US2073428A - Electric high-tension apparatus, particularly for medical purposes - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1937. A. SCHMID 2,073,428 ELECTRIC HIGH TENSION APPARATUS, PARTICULARLY FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES Filed Feb. 8, 1952 Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC HIGH-TENSION APPABA US, PARTICULARLY FOR MEDICAL POSES Alfred Schmid, Bern, Switzerland Application February 8, 1932, Serial No. 591,720 In Switzerland February 20, 1931 3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric high-tension apparatus, particularly for medical purposes.

The'present invention has for one of its objects to enable current impulses of high tension to be used under circumstances which enable the desired results to be obtained painlessly and withapparatus is characterized by the provision of means for preventing the appearance of irregular parasitic discharge phenomena, for the purpose of enabling the current impulses to be usedsafely and painlessly.

Preferably, a safety capacity is connected between the high-tension current-impulse generator and the said electrode, in which capacity irregular discharges are avoided by means of oil insulation.

Conveniently, the app ication surface of said electrode consists of insulating material.

When said safety capacity is provided, according to a feature of the invention the said electrode may be in the form of a vacuum electrode.

Conveniently, the said electrode is of extended form for treating cavities and ducts of the body.

According to another feature of the invention a counter-electrode may be connected to earth or to the opposite pole of the apparatus.

For varying the effect of the electrode a variable capacity may be used, or, alternatively, its degree of vacuum may be varied,

According to yet another feature of the invention, the high-tension current-impulse generator may comprise a high-tension alternatingcurrent transformer and a rectifying device in its secondary circuit, which generator is so arranged that the secondary current of the transformer can' not exceed or reach a value that would be dangerous to the human organism.

Preferably, the.generator aforesaid is adapted to supply current-impulses of relatively low frequency.

Various embodiments of the invention which have proved to be satisfactory in practice are dlagrammatically illustrated'by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing one form of apparatus according to the invention, in which the impulse generator is an induction coil,

Figure 2 shows a similar apparatus, but without the valve shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows a modified form of apparatus designed to ensure .the safetyof the patient.

Like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

fying device in its secondary circuit, the entire Referring first to Figure 1, the numeral I denotes a so-called turbine interrupter, 2 is the primary winding of an induction coil, 3 the secondary winding, 4 a glass plate condenser with oil insulation and of high capacity, 5 a like condenser of lower capacity (a, few 100 cm.), 6 a thermionic rectifying valve, and l a so-called vacuum electrode. An earth is indicated at 8, and 9 designates a protective spark-gap. The numeral l0 denotes an electrostatic indicating instrument, while H and 12 are the terminals for connection to a source of current. In Figure 3, the numeral l3 denotes a regulator, e. g. a variable resistance.

When employing an apparatus of the described combination of parts, in which there were about interruptions per second and the spark-gap was set to about 30 cm. and did not operate, the electrostatic indicating instrument I0 showed about 30,000 volts, and this has been found tobe a suitable operating condition for one type of treatment In some instances, such treatments have met with success in reduction of gouty nodes and tumors.

The treatment with such an electrode canalso be used e. g. for general disinfecting purposes, particularly in connection with a counter-electrode connected to the opposite pole. The apparatus in Figure z'comprises a metallic electrode 1 having a glass covering.

When using the apparatus shown in Figure 3 the safety of the patient is assured in that the maximum value of the primary current is limited;

the unidirectional action is obtained in this embodiment of the invention by means of a diode rectifying valve 6.

For varying the eifect of the apparatus variable capacities may be employed in the high-tension current-impulse circuit, or in the case of a vacuum electrode for application to the patient a variable degree of vacuum may be used. a

In the above described high-tension apparatus there may be inserted between the high-tension current-impulse generator and the electrode 1 to be applied to the patient a safety capacitance .5, in which irregular discharges are avoided by means of oil insulation.

The electrode 1 may have various shapes according to its use, and its outer surface may be made of insulating material. Further, it may be a .so-called vacuum electrode.

Moreover, a counter-electrode connected to earth or to the opposite pole may be arranged in the secondary circuit. For varying the action of the electrodes themselves a variable capacity may be connected to them, or the vacuum of the electrodes themselves may be varied.

The high-tension current-impulse generator may comprise an alternating current transformer for supplying high tension current and a recti- The high-tension current-impulse source or generator may be arranged to supply current impulses of relatively lower frequency.

Various modifications may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts described above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

, 1. Electric high-tension apparatus for medical purposes, comprising a generator of high tension low to medium frequency current impulses, an

electrode connected to said generator for appli-,

cation to a person to be treated, means also in circuit for preventing irregular parasitic electrical discharges from the electrode, said generator comprising a transformer for supplying a hightension alternating current and a rectifying device in the secondary circuit of said transformer for producing a rectified alternating current which is impresed across said electrode, and

means for preventing the current in the transformer secondary circuit from exceeding a predetermined value that is safe to the person undergoing treatment.

2. Electric high-tension apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a generator of high-tension current-impulses of relatively low frequency, an electrode connected to said generator, for application to a person, means for rectifying the output from said generator, for producing rectified alternating current, means for impressing said rectified current on said electrode, means also in circuit for preventing impulses of dangerous intensity, and means for preventing irregular parasitic electrical discharges from said electrode.

3. Electric high-tension apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a generator of low to medium frequency current impulses of a tension of several thousand volts, an electrode connected to said generator for application to a person connected therewith, and means also in the circuit for preventing the occurrence of irregular parasitic electrical disdischarges from the electrode, said generator comprising a transformer for supplying a hightension alternating current, a rectifying device in the secondary circuit of the transformer for producing partially rectified alternating 1 current which is impressed on said electrode, and means for preventing secondary current impulses exceeding a predetermined value which is safe for the human organism.

ALFRED SCHMID.

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