An Antiseptic Case for Surgical Instruments, combined with a Sterilising Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Antiseptic Case for Surgical Instruments, combined with a
Sterilising Apparatus.
I, THEODOR SCHREUS, of Crefeld, Germany, Doctor of Medicine 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: —
This invention is designed to supply a case for containing surgical instruments as
well as materials for dressing wounds as well as a means of sterilising the instruments
at the place where they are employed.
Hitherto a surgeon or physician has been compelled after an operation or con-
finement, either to provide a special apparatus for sterilising his instruments, or to
replace them while insufficiently sterilised in their case.
It is clear that this latter practice facilitates the transmission of infectious
germs.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1, shows an exterior view of a metal case, made in two parts A and B,
hinged together one of which contains the instruments and the other the sterilising
appliances.
Fig. 2 shows one part A, enclosing the other part B.
Fig. 3 shows the two parts A and B attached by loose hinges.
Fig. 4 shows the part A without its cover.
Fig. 5 shows a case open with a cover b placed on one side.
Fig. 6 shows the cover of part A in Fig. 4. It will be observed that the cover
overhangs the rim f.
I
Fig. 7, shows a tray forming part of B with a sliding arrangement schin the
bottom, and the edger turned over for suspension when one is suspended inside the
other.
Fig. 8 shows the cover d with a sliding arrangement and with rim f beneath.
Fig. 9 shows the part B of the case furnished with movable cover d.
Fig. 10 shows the woven wire or perforated plate e employed in part B, during
sterilisation.
Fig. 11 shows the interior construction of the perforated tray with folding
handles and feet f...
Fig. 12 shows the apparatus in use as a steriliser.
Fig. 13 shows a sectional elevation of one part suspended inside the other.
Fig. 14 shows a plan of same connected together.
A is one portion of the case containing the instruments and B is the other part,
which contains the sterilising apparatus.
B' is a tray forming part of steriliser B and having in its bottom three apertures
closed by a sliding plate underneath.
b is a cover for the sterilising apparatus Fig. 5.,
D is a cloth cover for enclosing the case.
d is a lid for the case shewn in Figs. 2 and 4.
d' is a lid for the inner case Fig. 4.
e is a woven wire or perforated plate.
el is a perforated tray for the sterilising apparatus.
fis a depending rim, Fig. 6.

page_text: r. is an overhanging flange shewn in Fig. 7, to enable the tray to be suspended
as in Fig. 4.
sch (Figs. 4 and 7) shows two of the sliding arrangements for the admission of
steam.
The following are the chief advantages of my invention.
The case which contains the instruments being made entirely of metal can be
easily and thoroughly disinfected. In the part A which contains the disinfecting
fluid the instruments and appliances for dressing wounds can be sterilised by means
of steam or by immersion in the fluid as preferred.
Both the appliances for wounds and the instruments can be simultaneously
sterilised by a rapid flow of steam in the parts A & B. The propagation of the
germs of diseases by the instruments or by the case is thus entirely avoided, and the
instruments and the case are free from infection. The medical man is enabled to
sterilise his instruments and appliances for wounds during the time of consultation.
The management is both simple and easy. The case which is constructed of a
nonoxydisable metal such as tinned iron or copper, nickel or alluminium is of
suitable size and is surrounded with a cover of cloth or other textile fabric and is
furnished with handles for convenience of transport. The cover may however be
dispensed with and the handle can be placed in any convenient position.
For small pocket cases one may dispense with handles as well as with cover.
The two parts A & B are each closed by a separate cover and may be of almost
identical size. They may be attached to one another by means of loose hinges as
shown in Figs. 3 and 5, or the part A may be large so as to contain part B as
shewn in Figs. 2 and 4. In this last case the part A should possess in its upper
part a loose cover, as shown in Fig. 12, attached to the pan by a loose hinge. The
box B in this case may have an overhanging rim as shewn in Fig. 7. The bottom
of part B is also furnished with a slide arrangement for inlet and exit of steam.
The cover of part B shown in Fig. 8 by d¹ and Fig. 9 by d is removable. When
the part B is suspended inside the part A as shewn in Figs. 4 and 13 the cover is
furnished with a sliding apparatus as shewn in Fig. 8 for the exit of the steam.
This sliding arrangement in the cover of B is however superfluous when the
part B is attached to the box A by means of loose hinges. When it is desired to
use the whole of the case as a sterilising apparatus the cover is entirely removed
and replaced by a plate of open wirework as shewn in Fig. 10. Then the entire
case is closed and the steam finds its exit through bottom of part B. In Figs. 11
and 12 is shown the perforated or woven wire bottom of part A. The two
handles, h, which turn down are of sufficient height when set upright to touch
the part B, and thus prevent any rattling or rubbing. Two pliable feet ff, are
also fixed at the bottom of this tray in order to keep the perforated bottom above
the level of the water. This ensures that the instruments when placed in the
tray during the operation of sterilisation are only sterilised by the passage of the
steam. When the part B is attached to the part A a small wire basket similar to
the perforated tray of part A serves to receive the appliances for dressing
wounds, bottles, and the like. During their sterilisation, this basket can be put on
one side.
The instruments are then placed in the part B. When the part B is suspended
in the part A a small wire tray or basket may be usefully placed inside the first.
The instruments are then placed in the cloth pockets in the part A. These
pockets are maintained in the tray by means of tapes or bands.
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. A metal case for containing surgical instruments combined with a disinfecting
apparatus, with or without removable wrapper, said case consisting of two

page_text: detachable parts; said parts being conuected by loose hinges, or one part being
suspended inside the other by means of arrangement shewn; each part furnished
with a removable cover; one of said parts serving as a heating apparatus, and
possessing inside trays of open mesh or perforated metal; the other part provided
with a sliding door in the bottom through which steam can pass; so that when
desired the two parts can be so connected or suspended one in the other that
steam formed in or supplied to the lower part can pass through and sterilise both
parts; and in the aforesaid case of suspension the said steam may be arranged to
escape by a sliding door in the cover, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 9th day of April 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.