US2018599A - Apparatus for treating human bodies with electrons - Google Patents

Description

- Oc t.22,1935. A RA H 2,018,599

. P! APPARATUS FOR TREATING HUMAN BODIES WITH ELECTRONS Filed April 25, 1933 IN V EN TOR.

Arno Brasch- A TTORN E YS.

Patented Oct. 22, .1935

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.01am f APPARATUS FOR TREATING HUMAN BODIES WITH ELEOTRONS BerIIn-Obaflottenburg, Germany, one-half to Fritz Lange,

Berlin,

1933, w No. 001,911

April 17, 1932 3 clalml. (Cl- 174-477) The invention relates to an apparatus, which enablesinternalpartsofthebodytobesubiected to the action of rapid, artificially produced cathode rays, 1. e., very rapid electrons, permit- 6 ting either of the suppression of growths, particularly those of a malignant kind, or also of the extermination of bacteria or germs. Heretofore there have been employed for this purpose primarily x-rays or the gamma rays of radium. In this connection, 1. e., by the roundabout way cathode rays-X-rays-secondary electrons. merely quite a small proportion of the cathode rays amounting to between 0.1 and 0.001

per thousand become effective. Practical therapeutical effects with electrons have not been attempted up to now, because their range, both as regards radiation by radium as well as in the case of the brown generators for artificial electrons, has been too small. Quite recently it'has been possible by the use of a condenser impulse charge and corresponding vacuum tube construction to make use of potentials of a desired amount, so that wide electron ranges may be obtained, and access accomplished with rapid electrom! to each part of the body per se. For this purpose, however, plants are required with a potential of approximately 7,000,000 to 10,000,000 volts. The manufacture of these highcated and also expensive.

Now it is possible by reason of the invention to make use of relatively low potentials by approaching the electrons, which are produced in the known manner by a cathode ray tube, in immediate proximity to the part under treatment by means of a narrow passage. It is then sufficient to employ potentials only of such amount that the surface to be subjected to the treatment is fully reached by the rays. Owing to the fact that the exit point for the electrons is advanced wholly or partially up to the surface to be treated, the rapid electrons are unable to develop their activity before reaching this surface, and do not require to pass through.

healthy tissues, which would necessitate a much higher generating potential, and under certain circumstances might also act detrimentally on these tissues. Beyond this, the rays are greatly retarded in the tissues, so that their effect is im- The passage furnished in accordance with the invention is preferably constructed in the form of an extension to the discharge space of the cathode ray tube. If desired, the same may be removed and replaced by another fitting of difpotential apparatus is naturally very compliferent diameter and length. The wall of the passage preferably consists of a highly atomic material, for example a metallic pipe. The passage may be constructed on the lines of the known probing instruments for introduction into i cavities in the body. Under certain circumstances the passage may be constructed in the form of an injection device, such as used in the medical andsurgical art for injection into the body. The passage is movable in relation to the 10 discharge tube, and if desired may also be bent in form. This is accomplished by providing between the passage and the discharge tube a movable metal tubing, for example a tombac tube. The tombac tube is then connected with the disll charge tube and the passage, for example by soldering. In this manner'the extension member is provided with the movability necessary for medicinal purposes.

Upon the treatment of a patient, the proce- 10 dure, for example, will be such that at first a canula or a probe of the requisite dimensions is introduced into the cavity or the interior of the body, and it is only after this has been done that the projecting end is connected with the dis- 28 charge tube through the medium of a movable intermediate member. The treatment may then commence.

In the space of the passage there may be generated longitudinal or transverse magnetic l0 fields, for example by the winding of a solenoid spiral, which fields ensure a guiding of the electrons as far as possible in the axis of the passage, even upon movement and bending of the passage. The magnetic field does naturally not require to fill out the passage over its entire length, and it is sufiicient if the magnetic fields are present at the points of the bends. Preferably, at the point where the electrons enter the passage or leave the discharge tube there will be provided a magnetic field, which preliminarily concentrates the stream of electrons, in order that maximum surface intensities may be obtained. The passage also requires to be insulated against the discharge tube by means of one or more insulating tubes.

Whereas generally speaking the passage tube itself may be so constructed that no electrons are able to emerge at its jacket surface, the end of the passage is sealed by a window allowing the passage of electrons and composed for example of beryllium or other inorganic or organic material of light atomic weight. The passage window, particularly when employing canula: or probes, is preferably constructed in pointed form, or as partofapoinhifattheenditisdesiredtc obtain notanexit'oftheelectrons onallsides, but a directed emission of the electron The practical use of this apparatus is facilig tated by providing in addition to the passage window'a special window for the discharge tube.

The passage tube maythen be removed without diinculty from the discharge tube, 1. e., without affecting the discharge tube. Preferably the passage will then also be sealed in itself, so that under certain circumstances the same may also be evacuated, or filled with a gas of desired nature.

' To enable the electrons to move as far as possible in a straight line upto the tip or point, it

will befound of advantage to maintain a certain degree of vacuum in the tube e. Upon the treatment the tip or point will be advanced, for

example, up to the vicinity of the aifected tissue,

as in an injection. If now the potential is apzo plied to the discharge tube briefly or continuously,

the electrons produced in the tube pass throughthe'tip of the canula into the part under treatment. In the apparatus according to the invention the useful effect of the electronic radiation is a very considerable one. In the case of impulse operation, particularly with condenser impulses, considerable energy may be passed through the passage, and the time of radiation may be very short (fractions of a. second). This is a great ad- 30. vantage if it is considered that the introduction of the probe or canula into the human body is accompanied by a great deal of unpleasantness and pain, which in accordance with the invention is reduced to a minimum.

Since for example in the case of intermittent impulse operation small diiferences in potential are able to occur, even at the earthed points, it will be found of advantage to insulate the point of introduction, which according to the invenao 'tion may be accomplished by simple insulation i lofthe passage against the discharge tube. The 'longitudinal or transverse magnetic field ensures guiding of the electrons and the passage thereof as far as possible without loss up to the 4s point of treatment, even withthe necessary deformation of the canula.

I with the assistance of this arrangement it will be possible in the ordinary way to obtain access to desired partsof the body and to effectively I treat malignant growths, despite the fact that the range of the electrons in the tissues of the body under certain circumstances only requires to amount. to 4 to 6 cm. at the most.

The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

- Fig. 1 shows an apparatus constructed on the linesoianiniectioncanula. listhe tube, which operates for example with condenser impulse excitation, and the wall of which is constructed onthelinesofalaminatedcondenser' body. atubeotthiskindpermitsoftheuseof 5 relatively high potentials (without the high vacuum usually necessary). The electrons generatedinthedischargetubepassthroughthe' Lenardwindowiintothecamilal. 'Thecanulal is firmly or detachably connected with' the dis- 1o chargetubebymeansoftheinsulatingmemberl. I is a flexible tombac tube, which enables the canula to bebent. Thecanulaistaperedor pointed at its free end, and is closed by a beryllium plate 6. In the canula there is, for exis ample,avacuum. -Aboutthetombactubelthere maybewoundundercertaincasolenoid spiral 1, which ensures an axial guiding of the stream of electrons when bending the.

Fig. 2 shows a probe 8 capable of introduction 20 into cavities in the body and having the conical window 8, out-of which'the electrons are able to passinalldirections. Thewindowmay also be constructed in such fashion that the beryllium constitutes merely a narrow, welded-in 2s strip, whilst the remaining parts consist of a highly atomic material, so that the electrons are abletopass outofthetiponlyinacertaindirection.

I claim: 80

1. An apparatus for treating the human or animal body by means of rapid electrons, comprising an electric discharge vessel, a canula, suitable connection between the canulaandsaidvessebsaid canula having a narrow passage and means as adapted to transfer electrons from said ,vessel directly through said passage to the part of the body to be treated, said canula being of the known injection type made of metallic tube having high atomic weight and terminating in a point adapted so to be introduced into a cavity of said body.

2. In an apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means consists of a flexible tube and a current traversed coil thereon producing a magnetic field, ensuring the guidance of the u electrons substantially in the axial direction of the canula.

3.In an apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means consists of a flexible tube and a current traversed coil thereon producing a magnetic field, summing the guidance of the electrons substantially in the axial direction of the canula, a window made of a low atomic material, such as beryllium being provided at the point of said canula. l6

ARNO BRABCH.

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