US3566877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrotherapeutic apparatus and treatment head and method for tuning said treatment head
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-01-05
•
Granted: 1971-03-02
•
Expires: 1988-01-05
Abstract
Abstract An electrotherapeutic apparatus is disclosed wherein diamondshaped pulses of electromagnetic energy are produced by a pulse generator and applied to a treatment head which radiates the pulsed energy to a given load. A power amplification output stage of the pulse generator includes a tunable tank circuit. A detector is provided to determine whether the tank circuit is in its resonant state, the detector being transformer coupled to the tank circuit whereby the minimum current flowing through the detector corresponds to the resonant state of the tank circuit. Connected in series with the detector is a resistor network which permits the detector reading to be on-scale for each amplitude adjustment of the diamond-shaped pulses. Included within the treatment head is a further tunable tank circuit which comprises a tunable capacitor and an inductor, several embodiments of which are disclosed. The pulsed energy from pulse generator is transformer coupled to the tunable tank circuit of the treatment head, the primary winding of the treatment head transformer also being disclosed in several embodiments. Methods for tuning the electrotherapeutic apparatus with an artificial load which simulates a patient or the like and for establishing the artificial load are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Luther B Smith
- 👤 Frank A Yarger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An electrotherapeutic apparatus comprising: means for generating a signal having a triangular waveform; means for adjusting the amplitude of said triangular signal; means for generating a radio frequency signal; means for modulating said radio frequency signal with said triangular signal to produce diamond-shaped pulses of radio frequency electromagnetic energy; means for power amplifying said diamond-shaped pulses including tunable output tank circuit means; treatment head means responsive to the output from said tunable output tank circuit means, said treatment head means including further tunable tank circuit means; means for detecting whether the tunable output tank circuit is in its resonant state; multivalued resistor means in circuit with said detecting means; and means responsive to said means for adjusting the amplitude of said triangular signal for adjusting the value of the said resistor means whenever the amplitude of said triangular signal is adjusted whereby the amplitude of the signal detected by said detecting means remains within a predetermined range of values regardless of the range of values over which the amplitude of the triangular signal is adjusted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrotherapeutic apparatus comprising: means for generating a signal having a triangular waveform; means for adjusting the amplitude of said triangular signal; means for generating a radio frequency signal; means for modulating said radio frequency signal with said triangular signal to produce diamond-shaped pulses of radio frequency electromagnetic energy; means for power amplifying said diamond-shaped pulses including tunable output tank circuit means; treatment head means responsive to the output from said tunable output tank circuit means, said treatment head means including further tunable tank circuit means; means for detecting whether the tunable output tank circuit is in its resonant state; multivalued resistor means in circuit with said detecting means; and means responsive to said means for adjusting the amplitude of said triangular signal for adjusting the value of the said resistor means whenever the amplitude of said triangular signal is adjusted whereby the amplitude of the signal detected by said detecting means remains within a predetermined range of values regardless of the range of values over which the amplitude of the triangular signal is adjusted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
179 words
treatment head means responsive to said pulsed energy for radiating the same to a load, said treatment head means including a container and a tunable tank circuit mounted in said container and having a variable capacitor comprising: a. a first electrically conductive plate; b. a second electrically conductive plate; and c. a rotatable shaft having a threaded portion, said shaft being fixedly mounted within said container and projecting through a side thereof whereby inward or outward movement of said shaft with respect to said container is prevented, said first plate being fixedly mounted on said shaft so as to prevent movement thereof along the longitudinal axis of said shaft upon rotation of the shaft and said second plate being mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft so as to permit movement thereof along the longitudinal axis of said shaft upon the said rotation of the shaft whereby the distance between the plates is varied upon rotation of the shaft, the orientation of the plates with respect to one another being parallel for all positions of The variable capacitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
179 words
treatment head means responsive to said pulsed energy for radiating the same to a load, said treatment head means including a container and a tunable tank circuit mounted in said container and having a variable capacitor comprising: a. a first electrically conductive plate; b. a second electrically conductive plate; and c. a rotatable shaft having a threaded portion, said shaft being fixedly mounted within said container and projecting through a side thereof whereby inward or outward movement of said shaft with respect to said container is prevented, said first plate being fixedly mounted on said shaft so as to prevent movement thereof along the longitudinal axis of said shaft upon rotation of the shaft and said second plate being mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft so as to permit movement thereof along the longitudinal axis of said shaft upon the said rotation of the shaft whereby the distance between the plates is varied upon rotation of the shaft, the orientation of the plates with respect to one another being parallel for all positions of The variable capacitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 where (1) said means for generating said triangular signal includes sawtooth pulse generator means having a plurality of capacitors respectively corresponding to the permissible amplitudes of said triangular signal, (2) said multivalued resistor means includes a plurality of resistors respectively corresponding to said plurality of capacitors where said resistors increase in value as said triangular signals increase in value, and (3) said means for adjusting the value of said resistor means includes switching means having at least a number of poles equal to the total number of said capacitors and said resistors and where each pair of said poles are respectively connected to different ones of said resistors and capacitors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
treatment head means responsive to said pulsed energy for radiating the same to a load, said treatment head means including: a. a container having a cover, and b. tunable tank circuit means being mounted within said container, the inductor of said tank circuit comprising perforated, electrically conducting material and where said inductor is a substantially flat spiral-shaped conductor disposed substantially parallel to the cover of said container and where said perforations are disposed along the length of said spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
treatment head means responsive to said pulsed energy for radiating the same to a load, said treatment head means including: a. a container having a cover, and b. tunable tank circuit means being mounted within said container, the inductor of said tank circuit comprising perforated, electrically conducting material and where said inductor is a substantially flat spiral-shaped conductor disposed substantially parallel to the cover of said container and where said perforations are disposed along the length of said spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
treatment head means responsive to said pulsed energy for radiating the same to a load, said treatment head means including a container and a tunable tank circuit mounted in said container, said container has mounted on at least one side thereof a handle, the length of which approximates the length of the said one side whereby a strap having a width approximating the length of the inner portion of the handle may be passed through said inner portion for attaching the treatment head to a portion of said load.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
treatment head means responsive to said pulsed energy for radiating the same to a load, said treatment head means including a container and a tunable tank circuit mounted in said container, said container has mounted on at least one side thereof a handle, the length of which approximates the length of the said one side whereby a strap having a width approximating the length of the inner portion of the handle may be passed through said inner portion for attaching the treatment head to a portion of said load.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 where said tunable output tank circuit means comprises a parallel combination of at least one capacitor and at least one inductor and where said detector means includes a meter for measuring a current indicative of the resonant state of said output tank circuit means, said meter being mounted upside down to give an apparent up-scale reading when said resonant state occurs and a down-scale reading when a state other than the resonant state occurs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 where said treatment head means includes: a container having a cover, and said further tunable tank circuit meaNs of said treatment head means being mounted within said container, the inductor of said further tank circuit comprising perforated, electrically conducting material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 where said perforations are arranged in a spiral-shaped configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 where said last-mentioned inductor is a substantially flat sheet of said material disposed substantially parallel to the cover of said container and where said perforations are disposed over the flat surface of said sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 where said perforations are arranged in a spiral-shaped configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 where said spiral is substantially rectangular.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 where said last-mentioned inductor is a flat, spiral-shaped conductor disposed substantially parallel to the cover of said container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 where said perforations are disposed along the length of said spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 where said spiral-shaped conductor is substantially rectangular.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 where the perforations of said rectangular spiral-shaped conductor are disposed along imaginary lines extending from the outer ring of said spiral-shaped conductor to an imaginary line bisecting said spiral-shaped conductor lengthwise, said first-mentioned imaginary lines being arranged in pairs so as to point outwardly at the end portions of said spiral-shaped conductor whereby said perforations are arranged in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration on said rectangular spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 12 where only one row of perforations extends along the lengthwise portion of the said outer ring of the spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 where the general configuration of said spiral-shaped conductor is substantially diamond-shaped.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 14 where only one row of perforations is disposed along the length of spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 where the said inductor of said treatment head tank circuit is transformer coupled to the said tunable output tank circuit means, said inductor acting as the secondary winding of the transformer and the primary winding of the transformer comprising a substantially flat sheet of an electrically conducting material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus as in claim 16 where said sheet is perforated.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 17 where said treatment head tank circuit inductor comprises a perforated, substantially flat sheet of an electrically conducting material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 18 where the density and size of the perforations of the primary winding and the secondary inductor are substantially the same.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 17 where the arrangement of the perforations of the primary winding and the secondary inductor are substantially the same.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as in claim 20 where said arrangement is substantially diamond-shaped.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
208 words
Method for tuning an electrotherapeutic apparatus including (1) means for producing pulses of radio frequency electromagnetic energy, (2) power amplifying means for said pulsed energy including tunable tank circuit means, (3) means for detecting whether said power amplifier tank circuit means is in its resonant state, (4) treatment head means being responsive to the power amplified, pulsed energy for radiating said energy to a load, said treatment head means including further tunable tank circuit means, and (5) means for measuring the pulsed electromagnetic energy radiated by said treatment head means through said load; said method comprising the steps of: a. activating said electrotherapeutic apparatus to thereby produce said pulses of electromagnetic energy; b. tuning said treatment head tank circuit means to obtain a minimum current indication at said detecting means; c. tuning said power amplifier tank circuit means until said measuring means indicates that said trEatment head is radiating maximum power; and d. repeating steps (b) and (c) in that order until the detecting means is at minimum current indication and the measuring means is at maximum power indication; whereby the detecting means and the measuring means will track thereby indicating that said power amplifier tank circuit means, said treatment head means, and said load are impedance matched.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
208 words
Method for tuning an electrotherapeutic apparatus including (1) means for producing pulses of radio frequency electromagnetic energy, (2) power amplifying means for said pulsed energy including tunable tank circuit means, (3) means for detecting whether said power amplifier tank circuit means is in its resonant state, (4) treatment head means being responsive to the power amplified, pulsed energy for radiating said energy to a load, said treatment head means including further tunable tank circuit means, and (5) means for measuring the pulsed electromagnetic energy radiated by said treatment head means through said load; said method comprising the steps of: a. activating said electrotherapeutic apparatus to thereby produce said pulses of electromagnetic energy; b. tuning said treatment head tank circuit means to obtain a minimum current indication at said detecting means; c. tuning said power amplifier tank circuit means until said measuring means indicates that said trEatment head is radiating maximum power; and d. repeating steps (b) and (c) in that order until the detecting means is at minimum current indication and the measuring means is at maximum power indication; whereby the detecting means and the measuring means will track thereby indicating that said power amplifier tank circuit means, said treatment head means, and said load are impedance matched.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
215 words
The method of establishing an artificial load for electrotherapeutic apparatus including (1) means for producing pulses of electromagnetic energy, (2) power amplifying means for said pulsed energy including tunable tank circuit means, (3) means for detecting whether said power amplifying tank circuit means is in its resonant state, (4) treatment head means being responsive to the amplified, pulsed energy for radiating said energy, said treatment head means including further tunable tank circuit means, and (5) means for measuring the pulsed electromagnetic energy radiated by said treatment head means; said method comprising the steps of: a. placing a reference load between said treatment head means and said measuring means; b. activating said electrotherapeutic apparatus to thereby radiate pulses through said reference load to said measuring means; c. tuning said apparatus so that said power amplifier tank circuit means, said treatment head tank circuit means and said reference load are impedance matched; d. noting the indications on said detecting and said measuring means; e. removing said reference load from between said treatment head means and said measuring means; f. placing a container between said treatment head means and said measuring means; g. gradually filling said container with a solution of calcium and water until the said indications on said detecting means and said measuring means are substantially
Claim 32
Independent Claim
215 words
The method of establishing an artificial load for electrotherapeutic apparatus including (1) means for producing pulses of electromagnetic energy, (2) power amplifying means for said pulsed energy including tunable tank circuit means, (3) means for detecting whether said power amplifying tank circuit means is in its resonant state, (4) treatment head means being responsive to the amplified, pulsed energy for radiating said energy, said treatment head means including further tunable tank circuit means, and (5) means for measuring the pulsed electromagnetic energy radiated by said treatment head means; said method comprising the steps of: a. placing a reference load between said treatment head means and said measuring means; b. activating said electrotherapeutic apparatus to thereby radiate pulses through said reference load to said measuring means; c. tuning said apparatus so that said power amplifier tank circuit means, said treatment head tank circuit means and said reference load are impedance matched; d. noting the indications on said detecting and said measuring means; e. removing said reference load from between said treatment head means and said measuring means; f. placing a container between said treatment head means and said measuring means; g. gradually filling said container with a solution of calcium and water until the said indications on said detecting means and said measuring means are substantially
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
4 words
An electrotherapeutic apparatus comprising:
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
4 words
An electrotherapeutic apparatus comprising:
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in claim 24 where said perforations are arranged in a spiral-shaped configuration.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as in claim 24 where said spiral-shaped conductor is substantially rectangular.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as in claim 26 where the perforations of said rectangular spiral-shaped conductor are disposed along imaginary lines extending from the outer ring of said spiral-shaped conductor to an imaginary line bisecting said spiral-shaped conductor lengthwise, said first-mentioned imaginary lines being arranged in pairs so as to point outwardly at the end portions of said spiral-shaped conductor whereby said perforations are arranged in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration on said rectangular spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 27 where only one row of perforations extends along the lengthwise portion of the said outer ring of the spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 26 where the general configuration of said spiral-shaped conductor is substantially diamond-shaped.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 29 where only one row of perforations is disposed along the length of said spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as in claim 24 where the said inductor of said treatment head tank circuit is transformer coupled to the said pulse generating means, said inductor acting as the secondary winding of the transformer and the primary winding of the transformer comprisiNg a substantially flat sheet of an electrically conducting material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus as in claim 31 where said sheet is perforated.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 where said treatment head tank circuit inductor comprises a perforated, substantially flat sheet of an electrically conducting material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 33 where the density and size of the perforations of the primary winding and the secondary inductor are substantially the same.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 where the arrangement of the perforations of the primary winding and the secondary inductor are substantially the same.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as in claim 35 where said arrangement is substantially diamond-shaped.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as in claim 24 where the general configuration of said spiral-shaped conductor is diamond-shaped and where the two outer rows of conductors of the spiral are electrically connected together only after each of the said two outer conductors have completed a substantially complete loop to thereby adjust the current distribution across said inductor.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 37 where the innermost two legs of the spiral are electrically connected together (1) at one of the ends of the two legs and (2) at the other end of one of the legs and at a point along the length of the other leg.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 38 where the point along the length of the other leg is at the other end of said other leg.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in claim 39 where said perforations are disposed along the length of the spiral-shaped conductor.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 40 where only one row of perforations is disposed along the length of said conductor.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as in claim 24 including an adjustable strap and where said container has mounted on the ends thereof two hooks between which said adjustable strap may be connected for attaching the treatment head to a body.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in claim 42 where said container has a further two hooks mounted on the sides thereof between which the strap may also be connected.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in claim 43 where said strap is adjustable at both ends thereof.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus as in claim 24 including a strap and where:
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
4 words
An electromagnetic apparatus comprising:
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
4 words
An electromagnetic apparatus comprising:
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 46 including means for preventing said first and second plates from electrically short-circuiting, said preventing means comprising an electrically insulating member fixedly mounted on said shaft between said plates.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as in claim 47 including means for limiting the separation between said first and second plates to a predetermined value, said limiting means comprising a member fixedly mounted on said shaft between (1) the end thereof opposite from the end projecting through the container and (2) the second plate.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as in claim 48 including means for eliminating any tendency of the second plate to rotate upon rotation of the shaft, said eliminating means including at least one post fixedly mounted to said first plate and projecting through a hole in said second plate, said post being substantially parallel to said shaft.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |