Improvements in Surgical Irrigators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1895-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1895
Improvements in Surgical Irrigators.
I, HERMANN KRAUSE, of Schlossstrasse 20, Heilgehulfe in Strassfurt, in the-
Kingdom of Prussia, Inventor, 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 :-
This invention consists of an irrigator used for surgical and other like purposes,.
and which differs from surgical irrigators as hitherto constructed, in being provided
with a hollow collapsible ball, and also a check or back pressure valve, the object
being to prevent the end of the irrigator tube from being choked up when in use.
In order to carry this invention into practice, I provide at about 200 m/m from.
the lower end of the tube a hollow spherical and collapsible ball, and at a suitable
position between the said collapsible ball and the vessel containing the fluid to be
injected I also provide a check or back pressure valve.
It is a well known fact that when the tube of an irrigator is used, said tube very
frequently becomes choked up, and when this happens in the irrigators as hitherto
constructed it is necessary to withdraw the tube, clean it and then re-insert it.
This unnecessary manipulation causing loss of time and also inconvenience to the.
patient is entirely obviated by my invention.
In order that this my invention may be readily understood I will describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved irrigator, (shown partly in section)
Fig. 2 being a section of the collapsible tube and check valve, on line x x of
Fig. 1.
The supply vessel a is adapted to contain the required liquid, which said liquid
flows from the vessel through the flexible tube b, the necessary pressure of the
liquid at the lower end of the tube being caused by placing the vessel higher than
the lower end of the tube, thus creating a column or head of liquid. The lower
end of the tube is provided with a valve chamber c having a check valved, which
valve permits the liquid to pass through from the vessel q into the ball and.
thence through the pipe and tube g.
In the event of the mouth of the tube g becoming choked so that the flow of the
liquid is prevented, it is only necessary to squeeze the ball with sufficient force,.
when the check valve d in the valve chamber c will be closed and thereby com-
munication between the ball and the tube b is shut off. The pressure created by
squeezing said ball h will cause the liquid within it to be forced through the pipe f
and the tube g, thereby clearing clearing the passage in the said tube 9.
By my improved irrigator the withdrawal and re-insertion of the tube g is entirely
unnecessary.
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. An irrigator to be used for surgical and other like purposes, provided between
the supply vessel a and collapsible ball with a valve chamber c having a check or
back pressure valve d, which valve is closed by squeezing the collapsible ball, and
communication with the supply vessel is shut off, the contents of the collapsible
ball being consequently forced through the pipe and tube g, thereby clearing
away any particles of excrement or other matter which may be in the tube,.

page_text: substantially as herein set forth and described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
2. The application of this invention to any form or kind of irrigator used for
surgical and other like purposes, substantially as herein set forth and described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of July 1895.
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.