud at the ring holding the india rubber disc, and in which stud a
ring shaped lever has its fulcrum.
The ring shaped lever is connected by short rods with the levers working ring.

page_text: A rack is attached to the outer point of the ring shaped lever, and there is a
pinion gearing with the rack, and operated by a key; rack and pinion are conducted
in a strap.
By operating the key and by the revolution of the pinion in one or the other
sense, the india rubber disc is regulated and adjusted.
There are ratched and catch, the first connected with the rack serving to fix the
position adjusted.
It is clear that in combining the before described india rubber disc and
regulating mechanism with a metal cap or bat, an apparatus will be obtained
proper to operate on the head.
Likewise, it is clear that the different parts of the before described apparatus
may be manufactured in every suitable material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Brierley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
October 1879.
WALTER BRIERLEY, of Halifax, in the County of York, Patent Agent and
Consulting Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC EXHAUSTING APPARATUS
FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Christian Friedrich
Albert Behnke, of Feldberg, in the Grand Dukedom Macklenberg, Empire of
Germany.
The physiological influence of vacuum to the human body is in conformity with
the researches of physiologists, as follows:-
The arteries are filled, the veins are swelled, and the appearance of a troublesome
feeling, of higher temperature of the skin, and a hightened respiration is noted.
The exhalations of carbonic acid is augmented, and the blood becomes more
abundant of oxygen. All these symptoms demonstrate that the employment of
vacuum for medical purposes will produce the most favorable results. The apparatus
according to my Invention is for the purpose of opening by its employment the
blood vessels and the finest capillaries in which endosmose and exosmose is produced,
for an energical compensation of derangements caused by an incorrect assimilation
or a deficient excretion. The apparatus for purpose aforesaid is represented by the
annexed Drawing in different modifications, as they are suitable to operate upon
the different parts of the body. Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, represents two constructions suitable
for the treatment of fingers and toes, whilst Fig. 5 and 6 represent an apparatus for
the treatment of the wrist, the knee, and the knuckle of the foot.
Figure 7
represents a shoe of an an apparatus which combined with the upper part of Fig. 5
and a tube piece is adafted for the treatment of the whole leg. Fig. 8 shows the
small apparatus Fig. 3 in use, acting upon a part of the wrist. These are all
aparatus fitted with an air tight closure consisting of a cautchouc or india rubber
disc of peculiar construction, and with regulating mechanism. Fig. 1 shows a
small apparatus with glass cylinder (A) closed at its bottom by a metal box (b)
cemented and stuffed there with tallowed hereup cord and by the stuffing box c.
There is screwed to the bottom of the box the S formed suction pipe of the
pneumatic pump P. There is at the same time fitted to the bottom of the box b
a small valve v which is operated by the small lever hand reclosed by the spring 8
when air is to be let into the apparatus. The upper end of the glass-cylinder is
This construction
fitted with the said india rubber disc for an air tight closure.
consists in a metal ring on which the india rubber disc m is distended, and on which
ring it is kept fastened by its own elasticity and a second ring 7 pushed over it.
The glass cylinder is pushed into the ring and stuffed in the same manner as the
box 6 at the bottom of the cylinder. The india rubber disc serving as an air tight
closure is of peculiar form, as will be seen from the plan Fig. 2, and the sections
Fig. 1 & 3; it is of the general form of a round capsule with a small round and
concentrical hole in its bottom which may be enlarged and regulated by proper
mechanism. There are bag formed radial channels arranged on the plan surface of
the india rubber disc m. In these bag formed channels are pushed a number of small
levers p, p, p, p, which have their fulcrum on the ring r¹ and are held in position
by the forks g, g, J. The shorter arms of the levers p depress the ring and
are held by the hook formed section of the screwed ring M. In screwing down
the longer arms of the levers are raised, and the central hole of the india rubber
disc is enlarged enough to let in the member to operated upon finger, toe, hand, etc.
The finger or the toe having passed into the apparatus the pressure of the india
rubber disc can be moderated by regulating the nut M. Fig. 3 and 4 represents a
section of an apparatus consisting of two metal cylinders A and A', with
observation glasses o, o, and with the glass bottom o'. The air pump is fitted to

page_text: the upper part A, the india rubber disc and its mechanism is equal to the before
described. The air valve v is likewise fitted to the upper part A; the lower part A¹
being unscrewed can be carried in the upper one, forming in this manner a pocket
apparatus; Fig. 5, 6, 7, represent an apparatus of greater dimensions to operate
upon arms and legs. It consists likewise of two parts A and A¹ screwed together,
the upper one bearing the air valve and the fitting a for application of the air
pump combined with a suction valve. The india rubber disc aud the expanding
levers and ring M are of the same construction as aforesaid, save the mechanism
to regulate the ring M; Figure 7 shows a metal shoe with observation-glasses o, o.
In combining the before described upper part of apparatus with this shoe, or a
cylindrical tube of glass, or with observation glasses, the apparatus will be made
suitable to operate the foot and the leg till beyond the knee. Combining the upper
part of an apparatus of smaller dimensions with a metal glove with observation
glasses or with a glass glove, it will be made suitable to operate upon the wrist,
the whole hand, as well as upon the elbow alone, or elbow, wrist, and hand together.
Instead of the metal or glass tubes there may also be employed leather or india
rubber tubes stiffened by metal rings. To the upper part of apparatus may be
applied a vacuum indicator or a safety valve. The regulating mechanism of the
india rubber disc is shown by Fig. 5, 6, and its construction is as follows:-There
is a stud i at the ring holding the india rubber disc, in which stud a ring-shaped
lever has its fulcrum. The ring shaped lever is connected by means of the
short rods 1, 1, with the ring M. A rack Z is attached to the outer point i¹ of the
ring-shaped lever 11, and there is a pinion Z' gearing with the rack and operated
by the key R. Rack and pinion are supported and constructed by the strap w.
By operating the key R, and by the revolution of the pinion in one or the other
direction the india-rubber disc is regulated, expanded, and adjusted. The ratchet
and catch Z1 and S1, the first connected with the rack Z serve to fix the adjusted
position. It is to be clearly understood that in combining the before described
india rubber disc with a metal cap or hat an apparatus will be obtained to operate
upon the head.
Likewise it is evident that the different parts of the before
described apparatus may be manufactured in any suitable material.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim as new,―
Firstly. The apparatus herein described and represented by the annexed
Drawing, and its modifications, as described, for the purpose set forth.
Secondly. The peculiar form and construction of the india rubber disc, as before
described and shown by the annexed Drawing.
Thirdly. The improved expanding mechanisms for regulating and adjusting the
india rubber disc in the modifications before described, and shown by the annexed
Drawing
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Brierley, have hereunto set my
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hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of October, One thousand eight
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WALTER BRIERLEY. (L.S.)