A New or Improved Mechanical Apparatus for the Treatment of Diseases of the Chest.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Mechanical Apparatus for the Treatment of
Diseases of the Chest.
I, EDWARD HULSE WILLOCK, M.R.C.S., England, L.R.C.P., London, of 113, London
Road, Croydon, Surrey, Medical Practitioner, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for the mechanical treatment
of diseases of the chest and is particularly useful in cases of chronic bronchitis,
bronchial asthma (spasmodic), early phthisis, and kindred diseases, while it is also
useful in ill development of the chest and some forms of secondary heart disease, the
advantages resulting from the use of my improved apparatus being, compensation
for loss of elastic tissue, strengthening of the remaining tissue, increased aeration of
blood, relief of Rt. heart, increased power of circulation, and removal of stagnant
residual air.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I provide a light jacket of canvas
or other suitable material comprising essentially a broad deep band furnished with
shoulder straps supporting it round the upper part of the body, while to each side
of said jacket is secured a row of rings or other suitable fastening connections to
each of which is secured a cord or the like passing through the corresponding ring
upon the opposite side, thus formning two sets of cords, each of which is connected
or secured by a single ring or connection so that upon these set of cords being pulled
in opposite directions the jacket is drawn together decreasing its circumferential
area and compressing the chest, while upon releasing the cords the chest can be
readily expanded and the jacket increased to its normal size.
.
In order to readily effect this operation, each connecting ring has secured to it a
suitable cord or other flexible connection arranged to pass over conveniently arranged
pulleys, so that by grasping the ends of the said cords and raising the arms in an
upward direction above the bead no tension is placed upon the said cords and the
chest is readily inflated, while when exhaling the arms are brought down until the
hands are on about a level with the shoulders thus drawing the cords downwards and
compressing the jacket around the chest.
The jacket may be formed with a division, the divided portion being secured
together by straps or buckles in any suitable manner, while said jacket' may be
formed with a strip of elastic material running vertically down same and with side
strips of leather or other suitable material to prevent rucking.
Dated this 14th day of October 1807

page_text: A New or Improved Mechanical Apparatus for the Treatment of
Diseases of the Chest.
I, EDWARD HULSE WILLOCK, M.R.C.S., England, L.R.C.P., London, of 113, London
Road, Croydon, Surrey, Medical Practitioner, 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 a new or improved apparatus for the mechanical treatment
of diseases of the chest, and is particularly useful in cases of chronic bronchitis,
bronchial asthma (spasmodic), early phthisis, and kindred diseases, while it is also
useful in ill development of the chest and some forms of secondary heart disease, the
advantages resulting from the use of my improved apparatus being, compensation for
loss of elastic tissue, strengthening of the remaining tissue, increased aeration of
blood, relief of Rt. heart, increased power of circulation, and removal of stagnant
residual air.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I provide a light jacket of canvas or
other suitable material comprising essentially a broad deep band furnished with
shoulder straps supporting it round the upper part of the body, while to each side of
said jacket is secured a row of rings or other suitable fastening connections to each
of which is secured a cord or the like passing through the corresponding ring upon
the opposite side, thus forming two sets of cords, each of which is connected or
secured by a single ring or connection so that upon these sets of cords being pulled
in opposite directions the jacket is drawn together decreasing its circumferential area
and compressing the chest, while upon releasing the cords the chest can be readily
expanded and the jacket increased to its normal size.
In order to readily effect this operation each connecting ring has secured to it a
suitable cord or other flexible connection arranged to pass over conveniently arranged
pulleys, so that by grasping the ends of the said cords and raising the arms in an
upward direction above the head no tension is placed upon the said cords and the
chest is readily inflated, while when exhaling the arms are brought down until the
hands are on about a level with the shoulders thus drawing the cords downwards and
compressing the jacket round the chest.
The jacket may be formed with a division, the divided portion being secured
together by straps or buckles in any suitable manner, while said jacket may be
formed with a strip of elastic material running vertically down same and with side
strips of leather or other suitable material to prevent rucking.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a
perspective view of a frame, platform or seat for use in connection with my improved
apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation and Fig. 3 a rear elevation of the device or jacket
constituting the essential feature of my invention.
According to this invention I provide a frame, platform or seat comprising a base a
furnished with two vertical side posts 6 and secured at the top by a cross or connecting
bar c, the ends c¹ of which take over the upper extremities of the posts 6 and are
secured in position by thumb nuts or the like c².
Upon the posts 6 I arrange adjustable clamps d carrying at their forward ends
small rollers or pulley wheels e, and over these rollers passes the two cords f, f¹,
_terminating at their lower extremities in g, g¹ hooks, swivels or suitable connecting
devices, while their upper ends are furnished with stirrup handles h h¹.
The jacket is made of a size according to that of the person using it and is
formed preferably in two pieces or halves k¹, k² secured together at the back by

page_text: means of buckles or in any other convenient manner, while upon each side of the
front a stout strip of canvas, leather or other suitable material m m¹ is secured to the
substance of the jacket which may be of any material suitable for the purpose, and
to each of these strips of canvas or the like m m¹ a sufficient number of rings r r or
other suitable connecting devices are secured, while to each ring or connection r¹
the end of a cord p p is suitably secured. These cords p p then pass through
secondary rings or connections 8 s¹ when the whole set p and likewise the set p¹ cross
the front of the jacket in opposite directions and converge to common rings or
connections vv in such a manner that upon securing the two rings to the
connections g g' at the extremities of the cords ff¹ and pulling the stirrup handles h the
jacket is closed or drawn closely together compressing the chest of the wearer of
the jacket, while upon the handles h h¹ being released and the person inhaling breath
the jacket is opened out to its original size and regains its normal circumferential
area.
The secondary rings or connections & 81 are secured to strips of convas leather or
the like 23 leaving only loose flaps x in front which would of course be of a
similar material to that of which the jacket is composed. I further provide
shoulder straps y which may be either of a similar material to that of the jacket
or they may be constructed of elastic material or partly of elastic and other material
as required while in some cases the said straps may be separated and the ends secured
by means of suitable buckles or the like to facilitate adjustment.
As above stated the jacket may be formed of any material suitable for the purpose
but is preferably constructed of canvas and may be lined with any suitable stiffening
material if required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1). The new or improved mechanical apparatus for the treatment of diseases of
the chest, comprising essentially a jacket such as k (Figs. 2 and 3) furnished
with vertical rows of rings or other suitable connections rr¹, s s¹, attached to
vertical strips m m³, r² ³, in combination with sets of cords p p¹ secured to
rings or connections r¹ and passing through rings or connections & s¹, each set of
cords p pl passing across the front of the jacket and converging to a common ring or
connection vv, the whole combined, arranged and operated in connection with a
frame, platform or seat (Fig. 1) substantially as herein described and shown, and for
the purposes specified.
2). In combination with a device or jacket such as above claimed, the operating
device such as shown at Fig. 1 comprising a base a, side posts b, connecting rod c,
with adjustable pulley wheels e carrying operating cords ff, terminating in suitable
connections g g¹ and operating handles g g', substantially as herein described and
shown, and for the purposes specified.
DOVRE don at t
F. G. CASSELL,
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London. W.,
Agent for the Applicant.