US1224180A - Apparatus for treating certain diseases of the human body. - Google Patents

Description

l s. LAKE. APPARATUS FOR TREATING CERTAIN DISEASES OF THE HUMAN BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1913.

PmmedMay 1, 1917.

'5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

S. LAKE.

APPARAUS FOR TREATING CERTAIN DISEASES 0F vTHE HUMAN BODY.

APPLlcAnoN man June 6.1913.

Patented May 1-, 1917 5 SHEETS-sainz S. LAKE. APPARATUS FOR TREATING CERTAIN DISEASES 0F THE HUMAN BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE e. :1913. A

` Patented May/1,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

S. LAKE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CERTAIN DISEASES OF THE HUMAN BODY.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNI 6,1913.

Patented May 1, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

S. LAKE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CERTAIN DISEASES 0F THE HUMAN EDDY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6| |913.

Patened May 1, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 SIMON LAKE, OF MILFORD,1CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FORTREATING CERTAIN DISEASES 0F THE HUMAN BODY.

Application tiled June 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milford, in thc county of New Haven and State of C011- necticut, have invented Apparatus for Treating Certain Diseases of the Human Body, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for treating certain diseases of thehuman body.

It is authoritatively acknowledged that high altitudes'are best adapted for persons aillicted with pulmonary diseases since the rareness of the atmosphere requires unusual efort on the part of the person to breathe into the lungs suliicient quantities of air to keep the system supplied, this extra effort causing the air to come into contact with the diseased cells that aire not reached through ordinary breathing in lower altitudes. Y

Briefly, my method consists in subjecting a patient to gradually increasing pressures of pure air, which air may contain medicinal properties, or with alternate gradually increasing a1r pressures and gradual reductions of pressures below that of the atmosphere, whereby to subject a person to forced respiration so that in the treatment of lung diseases, for example, greater quantities of pure oxygen, or air having curative or palliative properties, are forced into the lungs and into contact with the diseased celils than is possible through natural breathing or inhaling even in high altitudes.

The apparatus employed in the treatmentconsists in a suitable chamber capable ofbeing rendered air-tight; in a source of compressed air supply connected kwiththe chamber; in means for creating a vacuum in the chamber; in means for purifying and drying the air; in means for treating the air with curative properties suitable for the treatment of the particular disease; in means for either warming or cooling the air before it is admittedl to the chamber, and in means for automatically 'regulating and maintaining a uniform pressure in and the temperature of the chamber. The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed. v v

1n the drawings, illustrating the inven- Specication of Letters Patent.

rammed May i, i917.

1913. Serial. N0. 772,118.

tion, in the several figures of which like parts are. similarly designated, Figure 1 isa diagrammatic View illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section drawn through the compression chamber. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the chamber. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating a building constructed with a vacuum chamber and a series of compression chambers. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section drawn on the line Ar--Av of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical section drawn' through one of the valves and its seat which are arranged in the walls between the chamber or chambers and the communicating air-locks. Fig.-

11 .is a sectional view of the relief valve'l arranged in the wally ofthechamber.

The numeral 1, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, designates a chamber adapted to be rendered airtight, and which is preferably constructed of sheet metal plates 2 and channel-beams 3, the' beams being arranged over and around the chamber to add stiffness to the structure.

rlhe chamber is covered with cement or concrete 4 tofurther stiffenjthe structure and to prevent changes of temperature in thechamber owing to eXternal atmospheric conditions. lnside, the chamber is painted with cork paint, or other suitable non-conducting material, to prevent sweating of the plates and to thus keep the chamber dry. Built upon one side of the chamber 1 is an airLlock 5' which is also constructed of metal plates and covered with concrete or cement and painted inside with cork paint in thev same manner as the chamber 1. The air lock 5 communicates with the chamber 1 through a door-way twhich is controlled by an inwardly swinging door 6 and one of its vertical wallsis formed with a' doorway 7 which is 'controlled-by an inwardly \swinging door 7 The doors 6 and 7 are provided withiopenings thaty are controlled permitting the inlet'into the air-lock of the compressed air from the chamber `1 so .as to counterbalance the pressure m sald airair-lock when leaving the c amber 1. rlhis arrangement of the airflock and the valves serves the double purpose of avoiding waste of the compressed air when entering or leaving the chamber 1 and also of avolding the danger, either to the patient or attendant,V of beingsubjected to sudden changesl of pressure. In entering the chamber 1' when pressure is contained therein, the per-X' son rst enters the air-lock 5 and closes and locks the door 7 the valve 9 in the inner door 6? is. then opened slightly or cracked to allow the compressed air in the chamber 1 t-o gradually enter the air-lock, then when enough air has been admitted to the airchamber 1., the inner door (6') is opened when entrance to the chamber may be had.

Upon leaving the chamber 1, one first enters the air-lock, closes and locks the door 6 and closes the valve 9, the valve 8 is then cracked -toipermit the air in the air-lock to gradually escape into vthe atmosphere to thus gradu- `doors 6', 7 lland 12 whereby they may be '145 ally reduce the pressure to that of the atmosphere when the .door 7 may be ropened and exit effected.

Adjacent to the air-lock 5 is a small air,- lock' 10 that also opens into the chamber 1 'andis' employed for the passage of food and other articlesto the chamber. The communication between the chamber 1 and the air-lock 10, is controlled by an inwardly swinging door 11 and the opening to the airlock from'the exterior of/ the chamber is f controlled by 'an inwardly swinging door 12;

Suitable fastenings 13 are provided for the drawn to their seatsv to provide air-tight jomts. ',Ihepurpose of the small air-lock is to avoid excessive use ofthe compressed air 1n the chamber .when articles are passed toand from the same. 'l

'16 and other living The chamber 1' is provided with suitable windows 14, preferablyin the form ef dead'- lights, 'and with a vbedor couch 15, a chair accessories. 1f desir:

ablesuitable, exercising apparatus 7 j mayV beyarranged in the chamber so that he patient may take light exercise. 18 designates,l

pressure gages arrangedy within the chamber, f;

one of. which has its inlet tube extended through 'the wall of the chamber into the "nl outside atmosphere while the other is connected, direct to. the ychamber whereby the patlent may readlly Vascertain the internal and external pressures. Inpractice a gage.

l "1 8 wilLbe arranged exteriorlys of the chamf ber Wlth-its inlettube connected to the cham`rv ber so that'the pressure within the chamberv l may be ascertained ,fromthe exterior. The gages are contained in. su1table'.air-tight -cases 19 s as not to bel effected by external pressures.

Air under pressure is ,supplied to the 70 airpasses onits way tothe chamber. The

tankfis partly ll'ed with sulfuric acid or other dehydrating liquid and below the level of the liquid is arranged a perforated partition 25. Above the levelof the liquid is arranged a second perforated plate 26 upon Vwhich `is held a layer of sponge rubber 27 -l and a short 'distance above the spo'nge rublock to counterbalance the pressure in the" ber are a series of slightly spaced perforated plates 28, upon the. top plate of which is held a layer of mineral wool 29 upon which is a layer of medicatedlcotton 29. A wire lscreen 30 of line mesh is laid upon the cotton to hold it in place and to prevent it be. ing blown through the outlet from the tank by the air passing through the latter. As shown the connection 22 from the reservoir 20 is connected to the bottom of the tank 23 so thatas ,the air enters the tank it passes upthrough the liquid and'through the perforated partition '25, the latter serving to breakthe Asolid column of air and divide it into a number of small streams which pass up through the liquid above the partition 25, then through thel partition 26,' through the pores of the sponge rubber 27, then through the perforations of the plates 23, through the mineral wool'29 and the medicated cotton 29, and thenzthrough the wire screen to finally pass out of the tank through a pipe 32 extendingfrom the top thereof. If desired .I may arrange a layer of oxygen generating substance (not shown) in the tank in order to enrich the/fair passing therethrough. y w f From-the purifier and drier 23 theair is led' through the pipe 32 to a temperature regulating apparatus which consists of a tank 33 having partitions 33? arranged therein adjacent to itsupper and lower end which 4divide thetank int'o' an upper chamber34,

an vintermediate Ichamber' 35 and a lower chamberi36,y the chambersA 31 and36v being thrown into communication 'by' a series of *pipes 37. which extend lthrough the partitions 33's() thatas the enters the lower chamiberpitwill passup through the .pipes 37 f intojthefchamber 34A. The chamber 35 is deisignedto bj'e lled .either with hot water or ammonia ftoeitherheat or cool the pipes 37 and consequently the air passing therethroughas conditions may necessitate. The

hot water or ammonia is led into and from the tank through pipes 38 and 39, respectively, extending from suitableV sources of supply (not shown). The u per end of 'the tank 33 is connected to t e compression chamber 1 through a pipe 40 which is connected to the pipe 32 kleading into the lower end of the tank by a by-pass 41 and between the connections of the by-pass with the pipes 32 and 40, and the latters connection with the tank 33, the said pipes 32 and 40 are provided with butterliy-valves 42 the levers of which are connected by a link 43, which is also connected to the operating lever of a valve 43 interposed in the by-pass 41. By this arrangement of the by-pass and the valves in the pipes 32 and 40 the air from the puriier and drier may be directed into v the heating or cooling tank 33 before entering the chamber 1 or led direct into the latte'r chamber as desired. The lever of the valve 43 has its free end connected by rod 44, of non-magnetic material, extending from the 'plunger 45. of a solenoid 46 located convenient to the by-pass 41, and arranged within the chamber 1 is a thermostat 47 which is connected to the solenoid 46 by current wires 48 in one of whichis interposed a 4 series of suitable batteries as shown in Figs.

1- and 9. By this arrangement if the temperature in the chamber 1 exceeds a certain degree the solenoid will be energized and its plunger caused to be moved downwardly to thereby close the valves 42 and open the :35]valve 43 thus cutting 0E the iow `of air through the temperature regulating apparatus and causing it to flow vdirect intothe chamber 1 from the purifier and drier 23.

Extending from the pipe. 40 is a branch pipe 50 which leads to what l prefer to call a medicine chest 51 which is adapted to hold any suitable medicaments or materials having medicinal properties with which it'is desired to impregnate the air that is led into the lchamber 1. A pipe 52 leads from the medicine chest 51 to the chamber 1, and the pipes 50 and 52 are provided with hand operated valves 53 and 53 respectively whereby to control the How of the air through said chest.

54 indicates a hand operated valvev arranged in the pipe 40 between the outlet of said pipe and the connection of the pipe 50 therewith. As shown in Fig. 9 the pipes 40 and 52 have their discharge ends connected to a distributing pipe 55 arranged horizontally in the chamber and which is formed' with a plurality of Asmall perfor'ations throughout its length. In practice -theperforations are preferably arranged in the u per side of the pipe so as to avoid a draft blbwing on the occupantof the chamber. Af branch pipe 56 may be extended from the pipe 52 into the chamber 1 and to-its inner end may be connected a exible hose 57 to ing 60 conveniently located to the chamber 1, is a suitable motor, preferably a clock mechanism (not shown) on the driving shaft 61A of which is mounted a pinion 62 which meshes a gear wheel 63 whose shaft 64 carries a double involute cam 65 which operates onwa roller 66 carried by one arm 67 ofa bell-crank lever 67 journaled to the casing 60. To the arm 67 X of the lever is connected a link 68 to the outer end of which is connected a weight 69 slidably supported on a scale-beam 70 pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket arm extending from the casing of a relief valve 71 in such relation to the valve thatthe beam will always rest upon the stem of the valve to thus normally hold it to its seat. The valve 71 is arranged in apipe 72 extending from the chamber 1 to a vacuum motor 73 and between the valve 71 and the motor the pipe is provided with a three-way valve 74 which is designed to be set to direct the low of air passing through the'pipe either to the vacuum pump or to the atmosphere. The operation of this feature of the invention is as follows: We will assume that the chamber 1 is under pressure and is to be constantly supplied with charges of fresh air or medicated air, and that the foul air is to be withdrawn during the entire time the chamber is occupied. The three-way valve'74 is first set to discharge into the atmosphere, the motor of the casing 60 is then set in motion to operate the cam 65 which will rock the bell-crank lever 67 to move the weight 69 back and forth along the scale beam 70 and thus vary the seating weight or pressure on the valve 71 so that the moment the weight 69 ,reaches a position on the scale beam where the seating weight of the valve will be less than the pressure in the chamber 1 the valve willlbe unseated and a certain quantity of the air in thechamber thus allowed to escape. Now the moment the vvalve 71 is opened a portion vof the air will escape through the pipe 72,

to the chamber through the pipe 55 whichvv not only keeps the chamber charged with pure air but valso follows` up the shifting weight on the scale beam to accommodate .the variable pressures in the chamber. 'l`his arrangementof the movable weight also insures against excessive pressures being put vwith 'an inwardly opening spring seated lupon the chamber as itA will be. understood4 that even should the motor for operating the bell-crank lever be not running the moment FJthe pressure` in the chamber exceeds that of the'weight upon'the valve 71, the latter will be automatically unseated to allow a quantity ofthe air in the chamber to escape until the pressure or. weight upon the valve -overv so as to permit of the valves being opened jurious effects to the patient.

comesv the pressure'in the chamber. It will lbe yfurther understood that during the time tHe cam is in operation the weight 69 will be moved back and forth along the scale beam and closed intermittently to therefore grad'- vually vary the pressures in the chamberl withoutsudden changes and consequent in- I it should "be desired to let the pressure 1n the chamber 'fall below that of l,atmospherlc pressure I provide the chamber 1 valve 80 which may be set so asto open' to the atmosphere y:when the desired A partial vacuum in the chamber is secured to thus avoid toogreat a reduction of pressure in the chamber below that of atmosphere, it being understood that when the air in the chamber has been exhausted to a certain degrec the valve 80 willbe automatically opened to admlt air to the chamber to counterbalance that withdrawn therefrom. I

then adjust the valve 74 to establish communication between the chamber 1 and the vacuum motor s o that when the motor is operated the air will be withdrawn from the chamber until the desired vacuum is secured.

So far las described the method ofjoperation is as follows: Assuming the patient is afflicted with'tuberculosis and 'is' to be put under conditionsv similar as to temperature,

, rari-ty off air and so forth as exists in certain high .and dry altitudes. It isrecognized that high and dry altitudes at about freez- 4 ing temperature are best adaptedv for the.

ksure is about 9.80rpo11nds per square.v

treatmentof ulmonary diseases-and that at an altltude of) about 10500feet the air piresl oot against v14.7 pounds at'sea level. The temperature regulator is 'first connected` either with a hot water or ammonia supply accord- -ing tothe locality and the temperaturel of valve set to connect csf,

cated' so as to accordingly regu the Weather vin which. the app/aratus is lolate the temperature of the chamber and to maintain the temperature therein at about 32" degrees,

Fahrenheit. -The airis then turned on to flow into the chamber 1 and .the'thermostat L regulated to operate the' valves to direct the flow of' air either. through the temperature regulator 3.3 or direct fromthe 'purifyingand drying-tank.;y The-relief valvemechanism is then set in motion .and-the three-Way .the chamber-1 with the vacuum pump so that when the latter 1s op'- erated the air will be withdrawn to cause a with a vacuum throug `door-ways vacuum in the chamber corresponding to the pressure of air at an altitude of 1050.0 feet. The lperson to be treated then enters the chamber 1 through the air-lock 5 as 4previously explained where he remains for various intervals of time according to the nature of the disease and the treatment being accorded. Now should it be desired to put the patient under pressure to thus force him to breathe into the llungs greater vquantities of air than he would through natural breath-- ing under a vacuum, I cut oi the communication of the vchamber 1 with the vacuum pump or motor and 'adjust the three-way valve 74'to discharge into the atmosphere and then connect the chamber 1 with the air I reservoir 20 to admitl air under. pressure to' the desired degree to the said chamber. The

weight 69 is then adjusted von the scale beam to permit the unseating of the valve71 the- -moment the desired pressure in the chamber is secured thus avoiding excessive pressure being putupon the chamber 1.- `It may be stated here that the pipe 22fleading from the reservoir 20 is providedi with a hand operatedvalve 22 bywhich the escape of the air `from the reservoir is controlled. The motor is then started to operate the cam 65 to move the weight 69 back and forth on the scale beam to thus automatically permit the valve 71v to be unseated\,at variable pressures in the chamber 1 which allows certain quantities of the air in the fresh air admitted du ing the entire time the chamber is occupi d thus keeping the camber to escape and chamber. constantly` supplied with fresh pure air. If it should be desired to impregnate Alock,"each of which communicates with its adjacent compression chamber or chambers 95 as shown. The. vacuum chamber f90 also the valves 53 and 54 are adjusted .95 l'controlled fby doorsr communicates with its adjacent air-locks through door-ways 96 controlled by doorssimilar in construction to 96 Valves 97, p the valves 8, are arranged 1n the part1t1ons betweenfthe several chambers and their comy municating air-locks for equalizing the ressure'inthe several chambers and air# lbcks whenv entering or leaving the chambers. The purpose of this 'construction and arrangementf'o'f the chambers is to permit ofv vt'aneous treatment of one or more persons'and also to permit of a person bemg treated with various degreesor stages of compression.y In this arrangement -of lthe thev .simu

compression chambers the patient first enters the chamber 91 wherein a pressure is ik maintained only a few degrees above the atenters the second chamber wherein a higher isc tat

-compression is maintained, and from this chamber he enters the third stage compression chamber Where he remains for the prescribed time. It is, of course, understood that in entering and leaving the chambers the same method is followed as that 'described in reference to the air-lock 5 and the chamber 1. It will also be understood that the chambers 91, 92 and 93 are connected with a compression piimp and the chamber 90 connected with a vacuum pump in the same manner as described with reference to the chamber 1. Also with these chambers the various apparatus for treating the airare employed as with the chamber 1. I have not thought it necessary, however, to illustrate the connections of the various apparatus and show the building only in diagram. Exit may be had from any one of the air-locks direct to the exterior of the building through door-ways 98 controlled by inwardly swinging doors 99, as shown.

From the foregoing it will be seen that T provide an exceedingly simple apparatus that may be conveniently arranged in any locality which will give a erson the advantages of high and dry altitudes and with such an apparatus T also gain the advantage of forcing a lgreater percentage of oxygen and pure air or air containing medicinal properties, into the lungs andinto contact with the diseased cells than is possible throughnatural breathing or inhaling even in high altitudes.'

While li described my apparatus and method of treating tuberculosis diseases T do not desire to be understood as limiting the use of the apparatus to the treatmentof this disease. In my experience in subaqueous operations 1 have had occasion to lobserve and study the effects of air' pressuresl on dierent ersons and as it is well known that men following the divers vocation are usually healthy and possess great vitality although they are often called upon to work in very unhealthy localities, T believe froml my observations that many diseases may be beneficially treated by the method of treatment above described.

1. Therapeutic apparatus, comprising a substantially air-tight chamber, means for creating a pressure within the chamber at variance with the surrounding vatmospheric pressure, a valve controlling communication between the interior of the chamber and the surrounding atmosphere, and mechanism for opening the valve at regular intervals.

substantially air-tightV chamber, means for creating a pressure within the chamber at variance with the surrounding atmospheric pressure, a valve controlling communication between the interior of the chamber and the surrounding atmosphere, a pivoted beam en-v gaging the valve, a weight slidable upon the beamand normally tending to hold the valve closed, and means sliding the weight on the beam to admit of the valve opening at regular intervals.

4. Therapeutic apparatus, comprising. a substantially air-tight chamber, means associated with the chamber for creating a pressure therein above the normal atmospheric pressure surrounding the chamber, other means for reducing the pressure within the chamber below the normal surrounding at- 'mospheric pressure, valves for maintaining a predetermined pressure within the chamber, a relief valve, and-means for intermittently operating the relief valve at regular intervals.

5. Therapeutic apparatus, comprising a substantially air-tight chamber, means for creating a pressure therein above the normal atmospheric pressure surrounding the chamber, and a relief valve automatically operated at regular intervals for establishing communication' between the interior of the chamber and the surrounding atmosphere.

6. Therapeutic apparatus, comprising a substantially air-tight chamber, means for lio creating a pressure within the chamber at variance' with the surrounding atmospheric pressure, a pipe for supplying air to the chamber, means` for treating the air supplied to the chamber, branch pipes con- 3115 necting the air treating means with the main pipe, valves in the main and branch pipes, means connecting the valves for simultaneous operation, and valve operating means including an element located within 12a the chamber and affected by the change in the atmospheric conditions thereof, to automatically operate the valves.

7. Therapeutic apparatus, comprising a substantially air-tight chamber provided with automatic ressure controlling valves and pressure in icating means, an air-lock to admit of safe ingress to and egress from the said chamber, said air lock having inlet and outlet doors and valves to establish comwe a vy. A1,22%,11804 A lm'u'licationbetween the lock and chamber positivelyoperating the larstfmentionedvalve 10 and between the lock and 'suirounding etat predetermined intervals.

lmosphere, means for Supplying compressed In testimony whereof I have hereunto set air to the chamber andtreating such air as my hand-this 5th dey. of June, A. D..1913.

the air from the chamber to reduce the resyrequiredl,A means for positivelyexhausting M l ASIMON L sure therein asdesirel, a, valvecontro ling -Wi'tnesses'z communication between the chamber and the ALBERT' M. WOLFE,

. s urroundng atmosphere, and `means for WQV. EILIOTT.

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