IMPROVEMENTS IN VACUUM APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE CURE OR RELIEF OF PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Victor Theodore Junod, of Old Cavendish Street,
Cavendish Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VACUUM APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE CURE OR RELIEF OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Victor Theodore Junod
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th February 1866.
I, VICTOR THEODORE JUNOD, of Old Cavendish Street, Cavendish Square, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VACUUM APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE CURE OR RELIEF Of
INFLAMMATORY DISEASES," to be as follows:--
"
This Invention relates to improvements in what is known as vacuum
apparatus," for exhausting or withdrawing the air from an enclosed space or
chamber formed or applied around the arm, leg, or other part of a patient.
In the outset I would remark that vacuum apparatus for the cure and
relief of inflammatory diseases was brought into practice by me upwards of 35
[Price 8d.]

page_text: years since, but owing to the expensive character of the apparatus it has not
hitherto been extensively used, and one of the objects of my present improve-
ments is so to reduce the cost of the apparatus that it may be brought within
the reach of all who may require its application.
The first part of my Invention consists in connecting a series of vacuum
cups or chambers by means of a flexible air tube, such cups or chambers being
suitably arranged for application to the back or other part. From twenty to
thirty or more of such vacuum cups may be thus combined together in the
form of a chaplet," the whole series being exhausted by means of one air
pump.
The second part of my improvements consists in forming vacuum apparatus
for the arm at such an acute angle that painful pressure upon the point of
the elbow is prevented, the instrument so formed affording support to the
arm around the elbow without giving pain to the patient, thus avoiding the
objections attending the use of similar apparatus of the form hitherto adopted.
The application of vacuum apparatus to the arm of a patient as previously
adopted has been painful and difficult, but by forming it so that it can be
placed at an angle pointing upwards according to this part of my improve-
ments all the difficulties hitherto attending its use are avoided. This form of
apparatus is constructed with a joint or connection at the elbow.
The third part of my improvements relates to vacuum apparatus applicable
to the leg of a patient. The india-rubber "muff" or sleeve hitherto employed
for connecting the instrument to the limb was so stout as frequently to cause
pain to the patient, but if not of considerable strength is liable to burst when
in use, and in order to obviate this difficulty and expense I employ a "muff"
or sleeve of silk or other woven fabric as a lining introduced within a sleeve of
comparatively thin and soft india-rubber, thus imparting strength to the india-
rubber and preventing pain from too great pressure caused by using stout
india-rubber; or the india-rubber may be protected from bursting inwards by
a collar of metal or other material of sufficient strength, such collars in some
cases being capable of expanding in order to adapt them to limbs of different
size. Much difficulty has been experienced in adapting vacuum apparatus
of this character to the legs of different patients, owing to the varying dimen-
sions of the limbs, and this part of my improvements consists in the application
of a ring or collar to the mouth or top of the apparatus so as to adapt the
instrument to legs of large or small circumference without inconvenience to
the patient. A similar adjusting ring or collar may be used in combination
with vacuum apparatus applied to the arm of a patient. Apparatus of this
character may be constructed suitable for being applied to part only of the

page_text: arm, leg, or thigh of a patient, leaving the hand, foot, or other parts
exposed.
The fourth part of my improvements consists in forming vacuum apparatus
for the leg or arm in several parts or sections, and in connecting them in the
manner herein-before described, by which means they may be packed within.
each other so as to occupy but little space.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in forming abdominal vacuum appa-
ratus with several internal chambers communicating with each other in order
to obtain additional surface contact with the superficial tissue when under the
influence of the vacuum process.
The sixth part of my Invention consists in adapting vacuum apparatus of
this character to the neck by constructing it in the form of a collar combined
with a hood of india-rubber to prevent the entrance of air, and so as to leave
the face of the patient exposed.
The seventh part of my improvements consists in the application of an
improved vacuum gauge to the air pump or instrument employed for with-
drawing or exhausting the air from vacuum apparatus, such as herein-before
described, in order to indicate the extent of the vacuum required to be
produced. Heretofore I have employed an ordinary vacuum gauge con-
sisting of a glass tube containing quicksilver to indicate the pressure upon
a divided scale, but this instrument was expensive, inconvenient, and liable to
be broken, and the form of instrument I prefer to employ for this purpose
according to this part of my improvements consists of a small case containing
a spring which moves a pointer or needle in front of a circular dial plate, a
flexible diaphragm being interposed between the vacuum passage and the
part connected with the spring and pointer; or a simple vacuum gauge may
be made by covering a spiral spring with air-tight tissue, the same being caused
to expand or contract according to the degree of vacuum required, which is
indicated by a pointer attached to the gauge.
The last part of my present improvements consists in arranging vacuum
apparatus so that a number of patients may be treated simultaneously in order
to economize time where a number of patients require treatment. For this
purpose a number of instruments or apparatus are connected by means of
flexible tubes to other tubes communicating with the receiver of an air pump
or exhausting apparatus situated in any convenient part of a building or
hospital, by which means one physician is able to superintend upwards of
twenty patients with but little more trouble than attending upon one.
Stop
cocks are applied in connection with each apparatus, in most cases placed in
the hand or within reach of the patient to regulate the action as required, and

page_text: the exhausting apparatus may be actuated and regulated (so as to maintain
the vacuum at one uniform pressure) by means of a descending weight
arranged in order to actuate the air pump when required, or the vacuum may
be obtained and regulated by other arrangements of mechanism if desired.
In place of employing an ordinary air pump worked by hand the air may be
exhausted by means of expanding and collapsing bellows actuated by the foot
of the patient or otherwise.
The vacuum apparatus previously described according to my improvements.
affords the following advantages, namely:-Considerable reduction of cost;
economy of time in its application; prevention of pain to the patient; with
compactness of form so as to render it very portable.
.
SPE
TION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Victor Theodore Junod in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th August 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, VICTOR
THEODORE JUNOD, of Old Cavendish Street, Cavendish Square, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Victor Theodore Junod, Her special licence that I, the said Victor
Theodore Junod, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Victor Theodore Junod, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for “IM-
PROVEMENTS IN VACUUM APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE CURE OR RELIEF OF
INFLAMMATORY DISEASES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
aid Victor Theodore Junod, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Victor Theodore Junod, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in what is known as
"vacuum apparatus" for exhausting or withdrawing the air from an enclosed
space or chamber formed or applied around the arm, leg, or other part of a
patient.
In the outset I would remark that vacuum apparatus for the
cure and
relief of inflaminatory diseases was brought into practice by me upwards of
33 years since, but owing to the expensive character of the apparatus it has
not hitherto been extensively used, and one of the objects of my present
improvements is so to reduce the cost of the apparatus that it may be brought
within the reach of most of those who may require its application, the use
of the improved apparatus being also rendered painless and applied with more
facility, an important element in the success of the application.
The first part of my Invention consists in connecting a series of vacuum
cups or chambers (made of metal or glass) by means of a flexible air tube, such
cups or chambers being suitably arranged for application to the spine or any
other part. From twenty to thirty or more of such vacuum cups (one of
which is represented in the Drawing marked A) may be thus combined
together in the form of a "chaplet," the whole series being exhausted by
means of a small air pump.
The second part of my improvements consists in forming vacuum apparatus
for the arm at such an acute angle that painful pressure upon the point of
the elbow is prevented, the instrument so formed affording support to the arm
around the elbow without giving pain to the patient, thus avoiding the
objections attending the use of similar apparatus of the form hitherto adopted.
The application of vacuum apparatus to the arm of a patient as previously
adopted has been so painful as to cause it to be completely discarded, but by
forming it so that it can be placed at an angle pointing upwards according to
this part of my improvements this is avoided. This improved form of appa-
ratus is constructed with a joint or connection above the elbow, and by reason
of the arm being bent upwards at an acute angle the point of the elbow is
projected forward so that the arm will rest on the flat surface of the elbow,
and all painful pressure on its extreme point will be completely prevented by
this simple contrivance.
Figure 1 of the Drawing hereunto annexed sbows a side view of vacuum
apparatus constructed according to this part of my improvements, (a) being

page_text: the joint where the two parts are connected, and are rendered air-tight by an
india-rubber bracelet or collar fastened to one of the parts.
The third part of my improvements relates to vacuum apparatus applicable
to the leg of a patient. The india-rubber "muff" or sleeve hitherto employed
for connecting the instrument to the limb was so stout as frequently to cause
pain to the patient, but if not of sufficient strength is liable to burst when in
use, and in order to obviate this injury and expense I employ a "muff" or
sleeve of silk or other woven fabric as an inner muff to be used in com-
bination with a sleeve or muff of thin and soft india-rubber as may be desired;
the inner muff of silk or other fabric imparting sufficient strength to the
india-rubber, and preventing pain from too great pressure caused by using
stout india-rubber as heretofore employed.
Figure 2 shows an improved muff, which overcomes the difficulty which has
hitherto prevented the use of this apparatus. The india-rubber may be also
protected from bursting inwards by a collar of metal or other material of
sufficient strength, such collars in some cases being capable of expanding in
order to adapt them to limbs of different size; or the metal collars may be
made in two parts, and be connected together upon the limb by means of
a sliding bolt b, b, as shown in Figures 3 and 3*, or other suitable fastening.
Figure 3 shows vacuum apparatus for the leg constructed in accordance with
this part of my improvements. The large or small opening (1, 1, Figure 2)
of the muff is applied according to the size of the limb of the patient, the
other opening being connected with the apparatus, so that the same muff will
fit all sizes. Between the cloth muff and the india-rubber muff a pillow is
formed around the limb of wool or other soft material to prevent any painful
pressure from the muff.
Much difficulty has been experienced in adapting vacuum apparatus of this
character to the legs of different patients owing to the varying dimensions of
the limbs, and this part of my improvements consists in the application of a
collar to the top of the apparatus so as to adapt the instrument to legs of
large or small circumference without inconvenience to the patient. A similar
adjusting ring or collar may be used in combination with vacuum apparatus
applied to the arm. Apparatus of this character may be constructed suitable
for being applied to part only of the arm, leg, or thigh of a patient, leaving
the hand, foot, or other parts exposed.
The fourth part of my improvements consists in forming vacuum apparatus
for the leg or arm in several parts or sections, and in connecting them in the
manner herein-before described, by which means they may be packed within
*th other so as to occupy but little space. This improvement admits of the

page_text: apparatus for the leg being reduced in compass when packed up, by the top
part (Figure 3) sliding completely inside the next part, as well as the foot
part, which is connected by a joint, thus making the apparatus very portable.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in forming abdominal vacuuun
apparatus in the form of a stomach warmer, to which I have added several
internal chambers communicating with each other in order to prevent the
superficial tissue coming into contact with the internal surface of the apparatus
when under the influence of the vacuum process.
The sixth part of my Invention consists in adapting vacuum apparatus
around the neck by constructing it in the form of a collar of gutta percha or
other suitable material combined with a hood of thin india-rubber to prevent
the entrance of air, and so as to leave the face of the patient exposed.
The seventh part of my improvements consists in the application of an
improved vacuum gauge to the air pump or instrument employed for with-
drawing or exhausting the air from vacuum apparatus, such as herein-before
described, in order to indicate the extent of the vacuum required to be pro-
duced. Heretofore I have employed an ordinary vacuum gauge, consisting of
a glass tube containing quicksilver to indicate the pressure upon a divided
scale, but this instrument was expensive, inconvenient, and liable to be
broken, and for this cause has for many years been discarded, and the form of
instrument prefer to employ for this purpose according to this part of my
improvements consists of a small case containing a spring, which moves a
pointer or needle in front of a circular dial plate, a flexible diaphragm being
interposed between the vacuum passage and the part connected with the
spring and pointer; or 1 construct a simple vacuum gauge made by covering
a spiral spring with an air-tight tissue, the same being caused to expand or
contract according to the degree of vacuum which is indicated by a pointer
attached to a gauge.
The last part of my present improvements consists in arranging vacuum
apparatus so that a number of patients may be treated simultaneously in
hospitals or elsewhere in order to economize the time of the operator where a
number of patients require treatment. For this purpose a number of instru-
ments or apparatus are connected by means of flexible tubes to other main
tubes communicating with the receiver of an air pump or exhausting apparatus
situated in any convenient part of a building or hospital, by which means one
physician is able to superintend simultaneously upwards of twenty patients
with very little more trouble than attending upon one.
Stop-cocks are applied in connection with each apparatus, and in most
cases can be placed in the hand or within reach of the patient, so that f

page_text: patient can regulate the action as required, and the exhausting apparatus may
be acted upon and regulated (so as to maintain the vacuum at the same level
by its own self-acting power at one uniform pressure) by means of a
descending weight arranged in order to act upon the air pump when required.
It is better, if possible, to have three receivers and three descending weights
(instead of one) with a row of three main pipes similar to those used for gas
fixed against the wall of the chamber, and passing the head of the bed of each
patient. By this means it is possible to connect the patient with the receiver
where the vacuum is kept at a slight degree for many hours, and if required
all day and all night, and thus it is also possible to make the descending weight
heavier or lighter at pleasure. In place of employing an ordinary air pump
worked by hand, the air may be exhausted also by means of small aspiring
bellows having a spiral spring inside set in motion by the foot of the patient
or otherwise.
The vacuum apparatus previously described according to my improvements.
affords the following advantages, namely, considerable reduction of cost,
economy of time in its application, prevention of pain to the patient, with
compactness of form so as to render it very portable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Victor Theodore Junod, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 28th day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
V. T. JUNOD. (L.S.)

page_text: This figure shows an additional portion suitably
formed for lengthening a vacuum instrument
for the leg, and may be connected underneath at x
with Fig. 3. when required to give to the instrument
increased length, so that it will come under.
the bend of the knee, in order to avoid pain
to the patient. The parts are retained together.
by the inner muff of silk, covering the connected,
parts