Improvements in Forceps for Extracting Bullets or other Foreign Substances from Human Beings or Animals.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Forceps for Extracting Bullets or other Foreign
Substances from Human Beings or Animals.
I, JAMES ARNOLD, of the Firm of Arnold and Sons, of West Smithfield in the
City of London, Surgical Instrument Makers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Bullet forceps as hitherto made usually have one or two teeth or points to each
blade, which are for the new regulation bullet comparatively ineffective. The
forceps with two teeth is preferable, but it presents this disadvantage, the bullet
being hard metal, is liable to slip or move from side to side, which retards extraction.
The object of my invention is to remedy these defects, and to accomplish this, I
place between the two outer teeth or points one or more small sharp projections,
which firmly and securely hold the bullet and prevent the possibility of rotation;
or I make a forceps with two or more teeth or points on each blade, and behind
these another series of teeth or points, and this series may be added to by even
placing thereon three or more series, but in practice I have found that two series of
teeth on each blade, as described, answer the purpose intended, that is, four teeth
on either blade, two set behind the other two.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1893.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Forceps for Extracting Bullets or other Foreign
Substances from Human Beings or Animals.
I, JAMES ARNOLD of the Firm of Arnold and Sons of West Smithfield, in the
City of London, Surgical Instrument Makers 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 :-
Bullet forceps as hitherto made usually have one or two teeth or points to each
blade, which are for the new regulation bullet comparatively ineffective. The
forceps with two teeth is preferable, but it presents this disadvantage, the bullet
being hard metal is liable to slip or move from side to side which retards extraction.
The object of my invention is to remedy these defects, and to accomplish this I
provide the instrument with teeth, points or sharp projections as hereafter described
which firmly and securely hold the bullet or other foreign substance and prevent
the possibility of rotation of same, or the forceps may in addition to the two teeth
or points on each blade be provided with another series of teeth behind these, and
this last series may be added to by even placing other teeth in series on each
blade but in practice I have found that say two series of teeth. on each blade as
described answer the purpose intended, that is four teeth on either blade two set
behind the other two.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I will now describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, in open position, of a pair of forceps having teeth
arranged in series on each blade, according to my invention.
TD011

page_text: Figure 2 illustrates the gripping ends closed together as for insertion, and
Figure 3 a side view showing the forceps gripping a bullet.
Figure 4 being a perspective view on a larger scale than the previous figures, of
one blade of the forceps Figures 1, 2 and 3 in which two series of teeth are clearly
shown.
Figures 5 and 6 shew operative and closed views of jaws having three serial pairs
of teeth and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of one blade of the forceps provided with two series
of teeth, similar in formation to those shown at Figures 5 and 6.
A A are the gripping blades of the forceps which are pivotted at B, formed
with suitable handles and holding or locking device all as usual with such
instruments; C C C C Figures 1 to 4 are teeth points or projections two being
arranged one in the rear of the other, on opposite sides of each blade, as is clearly
shewn at Figure 4. In some cases as shown at Figures 5 and 6, three series of
teeth C may be so arranged. Whatever number of series of teeth be employed,
such teeth may be either formed comparatively sharp-pointed as for example at
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 or be rounded as at Figures 5, 6 and 7, or a combination of
such shaped teeth may be utilized.
The short fixation projections C are as shewn so arranged that when the blades
are closed, only a small bulbous extremity is presented and thus the forceps can
be passed along a short canal without risk of tearing the tissues on its way, in fact,
the instrument when constructed according to my invention forms a bullet probe
and extractor combined.
When gripped by the blades, a bullet will assume a position in the channel D,
Figures 4 and 7, between the series of points C and cannot rotate when once the
forceps are closed upon it, and as aforesaid not only is it applicable for removal of
bullets but also for other foreign substances of whatever nature which can be
readily grasped and removed by its intervention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In forceps for extracting bullets or other foreign substances from human
beings or animals, forming the gripping blades, with pairs of parallel teeth, points,
or projections arranged in series, one series behind another each tooth being sharply
pointed, rounded or a combination of such forms all substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
Second. The combination with the pairs of parallel teeth, points or projections
arranged in series, as claimed by Claim 1, of the channel D between such teeth
substantially as set forth.
Third. The general arrangement and construction of the gripping blades of
forceps for extracting bullets or other substances from human beings or animals
all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of November 1893
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.