An Improved Apparatus for Washing Out the Uterus after Parturition.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Washing Out the Uterus after
Parturition.
I, ARTHUR BENJAMIN CRUICKSHANK, of 6, Lorton Terrace, Ladbroke Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Mine Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for washing out the uterus after
parturition, and it consists of a suitably shaped plug or obturator destined to fit
the mouth of the vagina. This plug or obturator is formed with two passages,
one serving as the inlet for the hot liquid to be used for washing or cleansing
purposes, the other as the outlet for the used liquid.
This latter passage is
preferably of larger diameter than the former, so as to expedite the quick outflow
of the used liquid. This plug or obturator also shields the vulva and other
sensitive parts, so that the hot liquid does not come into contact with them, and it
allows of a much hotter injection being used than is possible with ordinary
syringes and like appliances now in use.
To the outer end of the inlet passage is fitted a flexible tube, which dips into
the vessel containing the hot liquid, and said tube is provided at any suitable point
in its length with a compressible bulb, or with a pumping arrangement.
Within
this tube, and above and below the bulb, are arranged valves which open and close
in the same direction to allow of the passage of the liquid, but to prevent its return.
To the inner end of this inlet passage, a douche pipe (preferably detachable) is
connected, and said douche pipe is also preferably constructed with a suitable
joint at its lower end, by means of which the said pipe can be adjusted to any
required angle.
Or I may dispense with the compressible bulb, and attach the inlet or supply
tube to a reservoir arranged at a suitable elevation.
To the outer end of the outlet passage a length of flexible tube is connected to
permit the escape of the liquid after use, and which liquid may be received into
a bed pan, or other utensil.
The douche pipe having been introduced into the uterus, and connected with
the plug or obturator, the bulb is operated, and the liquid is injected through the
douche pipe into the uterus, the washing out or cleansing of this latter then
takes place, and any clots of blood, membrane, or other foreign matter which may
be in the uterus are readily removed by the liquid, and pass away through the
outlet tube into the bed pan.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Washing Out the Uterus after
Parturition.
I, ARTHUR BENJAMIN CRUICKSHANK, of 6, Westmoreland Road, Bayswater,
in the County of Middlesex, Mine Proprietor, 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, reference being
bad to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for washing out the uterus after
parturition, and it consists of a suitably shaped plug destined to fit the mouth
of the vagina, and formed with two passages, one serving as the inlet for
the liquid to be used for washing or cleansing purposes, the other as the outlet
for the used liquid. This latter passage is larger than the former so as to expedite
the outflow of the used liquid. Said plug also shields the vulva and other
sensitive parts, so that the liquid does not come into contact with them, and it
therefore allows of a much hotter injection being used than is possible with
ordinary syringes and like apparatus now in use.
To the outer end of the inlet passage is fitted a flexible tube which dips into the
vessel containing the liquid to be injected, and this tube is provided, at any suitable
point in its length, with a compressible bulb, or with a pumping device.
Within
the said tube and above and below the bulb, are arranged valves which open and
close in the same direction to allow the passage of the liquid, but to prevent its
return. To the inner end of the inlet passage, is connected a douche pipe
(preferably detachable) which is provided with a flexible joint at its lower end,
and by means of which the said pipe can be adjusted to any angle at which the
uterus may lie.
Or I may dispense with the compressible bulb, and attach the inlet or supply
tube to a reservoir arranged at a suitable elevation.
To the outer end of the outlet passage, a flexible tube is connected to permit the
escape of the liquid after use, and which liquid may be received into a bed pan, or
other utensil.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe the
same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus,
Fig. 2 a vertical section, on a larger scale, of the plug detached,
Fig. 3 a plan of the same, and
Fig. 4 a horizontal section thereof, taken on the line a, a, of Fig. 2.
A is the plug, B the compressible bulb of ordinary construction, C the douche
pipe, D the flexible inlet tube, and E the flexible outlet tube. The liquid, which
is drawn from a suitable vessel, passes through the inlet tube which is in a piece
with, or connected to, the bulb, and said inlet tube is provided with valves d, d',
opening and closing in the same direction, whereby the liquid drawn up is prevented
from returning to the vessel containing the same. The valve d' has its seat in a
metal piece d² fixed to the free end of the tube D. This tube D, at its other end,
is connected to the nipple b, by means of the union 6*, and the tube E is directly
connected to its nipple b¹, both these nipples being screwed, or otherwise fixed,
into the outer face of the plug. At the free end of the outlet tube E, there is a
heavy metallic piece e, and a hook f, this latter serving to keep the tube in position
on the vessel receiving the used liquid.
The plug A, which is of special construction, is formed like the frustum of a
cone, and is preferably concave on its exterior. Extending through the length of
this plug are longitudinal passages a and a¹, the former being cylindrical and

page_text: serving as a channel for the cleansing liquid to the douche pipe C, and the latter
as the exit to the outlet tube E for such liquid.
The outlet passage a' is of peculiar shape being on the inner face of the plug of
crescentic or like form, partially embracing the inlet passage a. The walls of this
crescentic passage converge or taper towards the outer face of the plug where
they terminate in a circular orifice a', into which fits the nipple b¹ aforesaid, and
onto which is fixed the flexible outlet tube E. The object in giving this peculiar
shape to the inner end of the passage al is to provide a large opening through which
the used liquid may readily and quickly flow.
To the inner face of the plug A, is fitted a rigid tube a*, onto which the double
pipe C is secured by means of a flexible joint, advantageously consisting of a short
piece of rubber tubing g, so that this pipe can be adjusted at various angles to
suit various positions at which the uterus may lie. This flexible joint likewise
greatly facilitates the introduction of the douche pipe into the uterus, and also
lessens the risk of injury to the patient at the hands of careless or unskilled
nurses.
The manner in which the apparatus is used, is as follows:-The douche pipe C
(to which is attached the flexible joint g and tube a*) is first introduced into the
uterus and is then connected with the plug A by means of the said tube a*. The
plug is next inserted in the mouth of the vagina, thereby completely closing
the same and preventing any escape of liquid around the plug. The bulb B is
then operated in the usual manner, and the liquid is drawn up the lower part of
the inlet tube D into the bulb B, and is injected into the uterus through the douche
pipe, thus washing out or cleansing the uterus, and any clots of blood, membrane,
or other foreign matter, which may be therein are readily removed by the liquid
and are carried away by it through the crescentic orifice a' and outlet tube E into
the bed pan, or other utensil. Care must, however, be taken when inserting the
plug into the vagina to keep the passage a¹ undermost to facilitate the escape of
the liquid after use.
Although I have described and shown my invention as being specially designed
for use in washing out the uterus, yet it will be obvious that by substituting a
short douche pipe, such as h (as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1) for the
larger one, the apparatus can be used for washing or cleansing the vagina.
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. In apparatus for washing out the uterus after parturition, the improved plug
having a douche pipe attached thereto and constructed substantially as herein
described and for the purposes set forth.
2. In apparatus for washing out the uterus after parturition, the combination
with the improved plug, above claimed, of the douche pipe (preferably detachable)
having a flexible joint (such as g) at its lower end, whereby the said pipe can be
adjusted to the angle at which the uterus may lie, substantially as described and
shown.
3. My improved apparatus for washing out the uterus after parturition (or for
cleansing the vagina), substantially as hereinbefore described and shown with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated thie 17th dov of Avoust 1904
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.