AN IMPROVED PESSARY
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Blackbee, of Norfolk Road, Dalston, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
PESSARY."
Sealed the 27th July 1869, and dated the 28th January 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Blackbee at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th January 1869.
I, ROBERT BLACKBEE, of Norfolk Road, Dalston, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED PESSARY," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in so constructing a pessary as that by being
shaped in direct reference to the anatomy of the pelvis it shall possess
from its peculiar construction a double self-acting spring, that is to say,
laterally and transversely, thereby presenting the following desirable

page_text: "it im-
practical advantages:-Upon being introduced "per vaginam
mediately adjusts itself to the requirements of the case, arrives at a
foundation or resting place on the inferior margin of the foramena
ovalia, thus giving entire support to the fundus uteri and the cervix
uteri without undue pressure on any part, and at the same time leaving
the pessary in such a state of freedom and being so light as to render
its presence almost unknown to the wearer, at the same time yielding
to the movements of the body.
The following is the construction of the above appliance :-In the
first place I form a skeleton framework or foundation of properly
tempered steel wire so shaped by a series of curves (which curves
are formed in direct reference to the anatomical formation of that
portion of the pelvis in which it is to be placed) as to render it in a
great measure self-adjusting, entirely supporting the prolapsed uterus.
This skeleton having been formed is covered with ætherized india-
rubber or other suitable substance, that is to say, I take a piece
of properly tempered steel wire of suitable length and thickness,
and with suitable instruments shape it into proper form. The
ends of the wire are left disconnected in order to cover the skeleton
thus formed with a soft elastic material or other suitable substance.
This I do by inserting one end of the wire into a suitably made tube
of ætherized rubber, vulcanized rubber, gutta percha, or other suitable
substance, and having drawn on a sufficient length of the material I
draw back the ends thereof and unite the ends of the wire; the ends
of the covering are then brought together and united, or I unite the
ends of the wire first and cover it with the aforesaid material by any
other suitable means.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Blackbee, Her special
licence that I, the said Robert Blackbee, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Blackbee, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PESSARY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Blackbee, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Blackbee, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in so constructing a pessary as that by being
shaped in direct reference to the anatomy of the pelvis it shall possess
from its peculiar construction a double self-acting spring, that is to say,
laterally and transversely, thereby presenting the following desirable
practical advantages:-Upon being introduced "per vaginam" it im-
mediately adjusts itself to the requirements of the case, arrives at a
foundation or resting place on the inferior margin of the foramena
ovalia, thus giving entire support to the fundus uteri and the cervix
uteri without undue pressure on any part, and at the same time leaving
the pessary in such a state of freedom and being so light as to render
its presence almost unknown to the wearer, at the same time yielding to
the movements of the body.
The following is the construction of the above appliance :-In the
first place I form a skeleton framework or foundation of properly

page_text: tempered steel wire so shaped by a series of curves (which curves are
1ormed in direct reference to the anatomical formation of that portion
of the pelvis in which it is to be placed) as to render it in a great
measure self-adjusting, entirely supporting the prolapsed uterus. This
skeleton having been formed is covered with ætherized india-rubber or
other suitable substance, that is to say, I take a piece of properly
tempered steel wire of suitable length and thickness, and with suitable
instruments shape it into proper form. The ends of the wire are
left disconnected in order to cover the skeleton thus formed with a
soft elastic material or other suitable substance. This I do by
inserting one end of the wire into a suitably made tube of ætherized
rubber, vulcanized rubber, gutta percha, or other suitable substance,
and having drawn on a sufficient length of the material I draw
back the ends thereof and unite the ends of the wire; the ends of
the covering are then brought together and united, or I unite the ends
of the wire first and cover it with the aforesaid material by any other
suitable means; but I prefer to have the elastic coating detached or
✓ loose upon the steel foundation as a tube, as above stated.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood I
will now proceed to describe the Drawing accompanying these presents
illustrative of the construction of my improved pessary.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
'
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved pessary complete
shewing the peculiar shape thereof in accordance with the anatomy
of the part to which it is to be applied, as above stated; Figure 2, a
perspective side view of the pessary shewing a portion of the elastic
covering removed at
A marks the tempered steel wire or
foundation; B, elastic tube or covering, or there may be two or more
tubes passed one over the other; C, D, and E, G, mark the more flexible
or yielding parts of the pessary when pressed against, constituting in
fact a double self-acting spring, yielding to the movements of the body,
as above stated.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of
my said Invention for "An Improved Pessary," together with the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect,
I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as my Invention

page_text: intended to be secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, covering the foundation of a pessary with one or more tubes
of india-rubber, gutta percha, or other suitable substance in the manner
above described with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Blackbee, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.