Improved Process of and Apparatus for Sterilizing Catgut and other Materials.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process of and Apparatus for Sterilizing Catgut and
other Materials.
I, JOHANNES LEMAN, of 41 Waldemar Strasse, Berlin, Germany, Engineer,
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 catgut employed for sewing up wounds in connection with surgical operations
has hitherto not been sufficiently completely sterilized, owing to the fact that
steam, which is generally employed for sterilizing purposes, cannot be employed
for catgut, which so changes under the action of steam, as to be rendered inadapt-
able for the purpose. Alcohol, as also the numerous other substances hitherto
tried, do not completely sterilize the catgut.
Extensive experiments, have however proved, that alcohol, combined with
about 10% of water and about 5% of carbolic acid, possesses extraordinary
sterilizing powers, particularly as regards catgut, and that this mixture does not in
any way impair the valuable physical properties of this latter material, which
render its employment for sewing up wounds of such great advantage. The above
mentioned mixture may also be advantageously employed for sterilizing other
materials, such for instance as sponges.
In employing the mixture above mentioned, care must be taken that the pressure
in the sterilizing vessel does not exceed ordinary atmospheric pressure.
The invention is advantageously carried out by means of a sterilizing vessel,
having therein a sieve or other partition, on which the catgut to be treated is
placed, said catgut being wound on suitable spools. The sterilizing mixture consisting
of alcohol containing about 10% of water and about 5% of carbolic acid, is poured
into the vessel and the latter heated. The vapours developed pass the catgut and
thoroughly sterilize the same, passing out of the vessel at a suitable hole in the
cover of the same, which is air-tightly fixed to the said vessel.
In order to prevent the loss of vapours generated by allowing the saine to escape
into the air, the outlet in the cover is advantageously arranged to lead directly into
a condenser of suitable construction, so that the vapours escaping will pass directly
into the condenser and be there condensed, whence they will flow back in the form
of liquid into the sterilizing vessel.
The catgut to be sterilized is advantageously wound on sheet metal spools, having
holes therein, so that the vapours may pass through the same and thoroughly
impregnate the catgut, or the catgut may be wound on glass plates, having holes
or slots for winding the catgut on.
And in order to render the present Specification more easily intelligible, reference
is had to the accompanying drawing, in which similar letters of reference denote
similar parts throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, partly in section,
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a device, on which the catgut is wound when being
sterilized,
Fig. 3 is an end elevation and longitudinal section through a spool for the
catgut, and
Fig. 4 is a modified form of device, on which to wind the catgut, in side
elevation.
The apparatus consists of the boiler a of copper, said boiler being provided with
a mantle, or jacket b, closing on to the same at the top and open at the bottom. The

page_text: mantle b is provided at its upper part with holes e, and the gases employed to heat
the boiler, pass round the same and upwardly between it and the mantle and escape
through the perforations, as indicated by the arrows. The mantle b, to which the
boiler is attached, is supported on legs c and is provided within with a sieve m,
suitably supported, on which the catgut is held. The boiler is provided with a
cover fadapted to fit air tight on to the same, and to be secured by means of clamping
screws d hinged to the mantle and engaging over suitable lugs on the cover.
At
the top of the said cover is attached a casing k, having therein a coil 7, opening
at into the air and communicating at i with the interior of the boiler. This coil
is for condensing purposes, and may, if desired, be cooled by pouring some
suitable cooling medium into the casing k, through the inlet A.
.
The cover is further provided with a tube h in which a thermometer may be
placed, and with handles g, screwed or otherwise attached to the flange f' of the
cover.
The catgut, which is to be sterilized, is advantageously wound on spools 9, as
represented at Fig. 3, said spools being of sheet metal and being perforated in
their cylindrical surface at o, as also in their ends at o', as shewn. Several of such
spools may be arranged on a block p (Fig. 2), having pins s on which the spool is
placed, its bore fitting the pin s. Fig. 4 shews another form of device for
winding the catgut on, consisting of a glass plate t, having at one end holes u, and
at the opposite end a slot v, and on which the catgut may be wound in the manner
shewn. The spools, or shuttles, or glass plates illustrated, are then placed in the
boiler a on the sieve m.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :-
The fluid, consisting of the proportions previously described, is poured into the
boiler, and a suitable heating medium brought into connection therewith. The
vapours produced, pass round and through the spools of catgut, thoroughly
impregnating the same and then out of the apparatus at i into the condenser k.
Here they are condensed in the coil 1, and fall back into the boiler in the form of
fluids, any vapours not condensed, escaping at into the air.
The heating process is continued until the sterilization has been completed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. The process of sterilizing catgut and other materials, consisting in subjecting
the same to the action of a mixture of alcohol, containing about 10 per cent. of
water and about 5 per cent. of carbolic acid, in the manner specified.
2. An apparatus for carrying out the process covered by Claim 1, consisting of
a boiler a, having jacket b, means for heating the same and a condenser attached
thereto to condense the escaping vapours, in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as described.
3. The combination of the boiler a, having a jacket b, a cover of thereto with
flange, handles g and a condenser k attached thereto, having therein a coil
communicating with the interior of the boiler at the lower end and with the
upper end at with the air, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
described.
4. The combination with the process and apparatus claimed, of a spool for
winding the catgut on, consisting of a sheet metal spool perforated at its cylindrical
portion and at the ends, substantially as described.
5. The combination with the process and apparatus claimed, of a glass plate
with holes or slots for winding the catgut on, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of December 1895.
AMBROSE MYALL,
2 Lancaster Place, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant..