Apparatus for the Application of Radiant Heat to the Body for Thermo-therapeutic Purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Nov.
1897-Accented 15th Jan
1898
Apparatus for the Application of Radiant Heat to the Body for
Thermo-therapeutic Purposes.
I, HERBERT JOHN DOWSING, 24 Budge Row, Cannon Street, E.C., Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for utilising radiant heat for medical pur-
poses the object being to bathe the whole or part of the living body with light &
heat the body in some cases being in a partially enclosed space.
The heat which is preferably produced by electricity is directed by means of
specially shaped reflectors in order to concentrate the heat rays on any point or
in any direction. Any number of reflectors may be used and may be connected by
means of movable covers forming a partially enclosed chamber. The heat
reflectors when required may be mounted on suitable supports with vertical or
horizontal adjustment.
Electrical regulating arrangements may be used to ray the heat produced.
Apparatus for the Application of Radiant Heat to the Body for
Thermo-therapeutic Purposes.
I, HERBERT JOHN DOWSING, of 24 Budge Row, in the City of London, 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 relates to apparatus for utilizing radiant heat for medical pur-
poses, the object being to bathe the whole or part of the living body with light
and heat, the body being in some cases in a more or less enclosed space.
The heat, which is preferably produced by electricity, is directed by means of
specially shaped reflectors of the kind described in the specification of a patent
granted to me bearing date the 20th November 1896, No. 26,249, so as to concentrate
the heat rays on any point and in any direction.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates an apparatus constructed in accordance
with my invention.
A, A are two upright standards provided with suitable feet to secure stability.
077

page_text: B is a cross-bar connecting together the upper ends of the standards A and
adapted to be secured by means of sliding sockets C and set screws C¹, or otherwise
at any desired height thereon. This cross-har B carries any desired number of
adjustable supports D to which are attached the reflectors E containing the electric
lamps For other suitable heating media. The reflectors and lamps E, F shown
in the Drawing are of the kind described and illustrated in the specification of
the aforesaid patent No. 26,249. The supports D are carried on the cross-bar B
by means of sockets G which can be moved along on the said cross-bar into any
desired positions and be fixed in such positions at any desired angle to the plane
of the upright standards A by means of set screws, not shown in the Drawing, or
otherwise. The sockets G have formed with or connected to them sockets H
which stand at right angles thereto. The supports D pass through these sockets H
and are secured at any desired height therein by means of set screws I. The
lower ends D¹ of the supports D are bent at a right or other suitable angle, and the
reflectors E with their lamps F are secured to the said ends D¹ by sockets J and set
screws K at any desired angle vertically, and by turning the supports D in their
sockets H the said reflectors E can he adjusted to any desired angle horizontally.
It is obvious that with the above described arrangements the reflectors can be
moved in any direction, and secured in any desired position.
. L is a board supported on a suitable bar or frame M adapted to he moved up or
down on the standards A and to be secured at any desired height thereon by means
of sliding sockets N and set screws N' or otherwise. The body or part of the body
intended to be subjected to the action of the radiant or reflected heat from the
lamps Fand reflectors E is placed on the board I, and the reflectors E adjusted
with such positions as will concentrate the heat and light on to the part to be
treated.
If desired a more or less enclosed space for the reception of the body or part of
the body to be acted upon by the heat and light may be made by using a flexible
covering of some incombustible material such as asbestos cloth for example, or
any other suitable heat resisting material.
A thermometer or other suitable heat measuring device may be fixed in the
reflector to indicate the temperature in order to facilitate the regulation of the
same.
The heating medium should be one in which a large amount of radiant heat is
given off; for example when electricity is not employed, an incandescent gas or
oil burner, or an incombustible substance such as asbestos heated to a high tem-
perature may be employed.
The heat can be regulated in the electrical heating arrangement by means of
switches, rheostats or other suitable known means, and in the case of gas or oil
burners by limiting the combustion. It can also be regulated, whatever the means
of heating may be, by adjusting the position of the reflectors as to distances and
angles in the manner above described.
Any number of reflectors and corresponding heating media may be employed,
and they may be more or less enclosed in a kind of chamber by means of movable
covers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. Apparatus for the application of radiant heat for thermo-therapeutic
purposes, which consists of a suitable medium or source of heat combined with
reflectors and mounted adjustably on suitable supports, substantially as described.
Second. In apparatus for the application of radiant heat for thermo-therapeutic
purposes the use, for the purpose of supporting the medium or source of heat and
the reflector combined therewith, of standards, cross-bars and supports connected
together by sockets and set-screws in such manner that the said medium or source
of heat and the reflector combined therewith can be adjusted into and fixed in

page_text: any required position relatively to the body or part of the body intended to be
subjected to the action of the medium or source of heat, substantially as described.
Dated this 92nd day of November 1907
H. J. DOWSING,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.
H. J. DOWSING,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.