Improvements in Electro-medical Appliances.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-medical Appliances.
I, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN of 9 Kings Road, Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object a method and means of allaying pain concen-
trated in such parts of the human system as may be reached and remedied by a
local and external application of a mild current of electricity of low potential,
such as neuralgia or other pains in the head, sciatica, lumbago or the like, and I
attain this by the employment of a series of alternate copper and zinc or other
metallic plates or discs electrically connected in pairs, and arranged in the form
of a band or strip, and enclosed within or between suitable absorbent fabrics in
such a manner that the two end or terminal discs only are exposed, and these are
intended to be applied to the parts affected.
I am aware that metallic discs of copper and zinc have hitherto been arranged
in series and fastened within, or constructed so as to form, belts, bandages or
corsets, but these have invariably been constructed in such a manner that each and
all of the said discs were in touch with, or separated by a very thin fabric from, the
flesh of the wearer, but by this method only one or perhaps two pairs of the series
of discs would be in touch with the part of the body locally affected or in pain,
and as the exciting medium employed was usually that of the moisture given off
from the pores of the bodys surface, it follows that each pair of discs would be
short circuited, by reason of both being in contact with the skin of the wearer,
and the part affected would not be benefited thereby, since the moist surface of the
skin would complete the circuit, but in the method adopted by me I arrange that,
the end discs only are in touch with the flesh of the wearer, and I am not aware
that this method has hitherto been adopted.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ the use of any two suitable metals
but preferably that of zinc and copper, and from these I form circular or other
shaped discs, and sew or otherwise fasten them alternately between two strips of
fabric, that intended to be the outer being of leather or the like, while that
intended to be the inner I prefer to provide of flannel; felt or other equally
absorbent material. The said series of discs (which may be of any length desired)
I prefer to electrically connect in pairs, those forming the end discs being left
uncovered by the inner fabric, and when said strip or band is used as an emollient
or specific for allaying neuralgic or other pains in the head, I prefer to moisten
the whole of the absorbent material forming the inner surface of the band, with
salt and water, or other suitable liquid not injurious to the wearer, as an excitant
for the discs for generating an electric current, and place the end discs one upon
each temple, the remainder of the covered discs and strip passing over the top or
back of the head, or if the said strip be too long to permit this and allow the ends
of the strip to be tied under the chin or around the face, the same may be tied
together at any part to shorten its length from the ends for this purpose. By this
means the terminals of the battery are the exposed end discs, and these being
placed upon the temples opposite to each other, the circuit of the current generated
is completed through the head of the wearer and the pain relieved. Small pieces
of sponge or chamois leather moistened with the liquid employed may be interposed
between the discs and the temples if desired.
For sciatica, lumbago or other local rheumatic pains, one of the end discs may
be placed upon the affected part and the opposite end disc upon some other part
of the body. so that the current may pass through the seat of the pain.

page_text: Or 1 may arrange the said strips in the form of the sole of the foot, so that
they may be used as socks, and worn within the foot of the hose, the exposed end
discs being in touch with the toes and heel of the foot, so that the current generated
may pass through the foot, should the seat of pain be located therein. The strip
or sock may be moistened in the manner before mentioned, or the moisture of the 5
foot may be found sufficient to effect the same ends.
Dated this 15th February 1892
P. A. CRAVEN,
9, King's Road, Wimbledon, Surrey.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-medical Appliances.
I, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN of 9 Kings Road, Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, 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 has for its object a method of and means for allaying pain con-
centrated in such parts of the human system as may be reached and remedied by
a local an external application of a mild current of electricity, such for instance as
neuralgia or other pains in the head, sciatica, lumbago and the like, and I attain
this by the employment of a series of metallic discs, preferably zinc and copper,
arranged alternately in the form of a band or strip, and electrically connected in
pairs, and enclosed within or between suitable fabrics, in such a manner that the
two end, or terminal discs only are exposed, and these are intended to be applied to
the parts affected or the seat of the pain.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 illustrates the manner in which I prefer to construct the said strip or band
shewing the manner in which the discs are enclosed between the two strips of
fabric.
Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which Fig. 1 may be finished so as to be
applicable for use as at Fig. 3 or in like manner upon any other part of the body
where the pain is located.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of a boot or shoe sock constructed upon the same principle
as that of Fig. 1.
In carrying my invention into effect I procure two sheets of any two dissimilar
suitable metals, but preferably that of zinc and copper, from which I form circular
or other shaped discs A and B and sew or otherwise fasten these alternately
between two strips of fabric C and D, the former of which, or that intended to
be next the skin of the wearer, may be of flannel, felt, cloth chamois leather or
other equally absorbant material, while the latter may be of leather, American
cloth or the like. The said discs previous to insertion between C and D are
electrically connected in pairs by a wire or other metallic strip connected to both,
and the space between each pair of discs when between C and D may be filled up
with flannel or other absorbant fabric level with the discs. The said strip thus
formed may be of any length desired, and may contain any number of pairs of
discs in the manner described, the greater the number employed the greater will
be the current generated, when the intermediate fabric between each pair is
moistened with some suitable excitant.
Whatever may be the length of the finished strip, and the number of pairs of
discs employed, the two end, or terminal discs, are left exposed or uncovered or
partly so, upon the inner or C side of the strip, and this may be attained by making
a hole or perforations in the material C at that point, in order that the said end
discs may be in contact with the flesh of the patient.
In Fig. 2 I show how the said compound strip may be arranged, and in Fig. 3
how the same may be worn, as an emollient or specific for allaying or curing

page_text: neuralgic or other pains in the head. For this purpose I recommend that the two
end or terminal discs be placed upon the temples as shown after the material C has
been well moistened with salt and water or a very weak solution of sulphuric acid,
which, acting as an exitent upon the discs, a current of electricity is generated
therein, the circuit of which is completed by passing from temple to temple through
the head of the patient, the apparatus being retained in position by tapes, strings
or straps attached thereto and passing round the forehead as shown, or other part
of the head. Small pieces of sponge, felt or other absorbant substance may be
saturated with the exitent used and interposed between the terminal discs and the
flesh of the wearer if needed, or if the patient objects to the discs being in contact
with the flesh.
In like manner the terminal discs may be placed upon the affected parts or seat
or seats of pain, in cases of lumbago, sciatica or other rhumatic pains, and should
the said strip be too long to allow the end or terminal discs to come exactly upon
the spot or part desired, the strip after being moistened by the exitent as described
may be tied so that a loop is formed at or near the middle of its length, until
the strip is the length desired, and the terminals of the battery rest upon the parts
affected.
In Fig. 4 I show how the same arrangement of the discs and the materials C
and D are employed by me in the formation of socks for boots and shoes, as a
specific for the relief of like pains in the feet and ankles. In this method I may
dispense with the use of any liquid as an exitent for the battery plates or discs,
as the moisture of the foot of the wearer will serve the same purpose, unless the
foot of the wearer be abnormally dry, in which case the exiting liquid may be used,
but in most cases the moisture of the foot will be sufficient if the sock be worn
within the foot of the hose.
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 1
claim is,
The combination of any number of metallic discs or plates A. B, electrically con-
nected in pairs, and sewn or otherwise retained between two strips of fabric C D,
one of which C, is of absorbant material, and provided with holes or perforations
for exposing the two end discs or terminals only, and the manner of generating an
electric current in said discs by moistening the material C with any suitable exitent,
which may be that of the moisture passing through the excretories of the skin of
the human body when the same is worn and used as a specific for allaying rhumatic
and other local pains, the whole connected and operating substantially as and for
the purposes herein described, and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Did thin 14th den of November 1892
P. A. CRAVEN.