Improvements in Galvanic Electric Adhesive Plasters.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Galvanic Electric Adhesive Plasters.
A communication by JOHN WARD SHULTS, of the City of Wichita, in the County
of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, United States of America, Physician.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6. Bank Street, Man-
chester, both in the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex Civil Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in galvanic electric adhesive
plasters, for therapeutical purposes, and consists of cells incorporated in the
plaster compound of potential arrangement; the elements of said cells being, when
the plaster is applied to a person, in contact with the body; and of electrodes
connected by means of flexible conductors, with the plaster cells, and provided with
adhesive supporters alapting them to be held in contact with the body at such
places as may be desired; which improvements are fully set forth and explained in
the following Specification and pointed out in the claims.
The specific purpose of this invention is to exert an electric influence, in a mild
or faint manner, upon the body of the wearer, for equalising the circulation of
blood; in tending to produce natural sleep, and activity, and the like, to the
wearer of the plaster, by utilising the body as a portion of the electric circuit,
between the electrodes, thus causing the generated current of electricity to pass
through the body.
Referring to the drawings a
:-
Figure is a face plan of the plaster and of the contact buttons thereof or
electrodes.
Figure 2, a back plan of the same, having a portion of the backing thereof
rolled back to more clearly show the inner parts.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the plaster.
Figure 4 a cross section of one of the electrodes thereof.
Figures 5 and 6 are detailed plans of the metallic elements of the plaster, before
being applied to the plaster; and
Figure 7 is a back view of a person having a plaster applied as it would appear
when in use.
In these drawings:-
:-
L represents a piece of linen cut to the desired form of the plaster. .C represents
the plaster compound spread on the linen, which compound may be of any of the
known ingredients used for such purposes.
Incorporated in the plaster compound are two cells, one at each end portion of
the plaster, each consisting of zinc and copper elements, being represented at
B and D having surfaces on a plane with that of the plaster compound, one of
which cells is made with a circular body of zinc D as one element, surrounded
at a little distance by a copper ring as a second element, as shown at the
left in Figure 1. The opposite cell being made with a circular body of copper B
surrounded at a little distance by a zinc ring D as a second element, which
elements are respectively provided with bendable points, as shown at gand g',
which, when they are applied to the plaster, penetrate the linen, and clinch upon
the back thereof, as shown, to secure the elements into position.
W represents a conducting wire arranged incorporated in the plaster compound
and connecting the outer elements of the two opposite cells, as shown in Figure 1.
R and R¹ represent electric conductors, preferably of a cord having, as a part of

page_text: its construction, one or more metallic. strands, which conductors are respectively
connected at one end to the centre elements of said cells by means of prongs Z of
said elements, which prongs are.bent so as to pierce the linen LA when applying the
elements, and, when through the linen, the conductor ends are laid upon the linen
back and the prongs bent over upon them, thus clamping them into position.
(See Figures 2, 3 and.5.) And, in making such connections, the metallic portion
of said conductors are laid in contact with said prongs.
E and E represent the contact buttons, or electrodes, and are composed
respectively of a backing P of some suitable material, of metallic buttons F
backed against the central portion of said backing, with their shanks e extending
through said backing, and of a ring of some suitable adhesive material fixed to
said backing about said buttons, which backing and rings form a holder for the
buttons, adapting them to be held in contact with the body at any desired place,
by the adhesion of said adhesive rings; and the outer end of said conductors are
respectively connected with the shanks of said buttons, as shown, thus causing said
buttons to form the terminal of said conductors.
A, represents a piece of leather cut to the size and form of the linen L, and is
secured upon the linen back by means of some suitable adhesive material, or
otherwise, and covers from view the element securing points, and conductor
connections, and a neat finish to the plaster back. However, this leather back
may be omitted, if desired, and, further, the leather may be used as a substitute
for linen, with no other backing.
The
In use, the plaster is applied to a person in the usual manner (see Figure 7),
which brings the cells in direct contact with the body, where they are subjected to
the exudations out of the cutis, which exudations, containing chloride of sodium.
when subjected to the elements of the cells, generate an electric current.
electrodes E E' are applied to the body, by means of their adhesive supports, in.
such manner as to bring the affected parts of the body in line with the electric
current, and form a part of said circuit, and, as the electric current is generated at
the cells, it is conducted by the conductors, and electrodes and the body about said
circuit, causing said circuit to pass through the body, utilising the connecting
conductor wire W.of the plaster as a conducting medium through the plaster.
It is the intention in this invention that the cells shall be of such proportions as
to generate but a faint current of electricity.
The right is reserved of incorporating, in the plaster compound, pulverised
carbon, in such, proportions that the carbon particles will lie in close proximity
one to the other, which carbon, being an electric,conductor,, will in such instances
be as a conductor between the plaster cells, and likewise throughout the entire
plaster.
And, further, in the use of the plaster, the electrodes may be brought together
with the conductors thereof passing about the body, the effect of which will be
that the electric current, has an influence upon the blood, being attracted through
the mineral properties of the blood, which results in the equalisation of the
circulation of, the, blood,, but, in a..much, milder manner than where the body
forms a portion of the electric circuit..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
:
1...As a new article of manufacture, a galvanic adhesive plaster for therapeutical
purposes, consisting of a plaster compound, spread upon a linen or other suitable
backing of the opposite cells, comprising the reversely arranged elements incor-
porated in the plaster compound and having surfaces on a plane with that of said
compound of the conductor wire incorporated in said plaster arranged connecting
said cells of the conductor connecting said cells and extending oppositely from
the plaster, and of the contact electrodes forming the terminal of said extending
conductors, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
:

page_text: 2. The herein described plaster consisting of a plaster compound spread upon a
linen or other suitable backing; of oppositely arranged cells comprising the
reversely arranged elements incorporated in the plaster compound, and having
surfaces on a plane with that of the compound, of the conductor wire incorporated
in said compound and arranged connecting opposite elements of said cells; of the
opposite extending conductors arranged connecting opposite elements of the cells
to those of said former conductor and of the contact electrodes secured as the
terminal of said extending conductors and provided with the adhesive supports,
substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination, in the galvanic electric adhesive plaster described, with the
opposite extending conductors thereof, of the metallic electrodes secured as the
terminals of said conductors and of the adhesive supporters of said electrodes,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. An electric plaster consisting of a linen or other suitable backing, of a
compound spread upon said backing, of elements of an electric battery incorporated
in the plaster construction and arranged to be brought in contact with the body of
the wearer, where they are subjected to the exudations out of the cutis, and of
opposite electric conductors, connected with the battery of the plaster and
erminating with electrodes adapted to be applied to different portions of the body,
ubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. As a new article of manufacture, a galvanic adhesive plaster for therapeutical
purposes, consisting of a plaster compound spread upon a linen or other suitable
backing, and compounded with pulverised carbon; of the oppositely arranged cells,
comprising the reversely arranged elements incorporated in the plaster compound,
and having surfaces on a plane of the compound; of the conductor wires arranged
connecting the opposite elements of said cells; and of the electrodes arranged as
the terminals of said conductors, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of February 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.