Improvements in Sterilized Surgical Dressing, and the Process and Apparatus for Producing the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sterilized Surgical Dressing, and the Process and
Apparatus for Producing the same.
I, THEODORE YOUNG KINNE, of No. 9, Church Street, in the City of Paterson,
County of Passaic, and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Physician, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in processes of sterilizing surgical dress-
ings and also to the apparatus used for carrying out said processes.
The object of the present invention is to economically, quickly and thoroughly
sterilize surgical dressings together with the containers therefor, (which latter
consists of the well known compressible ductile and impervious metal tubes);
a further object is to provide an apparatus for carrying out said process, which
apparatus is of simple construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and easily
handled.
The invention consists in the improved sterilized surgical dressing, in the process
of sterilization, and in the apparatus used for carrying out said process, sub-
stantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and finally embodied in the
clauses of the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like letters of reference in-
dicate corresponding parts in the two views; Fig. 1, is a central vertical sectional
view of my improved apparatus, only those parts being shown which are necessary
to fully illustrate the nature of my said invention, and Fig. 2 a central horizontal
sectional view (in a plane x x of Fig. 1,)-the compressible tubes shown in Fig. 1
being removed.
In said drawing, a indicates a metallic dome preferably of copper, substantially
circular in cross-section, and divided vertically into two halves b, and c, hinged
together as at d on one side, and secured at their meeting edges on the opposite
side by suitable clasps e.
The edge of the section is provided with a flange e¹, which slightly over-laps
the edge of the section c. The joint between the two sections may be tightly
sealed by means of any suitable packing, as of felt, arranged on the one or the
other of said sections as desired.
Mounted upon the bottom f of the dome a in suitable brackets fo, are a series of
vertical glass rods f, carrying near their lower portions a metallic plate g, whilst
a parallel metallic plate g' is adjustably arranged on the upper portions of said
rods.
For said purpose the metallic plate g₁ is provided with sleeves g³, slidingly
arranged on their respective glass rods f, and penetrated by set screws g, by
means of which latter said sleeves are adjusted and secured, as will be manifest.
The upper plate is provided with a series of circular holes or perforations 9³,
in vertical alignment with the circular wire rings h° of a skeleton frame h,
supported by--and secured to the glass rods f, in any desired manner-and about
mid-way between the plates g and g¹.
The section of the dome a is penetrated at suitable places by insulating

page_text: bushings, in which are secured metallic rods or conductors 2 and 3, having
their inner ends connected by wires (preferably flexible) and 25 with the
metallic plates g¹ and g respectively; said plates for that purpose--carry binding
posts m and m¹, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
arranged a thermometer »,
At a suitable place in the top portion of the dome a
extending into but registering above said dome.
The bottom or bed-plate of the dome a is suitably supported by legs or
standards thus furnishing sufficient space for the insertion of a pipe coil
provided in its top portion with a series of orifices, and having its free end detach-
ably connected with the gas supply pipe r, substantially as illustrated.
Said pipe coil with its orifices and gas supply connection constitutes a burner
or heater, but it may be well to remark, that other suitable heating means may be
used in connection with my improved apparatus, without deviating from the
spirit of my invention.
To carry my improved process into effect, the surgical dressing is first placed
into the compressible ductile and impervious metal tubes s, and after the latter
have been hermetically closed and the air completely expelled therefrom, in any
suitable manner, they are inserted into the skeleton frame h, which latter supports
said tubes, while their lower ends rest upon and are in metallic contact with the
metallic plate g.
The metallic plate gl is now placed upon the standards or supports f³ and is
moved downward, until its holes or perforations 92 engage and bear upon the rop
or neck portions of said compressible metal tubes.
The sections c and b of the dome are then closed and heat is applied to the
bottom thereof.
The temperature is allowed to rise to about 100 to 120° F., and when it has
reached said degree, the heat is turned off, and an electric current-from a suitable
source of electricity is sent through the wires 22 and 23.
The current passes through the metallic plates g and g¹, (and as the latter are
in metallic contact with the compressible tubes s, s,)-through the said tubes and
the surgical dressing contained therein.
The sterilizing of the surgical dressing is thus quickly and thoroughly com-
pleted, (it will require from 5 to 10 minutes-according to the strength of the
current), and after the current is turned off, the compressible tubes are removed,
as will be manifest.
Experiments have proven, that if a very strong electric current is used, the
preliminary heating or sterilizing in hot air can be dispensed with, and this is
especially the case, when the dressings in the compressible tubes-contain metal
salts such as salts of mercury, zinc, copper, etc.
In that case about 10 to 15 minutes are necessary for the current to be
applied.
By my improved process and apparatus the great objections to the ordinary
sterilizing of surgical dressings-contained in compressible tubes-is overcome,
viz., the high temperature necessary for a complete sterilization; the danger of
bursting the compressible tubes during the process of sterilizing; and finally the
length of time needed for the compressible tubes to cool off after having been
subjected to a temperature of from 200 to 250° F.
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: The herein described method of sterilizing consisting in subjecting the
article to the action of both heat, and electricity.
2: The herein described method of sterilizing consisting in subjecting the
article to be sterilized to the action, of heat till a predetermined degree of tem-
perature is reached, and then to the action of a current of electricity, substantially
as specified.

page_text: 3: The herein described method of sterilizing consisting in subjecting the
article to a degree of heat insufficient per se to effect said sterilization, and in com-
pleting said sterilization by further subjecting said article to a current of electricity,
substantially as specified.
4: The herein described method of sterilizing surgical dressings consisting in
subjecting said dressings to a temperature of from 100 to 120° F., and in sub-
sequently subjecting said dressings to the action of an electrical current, sub-
stantially as specified.
5: The herein described method of sterilizing surgical dressings, which con-
sists in first introducing the same into suitable containers having the quality of
electric conductivity, in afterwards subjecting the same to a temperature of
from 100 to 120° .F., and in subsequently subjecting said dressings and the con-
tainers therefor to the action of an electric current, substantially as specified.
6: The herein described method of sterilizing surgical dressings, which con-
sists in first introducing the same into metallic containers, in then expelling the
air from and hermetically sealing said containers, in subiecting said dressings
and the containers therefor to a temperature of from 100 to 120° F., and in sub-
sequently subjecting the same to the action of an electric current, substantially
as specified.
7: In a sterilizing apparatus, a sterilizing chamber adapted to receive the
article or articles to be sterilized, supports for said article, or articles arranged in
said chamber and connected with a source of electricity and constituting electric
conductors between said article or articles and the source of electricity, and means
for heating said chamber and its contents, substantially as specified.
8: In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination with containers for the article
to be sterilized and a chamber adapted to receive said containers, of a pair of
supports for the containers arranged in said chamber and adapted to be electrically
connected by said containers, means for heating said chamber and its contents, and
an electric circuit including said supports and the containers, substantially as
specified.
9: In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination with metallic containers for the
articles to be sterilized and a chamber adapted to receive said containers, of a pair
of substantially parallel metallic supports arranged in said chamber and adapted
to be electrically connected by said containers, means for heating said chamber
and its contents, and an electric circuit including said supports and the containers,
substantially as specified.
10: In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination with a chamber, of a pair of
horizontal metallic disks arranged-one above the other-in said chamber,
metallic containers for the article to be sterilized resting upon the lower disk and
in contact with the upper disk, means for heating said chamber and its contents,
and an electric circuit including said disks and the containers, substantially as
specified.
11: In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination with a chamber, of a pair of
horizontal metallic disks arranged--one above the other-in said chamber,
one of said disks being adjustable with reference to the other, metallic containers
for the article to be sterilized resting upon the lower disk and in. contact with
the upper disk, means for heating the said chamber and its contents, and an
electric circuit including said disks and the containers, substantially as specified.
12: In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination with a chamber, of vertical
insulating rods mounted therein, a pair of parallel metallic disks carried by said
rods the one above the other, the upper disk being adjustable on said rods,
metallic containers for the article to be sterilized resting upon the lower disk and
in contact with the upper disk, means for heating the chamber and its contents,
and an electric circuit including said disks and the containers, substantially as
specified.
13: In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination with a chamber comprising two
hinged sections and having a common bottom secured to one of said sections, means

page_text: for securing said sections together, vertical.insulating rods mounted on the bottom,
parallel metallic disks arranged one above the other and mounted upon said rods,
the upper disk being adjustable on said rods, metallic containers for the article to
be sterilized resting upon the lower disk and penetrating and in contact with the
upper disk, heating means situated beneath and adapted to heat said chamber and
its contents, an electric circuit including said metallic disks and the containers,
and a thermometer suitably mounted on and projecting into said chamber, sub-
stantially as specified.
14: As a new article of manufacture sterilized surgical dressing put up in
compressible hermetically scaled sterilized ductile and impervious metal tubes
having a comparatively small outlet opening, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1898.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.