Diapulse - Industrial Usage
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Its Value & Limitations -
Pulsed High Frequency (Diapulse)
R.G. Young, M.D., Medical Director
Fisher Body Division, General Motors
Marion, Indiana |
Because I have been enthusiastic about the
benefits of the Diapulse® machine I have been asked by my
company to present my experiences with it. Many of you may he
acquainted with the Diapulse machine. Some have advocated its
use in many types of injuries and diseases. Others have been
less enthusiastic. In our experience we have found Diapulse
Therapy particularly beneficial for many types of injuries.
Our evaluation is on a clinical basis. We have not had the opportunity
to do control studies.
All of us at one time or another use or have used various modalities:
diathermy, galvanism, ultrasound, infrared rays, etc. Diathermy
(Microtherm, etc.) directs continuous high frequency radio energy.
If a high enough output of energy is sustained for even a brief
time it can cause burns. As a consequence the wattage must be
lowered to tolerance.
Some 25 years ago, Abraham J. Ginsberg, M.D., 1,2,3 conceived
the idea that possibly the benefit of high frequency radio waves
was not in direct proportion to the heat absorbed, but that
it was the energy itself that had the ability to penetrate deep
into body tissues and speed up healing processes. It was also
felt that the heat resulting from diathermy has many contraindications
and limitations because the heat limits the amount of energy
that can be used. The question was how to increase the energy
output of the machine while avoiding the dangers of heat.
Dr. Ginsberg, in cooperation with A.S. Milinowski, a physicist,
developed a machine, which he called Diapulse. Diapulse operates
on a standard 117-volt current at an assigned frequency of 27.12
megacycles. * Each energy pulse lasts 65 microseconds with an
interval between pulsations, at maximum setting, of 1600 microseconds.
At this setting, power is provided no more than 4% of the time
that the machine is in operation. There is an adjustment on
the machine that varies the depth of penetration. There is a
tuning mechanism in the treatment head designed to obtain maximum
efficiency at each wattage setting.
Peak instantaneous wattage can be varied from 293 to 975 watts.
The effect of the rest periods (the 1600 microseconds that power
is off, at maximum setting) is to reduce the output to a maximum
average of only 38 watts. The result is an intermittent, relatively
athermic, electrotherapy. It was found that despite the high
intensity energy pulses, all the heat was dissipated during
the rest period, and as a consequence there was no danger of
bums or hyperthermic complications.
Diapulse can be applied over any area of the body such as the
liver, spleen, adrenal glands, chest and head, without risk
of injury to the patient. Treatment is directed over the affected
area for 10 minutes. Treatment over the organs of defense is
also a part of Diapulse Therapy; in other words, 10 minutes
over the liver and 10 minutes over the adrenal gland. This brings
about a sustaining systemic response in over-all healing.
Diapulse exerts its beneficial effects in the following ways:
1. Stimulates body defenses by increasing the activity
of the reticuloendothelial system.
2. Increases peripheral blood flow.
3. Relieves smooth muscle and skeletal muscle spasm.
4. Improves ability of the nerve to transmit stimuli.
* The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) many years ago
deemed it necessary to Set aside a certain wavelength in the
high frequency radio bands to be reserved exclusively to these
types of electronic devices. This had to be done because of
interference in the communication field. They set aside specifically
a channel in the 27-megacycles band: 27.12 mc.
®
Reg. TM © 1965, Diapulse Corp. of America
There are several articles in the literature pointing out the
beneficial results obtained with this machine.
Dana Street, M.D., Professor of Orthopedics, University of Arkansas,
has reported enthusiastically on the machine in a documentary
film presentation.4 In his experience, resistant osteo infections
have healed satisfactorily with the use of Diapulse. He also
noted that fractures with metal implants, which have become
infected post-operatively heal more rapidly with Diapulse Therapy.
Marshall J. Lobell, M. D., New York City, reported on 100 cases
of pelvic inflammatory disease. Diapulse was added in the treatment
of 45 of these cases. The average recovery time was only 7.4
days for those receiving Diapulse, and 13.5 days for those on
the routine, antibiotic therapy, and for those receiving placebo.
Abraham J. Ginsberg, M.D., New York City, reported on 94 patients
treated for subdeltoid bursitis6 over a period of 15 years,
with Diapulse as the sole therapy. Of this group, 86 achieved
partial or complete relief. Of 46 patients in whom roentgenograms
were taken before and after treatment, there was a noticeable
absorption of calcium in 42 of the cases.
Harold Levy, M.D., Brooklyn, New York, reported in the Western
Medical Journal, June, 1961, on the benefits of Diapulse Therapy
in sinus and allied conditions in 75 children.7 There were 138
symptoms in the group: 109 were completely relieved, 21 partially
relieved, and no effects noted in 8 cases. It was also noted
that thymic enlargement causing respiratory distress in infants
one to four months old responded well to treatment.
Bruce M. Cameron, M.D., Houston, Texas, reported on experimental
wound healing in dogs.8 This was published in the American Journal
of Orthopedics, November, 1961. The use of pulsed high frequency
waves, as emitted by Diapulse, accelerated wound healing in
ten dogs by stimulating the following:
Area Studied
Diapulse Treated Untreated
Transverse alignment
3 days
8 days
Collagen formation
6 days
none in 10 days
WBC. infiltration
24 hours
3 days
Phagocytosis
24 hours
4 days
Histiocytic activity
48 hours
4 days
Fat activity
48 hours
5 days
Hematoma canalization
3 days
7 days
William J. Erdman, II, M.D., Department of Physical Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, reported on peripheral
blood flow measurements during application of pulsed high frequency.9
Twenty normal subjects (after reaching a static resting condition)
had applications of pulsed high frequency current over the epigastrium.
Power outputs between 410 and 1025 watts were applied until
a new equilibrium was reached. It required 20 to 40 minutes
for this in each case; ten patients tested for the rate within
30 minutes. There was an average mean increase in foot temperature
of 2.0ºC. Plethysmographic impulse tracings showed an average
volume increase of 1.75 fold at 1025-watt power for a period
of 30 minutes after treatment. Rectal temperatures remained
constant within 0.1ºC. Pulse rates showed no change.
The Diapulse machine has been in our plant since July 1, 1962.
It has replaced diathermy completely. The specific conditions
for which we have used Diapulse are primarily injuries of joints,
bones, and tissues such as strains, sprains, abrasions, contusions,
bruises, lacerations, fractures, and hematomas. The earlier
the treatment, the better the results.
Diapulse is used instead of cold applications. In many instances,
a rapid resolution of an acute injury has been apparent.
Hematomas have been observed to melt away during the 20 to 30
minutes required to give a treatment.
The advantages of the machine are:
1. No danger of hyperpyrexia or bums
2. Patient does not have to disrobe and treatment is effective
through plaster casts and dressings
3. Attendants need only start the treatment; they do not have
to attend
4. Any part of the body can be treated with no side effects
or complications
5. Patient experiences no discomfort
6. Quieting effect on nervous system is apparent
7. Dramatic relief from pain. Minimal medicine, especially of
narcotic classification; and this relief from pain, I note,
is sustained
8. Speeds up resolution of injuries by 3 to 5 days, conservatively
speaking
9. Antibiotics and chymotrypsin medication need not be given
if treatment is started early; secondary infection is prevented
The Diapulse machine runs about 16 hours out of every 24, in
our plant. In the average day, Diapulse is used on four to five
new patients. There are about 120 new injuries per month, which
receive treatment, and total treatments average about 865 per
month. Treatment is given to about 32 patients each day, six
days per week. The average patient receives approximately seven
treatments. The number of days the patient is treated varies
with the severity but ranges from 3 to 28 days.
Minor sprains require the least treatment. Compound fractures
and complicated multiple injuries require the most treatment.
All post-operative cases receive Diapulse Therapy. In fact,
treatment is given to about every kind of injury and, as yet,
there have been no contraindications or complications attributable
to Diapulse Therapy.
Since July 1, 1962, we have given Diapulse treatments to 2,541
patients. The conditions have been classified in 2,173 of these
patients as follows:
Conditions Number
1. Contusions (all areas)
728
2. Backs (lumbosacral and mid-lumbar, primarily)
350
(high, between shoulder blades)
154
3. Shoulders (shoulder syndromes, bursitis, etc.)
146
4. Lacerations (minor, non-suture cases)
145
5. Knees
136
6. Post-surgical (all injuries requiring suture and special
corrective procedures)
74
7. Puncture wounds
67
8. Infections (those cases not seen at time of injury,
which became infected)
53
9. Fractures (hands, feet)
46
10. Sprained ankles
41
11. Sinus
32
12. Tenosynovitis
30
13. Burns
23
14. Chest congestion (probably medical entity,
but where employee claims an injury and
no gross evidence can be
determined)
22
15. Elbow
11
16. Neck
9
17. Shingles
4
18. Miscellaneous
77
2,173 |
| Conclusions |
Diapulse Therapy has been of much value in
the treatment of injuries. It has reduced the amount of discomfort
and disability, and has promoted healing. Diapulse produces
beneficial results by improving circulation, decreasing muscle
spasm, and reducing nerve irritation. The best results are obtained
when conditions are treated early. Treatment can be given through
casts and dressings and there is no danger of burns.
Presented to the Twenty-Sixth Annual General Motors Medical
Conference at the Industrial Health Conference in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, April 12, 13, 1964 |
| References |
1. Ginsberg, A. J.: paper presented to N.
V. Acad. of Med., Oct. 14-25, 1940.
2. Lion, K.S.: Report to Baruch Committee on Phys. Med., New
York, June 15, 1945.
3. Shiffman, M. and Safford, F., Jr.: Physiotherapy Rev., 23:6,
Nov.-Dec., 1943.
4. Street, D.: Post Operative Hip Joint Infections Treated with
Diapulse Energy. Film produced at University of Arkansas, 1962.
5. Lobell, M. J.: Clin. Med., 69:8, Aug., 1962. Studies conducted
under the direction of M. Leo Bobrow, M.D., Harlem Hospital,
New York.
6. Ginsberg, A. J.: Int. Rec. Med., 174:2, Feb., 1961.
7. Levy, H.: Western Med., 2:46, June, 1961.
8. Cameron, B. M.: Am. J1. Orth., Nov., 1961. |
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