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Relax-a-Cizor, Medical Quackery or Just Ahead of its Time?

korn

Anybody have any "Medical" devices in the attic?

 

Ever look at how they work?

 

I used to have a Diathermy machine and a weird high voltage stimulator that used gas filled tubes.

 

I worked at a hospital and dealt with "Real" equipment but I'm still amazed at what oddball stuff will sell....

 

I have a couple of Tens devices and never gave them much thought. Never used them either....

 

Then this thing...

 

 

 

I have this Relax-A-Cizor that I had to open up and have a look at.

 

The lower section still has the pads so I guess thats off to the trash.....

 

 

I opened it up to have a quick look. When I have time I want to put it on the bench and have a look at the output on a scope. While I'm at it I have to try a couple of the new Tens units on the scope. Didn't expect to see tubes. and even branded relax-a-cizor tubes...

 

 

 

 

 

Really weird how they use a motor to drive a cam to pulse the outputs. Then again thats how the Old Mercury Cougar sequential tail lights worked so I guess is period correct.....

 

 

Simple output controls...

 

 

Nothing looks to bad so time to put it on a Variac and see what happens...

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  • Those images are all inaccessible....

  • in reply to dougw

    I wonder if I can get a badge for breaking a post..........

  • in reply to korn
    I wonder if I can get a badge for breaking a post..........

    unlikely because plenty of others have broken it as well.

     

     

    I'm tending to think that suitcase of death applies current to exercise the muscles, and as it gets wound down it has the effects of relaxing you.

    Either that or you relax once you're aware that this isn't there to alter your mental state by applying varying currents across your head.

     

    Very interesting history that should be in a museum (preferably intact).

     

    Mark

  • in reply to mcb1

    the 1950's version of the relax-a-cizor got a little screen time in "mad Men" season one. they portrayed it as a "sex toy

     

    googling it leads to lawsuits and fda demands that they all be destroyed or rendered inoperable....

     

    possible heart issues and miscarriages among other threats...

     

    Its supposed to be a low frequency AF oscillator....

     

    I cant wait to see it's output on a scope.

     

    there is a youtube video of some woman trying it with one pad on each of her arms.  real stupid to pass current across your chest. 

     

    real funny to see her jump. why she let her friend operate the controls I'll never understand.

     

    another video has a guy wearing the face mask and letting his friends control it

     

    I actually have a modern tens unit to try too. I got it after my knee replacement surgery but never used it. I got a second one from someone who didn't like it.....

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  • in reply to mcb1

    the 1950's version of the relax-a-cizor got a little screen time in "mad Men" season one. they portrayed it as a "sex toy

     

    googling it leads to lawsuits and fda demands that they all be destroyed or rendered inoperable....

     

    possible heart issues and miscarriages among other threats...

     

    Its supposed to be a low frequency AF oscillator....

     

    I cant wait to see it's output on a scope.

     

    there is a youtube video of some woman trying it with one pad on each of her arms.  real stupid to pass current across your chest. 

     

    real funny to see her jump. why she let her friend operate the controls I'll never understand.

     

    another video has a guy wearing the face mask and letting his friends control it

     

    I actually have a modern tens unit to try too. I got it after my knee replacement surgery but never used it. I got a second one from someone who didn't like it.....

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