Improvements in and connected with Sphygmographs.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan.,
1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Sphygmographs.
I, CHARLES AUGUST TESKE, of 6 Moore Street, Cadogan Street, Chelsea
London, Surgical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates, first, to improvements in sphygmographs or instruments
used for graphically recording the beats or movements of the pulse, and the
improvements have for their object to render the instrument lighter and more
compact so that it may be more easily carried in the pocket and at the same time
more efficient in that the record produced is chronographically divided and is more
highly amplified so that the indications which it affords are more easily legible and
the delicate shades of difference in the pulse, consequent on differences of cardiacal
action, are more clearly revealed by the instrument.
The improvements have also for object to obtain other advantages which will
appear from the following general description.
The instrument comprises a main body or case of narrow flat oblong form made,
for the sake of lightness, of aluminium and containing the paper band feeding
mechanism which is a spring barrel and train of wheels and pinions regulated by a
fly and gearing with the feed roller which projects through an aperture in the top
of the case.
The strip is carried at a predetermined speed between this roller and
a pair of spring pressed discs one or both of them having means of producing on
the blackened paper strip a scale of divisions corresponding to the revolutions of
the feed roller and therefore constituting a chronographic scale representing seconds
or fractions thereof, to which the pulse-beat records produced by the sphygmograph
needle are referable. At the under side of the casing, near one end, is the spring
pad by which the pulsations are transmitted to the recording needle, this pad being
carried by a spring fixed to a transverse axis beneath the middle of the case.
order that the pressure of the spring pad upon the pulse may be conveniently
regulated to suit the strength of the pulse, and to enable the most perfect record
to be obtained, I provide a sliding adjusting slide beneath the case which carries a
reinforcing spring which by moving the slide in or out is caused to bear on the pad
This slide
spring at various points in its length and therefore with varying effect.
In
is operated from the end of the case opposite to that at which the pad is situate and
is easily accessible, being formed with an upwardly projecting return end which is
adapted also to form a clip to retain the folding vane hereafter referred to in its
collapsed position on the top of the case.
a
The sphygmograph needle or scriber is jointed to a pendent lever mounted to
swing (under the influence of the pulse and of a jointed weighted arm) on
transverse axis carried at the upper end of an inverted U-shaped vane which is
jointed to the top of the case so that it may stand up vertically therefrom when the
instrument is in use or be folded down flat upon the top of the case.
This pendent.
lever is operated from the pulse pad through a rocking axis having a short arm.
connected to the pad and a long arm connected by a crutch to the pendent lever
near its point of oscillation, the relative lengths of the levers being such as to
obtain the desired amplitude of the excursions of the recording scriber or needle.
To admit of the folding down of the vane, the long arm is made in two parts
jointed together and acted on by a spring so as to maintain sufficient rigidity at the
joint to enable the two parts of the arm to act as one, and yet admit of flexure at

page_text: the joint which is situated just above the top of the case so that the long exterior
member of the arm may fold down along with the vane. A detent lever is also
provided adapted to engage both with the shorter member of this arm and also
with the fly of the motor train so that the feed motion of the strip and the
recording action of the scriber may be started and stopped simultaneously.
In order to attach the instrument in position on the wrist, an elastic band is
pivoted at one end to one side of the instrument and is provided near the other end
with an adjustably sliding hook which regulates the length of the band to suit the
size of the wrist and engages with a staple at the other side of the case.
end of the band is so pivoted that it may be wrapped around the perimeter of the
case when the instrument is packed away.
The fast
The invention relates, secondly, to a pocket case for holding the record strips and
preserving them from effacement. It is made of aluminium in the form of a long'
thin flat case comprising two covers and an intermediate leaf hinged together, the
leaf having at its ends steady pins or studs projecting from its opposite faces upon
which fit holes in the ends of the record strips laid upon the intermediate leaf, the.
covers being provided at the ends with cushions that press upon the ends of the
strips and retain them in position on the pins, the cushions having holes to receive
the points of the pins and the covers being hollowed so as not to come in contact
with the record portion of the strips. Each cover is fastened to the intermediate
leaf by a pair of spring snap knobs, so that either side of the case may be opened
independently of the other.
It is preferred to provide two such intermediate plates, each having steady pins
on its outer face only and each enclosed by the adjacent cover, and to provide
between such plates a few leaves or tablets for the inscription of notes.
Dated this 21st day of January 1895.
A. M. & WM CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
improvements in and connected with Sphygmographs.
I, CHARLES AUGUST TESKE, of 6, Moore Street, Chelsea, London, Surgical
Instrument Maker, 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, first, to improvements in sphygmographs or instruments used
for graphically recording the beats or movements of the pulse, and the improvements
have for their object to render the instrument more compact so that it may be
easily carried, to enable it to be more easily applied, and at the same time to render
the instrument more efficient in that the record produced is chronographically'
divided and is more highly amplified so that the indications which it affords are
more easily legible and the delicate shades of difference in the pulse, consequent on
differences of cardiacal action, are more clearly revealed by the instrument. The
improvements have also for object to obtain other advantages which will appear
from the following general description.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, wherein I have represented various forms of the instrument, drawn
full size.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the instrument in position for operation.
Fi
Figure is a plan of the instrument in the folded position.
Figure 3 is a corresponding side elevation.
Figure 4 is an underside plan.
TA

page_text: Figure 6 is a side elevation, of the feed mechanism, the pulse pad being in
section:
Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modification of the feed mechanism. Figure 8 is
an inverted plan of the same, and Figure 9 a detail.
Figure 10 is a side view, and Figure 11 is an edge view of a record-holding case
in the closed position. Figure 12 shews an end view of the same open.
Figures 13, 14, 15, are end and edge views of modiñed forms of cases in the closed
and open positions.
Figure 16 shews a forceps.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The instrument comprises a main body or case a of narrow, flat oblong form (made
for the sake of lightness of aluminium) containing the record strip feed mechanism
which consists of a spring barrel b and train of wheels and pinions c c¹, d d¹,
regulated by a fly e so proportioned that the feed roller will make one revolution
per second.
The spring barrel 6 gears through crown or bevel pinions ff', with
the feed roller g which is mounted in brackets', g', carried either by the box a, as
in Figure 6, or preferably by an inner frame h in which the feed train is mounted,
as shewn in Figures 7 and 8, the roller g in either case projecting through an
aperture in the top of the case a. The relative arrangement of the feed roller to
the spring barrel, and the train of wheels, as illustrated, enables the whole
instrument to be reduced to the narrow oblong form shewn which, as will hereafter
appear, is very convenient, both in use and otherwise.
and a
The record strip is carried at a predetermined speed between the roller
pair of spring-pressed discs i, i, one or both of them having one or more teeth i¹, for
producing on the .blackened paper strip a scale of divisions corresponding to the
revolutions of the feed roller gand therefore constituting a chronographic scale
representing seconds or fractions thereof, to which the pulse-beat records produced
by the sphygmograph needle are referable. These discs are carried by a spindle j
mounted in vertical slots in the brackets g', and pressed upon by a spring j', fixed
to one of the brackets gl.
At the underside of the casing a near the end farthest from the spring barrel is
the pulse-pad by which the pulsations are transmitted to the recording needle, this
pad being carried by a lever or spring k¹, vibrating about a transverse axis k²,
beneath the middle of the case a. In order that the pressure of the spring pad k
upon the pulse may be regulated to suit the strength of the pulsations, and to enable
the most-perfect record to be obtained, I provide a graduated slide / fitted to work
in a dovetailed group in the bottom of the case a and which carries a reinforcing
spring m whose free end is caused by moving the slide in or out, to bear on the
pad lever or spring , at various points in its length and therefore with varying
effect. The slide 7 is graduated in ounces and fractions of an ounce, as shewn
in Figure 2, to denote the total pressure on the pulse in various positions of the
slide. This slide is operated from the end of the case opposite to that at which
the pad k is situate and is therefore easily accessible for adjustment by the user of
the instrument (whether the medical attendant or the patient) whilst the
sphygmograph is in operation, the slide being formed with an upwardly projecting
return end, which is adapted by an inward return piece 2, to form a clip to retain
the folding vane hereafter referred to in its collapsed position on the top of the
case, as shewn in Figure 3.
The sphygmographic needle or scriber n is jointed at n', to a pendent lever o
mounted to swing (under the opposing influences of the pulse and of a jointed
weighted arm p) on a transverse axis o¹, carried at the upper end of a folding
vane 9 consisting of an open frame which is jointed at q', in brackets standing up
from the top of the case so that it may stand up vertically from the case when the
instrument is in use, as in Figure 1, or be folded down flat upon the top of the case,
as in Figures 2 and 3, a spring plate q², pressing on flats on the lower cross bar of
the vane so as to retain the vane in either the erect or folded position. The pendent

page_text: lever o is operated from the pulse pad k through a rocking axis r having a short
arm.s connected to the pad k and a long arm tt', connected by a crutch t2, to the
pendent lever o near its point of oscillation o', the relative lengths of the levers
being such as to obtain the desired amplitude of the excursions of the recording
scriber or needle n. To admit of the folding down of the vane g, the long arm is
made in two parts t, , jointed together at u, the angular knuckle of the part t',
being acted on by a spring u', carried by the part t so as to act like a penknife joint
to maintain sufficient rigidity at the joint u to cause the two parts t, t¹, of the arm
to move as one when in operation and yet admit of flexure at the joint u which is
situated just above the top of the case a so that the long exterior member t¹, of the
arm may fold down along with the vane g. A detent lever vis also provided to
engage with the fly e of the motor train so that the feed motion of the strip may be
started immediately the adjustment of the pulse pad has been effected after the
scriber has been set in motion by the pulse. This lever v may either be situated at
the end of the case a next the pulse pad k, as in Figure 6, or preferably, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 2, close to the winding handle b', of the spring barrel 6 so as to be
more readily accessible.
For the purpose of supporting the record strip in its passage to the feed roller g,
there is provided on the entering side of the latter a guide arm w, Figure 2,
terminating in a friction roller, the arm being pivoted at w, to the side of the case a
so as to stand out as shewn in dotted lines, or fold up compactly when not in use,
and a bridge w², formed by an angle plate fixed to the top of the case is provided
at the exit side of the feed roller in order to support the paper strip horizontally
or at right angles to the plane of motion of the scriber needle n.
In order to hold the instrument in position on the wrist, a pair of handles & may
be hinged to the sides of the case a, the hinges a¹, being set obliquely so that the
handles will either stand up for use, as in Figure 1, or fold against the sides of the
case, as in Figures 2 and 3, but it is preferred to use an elastic or other band y
pivoted at one end to one side of the instrument and provided at the other end with
a hook y', which engages with a staple y³, at the other side of the case. The fast
end of the band is so pivoted by means of a double or universal joint y³, y, that the
band may be wrapped around the perimeter of the case when the instrument is
packed away. The band is made long enough to encircle the largest wrist loosely
and is drawn tight by clipping the loose bight of the band close up to the arm either
by the fingers or by a sliding or other clasp. The end hook may, however, be made
to slide on the band to adjust the length of the latter, in which case the hook would
preferably be made in combination with the clasp.
The instrument being thus adapted to be compactly folded as described none of
the delicate working parts of the mechanism are exposed to rough usage in carrying
or handling and the oblong form of the instrument when thus folded, and the
absence of projecting parts admits of the whole being slipped into an aluminium or
other metal sheath of circular or oval section and of oblong form with rounded ends
such as shewn in dotted lines at z, Figure 3, suitable for attachment to a chain, the
sheath effectually protecting the instrument without the use of internal packing
and admitting by its slight bulk of being carried in the waistcoat pocket without
inconvenience.
A pocket case for holding the record strips and preserving them from effacement
is shewn in Figures 10, 11, 12. It is made of aluminium in the form of a long thin
flat case comprising two covers 1-1 hinged to opposite sides of an intermediate
plate or leaf 2, the leaf having at its ends steady pins or studs 3 projecting from its
opposite faces upon which fit punched holes in the ends of the record strips when
the latter are laid upon the intermediate leaf 2, the covers being filled at the ends
with cushion blocks 4 of cork or other semi-soft material that have holes to receive
the pins 3 so that the cushions rest upon the ends of the stripes and retain them.in
position on the steady pins whilst the covers 1-1 being hollow do not come in
contact with the record portion of the strips. The covers are held closed by spring

page_text: snaps 5-5 opening from opposite sides so that either side of the case may be opened
independently of the other.
The case shewn in Figure 14 has the covers hinged at their ends to opposite ends
of the intermediate plate whilst the cases shewn in Figures 13 and 15 are provided
with two such intermediate plates 2 each having steady pins 3 on its outer face only
and each euclosed by the adjacent cover 1 which is provided with cushion blocks 4
as before, a few leaves or tablets 6 for the inscription of notes being hinged
book wise between the plates 2. In Figure 13 each cover 1 is held closed against
the adjacent intermediate plate 2 by a pair of spring knobs 5ª, whilst in Figure 15
turn-buttons 5b, are provided for the purpose.
Figure 16 shews a spring forceps wherewith the record strips may be handled.
To receive the forceps within the case, provision may be made by an internally
countersunk recess 7 stamped up in one of the covers, as in Figure 10, with a turn
button 8 to hold the forceps in place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
1. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting the herein
described improved sphygmograph, substantially as shewn and described.
2. The combination and arrangement of record feed mechanism, substantially as
shewn and described.
3. The combination, with a timed feed mechanism, of means whereby a
chronographic scale is produced alongside of, and concurrently with, the production
of the sphygmographic record, substantially as specified.
4. The combination, with the pulse pad, of an adjustable reinforcing spring
for varying, and graduated scale for denoting, the pressure of the pulse pad upon
the artery, as described.
5. The vane for supporting the sphygmographic record inscribing mechanism
and the crutch lever forming part of such mechanism both hinged or adapted to
fold down upon the case or to stand up rigidly for operation substantially as
specified.
6. A sphygmographic record case provided with means for holding and protecting
the record strips, substantially as specified.
This 1
N
1005
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.