US1910328A - Therapeutic device - Google Patents

Description

y 23, 9 w. GLENNAN 1,910,328

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed May 5, 192a INVEN R' %.J

J ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1933 PATENT OFFICE- GLENENAN, F NORJFOIMI,- VIRGINIA THERAPEUTIC Application filed- May -5, 1928. Serial No. 275,411.-

This invention relates to therapeutic devices and has particular reference to devices used in the treatment of certain diseases, injuries, or for surgical purposes and the like, and which are adapted to be applied to different parts of the body for the application of temperatures thereto.

The device of this invention is concerned particularly with the application of cold to m the body and comprises an appliance which '20 diseases, for the coagulation of blood during and after a surgical operation such as for removal of tonsils and the like. The application of a cold pack for this purpose has been done heretofore, but this cold pack 5 consists of a flexible rubber container which is filled with crushed ice and is fastened to the throat of the patient suitable means. The full eflect of the refrigeration produced by the ice is not transmitted to the patient because of the thermal non-conductivity of rubber, nor is the cold applied in greatest effect "to the proper localities because the'container collapses and the ice shifts as the patient moves. Also, the sharp pieces of ice contained therein project through the rubber and irritate the sensitive parts of the v "the line 6'6 of Fig. 4';

throat ofthe patient and the containers frequently leak and are otherwise objectionable due to the nuisance of filling, cleaning, and otherwise preparing such rubber ice packs. Furthermore, such containers are not susceptible to the usual form of sterilization, i. e., by heat, because the rubber or other material from which they are made deteriorates'when heated and soon brealrs and becomes useless.

In accordance with the invention, a receptacle suitably shaped to fit any portion of the body and containing a con-gea'lable' or otherwise refrigerable material permanently and hermetically sealed therein is provided,

so that there is neverrany need of emptying or replenishing thesame. It is preferred that these receptacles be made of some suitable metalwhich is of a good thermal conductor such as a metal containing a large percentage of copper, silver, or the like. Such containers may thus be readily sterilized and kept clean at all times and in order to refrigerate the material therein, they are adapted to be placed in a suitable freezing mixture or in the crypt of a refrigerating machine or the like. As many of these devices may be supplied as are necessary for application to some portion of the body, and as'thesedevi'ce's "lose their refrigerating properties they may be replaced by another device which has been previously treated for refrigerating purposes. Inasmuch as the refrigerating material in the receptacles is permanently sealed therein, they cannot leak,

need never be refilled, may be readily steril ized andjare comfortable when worn by the patient because they may be provided with a erinanen'tly smooth finish and are shaped to t snuglyto any portion of the body.

For a better understanding or the invention, "reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which Figures I and 2 illustrate one embodimentof the invention as it may be applied for treatment of the throat;

Fig; 3 is a plan view of the device;

Fig; 4 is an exterior side view of one element thereof; I

Fig. '5 is an interior side View of the same;

Fig; 6 is a transverse section taken along Fig. '7 isa transverse section taken along line[77 of Fig. -5; and

ig. 8 illustrates the manner in which only 'oneelement ofthe device may be used.

In this drawing, numeral 10 designates the two elements of one particular type of the device, each of which is made of metal in the form of a hollow receptacle which is shaped to fit thethroat of a person in the manner illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2. The 'shapingoff the receptacles 10 includes such projections and indentations as will make the device conform to the configuration of the throat or other portion of the body to which it may be adapted for application. The embodiment of the device illustrated is particularly adapted for the thermal treatment of the throat and thyroid areas, and for this purpose it is necessary that the sides of the throat be treated principally so that the receptacles 10 are made thicker at, that point as shown in Figs. 6 and7, Fig. 7 showing especially how the receptacles 10 are shaped to fit into the recess below; the ear of the patient, where treatment is particularly necessary. Fig. 3 shows the general configuration of the device comprising two receptacles 10 as seen in plan, the thinner portions being toward the front and rear of the throat, where little or no thermal application is necessary or desirable for the particular purposes mentioned.

The receptacles 10 each are provided at their front edges with hinge barrels 11 adapted to mesh in the usual way for the receptacle of hinge pin 12. This hinge pin is made removable and is shaped in the form of aloop or ring for purposes to be hereinafter explained, Being hinged in the front as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the device may be more readily applied to the throat inasmuch as the two receptacles 10 may be spread apart about the hinge 11 when the device is being applied to the throat of the patient, so that the sensitive parts are not injured or irritated. The rear edges of receptacles 10 are alsoprovided with rings or loops 1.3, which may be hinged 'asshown or rigid, through and between which a securing band 14 may be passed for securing the device about the'throat of the patient. Inasmuch as it is frequently desirable to allow the patient to sit up or repose in a semireclining position during convalescence,

. loops or rings 15'are provided on the top surfaces of receptacleslO through and between which a second band 16 may be inserted so asto pass over the top ofthe head of the patient as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in order to keep the device from slipping and in the proper position. However, when, the patient is in a reclining position, band 14 will usually be sufficient. Although bands 14 and 16 may be made of any suitable material of a permanent nature ormay be permanently secured to rings 13 and 15, neverthcless, for purposes of sanitation, it has been found more desirable to fashion bands '14 and 16 of material which'inay be destroyed after being used, such as. gauze bandage or the like. Such an arrangement is preferable becausethe device is sterilized after being used and it is difficult to keep bands of rubber, fabric, or leather clean and sterile. v

If only one side of the throat is to be thermally treated, hinge pin 12, which connects Y the two receptacles 10, 1S removed and re:

pecially after the removal of tonsils.

placed in the hinge barrels 11 of either one of the two receptacles after they have been separated. It will be seen that hinge pin 12 also forms a ring or loop through which a band 17 may be passed around the throat of the patient and secured in opposite ring 13, as shown in Fig. 8. In order to keep the receptacle from slipping, another band 18 may be passed over the head of the patient and secured at one end to loop 15 and at the other, end to band 17 by tying or in any other suitable way.

In order to secure the therapeutic effects desired, containers 10 are nearly filled with a suitable thermo responsive material 19, which may be congealed or otherwise refrigerated. An example of such material is pure water, which is initially introduced through apertures 20 formed at any convenient point in the surface of receptacles 10, and afterof the receptacle, this cap being pressed,-

sprung, soldered or otherwise permanently fastened in place within its depression. The water or other refrigerable material is thus permanently sealed within containers 10 and v cannotspill out, nor can the containers leak.-

In order to refrigerate the water or other material contained in receptacles 10, the entire device may be placed in some freezing mixture or in the crypt of a refrigerating machine or the like, untilthe water is frozen-- or sufficiently cooled. Although the Water expands upon being frozen, the vacuum space above the water within the receptacle allows for this expansion so that the receptacles are not ruptured or otherwise injured .during the freezing process. hen the devices are thus suitably refrigerated, they may be applied directly to the throat of a patient and these devices have demonstrated I their effectiveness, especially in surgical op erations on the throat, where the application of cold coagulates the blood and prevents V r the hemorrhages which frequently occur, es-

The refrigerating: effect of the device lasts for several hours, and When it has been dissipated, the device is replaced by another device which has been refrigerated in the manner described. After being used on the patient, the bands 14, 16, 17 and 18 are removed if removable, and the entire devices sterilized by placing in a suitable sterilizing medium such as boiling water or the like, after which they are ready to be refrigerated and used again. I

While the invention has been described as a preferred embodiment consisting of a device to be applied to the throat, it is to be understood that the device may be shaped to fit any other portion of the body, where the therapeutic effects produced by cold are desired, such as in the treatment of hemorrhoids, bleeding at the nose, treatment of oral and other cavities and the like, in which case the devices are shaped to fit these particular parts of the body. Furthermore, while the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described as containing water hermetically sealed therein as the refrigerating or congealable medium, it is to be understood that any other substance, whether congealable at ordinary freezing temperatures or not, or otherwise refrigerable, may be used with equal effect, and that, while the application of cold has been particularly described, the devices may contain heated material for the application of heat in the same way. The new therapeutic device of this invention is accordingly very effective and meets all the requirements incident to therapeutic treatment. It provides additional advantages, however, among which are that it is sanitary and may be kept so, never leaks, need never be emptied or refilled, is comfortable when applied to any part of the body, is durable and may be re-used an innumerable number of times with unchanging therapeutic effect.

I claim:

1. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment of the throat, the combination of a plurality of receptacles hinged together so as to encircle the throat, said receptacles being enlarged for engagement with the sides of the throat, a refrigerable material permanently sealed in the receptacles, and means for securing the device in position on the throat.

2. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment of the throat, the combination of a pair of receptacles hinged together, said receptacles being curved to fit snugly around the throat and having enlarged portions adapted to engage the side of the throat beneath the ear, rings formed at the top and free ends of the receptacles for receiving bands to secure the device to the throat, and a refrigerable material permanently sealed in the receptacles.

3. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment, the combination of a rigid container shaped to closely fit the configuration of a portion of the body to be treated, said container having an enlarged portion corresponding to the point where more intense thermal treatment is required on said portion of the body, and a temperature responsive material permanently sealed in said container being adapted to be treated thermally before application to said portion of the body.

4. A hygienic Water bottle, comprising a plurality of sections, said sections being tapered at one end and formed arcuate in shape for engagement with the body, and means detachably and hingedly connecting said sections, said sections when separated being adapted for individual use.

5. A hygienic water bottle comprising a plurality of arcuate sections each section being tapered at one end, formed arcuate in shape and adapted to surround a portion of the body, said sections being hollow, and means detachably and hingedly connecting the sections together for relative movement.

6. A hygienic water bottle comprising a pair of detachable bottle sections, hinge leaves carried by the sections, and a pintle detachably connecting said hinge leaves.

7. A hygienic water bottle comprising a pair of arcuate bottle sections, said sections being cut away at one corner for the purpose specified, and means detachably and hingedly connecting the sections together for relative movement.

8. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment, the combination of a rigid container shaped to fit closely to the configuration of a portion of the body to be treated, and means on said container for holding the container in place ,on the body comprising a hinge leaf mounted upon the container and a hinge pin passing through said hinge leaf and having an end thereof shaped to engage said hinge leaf to retain said hinge pin in position in said leaf and forming a loop through which said container may be attached to the body.

9. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment, the combinatiom of a pair of rigid containers shaped to closely fit the configuration of a portion of the body to be treated, each of said containers having a hinge leaf mounted thereon, a hinge pin joining said hinge leaves, rings secured to the ends of said containers opposite said pin, and means for connecting said rings to hold said containers in place upon the body.

10. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment, the combination of a pair of rigid containers shaped to closely fit the configuration of a portion of the body to be treated, each of said containers having a hinge leaf mounted thereon, a hinge pin joining said hinge leaves, rings secured to the ends of said containers opposite said pin, means for connecting said rings to hold said containers in place upon the body, and other rings secured upon the sides of said containers for receiving a band which assists in supporting the container.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM S. GLENNAN.

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