Massage instrument

Oct. 17, 1939.

2,176,366

W. D. SMITH

MASSAGE INSTRUMENT

Filed June 9, 1937

<img file="US2176366A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US2176366A_D0002.tif" />

INVENTOR.

Wdl/ace. D. 'όρη/Ύ/ι

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 17, 1939

2,176,366

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,176,366 MASSAGE INSTRUMENT Wallace D. Smith, Kalamazoo, Mich. Application June 9, 1937, Serial No. 147,177 3 Claims. (Cl. 128—297)

This invention relates to improvements in massage instruments.

This invention relates to apparatus for manipulating the tympanic membrane and the B ossicles of the ear to alleviate certain difficulties ' in the ear which can be treated satisfactorily in this manner. It has for its objects:

First, to produce a new and improved apparatus for massaging the tympanic membrane and 10 the ossicles of the ear.

Second, to produce such an apparatus that may be made inexpensively and which is highly effective for the purpose.

Third, to produce such an apparatus which em15 ploys air pressure and vacuum for manipulating ' the tympanic membrane and the ossicles attached thereto, in which the volume of the air employed is so small that the instrument is most sensitive and effective and may be simply and 20 easily used to produce a most satisfactory manipulation of the parts of the ear.

Fourth, to produce such an apparatus which may be employed either by the person undergoing treatment or by others.

Further objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw30 ing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view showing my improved apparatus in place in the ear of a person undergoing treatment, the apparatus being shown partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a view of a modified form of the invention shown partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a further modification of my invention which may be employed in either of the modifications shown in Hgs. 1 40 and 2.

Referring to the form of the apparatus shown in Hg. 1, it will be seen that the apparatus consists of a bulb ί made of rubber or a suitable material, having its sides 2 and 3 flattened and hav⁴⁵ ing an aperture 4 at one side and an aperture 5 at the other side. The rubber walls of the bulb are about one-eighth of an inch thick, and I have found that the bulb may be simply and easily formed by taking merely the end portions of the ⁵⁰ typical oval bulb used in operating atomizers or sprayers for medicinal purposes. These ends are joined together and form a round bulb having its sides flattened, and although the bulb is compressible, it is of such stiffness that it returns substantially instantaneously to uncompressed position as soon as the pressure is released.

The side 3 of the bulb may be grasped between the fingers 6 and 7 of the user and the thumb 8 may be applied to the other side 2 and placed 5 over the opening 4 as shown in Hg. 1, serving to seal the opening when the device is in use.

An adapter 9 is inserted in the opening 5 of the bulb and a tube 10 which may be of metal is fastened on the adapter by spinning the edges in 10 as indicated at ί I, being sure to provide a suitable washer or gasket 12 of rubber or the like to make the joint airtight. The end of the tube Iff is tapered as at 13 and a rubber covering 14 may be applied to the taper 13. The taper is such that 15 the end of the tube 19 which is apertured, as is shown in Fig. 1, may be inserted In the auditory meatus. In order to be sure that a seal is provided, vaseline should be applied to the rubber cover 14 of the taper. 20

With the apparatus grasped as shown in Hg. 1 and inserted in the ear, the manipulation is simple. The bulb should be slightly compressed and the thumb 8 then placed over the aperture 4 to seal the same. By moving the thumb a very 25 slight distance it is possible to manipulate the tympanic membrane 15 and the ossicles 16 attached thereto to limber them up and produce in the person being treated the beneficial effects of such manipulation. By expelling some of the air 30 before sealing the opening 4 with the thumb, it is possible, by a very slight movement of the thumb and the resultant compression of the bulb, to produce a back and forth movement of the tympanic membrane in a simple and effective 35 manner. The tube 10 being of metal is rigid at the pressures involved in using the apparatus, and the bulb being strong or stiff as indicated permits a very fast movement of the tympanic membrane because of the sensitiveness of the 40 device.

The volume of air enclosed in the bulb and tube is small and is not as compressible as a larger volume would be and this increases the sensitivity of the apparatus. The particular form of the 45 bulb increases its strength and its power because the particular form tends to return to its uncompressed form after compression almost instantaneously, so that the motion imparted to the tympanic membrane may be practically a vibra- 60 tory motion rather than a slower push-pull motion. This form of bulb increases the responsiveness of the bulb considerably because as pressure is exerted by the thumb in opposition to the fingers 6 and 7, the whole periphery of the top ex- 66

2,176,366 pands and on releasing pressure returns to normal position. The bulb thus is much more responsive than the ordinary form of bulb.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the bulb is substantially the same. An adapter 109 similar to the adapter 9 is employed and a relatively stiff rubber tube ί 10 is slipped over the adapter 109. The rubber tube is sufficiently stiff so that it is rigid at the pressures involved in manipulating the instrument. A second adapter i 17 Is employed and a piece of rubber tube 114 is applied over the end of the second adapter. This tube is tapered at 118 for insertion in the ear. The use and function of the apparatus of Fig. 2 are the same as those of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3, I show the end of the bulb and in place of the opening 4, as shown in Fig. 1,1 provide an opening 2S4 in which is seated a check valve 2(9 consisting of a seat member 220 and a valve 22( held in position by the arms 222 which permit the valve 22( to be raised from its seat when compression on the bulb is released and which will seat as pressure is applied.

It will be apparent that when the instrument is inserted in the ear the opening 4 assists materially in providing comfort for the patient because the bulb can be slightly compressed and the thumb can then be placed over the opening and the manipulation may then take place. The removal of the thumb 8 from the opening 4 then permits easy removal of the device from the ear without creating an excessive vacuum which might be uncomfortable because of its effect on the tympanic membrane. It will be appreciated that the device could be manipulated without this opening and that the use of a valve member such as is shown in Fig. 3 will facilitate to some extent the application of pressure because a slight dislodging of the thumb 8 during manipulation will not release the pressure in the bulb.

I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention and wish to claim the same specifically and also broadly as pointed out in the appended claims.