Improvements in Electrical Medical Appliances.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Medical Appliances.
We HENRY CHARLES BRAUN of 158 Strand London Engineer, and HENRY
CHARLES RISBOROUGH SHARMAN of 16 Furnival Street Holborn London
Advertising Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
An appliance for the purpose of administering a current of electricity either
faradaic or galvanic, or both, such appliance being of shape, size and form suitable
for holding in or attaching to the hand of the person operating. The instrument is
more especially adapted for the various operations of electro massage and in its
ordinary form is a small containing box or case having at one end or underneath
one or more rollers of metal, or other material coated or studded with metal, which
rollers act as electrodes and convey the current from the instrument to the body of
the person.
A strap, handle or other means of holding the case or box is placed on top or
any other convenient position.
Buttons or studs are also arranged in the case to complete the circuit either by
pressing by the finger or by the act of raising the strap. A two-way switch is
fixed, to change the current, when required, from either the faradaic or galvanic by
switching the coil out or in circuit. The internal arrangement is similar to that
described in Braun's Patent No. 7351/1 and consists of a primary or secondary
coil, a dry or semi dry cell or an accumulator, an armature & contact post, but
instead of taking the current direct to the plates, we divert it to the rollers. Where
a simple primary coil is used for a faradaic current a connection is made with the
"faradaic" side of the switch, the current passing through coil, armature, post and
contact, back to the battery taking off a secondary current from the post and from
the armature to the rollers by means of brushes. The galvanic current goes direct
to the rollers or set of rollers from the positive element of the battery and through*
the "galvanic side of the switch back to the negative element. A regulating
tube is arranged either outside or inside the coil to slide out, to increase the
current; or a metalic slotted cylinder may be placed over the coil and a stud by
which the slot may be partially or entirely opened thus by lessening the induction
increase the current to the electrodes. An absorbent material may be placed
between the rollers, which may be of dissimilar metals, and by soaking it in an acid
a weak current can be set up without calling on the energy of the battery.
"
Dend this 28th day of February 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Electrical Medical Appliances.
We HENRY CHARLES BRAUN of 20 High Holborn and also of 158 Strand in
the County of London Engineer and HENRY CHARLES RISBOROUGH SHARMAN
of St. Ives Wilton Road Merton in the County of Surrey Advertising Agent, and
also of 16 Furnival Street Holborn in the County of London, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly cscribed and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
An appliance or apparatus for the purpose of administering a current of
electricity for medical purposes such current being of the descriptions known as
"faradic" or "galvanic" or both faradie and galvanic combined, the appliance to
be of shape and size suitable for holding in the hand or being attached thereto for
use in the operation of massage or medical rubbing. The size and form can be
modified to suit the varied requirements, but the usual shape is that of an oval box
or containing case with a strap, handle or other means of holding the same in the
hand and having at one end or underneath the said box or case one or more rollers
similar to those now used in some of the operations of massage or some modification
thereof such rollers to be made of metal or having a metal surface.
One or more buttons, studs or other means of completing the circuit is arranged
in a convenient position in the box or bandle and can be actuated either by pressure
of the finger or by raising the strap &c. A switch may also be fixed on the case
to change the circuit from the faradic to the galvanic &c. In the box we place a
primary coil, an armature, a contact breaker, a contact point, which may or may
not be regulated from the outside, with the necessary connections through the
switch and press button to a dry cell or small accumulator.
The cell is coupled direct through the "galvanic" side of the switch to the
"brushes" or other means of connection with the rollers without the intervention
in the circuit of the armature &c. The circuit for the faradic current takes the
coil, armature &c. on its way through the switch & likewise terminates at the rollera.
We employ any of the well-known devices to increase the strength of the
current such as a draw-tube of metal &c. to be removed from the iron core of the
coil by pulling a knob on the outside or we use a special device of our own for this
purpose. This consists of split or slotted metal (preferably brass) cover or tube
on the outside of the coil over which another slotted metal tube or graduated metal
cover cut obliquely slides in such manner that when desired the whole space
between the two edges of the inner metal cover can be filled up by turning the
outer cover or tube. The effect is that while the inner cover or slotted tube is
open the induced current is at its full tension but when the outer cover is turned
partly round the space between the edges of the inner cover is filled up and the
current is gradually induced into the tubes as if it were a single solid metal tube
covering or partially covering the said coil. The same effect may be secured,
that is to say the induction of the current into the outer tube covering a coil and a
consequent reduction of tension of the circuit current of the rollers &c. by simply
pressing the two edges of the open tube together by some mechanical means such
as a press button &c. We also use a pair or several pairs of plates connected up
with the rollers at the bottom of the containing case and also when necessary attach
a cord to a metal plate for one electrode and connect both wheels together for the
other polar electrode. The wheels or rollers may be of various shapes and sizes
for different complaints and diseases and can be made of any suitable insulating
material with metal studs &c. to carry the current to the skin of the patient.
The whole instrument is essentially a self contained induction apparatus combined
with electrodes of such form as are required in the operations of ❝roulage" rolling
and medical rubbing &c.

page_text: 3. The combination in a portable apparatus for electromassage &o. of an electric
battery in a box with an induction coil and contact breaker a press button and a
switch by means of which the current can be started by pressure of the strap or by
the finger and the current can be changed from the galvanic to the faradic at the
will of the operator.
4. In an apparatus such as herein described or any modification thereof the use
of a slotted cylinder of metal surrounding either the coil or the iron core with
means whereby the said slot or its equivalent may be closed or partially olosed
with the object of reducing the intensity of the current by induction into the
closed or partially closed tube before mentioned substantially as herein described
and set forth.
HENRY C. BRAUN.
H. C. R. SHARMAN.