An Improved Method of Putting up Ligatures, Sutures, Capillary Drains, and similar Surgical and Anatomical Threads.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Putting up Ligatures, Sutures, Capillary
Drains, and similar Surgical and Anatomical Threads.
JOHN MILNE, Antiseptic Dressings Factory, Ladywell, London, S.E., Surgical
Dressings Manufacturer, do hereby declaro 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 relates to the putting up of surgical threads, ligatures, sutures,
capillary wound drains and other similar materials whether medicated, or anti-
septically treated or not, for convenience in use, preservation from entanglement, and
transportation of same. My plan consists in suspending the aforesaid threads as here-
inbefore specified, in cylinders of a convenient length and diameter, constructed of
glass, metal, cardboard, vulcanite, wood or any other suitable material or materials,
the ends of which cylinders may be closed or loft open, and which cylinders may be of
any desired length to correspond with the length of the threads or other materials
required to be placed therein, or the cylinders may be half, third, or other subdivision
of the length of the threads or other materials, the latter being doubled upon them-
selves according to requirements. Thus given the length of the threads as
12 inches, the depth or length of the cylinders should be of an internal depth and
length to suit same. By this means the articles are retained in a perfectly straight
condition. But as a tube of 12 inches length is not convenient under all circum-
stances, the threads or other materials may be suspended by their centres, or other
parts, within the cylinders instead of by the ends, hence the length of the cylinders
would be reduced according to the number of folds made in the threads or other
materials, whilst by so doing the idea of straight threads is still practically the
same. There is no restriction as to lengths of either cylinders or threads. These
threads or other materials are for preference suspended or hung by the ends or other
portions between two plugs of any suitable material of a shape adapted to the interior
of, and fixed in the cylinders, or are fastened to or around a slip of wood, bone, lead
or other suitable material or materials placed fixed or wedged inside the cylinders, or
over a bar within the cylinders, or they may be simply laid within the same without
suspension, fastening, or control of any kind. The cylinders may be sealed at the
ends for purpose of retaining the threads or other materials in liquids when required.
The threads or other materials are, by my plan, more trustworthy, as (for instance) in
the tying or ligaturing of incised blood vessels, ligaments or arteries, and the stitching
or sewing of wounds, and are placed conveniently to the hand of the operator, inas-
much as any ligature, thread, &c. required can be simply drawn out of the cylinder,
instead of off reels and tablets as described in my Patent No. 15978, 1887, or as in
use previous to that plan, viz. out of simple coils.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A new method of putting up ligatures, sutures, capillary wound drains, and
similar surgical and anatomical threads, with or without their various solutions, in
straight lengths, in such a way as to be instantly and conveniently accessible to the
operator, substantially as described.
2. The threads being put up in straight lengths, or folded upon themselves in
straight folds, and placed within cylinders as hereinbefore described.
3. The threads may be suspended by the ends or any other part, within the cylinders
as set forth.
4. The cylinders may or may not contain liquids according to requirements

page_text: 5. The threads or other materials may be fixed or suspended within the cylinders in
the manner described, or may be loosely laid therein.
6. The cylinders may be of convenient lengths as required; and of snch material as
may be convenient to the purpose in view.
7. The cylinders may be either round, square, or any other convenient shape.
Dated this 8th day of June 1889.
A. G. PRITCHARD,
Agent for Applicant.