Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1887
Specification Accepted, 20th Jan., 1888
I, JUSTUS SCHMITT, of Osnabrück, in the Empire of Germany, Instrument Maker
d& 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
My invention relates to surgeon's knives the haft of which is adapted to be taken to
pieces.
The knives heretofore known by the name of Bistoury have the defect which is
frequently experienced by surgeons that it is very difficult and often impossible to
clean them thoroughly from the secretions of the wound which adhere to them after
their employment, especially at the joint of the haft and blade.
The object of the present invention is the construction of a Bistoury, which is
adapted to be easily taken to pieces so that each time it is used every single part can
be subjected to a thorough cleaning.
In the accompanying drawing the figures of which are hereinafter referred to I
have represented a knife constructed according to my invention.
To allow of its easy separation the haft of the knife consists of two similar plates a,
of which Figure 4 represents the outer side, and Figure 7 the inner side, and in which
at one end of each is a button-hole shaped slot b, whilst the other end is provided with
a pin c, which is of the same diameter as the round parts of the slots 6 the said pins c
are notched in proximity to their end on both sides parallel to the longitudinal
direction of the plates so that the thickness thereof at this point corresponds with the
width of the narrow part of the slots b. Upon the inner surface of each plate, near
the pin c are two shorter pins d and which extend to the height of the lower edge
of the notches in the pins c.
The putting together of these two plates above described with the two blades f as
represented in figures 5 and 6, to form a Bistoury can only take place when both
blades are in the open position.
When putting the said parts together the pins c pass through the holes g in the
ends of the blades, and enter the slots of the opposite plates becoming in this manner
the fulcrums for both blades as indicated in figure 3. The pins e at the same time
רנp

page_text: limit the motion of, and form points of support for, the blades in the open as well as
closed position as shown in figure 2: moreover the pins d are adapted to fix the
blades in these two positions, Figures 1 and 2.
After the knife has been put together the two plates a forming the haft can be
displaced relatively to each other in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures 4
and 7 in accordance with the length of the slots, the fixing of the parts together being
thus effected. The edges of the narrow parts of the slots engage with the notches of
the pins c and thus prevent the knife falling to pieces whilst both blades are fixed in
the open position. If now both plates are displaced again in the direction opposite
to that indicated by the arrows, both blades are movable. If in this position of the
plates one of the two blades is closed or both, the displacement of the plates as shown
in Figures 1 and 2, cannot take place to such an extent that the pins c enters the
round parts of the slots b, because the pins d would strike before that, against the
rectangular edges h of the closed blades. The knife, as long as one blade is closed,
cannot therefore be taken to pieces, consequently it cannot fall asunder in the hand of
the surgeon while being used.
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 :-
First. The knife above described and represented by the drawing having a haft
that can be taken to pieces, consisting of two plates a a and two blades ff which
latter can be fixed in the open as well as the closed position by the displacement of
the two plates a a.
Second. The plates aa which are like each other and form the haft of the above
mentioned knife, with a button-holo shaped slot b, the pin c notched near its end, and
the two shorter pins d and e serving as supporting points and for fixing the blades,
substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.