Improvements in Electro-therapeutic Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1891-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-therapeutic Apparatus.
1 FREDERICK GEORGE 11 Talbot Street Southport Lancashire Doctor of.
Medicine do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
be
1 take two reels or bobbins into which placed end to end or otherwise I insert an
iron core or cores extending from one reel to the other. Upon one reel I wind two
coils or helices after the manner of ordinary medical induction coils and I cause
the current in the primary coil to be interrupted by means of a double vibrating
current breaker the connections of which are so arranged that the current may
reversed at each interruption or otherwise and I connect the terminals of the
primary and secondary coils to the battery and binding screws in the usual manner..
Upon the other reel I wind another coil one terminal of which I connect to one
pole of a galvanic battery, and the other terminal to a binding screw for the
attachment of rheophores and I connect the other pole of the battery to another
similar binding-screw by means of a second conductor. By means of these con-
ductors and rheophores I convey to the patient a continuous current of electricity.
at the same time impressing the said current with the induction due to the
interrupted, alternated or otherwise varied current through the primary coil above
mentioned by means of the continuous iron core or cores-or the core may be excited
directly by means of a short circuit through the coil, carrying the continuous
current, and back to the battery by a shunt from the distal end of the coil in
which is placed a vibrating current breaker thus combining the primary extra
current with the continuous current in the same direction or I use a magneto-
electric machine for exciting the core and herein consists an important part of my
invention as by its means I can either magnetise the core alternately in opposite
directions or by commutating the currents, interruptedly in the same direction more
conveniently either for combining induction currents with the continuous current or
for the production of the primary extra current or for the induced current in
secondary coil, also any mechanical means may be used for interrupting or
alternating the current.
also connect the cells of the battery for continuous current by means of a
circular dial collector having two arms or conductors so arranged that they can be
continuously rotated in the same direction indefinitely any required number of
cells being included so that as an additional cell is added one will be dropt out to
allow of depolarisation after which it may again be taken up.
Dated this 26th day of February 1891
FREDERICK GEORGE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-therapeutic Apparatus.
FREDERICK GEORGE of 11 Talbot Street, Southport Lancashire Doctor of
Medicine 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 improvements in apparatus for the therapeutic application
of electricity and consists in the first place in replacing the usual batteries by.
magneto-electric machines of special construction.
By this means I can more efficiently excite the cores of medical induction coils
alternately in opposite directions and interruptedly in the same direction and also

page_text: more evenly and gradually increase and diminish the strength of the continuous
current a point of great importance in some therapeutic applications.
Any form of magneto-electric machine may be used for the production of current
but when employed for exciting the cores of medical induction coils only, the
ordinary medical or "Clarke's "machine or pole armature will answer the purpose
especially if provided with mechanism for interrupting the current either by
allowing insulated intervals or spaces between the segments of the conductor or
commutator upon which one or more of the brushes rests or by employing some
other form of contact breaker. For the production of continuous current an
armature which gives a steady current should be employed and for this reason
prefer the closed coil ring armature and as the current required in therapeutic
applications is very small employ an armature of higher resistance than those
hitherto constructed or used for this purpose.
By winding the armature with fine wire and using permanent magnets the
machine may be made very compact and of comparatively small size and weight
and as the electro motive force required would seldom exceed fifty volts and the
external circuit being of great resistance the current would be very small but little
power would be required to drive it, 1 accordingly wind the armature with wire of
small guage z. No. 21 to 40 and upwards B. W. guage the lower numbers being
used chiefly when employing electro magnets or actuating induction coils and with
the electric bath and the higher numbers chiefly for the application of the current
direct to the patient. An automatic cut-out or rheostat may be introduced to
prevent heating and destruction of the armature or injury to the patient should
the E. M. F. be unduly raised or the resistance lowered.
In the next place I take two reels or bobbins into which placed end to end or
otherwise I insert a movable iron core which may be straight or curved according
to the position of the reels or for forming a more or less complete magnetic circuit.
and may be divided into sections to allow of their insertion and removal and for
regulating the strength of induction. Upon one reel I wind one or two coils or
helices of insulated copper wire after the manner of ordinary medical induction.
coils see Fig. 5. A. B. and I connect their terminals with the battery or magneto-
electric machine and with binding screws for the connection of rheophores and I
cause the current in the primary coil to be interrupted in the usual manner or as
above described or by means of a double contact breaker the connections of which
are so arranged that the current may be reversed at each interruption or otherwise,
see Fig. 123 & 4. Upon the other reel I wind another coil of insulated copper
wire see Fig. 5. R' one terminal of which I connect to one pole of a battery or other
source of electricity and the other terminal to a binding screw for the connection of
rheophores and i connect the other pole of the battery or source to another similar
binding screw by means of a second conductor. By means of these conductors and
rheophores convey to the patient a continuous current of electricity at the same
time impressing the said current with the induction due to the interrupted,
alternated or otherwise varied current through the primary coil above mentioned
by means of the magnetically continuous iron core. Or the core may be excited
directly by means of a short circuit through the ceil carrying the continuous
current and returning to the battery or magneto machine by a shunt from the
distal end of the coil see Fig. 6 in which is placed an electro-magnetic or other
contact breaker thus combining the primary extra current with the continuous
current in the same direction. Or the magnetisation of the core of the coil
carrying continuous current may be varied by the approach and recession of a
revolving or otherwise moving armature or magnet.
In order to maintain the battery for continuous current at a uniform electro:
motive force I connect the cells to the conductors or rheophores by means of an
endless or circular dial, collector (see Fig. 9) having two arins or conductors that
can be rotated continuously in the same direction any number of cells being.
included by them and the number increased or diminished as required and when the
arms are rotated together, for which purpose they can be temporarily fixed to

page_text: each other by a bolt and slots or otherwise, as additional cells are added others
would be dropt out to allow of depolarisation when they would be again taken
up by the advancing arm whilst the circle of cells would be automatically or
otherwise opened by means of a key or switch P. Q. behind the receding arm
and closed before the advancing one and thus short circuiting prevented.
My invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing in
which
Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shew the arrangement of conductors in the
double contact breaker.
Fig. 1. shews the connexions when arranged for reversing the direction of the
current at each interruption and
Fig. 2. Fig. 3. and Fig. 4 when arranged for interrupting without reversing the
current.
The primary coil is represented by A, the core by D, the double contact breaker
by C, and the adjustable connexions by 1, the changes being effected by means of
switches.
Fig. 5. shews the relations of the several coils on the continuous iron core,
A being the primary and B the secondary coils as in ordinary medical induction
coils and R the coil for continuous current impressed with induction due to
variations in coil A, the dotted line D represents the core and C the contact.
breaker, E. F and G being the conductors for connexion with the rheophores.
Fig. 8. shews another arrangement of the same kind the core being circular and
divided into segments, the coil B being used either for secondary currents or for
continuous current impressed with induction according to its connexions with the
battery or magneto-electric machine and the rheophores.
Fig. 6. shews the arrangement of conductors and contact breaker for combining
continuous current with induction by means of a shunt circuit in which is placed
the contact breaker.
Fig. 7. shews the arrangement of magneto-electric machine and induction coils
when the interruption of the current is effected by means of non-conducting
intervals or spaces between the segments of the sliding collector or commutator.
Fig. 9. is a plan of the circular dial collector.
The outer circle represents a battery of 32 cells each cell being connected by a
conductor to one of the studs shewn in the circle M from whence the current is,
conveyed to the rheophores by the arms K. K. which are fixed to each other by
bolts and slots as shewn at N. At P and Q are the keys or switches for opening
the circle of cells where they are not included in the circuit, they are shewn open
at P and closed at Q.
The signs and
-
indicate the connexion of the parts so marked with the
terminals of the battery or magneto-electric machine.
The arrows in Fig. 1. 2. 3 and 4 indicate the direction of the current in the coils
when contact is made.
The conductors G are for continuous currents impressed with induction.
The two segments of the double contact breaker are fixed together by non-
conducting material and vibrate together.
,
Fig. 10 shews diagrammmatically the arrangement of switch I prefer for changing
the connections of the double contact breaker. The contacts W. X. Y. Z. are
connected with the segments of the switch W. X. Y. Z. by means of the
conductors W. X. Y. Z. each to each the terminals of the coil A being connected
to the arms U. V. of the switch by means of which either terminal can be
connected with any one, or with such two of the segments as may be required for
effecting the arrangements as shewn in Fig. 1. 2. 3 & 4.
I prefer to employ two electro-magnets to actuate the double contact breaker
each acting alternately with the other to break the contacts. They are shewn in
duplicate in Fig. 10 and indicated by the dotted lines D.
The double contact breaker is applicable for alternating or interrupting direct
galvanic or magneto currents as well as for producing induction.

page_text: The arms U. V. of the switch are moved by hand into any required position.
When the arm U is placed upon the segment W and the arm V upon the
segment Z or vice versa the arrangment of conductors would be as shewn in Fig. 2.
and Fig. 3. When the arm U. is placed upon the segments W. and Y. and the
arm V upon the segments X and the arrangement would be as shewn in Fig. 1.
When the arm U. is placed upon the segments W and X and the arm V upon the
segments Y and Z the arrangement would be as shewn in Fig. 4.
In Fig. S the core is represented in four sections by the dotted lines D. D. D. D.
two of which (the end or curved ones as here shewn) being movable so as to
approach or recede from the other two (the straight or middle ones), thereby
varying the strength of induction. When all the sections are in contact the
magnetic circuit is completely within the core and the strength of induction is at a
maximum. When any of the sections are separated by an interval or intervals the
induction is thereby proprionately reduced.
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
1. A magneto-electric machine for actuating medical induction coils for the
production of primary extra and secondary currents and for combining induction
with continuous current, substantially as described.
2. A magneto-electric machine having an armature of the ring, drum, or
inuitipolar type wound with copper wire of less size than No. 20 British wire guage
or other conductor of equivalent resistance for generating electric current for
medical purposes substantially as described.
3. A magneto-electric machine in combination with any form of contact. breaker
or arrangement of mechanism for interrupting the current, for medical purposes
substantially as described.
4. Two or more reels or bobbins of insulated wire on the same core or on cores
in magnetic continuity so that the induction due to variations in the current through
the coil on one reel shall be communicated to the coil on the other reel or reels, for
medical purposes, substantially as described.
5. A coil on one reel carrying continuous current and impressed with the induction
due to variations in the magnetisation of its core produced by the current in a
coil on another reel or by the approach and recession of a revolving or otherwise
moving armature or magnet or by means of a shunt in which is placed a contact
breaker and connecting the distal end of the coil carrying continuous current with
the battery or other source of electricity substantially as and for the purpose
described.
6. A. core divided into sections and regulating the strength of induction by
varying the distance between them; substantially as described and shewn.
7. A. double contact breaker the connexions of which are so arranged that the
direction of the current may be reversed at each interruption or otherwise,
substantially as described and shewn.
8. An endless or circular dial collector with mechanism for opening and closing
the circle or " crown
of cells substantially as described and shewn.
"
Dated this 30th day of April 1891.
FREDERICK GEORGE.