Means for Applying Electricity During Exercise for Therapeutic or other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means for Applying Electricity During Exercise for Therapeutic or
other Purposes.
1, HENRY NEWMAN LAWRENCE of 244 Regent Street, London, S.W., Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means for applying electricity during exercise for therapeutic
or other purposes and consists in providing apparatus and machinery suitable for
exercising the limbs and other portions of the body with electrical connections and
electrodes so that currents of electricity may be passed through the body or portions
thereof at the same time and during the whole or part of the period that such body or
portion thereof is being exercised by the machine.
With this object I provide any of the known forins of apparatus or modifications or
combinations thereof for exercising the body or parts thereof with electrical con-
ductors and electrodes connecting the same to the poles of an apparatus or machine
capable of generating or transforming electric currents either continuous, intermittent
or alternating in nature or of generating a static charge in such a way that the
circuit is completed only when the body or such portion thereof as the machine is
intended to exercise is brought into contact with the machine for the purposes of
such exercise.
By this means any form of electric current or charge may be administered to the
body or parts thereof in conjunction with and during the period or portion of period
of mechanical exercise either passive or active without external aid except it may be
in the matter of regulating the strength of the current allowed to flow during the
operation.
One of the many methods of applying my invention is in connection with the lung
or chest exercising pump referred to in my patent No. 2312 of 9th Feb 1889.
On Oronised Cabinets or Chambers, where I connect the handle which is otherwise
insulated by suitable conductors which may be flexible or rigid and may be part of the
machine or not to one pole of an electric generator or transformer and by a similar
arrangement I connect an insulated platform, say a metal topped wooden platform
insulated by glass insulators or a piece of sheet metal or metal network insulated by
sheet indiarubber or gutta percha or any similar insulating material, on which the
patient stands to operate the machine to the other pole of the electric generator or
transformer or I may place two electrodes upon the handle of the machine connected
one to each pole of the electric generator or transformer, but otherwise insulated, so
that a patient grasping one in each hand has the current passed through his body from
hand to hand while he operates the pump.
It will readily be understood that my invention may be applied to many other forms
of apparatus for exercising the body and limbs.
Dated this 9th day of February 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means for Applying Electricity During Exercise for Therapeutic or
other Purposes.
I HENRY NEWMAN LAWRENCE of 24* Regent Street in the county of Middlesex,
Electrical 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 :-
My invention relatos to improvements in means for applying electricity for

page_text: therapeutic purposes and consists in combining apparatus for exercising the human
baily or portions thereof with an electric generator or generators and a platform or
stand provided with suitable electrical conductors and connections whereby currents|
of electricity may be passed through the body or portion thereof of a person operating
the exercising apparatus.
In carrying out my invention I provide an exercising apparatus together with an
insulated stand or platform suitably connected with the poles of any known form of
electric generator or transformer capable of producing continuous, intermittent,
pu'sating or alternating currents or a static charge and I so arrange the electrical
conductors and connections that a person operating the exercising apparatus
completes thereby an electrical circuit or circuits and electricity is caused to pass
through his body or portions thereof.
One form of construction of my apparatus which I find well suited to therapeutic
purposes is shown diagramatically in the drawing where-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of my apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the insulated platform.
Fig. 3 shows in part a front elevation of a modified form of my apparatus.
a a are the upright posts or supports of wood or any suitable material torminating
at the top in supports for pins a forming the fulera of the lovers bb. These levers
are adjustable having holes provided in them through any of which the pins a' may
be passed to form the pivotal point. To one end of the levers are attached by cords
weight carriages d sliding in the inclined gnido way e which is kept in position by
being affixed to the post at their upper ends. From the other ends of the lovers b
are suspended by conducting cords or rods the handles g. is a platform
or support here shown as consisting of four conducting plates of copper wire
gauze h³ h² 1ª hª insulated from the ground and from each other by being affixed to
an insulating platform which may be of wood if necessary supported on glass or other
insulating material. is an upright back or body support provided with a flexible,
adjustable conducting band or strap, to clasp the body of the patient when
desired for the purpose of forming an electrode. are electric generators & to k
aro terminals or binding screws for making connection with the generators.
Supposing the connections to he made as indicated on the drawing and the patient
to take his position on the platform with his feet upon plates and his hands
grasping the handles g a current would pass from the generator to the terminal k up
the post a (which may he itself of conducting material suitably insulated or may
have a wire along the inside or outside of it) along (which may be similarly
provided to the post a with conductors) down the cords and handles to the arm of
the patient, down his body and leg and so back to the generator j. A similar current
might pass from the generator or if it be desired to use the support ia connection
would be made from the terminal k to the generator j and a current would then pass
through the particular portion of the body thus put in circuit (by means of the con-
ducting band or strap 7). When the terminal is used 42 may be disconnected or
may be retained in connection in which case the current will pass both from and
When it is desired to exercise the leg as well as the arm a stirrup 1 can be attached
to the lever b and he connected by a conductor running down post a to the
generator j.
It is manifest that either side of the apparatus may be used separately or in con-
junction with the other and that what I have stated above regarding the method of
passing electric currents through the body or portions thereof on one side applies also
to the other side and that by using both sides simultaneously with or without separate
generators the circuit or circuits may be completed in many ways each of which may
include the body or some portion thereof of the person operating the apparatus.
In Fig. 3 is shown a modification of the apparatus it being here adapted to pedal
exorcise. In this arrangement the cords are passed down to and arround pulleys m, n,
nnd are secured to one end of the pedal levers o turning on fulcra pins of affixed to
the support i. In this instance à seat (of conducting material or carrying con-
ductors) p is formed on the top of support upon which the patient sits his feet

page_text: resting on the pedal ends o² o². The other parts of the apparatus are substantially
the saine as in Figs. 1 & 2. I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to
the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawing but may use any suitable
generator of electricity together with any of the ordinary forms of exercising
apparatus now in use and which can be adapted to the purposes of my invention.
In some cases I find it convenient to adapt the exercising apparatus by means of
suitable connections to the working of the electric generator, as for instance the
rotating of a frictional machine by means of a crank or cranks.
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:
The combination of apparatus for exercising the body or portions thereof, an
insulated conducting platform or stand and an electric generator or generators which
latter may be if required operated by means of the exercising apparatus substantially
as set forth.
TL: ot
AT 1
1000
H. NEWMAN LAWRENCE.