Year: 1895

page_text: Late of Application (in United Kingdom), 15th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to pessaries and consists in certain improvements in the
construction of the same, as hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a pessary, constructed according to my invention and in
position as when in use.
Fig. 2 represents the pessary, bent at its hinge joint nearly to a right angle, as
when being applied.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base piece of the jointed pessary, the stem being
removed.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the under surface of the said base piece.
Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of the base-piece.
Fig. 6 represents face views of stems varying in size, four sizes being shown.
Fig. 7 represents the said stems in edge views, showing them tapered at their
free ends.
The improved pessary has a base-piece which is made in two parts, one of which
designated a, forms a base for the stem b, and is connected by a hinge joint c, with
the main supporting part d, which rises somewhat from said joint and is then
enlarged, taking somewhat of the form of a ring at its outer extremity. The
stem b, is provided with a screw-threaded projection e, and is screwed into a threaded
aperture h, in the base a. The said stem is somewhat flattened at its free end, so
that in one view, it appears tapering as seen in Fig. 7. These stems are made of
various diameters, the diameters varying from three-sixteenths to six-sixteenths of
an inch, or even wider in special cases, and may be interchangeably used with the
same base or support. Such stems are also made of various lengths, as may be
needed in certain cases; two inches or two and a quarter inches in length being
the sizes usually required.
A spring 9, is secured to the lower side of the main supporting part d, and
extends toward the aperture h, in which the stem is secured, and beyond the joint c.
A recess, extends from the aperture , as seen in Fig. 4, and the spring 9, is in
position for its tapering end to enter said recess when the device is bent to the
position shown in Fig. 2. When the base piece of the pessary is thus bent, the
tapering end of the spring, curved so as to enter the recess i, steadily and
constantly exerts its pressure, bearing against the part a, and is thereby made

page_text: more effective, is less liable to fracture and is prevented from hurting the
patient.
These
The hinge connection of the two parts of the base-piece permits more or less
yielding to the different degrees of pressure occasioned by the various positions of the
body; yet, in all these varying conditions and positions, keeps up, without undue
tension, a constant force, operating always in such a manner as to promote a
restoration of the uterus and its appendages to a normal position, and to favour the
maintenance of the natural relations of the pelvic organs one to another.
desirable results and conditions are accomplished by the device as a whole; the
broad base correcting lateral displacements, the spring operating so as to correct
displacements or flections forward or backward, and the stem, so formed that by
dilating and gently stretching the internal channel, keeps the uterine canal open by
breaking up uterine strictures, contractions or spasmodic conditions, thereby
promoting a free exit of all discharges and accumulations, and enabling the blood
vessels to empty themselves, often to the prompt and permanent removal of
congestion and sub-acute inflammation, and relief of the pain and irritation,
whether local or reflex, resulting therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. A pessary consisting of a base-piece made in two parts which are connected
by a hinge-joint, one of said parts being provided with a recess and the other part
having a ring-form, substantially as shown, a stem mounted on one of said parts,
said stem being flattened and tapered at its free end, and a spring secured to the
main part of said base piece, said spring being in position to bear on the other part
and to extend into said recess when said base-piece is bent at its hinge-joint,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a pessary, the combination with a base-piece made in two parts which are
connected by a hinge-joint, of a spring secured to one of said parts, the other part
of said base-piece being provided with a recess and said spring being adapted to
extend into said recess when said base-piece is bent at its hinge-joint and to keep
the base in a substantially horizontal position when in use, substantially as and for
the purposes described.