IMPROVEMENTS IN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS KNOWN AS ECRASEURS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Beach, of the Royal Veterinary College,
Camden Town, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS
IN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS KNOWN AS ECRASEURS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Beach at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1880.
WILLIAM HENRY BEACH, of the Royal Veterinary College, Camden Town, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS KNOWN-
AS ECRASEURS."
My Invention relates to improvements in ecraseurs, and consists, first, in the
combination with the screw, and the handle by which said screw is operated, of
multiplying gearing whereby a quick motion may be imparted to said screw in
order to traverse the nut to which the chain is attached quickly back or forth to
Black out or tighten up the chain, and so rapidly adjust it to the requirements of
the operation to be performed, and likewise a slow motion, in order to multiply
the power when the instrument is in use for the performance of the operation.
In such instruments the handle has heretofore been fixed directly upon the screw,
and the nut could therefore only be slowly traversed along the screw to adjust the
instrument for the performance of the operation, but according to my Invention
the handle is fixed on a spindle separate from but in line with the screw, and the
two are geared together by multiplying gear, whereby either the motion or the
power may be multiplied at will.
The following is a convenient arrangement :-
To multiply the motion of the handle and impart a quick motion to the
screw a spur wheel on the spindle gears with a pinion on a short counter-
shaft geared by a spur wheel with a pinion on the screw.
To obtain a slow
motion for multiplying the power a pinion on the spindle gears with a spur wheel
upon a sleeve running loose on the countershaft, and geared by a pinion with a
spur wheel on the screw. Either the quick or the slow motion may be thrown
into gear at will in various ways, for instance, by making the spindle slide longi-
tudinally in its tubular frame and locking it in the one or other position by means
of a latch or stud received in a circumferential groove in the spindle. This may
also be accomplished by making the countershaft slide in its bearings.

page_text: The inner end of the spindle may be prolonged and the screw made tubular to
receive such prolongation, and also a spiral spring which would tend to push the
spindle outwards and throw the quick motion into gear.
The inner end of the spindle may also be provided with a clutch that may be
made to engage with a corresponding clutch on the end of the screw in order to
operate the latter directly by the handle without the intervention of the multi-
plying gear. This multiplying gear would be wholly contained within a box or
case forming part of the frame of the instrument.
My Invention consists, secondly, in providing longitudinal ribs or shoulders along
the frame of the instrument, forming a groove between them for the two parts of 1
the chain to lie in, and prevent any lateral displacement of this part of the chain
which would tend to drag the loop or bight of the chain out of the slot in the
head of the frame. I prefer to make this slotted head through which the chain
passes broad and flat so as to afford a sufficiently extended bearing surface for
the tissues to be severed, and which are pressed against it by the tension of the 1
chain.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Beach in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
September 1880.
WILLIAM HENRY BEACH, of the Royal Veterinary College, Camden Town, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS KNOWN AS
ECRASEURS."
My Invention relates to improvements in surgical instruments known as ecraseurs,
and consists mainly in the combination with the screw, and the handle by which
said screw is operated, of change or multiplying gear, whereby either the speed or
the power of the instrument may be increased at will, both these change gears
being combined in one and the same instrument, or employed in separate instru-
ments. The object is in the one case to impart to the screw a quicker motion than
that of the handle in order to traverse the nut (to which the chain is attached)
quickly along the screw for the purpose of rapidly adjusting the length of the
chain to suit the operation to be performed; and in the other case to impart to the
screw a motion slower than that of the handle in order to multiply the power
during the actual performance of the operation.
In ecraseurs the handle has heretofore been fixed directly upon the screw, but
according to my Invention the handle is fixed on a spindle separate from the screw,
and the two are geared together by change gear as follows:-
To impart a motion to the screw quicker than that of the handle a spur wheel
on the spindle is made to gear with a pinion on a short counterspindle which is
geared by a spur wheel with a pinion on the screw. To impart a motion to the
screw slower than that of the handle a pinion on the spindle is made to gear with
a spur wheel upon a sleeve that runs loose on the counterspindle, and is geared by
a pinion with a spur wheel on the screw. Either the quick or the slow motion may
be thrown into gear by sliding the handle spindle longitudinally and locking it in
the one or other position.
The inner end of the spindle may also be made to engage by a clutch directly
with the screw in order to operate the latter without the intervention of the
change gear.
The spindle may be made tubular to receive a prolongation of the screw, and
also a spiral spring which tends to push the spindle outwards and throw the quick
motion into gear.
This change gear would be wholly contained within a box or case forming part
of the frame of the instrument.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an external view of my improved ecraseur; Figure 2 is a longi-
tudinal section of the case or frame of the instrument showing the double set of
change gear which in this Figure is represented in the position for imparting a
quick motion to the screw; Figure 3 is a similar section representing the change
gear only in the position for imparting a slow motion to the screw; and Figure 4
is a similar section to the last showing the handle in direct connection with the
screw without the intervention of the change gear; Figure 5 shows change gear for
imparting quick motion only, and Figure 6 shows that for imparting slow motion
only as used in separate instruments; Figures 7 and 8 show details.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, A. is the screw, and B is the nut travelling
thereon, the chain or its equivalent, which is not represented in these Figures,
being attached to arms c, c, at diametrically opposite sides of the nut, so that the
-chain is in the same plane with the screw, and there is consequently no tendency
to cant the nut. Both the screw and chain are contained in a tubular sheath D of
oval form in cross section, in which the nut B fits so as to be thereby prevented

page_text: This
from turning. The screw is journalled in this sheath D, and is prevented from
moving longitudinally by studs or bolts received in a circumferential groove in the
upper end of the screw; E is the handle for operating the screw. It is provided
with a short spindle F in line with screw A, and made tubular to receive a plain
prolongation a of the screw spindle of small diameter, which slides and turns freely
therein, and a spiral spring f which tends to push the spindle F outward; G is a
short counter spindle parallel to the screw spindle A, and mounted to rotate in
bearings in a box or case H. forming part of the frame of the instrument; I is a
spur wheel keyed on the spindle F near its inner end, and i is a pinion fast on the
adjacent end of the spindle G; K is a spur wheel keyed on the opposite end of
spindle G, and geared with a pinion / fixed on the upper end of the screw spindle A ;
Z is a pinion fixed on the inner end of spindle F; and L is a spur wheel keyed on
a sleeve M turning loose on spindle G, and having a pinion n upon it in gear with
a spur wheel N keyed on the screw spindle A. The end of spindle F is capable of
engaging by a clutch directly with the spur wheel N, the form of clutch being
preferably that shown in Figure 7, which is a section through wheel N.
wheel N is united to pinion % by cutting a hole O through it with an inside ring of
teeth, the exact counterpart of pinion, and soldering the wheel N on the pinion,
the latter only entering half way through the wheel, as shown. The pinion is
exactly like pinion %, so that it also will enter the hole O and engage with the
teeth therein, thus forming a clutch. P is a latch or bolt sliding in an ear fixed on
the cover of box H, and pressed inwards by a spring p. The nose of this bolt
passes through a hole in the side of the tubular frame of the instrument, and enters
either of three circumferential grooves r, 1, 2, in the spindle F in order to maintain
the parts in gear in either of the three positions in which they may be adjusted,
viz.-In Figure 2 the spur wheel I is in gear with the pinion i for multiplying the
motion of spindle F through spindle G, and gears K, k, to screw A. This is the
position for rapidly running the chain in or out previous to the performance of the
operation. In Figure 3 the spindle F is pushed inwards until I is disengaged from i,
and the pinion is put in gear with wheel L for imparting slow motion to screw A
through sleeve M and gears n, N, the gears K, k, and spindle G then running idle.
This is the position for obtaining the increased power usually required for the
performance of the operation.
In Figure 4 the spindle F is pushed still further inwards until the pinion / enters
hole O for operating screw spindle A directly from the handle E, as may be some-
times required, without the intervention of the change gears which in this position
all run idle. 1, 2, 3, are marks on the spindle F to show at a glance which motion
is in gear.
By means of the above described arrangement I am enabled to rotate the screw
spindle A either slower or quicker than the handle E at will, and thus I am enabled
to use a screw of comparatively coarse pitch and strong thread, and this is the
arrangement I prefer; but by using a screw of very fine or very coarse pitch the
quick and slow motions may be employed in separate instruments, as shown in
Figures 5 and 6 respectively, the parts represented by the same letters being the
same as in Figures 2, 3, 4. In these two Figures there are only two positions of
the parts, namely, that shown, and that with the clutches in gear. In Figure 5 the
quick motion for adjusting the instrument is obtained by the gear as shown, and
the slow motion by the use of a fine pitched screw operated directly from the
handle, sufficient power being in this case obtained for the performance of the
operation without the intervention of any gearing. In Figure 6 the quick motion
is obtained by the use of a screw of rapid pitch, and the slow motion by the
gearing as shown.
The screw spindle A is left plain for a short distance at each end of the course of
nut B to prevent the latter jamming fast against the bearings of the screw spindle
when it reaches either end of its course, and in order to lead the nut back onto the
screw again a spiral spring or indiarubber cushion is "placed either on the nut B or
on the bearing against which it presses, as at 6 for example.

page_text: Figure 8 is an elevation of the nut B and head S separately, and at right angles
to Figure 2. The chain C is attached to two arms c, c, fixed to nut B, but instead
of a chain a wire or other equivalent may be used. The head S is fitted in
the end of the tubular sheath D, and has a slot s through which the chain C
passes.
T is a cutter formed of a bar of steel of rectangular section, and corresponding
exactly to the section of the slot &. It is attached to the chain as shown, and is
by it drawn into the slots to ensure the clean severance of any tissues adhering to
the part operated on.
U, Figures 1, 9, and 10, represents a device for holding the tumor or other part
in a certain position whilst being operated on. It consists of two forks, one at
either side of the head S of the instrument, and each having a V shaped aperture
with serrated edges which embrace the neck of the tumor, as represented in dotted
lines in Figure 10, and thus hold it in the desired position. This double fork is
fitted to slide back along the tubular sheath D, as shown in Figure 1, when not
in use.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. In an ecraseur the combination with the screw spindle of gearing whereby a
differential motion is transmitted from the handle to the screw spindle, substantially
as and for the purpose shown and described.
2nd. In an ecraseur the combination with the screw spindle of an adjustable
handle, change gearing for transmitting differential motion from the operating
handle to the screw spindle, and a clutch for transmitting uniform motion direct
from the handle to the screw spindle, substantially as shown and described.
3rd. In an ecraseur the combination with the screw spindle and adjustable
handle of change gear, arranged and combined substantially as shown in Figures
2, 3, 4, to transmit at will in the same instrument a motion to the screw spindle
either faster or slower than that of the handle, as and for the purpose specified.
4th. In an ecraseur the combination with the screw spindle, the change gear,
and the adjustable handle, as herein described, of the latch arranged to engage in
grooves in the handle spindle, substantially as and for the purpose shown and
described.
"
5th. In an ecraseur the combination with the screw spindle, the adjustable
handle, and the change gear, as herein shown and described, of the spring within
the handle, as and for the purpose set forth.
6th. In an ecraseur the combination with the screw spindle having a plain part
at its upper and lower ends, and with the nut travelling on said screw, of a spring
or springs to lead the nut back onto the screw thread, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Beach, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Eighth day of September in the year of our Lord
Witness,
WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane,
London,
Patent Agent.
W. H. BEACH. (L.S.)