An Appliance for Facilitating Parturition.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug.. 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
An Appliance for Facilitating Parturition.
I, EDWARD MOLINEUX KNAPP M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., L.M. Edde-cross House,
Ross, Herefordshire, Medical Practitioner, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
An appliance to facilitate delivery in child-birth.
The object is attained by compression-under control of the accoucheur-evenly
distributed over that part of the abdominal surface where it is of service; and by
pressure applied at the same time and by the same means over the lower part of
the back, where it affords relief.
The means employed consist of a running tackle of lines, overlying a suitable
abdominal pad and in connection with a lever adjusted at the patient's back with
its fulcrum at the lower part; and worked by the hand of the accoucheur.
Dated this Tenth day of October 1892.
EDWARD MOLINEUX KNAPP
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Appliance for Facilitating Parturition.
I, EDWARD MOLINEUX KNAPP M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., L.M., of Edde-Cross
House, Ross in the County of Hereford Medical Practitioner 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:-
The object of this invention is to obtain a powerful compression under the control
of the "accoucheur" and evenly distributed over that part of the abdominal surface
where it is of service, and at the same time to obtain a counter pressure over the
lower part of the back where it affords relief.
For this purpose I employ a running tackle of lines, cords, or the like overlapping
or controlling a suitable abdominal pad, and in connection therewith I employ a
lever mounted with its fulcrum at the lower part of the patient's back, and which is
adapted to be worked by the hand of the "accoucheur."
It will be evident that in lieu of a simple lever, I might employ a screw or like
means in order to obtain the necessary leverage.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.

page_text: which is provided with a pocket c¹ and a flap c³ to receive and secure in position
the splint or back-board a.
Upon the back-board a is mounted the lower end of a lever b which is hinged or
pinjointed to the splint or back-board a by means of a pin a' passing through a hole
formed in the lower part of the lever and also through an apertured projection a
from the splint or back-board a, and which enters a saw-cut formed in the lower
end of the lever 1, the object of this construction being to facilitate the separation
of the parts for transport.
The belt or corset c which is shaped as nearly as possible to the form of a person
requiring its application, is furnished with straps cupon one part and buckles of
upon the other part, and at the lower part thereof it is also provided with rings co
through which a lace c is passed, by the aid of which appliances, it may be drawn
tightly around the figure of the wearer as will be seen more particularly on reference
to Figure 4.
Over or upon the exterior of the belt or corset c is placed an abdominal pad d,
which is stiffened at its centre by a vertical busk d' shaped somewhat to the form
of the wearer, and this abdominal pad d is upon cach side of the busk d' split or
divided horizontally, forming flaps d' which overlap and are connected by a hook
and eye at thereby causing the abdominal pad to assume the necessary dished
form.
Over the busk d¹ are fixed several short straps d', having secured thereto rings d',
and these rings d' are coupled in pairs by straps d' upon which are threaded
rings d' again coupled by straps d whilst upon the straps d are threaded larger
rings d'.
Upon the lever b is adjustably mounted in a longitudinal slot 6', a ring which
is formed with a threaded shank upon which is screwed a fly nut e by the aid of
which the ring e' may be fixed in any desired position within certain limits, and
through the ringe is passed the bight of a strap e, the two parts of which pass up
over hooks carried by an enlargement 6 of the lever b, and thence descend and
pass through the large rings of the abdominal pad d, and thence return to the
splint or back-board a, where the ends of the straps which are formed with button
holes e¹ are secured to hooks a³ carried by the splint or back-board a.
By this arrangement of parts the length of the strap e may be adjusted to suit
the proportions of the person to whom the device is applied, as the ring e' may be
raised or lowered in the slot 1 of the lever b, thus giving out or taking up the
bight of the strap e and materially varying the length thereof, the arrangement of
the button holes e¹ and hooks a' also assisting this adjustment.
When the apparatus is in use as indicated by the diagram Figure 5, the
accoucheur presses down the lever b in the manner indicated by the dotted lines,
when through the strap e, rings d, and abdominal pad d, the required pressure will
be brought to bear upon the patient, and by reason of the peculiar arrangement of
the straps d' d' d³, this pressure will be evenly distributed over the entire surface
of the pad d.
Although I have described the employment of a simple lever b to produce the
necessary pressure, it will be understood that I may if desired, obtain the required
leverage by means of a screw or the like, and I would also have it understood that
my invention is also useful in cases other than child-birth where abdominal
compression is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An appliance for obtaining abdominal compression, consisting of an abdominal
pad actuated by a lever or the like having its fulcrum or bearing located at the
lower part of the back of the patient substantially as herein shown and described..
2. An appliance for obtaining abdominal compression, consisting of an abdominal

page_text: pad, a system of running tackle connected therewith, and a lever or the like
connected with the running tackle and adjusted by a belt or other means with its
fulcrum or bearing at the lower part of the back of the patient substantially as
herein shown and described.
Dated this 10th day of August 1893.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.