Improvements in the Construction and Principles of Sterilizers for Surgical Instruments. Surgical Dressings, Milk, and other articles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1898
1
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1899
Improvements in the Construction and Principles of Sterilizers for
Surgical Instruments. Surgical Dressings, Milk, and other articles.
I, GEORGE BURBIDGE WHITE, M.D., F.R.C.S.I., 53, South Richmond Street,
Dublin, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
_
The object of my invention is to provide in connection with sterilisation, of
instruments for surgical purposes, of surgical dressings, of milk and articles of
food, a machine or steriliser, which while affording absolutely perfect sterilising
power (as tested), shall combine therewith, greatest portability, economy of space,
.e. fitting into ordinary sized bags, or can be strapped to any light article carried
in hand, while it will hold any, or the largest instruments used, the quickest
generation of steam, the generator being at the same time absolutely safe, contain-
ing no loose fluid that can spill if the instrument be put on its side or up-turned,
the while containing supply for several operations. The instrument can be used
in whole or in part. No delay occurs in using it as no fixing is required, no legs
to fit on, no lamps requiring to be placed in position as in ordinary instruments
in use, it simply stands on its own base, viz. the bottom of the lamp or generator,
which forms part of the instrument, thus economy of time is effected;
the whole is an entirely new combination of principles and differs in form and
arrangement from any such which at present exist.
To effect the above object I use, in place of the ordinary dish, with lid and
internal gauze tray, an outer tube of suitable size and shape (round rectangular
or oval) ending at one end (bottom) in a water chamber or well round or other
suitable shape, and divided from the body of the tube by a perforated partition
of wire gauze (on which the inner tube hereafter mentioned rests, through
which steam passes when working, this tube at the other end (top) is open, and
'provided with a fit-on cover; below the water chamber a continuation of tube is
fitted with the lamp or generator, which by a curtain arrangement contains no
fluid in a loose state, that can spill out, but in a fit state to burn, the lamp containing
supply for several operations.
The inner tube or sterilising chamber, forms the receptacle for the instru-
ments or other articles, is also a tube of suitable style and size and shape,
shorter & of lesser diameter than the outer tube, to fit into the latter, and allow
th inch steam space round between the tubes, being kept in position by suitable
ears, this tube is closed at one end by a flat bottom, which rests in situ" on the
partition of gauze wire, separating it from the water chamber of outer tube below,
and at the other end is open, and when in operation is plugged with a lump of
cotton wool,, or suitable substitute, inside the inner tube are fixed suitable racks,
hooks, or fittings for holding instruments or articles to be sterilised.
Dated this 10+ If Al 1000
GEORGE BURBIDGE WHITE, M.D., F.R.C.S.,
53, South Richmond Street, Dublin, Ireland.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction and Principles of Sterilizers for
Surgical Instruments, Surgical Dressings, Milk, and other articles,
'
I, GEORGE BURBIDGE WHITE, 53, South Richmond Street, Dublin, M.D.,
F.R.C.S.I., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My invention is for the purpose of enabling the sterilizing of surgical (and
bacteriological) instruments, hygienic apparatus & dietetic articles without sub-
jecting same to the process of boiling in water, and further to maintain these in
an aseptic state till required for use without resterilization. This is carried out
by having steam, (vapour of water, water gas) generated & placed in contact with
the instruments or articles to be sterilized, & at the saine time by this means to
have the chamber in which these instruments or articles are placed raised to
efficient temperature, without boiling in water.
To effect these objects I use an outer chamber A and one two or more inner
chambers B capable of fitting into the outer chamber a heat generator or lamp G
of suitable kind to be placed at the end or bottom of the outer chamber and which
may be permanently attached to or separable from the said outer chamber. Over
the lamp and within the outer chamber is placed the water container W or boiler
separated from the remainder of the outer chamber (which forms the steam
chamber) by a suitable perforated division to enable the steam generated in the
boiler to pass into the outer chamber (or steam chamber) above this division, this
container or boiler may be permanently attached to or separable from the outer
chamber. The outer chamber is provided with a lid L to close it at one end the
other end or bottom being terminated by the aforesaid division, water container
and lamp. The lid of the outer chamber may have a number of holes perforations
or valves to enable the heat or temperature of this chamber to be regulated and for
the passage of a thermometer T hereinafter more particularly described for the
purpose of registering the heat or temperature of the interior of the inner chamber
hereinafter described when necessary. The inner chamber or sterilizer, or germ
proof chamber is a chamber closed at one end or bottom & open at the other and
which is placed within the outer chamber so as to leave space all round it, so as to
enable steam as before mentioned to surround it completely and on all sides.
This inner chamber may be placed on or above the perforated division P', either
by resting on it in a suitable way or on suitable supports placed inside the outer
chamber as before stated there may be any number of these inner chambers but
for purpose of explanation I have in the diagram only figured one in place.
The inner chamber is to be entirely separate and distinct from the outer chamber
and is not to be in contact with the boiling water or any part of it, but it may
be fixed in position by suitable attachment, e.g. a pipe, tap or cock or such like
device. The open end or top of the inner chamber is to be closed by the germ
proof plug or stopper QQ' devised for this purpose which is not a lid and will
close the open end of said inner chamber in such a manner that while it transmits
steam, (aqueous vapour elastic gas), air &c., prevents all micro organisms or germs
of any kind from passing into said inner chamber, any steam (aqueous vapor or
elastic gas) formed in the inner chamber is to some extent prevented being trans-
mitted outward by pressure of the steam on the outer surface of it. This plug or
stopper may be made of a single layer, or double, or more layers of suitable porous
material such as metallic gauze ordinary strainer material or suitable substitute,
and having a side or rim of suitable size & shape and material and is to fit the
inner chamber or sterilizer with perfect apposition of surface and above between or

page_text: below said gauze material is to be placed a suitable arrangement of the following,
or a combination of any of them.
1. Cotton flax or other suitable vegetable fibre or filament.
2. Wool hair or any suitable animal filament or fibre.
3. Asbestos silicate cotton or any suitable mineral fibre or filament.
Through this plug there may be a tube passing through & permanently
attached thereto in such a manner that the efficiency of the germ proof quality is
not impaired this tube is to be closed at one end which end is to project downwards
in the inner chamber for any distance and open at the other which may project
through one of the openings described in the lid or cover of the outer chamber
and is for the passage of a thermometer that will enable the temperature of the
interior of the inner chamber to be registered if so required during the sterilizing
process.
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 portable or fixed combination of sterilizing apparatus consisting of heat
generator G. Water container W. Steam chamber A and lid L. Sterilizing chamber
or chambers B, germ proof plug QQ having all the qualities construction and
arrangements described or some of them combined with others.
2. Combination of lamp or generator cavity water container and steam chamber
as described whereby large or small sterilizing operations can be performed.
3. A scientifically constructed sterilizing chamber for sterilizing surgical instru-
ments bacteriological instruments and apparatus dietetic articles and effecting
hygienic conditions, asepsis, & freedom from germs and infection of any kind in
tools apparatus or articles used in any trade or calling where such exists and may
be transmitted.
4. A sterilizer to sterilize its contents whatever they may be without subjecting
same to the process or effects of boiling in water.
5. A portable germ-proof chamber in which the foregoing included and men-
tionel articles or others (after sterilization) can & may be carried about without
fear of reinfection and in which the contents are maintained in a germ-free state
as long as desired by means of plugging with the before described germ-proof
stopper.
6. A germ-proof plug or stopper to close the open end of the sterilizing chamber
so constructed and applied in such a manner that while it transmits steam (aqueous
vapour elastic gas), air, &c., effectually excludes all microbes and germs and does
not transmit them, and pressure of the steam on its outer surface prevents to some
extent aqueous vapor from escaping out of the inner chamber if generated there,
providing a moist heat therein.
Total this oth
T
1000