Improved Apparatus for the Internal and External Local Application of Heated Atmospheric Air, Gases, and the like to Human Subjects or to Animals.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for the Internal and External Local Application
of Heated Atmospheric Air, Gases, and the like to Human Subjects
or to Animals.
I, LEWIS ABRAHAM TALLERMAN, of The Langham Hotel, Portland Place, in the
County of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to the internal and external local application of heated
atmospheric air, fumes, gases and the like to human subjects or to animals, and
is chiefly designed to provide improved apparatus which is capable of being used
for the purposes of the inventions described in the Specifications of Letters Patent
No. 11585 dated 13th June 1893, granted to the present Applicant in conjunction
with others, and No. 2048, dated 28th January 1896, granted to the present
Applicant alone.
For this purpose I so construct the apparatus that it can be readily adapted at
will for use either as a dry air bath or as an inhaler and injector.
My said invention is further designed to enable the patient to efficiently control
the apparatus without the aid of a nurse or operator, and consequently to administer
the treatment to himself or herself as the case may be.
My improved apparatus is adapted for use as a vaporiser for vaporising or
volatilizing any desired drug or medicament and is provided with a tube or tubes
for conducting the heated air or other gas, either with or without being previously
charged with medicated vapours, into the respiratory, anal or other natural
passages of the patient or into wounds. It is also provided with a separate
vaporising chamber which may be employed either separately or in conjunction
with the vaporiser formed by the receiver itself. And the said apparatus is so
constructed that this chamber can be removed and the apparatus adapted to receive
the arm, elbow, hand, leg, knee, hip or other part of the body of a patient for the
purpose of subjecting it to the action of heated atmospheric air or other gases,
either charged or not with any desired drugs or medicaments, suitable means
being provided for preventing contact of the part of the body under treatment
with highly heated parts of the apparatus, and also for varying the temperature
of the air in the interior of the receiver or permitting the escape of moisture or
moist air therefrom as desired.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my combined dry air bath and inhaler and
injector adjusted for use as an inhaler.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal central section of the said apparatus showing the
same adapted for use as a hot-air bath.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation illustrating a detail of construction.
037

page_text: Figure 4 is a transverse section showing another form or modification of my
improved apparatus.
Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the apparatus which I prefer to employ
in the treatment of the hip or pelvis or of the spine, and
Figure 6 is a transverse section showing another apparatus for the treatment of
the spine and other parts of a patient's body.
A is the receiver or bath, which consists of a cylinder of sheet-metal or other
suitable material capable of resisting elevated temperatures, supported on a
stand A¹ and provided with handles A* whereby it may be conveniently carried,
and with means for heating it as hereinafter described. The said receiver is
provided with a pressure gauge B, a thermometer C, and a delivery-pipe D having
three outlets D1, D2, D3, 'of which D1 and D2 are controlled by cocks or valves D
respectively, and D³ is provided with a removable plug or cap.. The said pipe. D
is also provided with a removable internal. extension 15 so as to enable the hot-
air, gas or the like to be drawn from the centre or other desired part of the
receiver A. The outlet D¹ serves for the connection of an inhalation tube or
tubes E provided with an oral, nasal or ora-nasal piece E', a cannula or the like;
the outlet D2 serves for allowing hot air, gas or the like to leave the said receiver,
and to reduce the temperature therein and allow the evaporation or escape of
moisture as hereinafter described. The upper part of the receiver A is provided
with a jacket or lagging A2 to prevent or diminish the loss of heat therefrom; or
it can be made with its upper part of wood either lined with sheet metal or not
as desired. The said receiver can also, if desired, be made in two separable
sections joined together along a horizontal line, for example, as in the arrangement
hereinafter described with reference to Figure 4. The lower part of the said
receiver A is provided near one end with an inlet F controlled by a cock or
valve F whereby atmospheric air or other gas can be admitted into the receiver A,
to replace that which escapes from the upper apertures of the said receiver.
these means efficient ventilation of the interior of the said receiver can be readily
obtained.
By
When the receiver A is to be used as a vaporiser, it is provided in the interior
with a suitable receptacle or container for the drug or medicament to be evaporated
or volatilised; this receptacle may consist of a cup or tray in which the said drug
or medicament is placed in a liquid or solid form, or it may consist of screens of
wire, or other suitable material covered with lint or other absorbent, over which
the drug or medicament may be sprayed or distributed in any suitable manner,
the cubical contents of the receiver A permitting a large evaporative surface to be
employed. Or the said receptacle may consist of a wire or other cage for con-
taining drugs or medicaments in a solid form. In this manner the said drugs or
medicaments can be readily subjected to any suitable temperature necessary for
their evaporation or volatilisation, this taking place in contact with dry or sub-
stantially dry air, thus obviating the use of water and enabling the impregnated
or medicated air to be applied or inhaled at a higher temperature than has been
possible with the arrangements heretofore employed.
At one end of the receiver A, a piece or head G, of conical or other suitable
shape, is secured in position by any convenient means, for example, by a clamping-
band M having lugs M' drawn together by means of a quick-threaded screw M².
The said conical piece or head G is provided with a central compartment G
separated off by means of wire net or other suitable partitions G2, for retaining
the drugs or other substances for vaporisation in the path of the hot air from the
receiver A whilst allowing the said air to pass freely through the same. This
compartment may either contain the said drugs or medicaments in a solid form,
or they may be placed on or in lint or the like therein. They can, moreover, be
applied to lint secured on the partitions G¹ or be exposed in any other suitable
manner. On the upper side of the said head is a door H opening into the space
between the partitions G and serving to permit the introduction or removal of the
said drugs or other substances. If desired, the said substances may be contained
in a wire cage or perforated box open at the top and supported beneath the door H.

page_text: The outer end of the said head is provided with an oral, nasal or ora-nasal
piece E², furnished, if desired, with a cup or receptacle E³ for receiving any
saliva that may enter the apparatus through the mouthpiece, and prevent it from
penetrating further into the same, which cup is screwed on so that it can be
readily detached and emptied, when necessary. Or the said head may be provided
with a cannula or other suitable fitting.
The said mouthpiece is preferably made with a baffle-plate E4 on the inner side
of the aperture leading to the cup E³, to intercept any particles of moisture in the
entering air and conduct them into the cup E. This arrangement may also be
fitted to the piece E. This baffle plate may, if desired, extend downward from
the top of the tube.
The auxiliary vaporiser G¹ may be employed in conjunction with the receiver A,
used as a supply of heated air; or, when it is desired to highly charge the air or
other gas with drugs or medicaments, the said air or gas can be first charged with,
for example, a more difficultly-vaporised drug or medicament in the receiver and
then further charged with the same or a more easily-vaporised drug or medicament
in the auxiliary vaporiser.
In some cases, moreover, I arrange an auxiliary vapouriser E5 in the pipe E as
shown in Figure 1, this vaporiser consisting of a cylinder made in two parts united
by screw-threads or other suitable means and adapted to receive volatile drugs or
medicaments in any suitable form.
This
Heat is applied to the receiver A by means of an electric heater which fits
into a recess A3 in the bottom of the said receiver so that the heat is transmitted
directly to the air in the interior thereof, the conductors for supplying the same
with current extending to the outside of the receiver in any suitable manner.
heater may be of any suitable construction, for example, it may consist of bare,
covered or embedded resistance-wires or the like supported in a suitable frame or
support arranged in any desired position within or on the receiver A or the
extension G.
In the arrangement shown, the upper surface of the plate covering the resistance
wires is flush with or only projects slightly above the interior surface of the
receiver. Or the said heater can be applied to the exterior of the said receiver;
for example, I sometimes provide a sliding door in the underside of the receiver,
so that, when this door is closed, heat can be applied by means of oil or gas burners
to the exterior of the said receiver, and if it is desired to heat the said receiver by
electricity, the said sliding door can be removed and an electric heater inserted
in its place.
The said receiver is also provided with a movable cap or cover K, the opening
and closing of which is controlled by means of a quick-threaded screw K* as
described in the Specification of the said former Letters Patent No. 2048, and, if
desired, with an end piece provided with a pump-cylinder and piston for use
in injection or for facilitating artificial respiration, as also described in the said
former specification.
In operation, air is admitted into the receiver A through the inlet F, and, if
desired, also through the aperture formed by partially removing the cover K,
this air passing into the said receiver to be heated and charged with the required
drug or medicament; from thence the charged air either passes to the patient
through the outlet 15, D and piece E¹, or passes through the auxiliary vaporiser G¹
and then to the patient through the piece E2. Or, if desired, the receiver A can
be employed as a source of heated air, which can be either used as it is, or after
passing through either of the auxiliary vaporisers E or G¹.
When it is desired to employ the apparatus for applying heated atmospheric
air or gases to the exterior of any part of the human body, for example, the arm
or leg, the vaporizing head G is removed and replaced by a sleeve L of cloth or
other suitable material, which is secured to the end of the receiver A. by means of
the clamping band M. This sleeve L serves to surround the end of the limb wher

page_text: it enters the receiver and to prevent the escape of air or other gas from the said
receiver, for which purpose the said sleeve is bound round the limb by bands,
straps or in any other suitable manner.
The said sleeve can also be provided with a piece of India-rubber tubing L',
Figure 3, or other packing, fastened around the outer edge thereof so as to enable
the end of the said sleeve to be fastened to the back or other part of a patient's
body by means of bands L² secured to the said sleeve.
In
Within the receiver A is provided a cradle consisting of a perforated sheet N
of copper or other suitable material which is supported at a suitable distance above
the inner surface of the receiver A by means of ribs N¹. On the sheet N are
arranged pads or bolsters N2 at suitable intervals apart, these pads receiving an
asbestos sheet N³ on which the limb of the patient rests during treatment.
this manner, I am enabled to provide for free circulation of the air or other gas
over the heater and at the same time prevent direct radiation of the heat from the
said heater upon the part under treatment. If desired, cloths, sheets, pads or
bolsters of asbestos or other suitable material can be placed on the sheet N³ to
form a more comfortable support for the patient's limb. The internal extension 1)5
of the outlet D may be removed so as not to come into the way of the part of the
patient's body inserted into the apparatus.
In order to enable the temperature of the interior of the receiver to be varied
at will by the patient, without the aid of a nurse or operator, by opening or
closing the cap or end-piece K, I sometimes connect a chain P to the lug Kat
the upper edge of the said cap, this chain being adapted to be secured by passing
one or other of its links over a pin K³ on a bracket K* mounted on the end of the
receiver next to the patient. A suitable spring Q is provided between the
lugs K K² for normally pressing the cap K outward, so that, when the chain P
is released, the said cap will move away from the end of the receiver A, turning
about a pin K5 which fits into a socket on the bottom of the said receiver. In this
manner the patient will be relieved by the reduction of temperature which ensues
and also by the escape of moisture-laden air which can thus escape and be replaced
by dry air, after which the temperature can be again raised without discomfort to
the patient; if it be desired to raise the temperature, the upper edge of said cap K
is drawn towards the receiver A. so as to wholly or partially close the end of the
said receiver, thus more or less preventing the escape of hot air, the said. cap
being retained in the desired position by passing the chain over the pin K³ as
above described. Of, if desired, the spring Q may be omitted and the cap K
arranged so as to move away from the end of the receiver A by the action of
gravity. Other suitable means may also be employed for moving the upper end of
the cap K towards and away from the end of the receiver A; for example, it may
be operated through linkwork, from a handle arranged in a convenient position
near the patient's hand. Or it can be moved by means of a screw having an
extended stem and having a handle within easy reach of the patient's hand. Or, if
desired, the ventilation of the interior of the receiver can be effected by means
of sliding panels or hinged doors as in the arrangements hereinafter described
with reference to Figures 4 and 5.
When it is desired to render the apparatus capable of treating the whole or a
part of the spine of a patient, I sometimes employ the modification shown in
Figure 4, in which the upper part of the receiver A is detachably connected to
the lower part thereof along two horizontal lines, the joint being made by pro-
viding the lower half with channels A provided with suitable packing A5 on
which rest the lower edges of the upper part of the said receiver. This upper
portion is provided with a funnel-shaped aperture A6 the upper edges of which are
provided with India-rubber or other suitable packing A' for engaging with the
back of the patient along the sides of the section of the spine to be treated, this
funnel-shaped piece being adapted to be passed through an aperture R¹ formed in
bed R on which the patient is lying. The upper portion of the receiver A can,
be replaced by an upper section formed similarly to those shown in
if desireu,
642

page_text: Figures 1 and 2, and may be drawn down onto the packing As by means of set-
screws or bolts passing through lugs on the adjacent parts.
Or, if desired, the arrangement shown in Figure 6 can be employed, the lower
section A being provided along its upper edge with packing A as shown, so as
to make a fluid-tight joint with the patient's body.
In Figure 5, I have shown another form or modification of my improved
apparatus adapted for treating the hips or spine of a patient. In this arrangement
the receiver A is provided with a sleeve L at each end for making an air-tight
joint around the protruding parts, viz. the trunk and legs, of the patient's body,
these parts resting on suitable supports which can be covered with bedding or
mats as required. The joint between the upper and lower section of the receiver A
is made in a similar manner to that described with reference to Figure 4, the
parts being clamped together, after the patient has been brought into position, by
means of the bands M. The central part of the patient's body is preferably
arranged to rest on a cradle such as that described with reference to Figure 2..
In some cases, for example, in the treatment of animals. I find it advantageous
to employ a receiver consisting of a flexible bag made either wholly or partially
of asbestos or other suitable material and provided with suitable ventilation aper-
tures which can be opened or closed as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
First. An apparatus for the internal and external local application of heated
air, gases, and the like, constructed substantially as described so that it can be
adily adapted for use as a hot air bath or as an inhaler or injector.
Sond. The improvement in apparatus of the kind hereinbefore referred to,
whereby I provide for enabling the patient to control the apparatus and administer
the treatment to himself or herself without assistance, substantially as described.
Third. The improved means for enabling the receiver to be readily adapted for
being heated by either electricity, gas or oil as desired, substantially as described.
Fourth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.
Fifth. The apparatus adapted for treating the spine or other part of a patient
substantially as described with reference to Figures 4, 5 or 6 of the accompanying.
drawing.
Dated the 7th dow of Santambar 1908
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.