IMPROVEMENTS IN CAUTERIZING APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN CAUTERIZING APPARATUS" which Invention has been communicated to me from
abroad by Claude André Paquelin, Doctor of Medicine and Louis de Place, Captain
of Cavalry both of Paris in the Republic of France to be as follows:-
This Invention relating to cauterizing apparatus consists in a novel construction
and combination of parts as hereinafter described whereby the operation of
cauterization is enabled to be performed under more advantageous conditions
than heretofore-In the improved apparatus constructed according to this Invention
the heat is obtained by the combustion of a gaseous mixture which is produced in
the apparatus and is burned in a suitable combustion chamber the flow of gas.
and air being regulated and controlled by means of cocks or valves of special
construction as hereinafter explained It is evident that the surface or part of the
apparatus whereby the actual cautery is performed may be made of circular,
annular cuneiform or other forin according to the nature of the operation and the
part of the body on which the operation is performed.
The combustion chamber of the cauterizing apparatus is preferably carried at
one extremity of a telescopic tube forming a handle and provided at the other
extremity with a nozzle or nipple for the reception of a flexible tube connected to
a chamber in which the combustible gaseous mixture is produced. The parts of
the tube slide telescopically one over the other and are capable of being fixed in.
any desired position relatively to one another by means of a set screw-This tube
communicates with the combustion chamber which is preferably in the form of an
inverted cone provided with an opening at its lower or smaller extremity for the
passage of a sliding needle or pin hereinafter described being also provided with
openings at its upper part for the admission of air.
A passage describing a right angle in the centre of a plug turning in the upper
part of the combustion chamber admits the gaseous mixture from the tube at the
centre of the combustion chamber and a series of passages or grooves corresponding
with the air inlet orifices are arranged in the sides of the plug in such a manner as
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page_text: to bring the air admitted through these orifices into intimate contact with the jet
of gas entering at the centre of the combustion chamber-The pin hereinbefore
referred to acts as a cauter being passed through the centre of the plug and
provided at one extremity with one or two enlargements or knobs which enable
the pin to be operated by means of a lever-The other extremity of the pin is
contained in the combustion chamber and admits of being caused to protrude from
the opening in the said chamber by means of the lever which is preferably bent so
as to enable it to be conveniently jointed to the handle of the apparatus and is
provided with a fork engaging with the knob or enlargement on the pin-This pin
is heated by the combustion of the gaseous mixture in the combustion chamber
and is caused to protrude at the smaller end of this chamber when required
by pressing on the lever which is provided with a spring whereby the pin is
automatically retracted when the pressure is removed. This construction enables
the apparatus to be readily divided into four main parts viz, the handle, the head
or heating chamber, the cauterizing pin and the lever.
The tube forming the handle of the cauterizing apparatus is connected by means
of a flexible pipe with a case made preferably of a flat and circular forin filled
with fragments of sponge or other porous material and provided with rings or
handles enabling it to be suspended in a convenient position in front of the
operator by means of a strap.
This case or carburetter contains a hydrocarbon or equivalent fluid saturating
the aforesaid porous materials and is provided with a plug or valve serving to
regulate the composition of the gaseous mixture-This valve is connected with
two tubes penetrating nearly to the centre of the case and situated in a central'
sheath or chamber of perforated metal which prevents the porous materials from
coming in contact with the said tubes.
On opposite sides of the socket of this plug or valve there are provided two
passages one of which communicates with a tube through which air is supplied from
a suitable blowing apparatus whilst the other serves for the delivery of the gaseous
mixture to the flexible tube leading to the combustion chamber of the cauterising
apparatus The plug is provided with passages so arranged as to enable either the
whole or a part of the air supplied from the blower to be delivered into the case
containing the porous materials the excess of air in the latter case being conveyed
directly to the outlet tube through a transverse passage provided for this purpose
in the plug.
The case containing the porous materials is provided with suitable tubes or
orifices capable of being closed by means of screwed caps or plugs for the purpose
of.charging or emptying the case.
In order to enable the composition of the gaseous mixture to be varied according
to circumstances the valve or cock may be provided with a circular recess or groove
extending around somewhat more than half the circumference, of the plug being
deepest at the middle and gradually diminishing in depth towards the extremities
The socket in which the plug turns is provided with a passage for the admission of
air and corresponding with or facing the recess in the plug which recess is capable
of connecting this passage with another passage which directs the air into the
interior of the case-Another passage conducts the combustible gas into the case-
through the socket of the regulating cock or valve from whence it passes into a tube
leading to the combustion chamber-A passage communicating with this outlet
passage is also formed in the socket in such a position that by turning the plug for.
a fraction of a revolution the recess hereinbefore described in the plug may be so
placed in relation to the passages in the socket that whilst one part of the air from
the blowing apparatus enters the carburetter case another part passes, on directly
to the combustion chamber, the peculiar form of the recess in the plug enabling the
proportion of air in the gaseous inixture to be regulated as required..
When the cauterizing apparatus is required required to work without a pin.or
cauter such as that hereinbefore described the lever and pin are dispensed with and
the surface of the combustion chamber is employed as a cauterizing surface: the

page_text: shape or configuration thereof being modified according to the nature of the
operations to be performed-In this case the combustion chamber is closed at its
lower or smaller extremity but provided as in the arrangement hereinbefore
described with air inlet orifices and a distribution valve or regulating plug for
controlling the supply of gas and air.-For example in cauterizing apparatus for
use in-performing certain surgical operations in which an apparatus presenting an
extensive and annular cauterizing surface is required the combustible mixture is
supplied to the combustion chamber leads through an annular space or distributing
chamber from whence the gaseous mixture is distributed to an annular combustion
chamber through orifices formed in the bottom of the said distributing chamber
which is arranged to slide or turn upon the combustion chamber-This combustion
chamber is also provided at its upper part or periphery with a series of orifices for
the admission of air, the sides of the distributing chamber being provided with
corresponding grooves or recesses forming passages whereby the air is directed into
the combustion chamber and caused to meet the streams of gas escaping through
the orifices in the under side of the annular distributing chamber-This arrangement
enables the supply of gas and air to the combustion chamber to be intercepted or
regulated by simply causing the distribution chamber to turn upon the combustion
chamber so as to cause the respective orifices to coincide or not according to
circumstances.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CAUTERIZING APPARATUS," which Invention has been communicated to me from
Abroad by Claude André. Paquelin, Doctor of Medicine and Louis de Place, Captain
of Cavalry, both of Paris in the Republic of France, and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
This Invention relating to cauterizing apparatus consists in a novel con-
struction and combination of parts hereinafter described, whereby the operation of
cauterization is enabled to be performed under more advantageous conditions than
heretofore. In the improved apparatus constructed according to this Invention
the heating of the surface to be used as a cauter is obtained by the combustion of
a gaseous mixture which is produced in the apparatus and is burned in a suitable
combustion chamber, the supply of Gas and air being regulated by means of cocks
or valves of special construction as hereinafter explained.
I will explain the Invention with reference to the accompanying Drawing
whereon Figure 1 represents an elevation partly in Section of a cauterising
apparatus constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a Sectional view of the distributer for the gas in the chamber of the
cauter, the Section being taken on the line x, x, of Figure 1.
Figures 3 to 7 represent different forms of cauter.
Figures 8 and 9 represent Sections at right angles to each other of a special
carburetter for supplying the cauter with gas for combustion, for heating the same.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a special form of cock or valve for regulating the
proportions of the gaseous mixture.
The improved cauterizing apparatus arranged as illustrated in Figure 1 is
provided with a combustion chainber F attached to one extremity of a tube A
passing through a handle B of wood or other suitable material and communicating
at the other extremity with a nozzle or nipple C for the reception of a flexible gas
supply tube connected to a supply of combustible gas. The part of the tube A
carrying the combustion chamber slides telescopically, one over the other part, and
is capable of being fixed in any desired position thereon by means of a set screw D.
The interior of the tube at E communicates with the combustion chamber F, which
is preferably conical as shewn and is provided with an opening at its lower or
smaller extremity for the protrusion of a sliding needle or pin K, and having
also orifices G at its upper part for the admission of air, to mix with. the
gas supplied through the tube A to the combustion chamber F, to form in the
said chamber a combustible mixture which when ignited heats the pin K or
cauter proper. A block or plug H of metal, acting as a distributing valve, placed
in the upper part of the chamber F, is provided with an angled passage I through
which the gas from the tube A passes into the combustion chamber F.-A series of
passages or grooves J corresponding with the air inlet orifices G are arranged in
the sides of the plug H in such a manner as to bring the air admitted through
these orifices into intimate admixture with the gas entering the combustion
chamber through the passage I. The pin K, acts as a cauter, being passed through
the centre of the plug H and provided at one extremity with one or two enlarge-

page_text: incuts or knobs L, which enable the cauter to be operated by means of a lever M
provided with a corresponding fork or groove as shewn at P, Figure 1, The other
extremity of the pin K is contained in the chamber F and admits of being caused
to protrude from the opening in the lower part of the said chamber by means of
the lever M, which is preferably bent as indicated at N, so as to enable it to be
conveniently jointed to the handle B, of the apparatus.
The pin K, is heated by the combustion of the gases in the combustion chamber F,
and is caused to protrude from the small end of the chamber F, when required by
pressing on the lever M. The said pin is automatically retracted by the spring O,
when pressure is removed from the lever M.
It will be seen that the apparatus thus arranged admits of being readily divided
into four main parts viz: the handle, the head or heating chamber, the pin and the
lever, an arrangement whereby the manufacture and maintenance of the instrumont
is greatly facilitated.
The tube forming the handle of the cauterizing apparatus is connected by means
of a flexible pipe with a case, made preferably of a flat and circular form as shown
in figures 8 and 9, and filled with sponge or other porous material and provided
with rings or handles s, enabling it to be suspended in a convenient position in
front of the operator by means of a strap or otherwise. The sponge or other
porous material is saturated with hydrocarbon or equivalent fluid from which
combustible gas can be generated, and the case is provided with a regulating tap or
valve, X. This valve is connected with two tubes V, V₁ penetrating nearly to the
centre of the case and situated in a sheath or chamber W, of perforated metal
which prevents the porous materials from coming in contact with the said tubes.
On opposite sides of the socket of this plug or valve there are provided two
passages Y. Y¹ one of which communicates with a tube through which air is
supplied from a suitable blowing apparatus whilst the other serves for the delivery
of the gaseous mixture to the flexible tube attached to the nozzle C of the
cauterizing apparatus.
The plug Z of this cock is provided with passages so arranged as to enable either
the whole or a part of the air supplied from the blower to be delivered into the
case containing the porous materials, the excess of air in the latter case being
conveyed directly to the outlet tube Y, through a transverse passage provided for
the purpose in the plug of the cock. The said case is provided with a tube a for
filling or charging, and with a tube b, for emptying, they being capable of being
closed by means of screwed caps or plugs.
In order to vary the composition of the gaseous mixture according to circumi-
stances the cock may be arranged as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. According
to this arrangement the plug A, is provided with a circular recess c, extending
around somewhat more than half the circumference of the plug, being deepest at
the middle and gradually diminishing in depth towards the extremities.
The Socket in which the plug turns is provided with a passage d, serving for the
admission of air and corresponding with or facing the recess c, in the plug which
recess is capable of connecting this passage with a passage e, which directs the air
into the interior of the case of the carburetter. Another passage f, conducts the
combustible gas through the socket of the cock or valve from whence it passes
into a tube g, leading to the combustion chamber of the cauterizing apparatus.
A crooked passage h, communicating with this outlet passage g is also formed in the
socket in such a position that by turning the plug a part of a revolution the
recess c, may be so placed in relation to the passages in the socket that a portion of
the air from the blowing apparatus enters the carburetter case whilst another part
passes on directly to the combustion chamber of the cauterizing apparatus,. the
peculiar form of the recess in the plug enabling the proportions of air in the gaseous
mixture to be regulated as required.
When the cauterizing apparatus is required to work without a pin or cauter as
at K, the lever M and the pin K are dispensed with and the surface of tho
combustion chamber is employed as a cauterizing surface, the shape thereof being

page_text: modified according to the nature of the operations to be performed. It may be
formed, for example, as indicated in figures 3 and 4. In this case the combustion
chamber is closed at its lower or. smaller extremity but is provided as in the
arrangement herein before described with air inlet orifices Ġ and a valve or
regulating plug for controlling the supply of gas and air.
In cauterizing apparatus for use in performing certain Surgical operations, in
which an apparatus presenting an extensive and annular cauterizing surface is
required, the combustible mixture is supplied to an annulár space or distributing
chamber R, Fig. 5. from whence the gaseous mixture is distributed to an annular
combustion chamber T, through orifices S, formed in the bottom of the said
distributing chamber R, which is arranged to slide or turn upon the combustion
chamber T. This combustion chamber is also provided at its upper part or
periphery with a series of Orifices G, for the admission of air to the sides of the
distributing chamber R, being provided with corresponding grooves or recesses
forming passages J, whereby the air is directed into the combustion chamber and
caused to meet the streams of gas escaping through the orifices S, in the underside
of the chamber R. This arrangement enables the supply of Gas and air to the
combustion chamber to be intercepted or regulated by simply causing the distribution
chamber to turn upon the combustion chamber so as to cause the respective orifices
to coincide or not according to circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a cauterizing apparatus, the employment of a metal pin situated in and
capable of protrusion from a chamber wherein it is heated by combustion of gaseous
matter supplied thereto substantially as herein before described.
Second. In apparatus of the kind claimed by the preceding claiming clause the
employment of a distributor fitted to the top of the combustion chamber and
formed by a block of metal perforated for the passage of the gaseous matter to the
combustion chamber and provided with recesses for directing and distributing the.
air necessary for combustion substantially as herein before described.
Third. In apparatus of the kind claimed by the preceding first claiming clause,
the employment in place of the pin, and as the cauterizing surface, of a combustion
chamber so formed as to constitute a cauter suited to the nature of the operations.
to be performed substantially as hereinbefore described.
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Fourth. In a cauterizing apparatus, a hollow cauter supplied with a combustible
mixture which is ignited therein and heats the cauter, all substantially as
herein before described.
Fifth. For cauterizing purposes the carburetter constructed or arranged sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. In cauterizing apparatus, the employment of a distributing valve wherein
the plug is provided with a circular recess of variable Section and enables the
composition of the combustible mixture to be varied according to requirements as
illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the cauterizing
apparatus substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings under various modifications.
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