Improvements in Apparatus Used for Inhaling Ether..
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 5th Sept.. 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus Used for Inhaling Ether..
I, EDWARD GEORGE BLOOMFIELD BARLOW, (Manufacturer), of 54 Poland Street
Oxford Street London in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
It consists in improvements in the construction of portable ether chambers used in
administering ether to produce anaesthesia, more especially of an improved mechanical
arrangement for regulating the proportion of ether inhaled, and also an improved
contrivance for charging the chamber with ether.
The chamber is made spherical or any convenient shape, it is generally partially
encased in a water jacket, and is constructed of copper and plated, or of any other
suitable metal or material. It is perforated by a tube passing through the centre,
of the same length as the chamber and attached thereto at each extremity. Inter-
mediate between the two ends, that is in the centre of the chainber, a wide aperture
or slot is cut nearly half round the tube, and the opposite half of the tube is enlarged
by a semicircular casing of the same width as the slot, another tube is made to fit
accurately in the interior, on which the outer tube together with the chamber be
revolved, this projects through the chamber at each end, one end being attached to
the face piece, the other is attached to a tube for the admission of air or nitrous oxide
gas. In the portion of this inner tube which is in the centre of, the apparatus, an
aperture is cut corresponding in width and size to the slot in the tube fixed in the
chamber, this aperture is divided in two by a partition which also divides the inner
tube into two parts in the centre.
may
When the position of the chamber is such that the openings in the inner tube
correspond in position with the openings in the outer tube, the air (or gas) which is
drawn in is diverted by means of the partition into the chamber containing the ether,
and is drawn up on the other side saturated with ether.
When the chamber is turned half way round, the divided slot in the inner tube
comes into a position opposite the enlarged casing on the outer tube, the opening
leading to the chamber is now closed, and the air (or gas) which is drawn in, is
diverted through this outer casing down the other sido of the partition without
coming in contact with the ether.
When the chamber is turned in any position intermediate between the two above
mentioned varying proportions of ether and air (or gas) may be inhaled, according to
how far it is turned.
The inner tube which projects through the chamber carries a pointer and the
circumference of the chamber is graduated to show the proportion of ether inhaled.
For the purpose of charging the chamber with ether I make a hollow tap to which
is attached a cup, which also acts as a handle, when turned in one position the ether
poured into the cup runs into the chamber, and when reversed the passage to the
chamber is closed.
1000
E. G. B. BARLOW.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus Used for Inhaling Ether.
I, EDWARD GEORGE BLOOMFIELD BARLOW of 54 Poland Street Oxford Street
London, Manufacturer of compressed gases and inhaling apparatus, 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:―
My invention consists of improvements in the construction of "portable" ether

page_text: chambers, (so called in contradistinction to others of a more cumbrous pattern) used
in administering ether to produce anæsthesia, either alone or in combination with air
or nitrous oxide gas.
The improvements are
"
First. In the mechanical arrangement for regulating the proportion of ether
inhaled.
.
Secondly. An improved contrivance for charging the chamber with ether..
Figs. I and II show sections of the ether chamber and fig. III shows a general
view of the whole apparatus with gas bag attached.
The chamber C figs. I and II is made of such a form that in whatever position the
apparatus is placed the liquid ether E which it contains should not escape out of the
central openings; a perfectly spherical form is the best adapted to ensure this, but as
compactness is also an essential feature, the one shown in the drawing is made partly
spherical and partly cylindrical; the spherical half which is nearest the face piece is
encased in a water jacket W making the outer form entirely cylindrical. The object
of the water jacket which as its name implies is filled with water, is to keep the ether
cool in hot weather, and on warming it to retain the heat in cold weather.
The chamber is perforated by a tube B B passing through the centre, of the same
length as the chamber, and attached thereto at each extremity, in the centre are two
apertures or slots a, a, extending nearly half round the tube and the opposite half is
enlarged forming a semicircular casing. D of the same width as the two slots.
Another tube A, A, is made to fit accurately in the interior, on. which the chamber
may be revolved, it projects through at each extremity, one end being attached to the
face piece, and the other to a tube for the admission of air or nitrous oxide
gas. In
the centre the inner tube A, A, is divided into two parts by the the partition P, on
each side of which are the apertures or slots b, b, corresponding in width and size to
the slots a, a, in the tube B B.
When the position of the chamber is such (as shown in fig. II) that the openings b, b,
in the inner tube correspond in position with the openings a; a, in the outer tube the
air (or gas) which is drawn in is diverted by the partition P into the chamber C
containing the ether, and is drawn up on the other side saturated with ether vapour.
When the chamber is revolved half way round (fig. 1) the apertures b, b, come into a
position opposite the enlarged casing D, the openings a, a, leading to the chamber are
now closed and the air or gas which is drawn in is diverted by the partition P through
the outer casing D without coming in contact with the ether..
When the chamber is turned in any position intermediate between those shown in
figs. I and II different proportions of ether and air (or gas) may be inhaled according
to how far it is turned. An indicator I is fixed to the inner tube. and the
circumference of the chamber is graduated to indicate the proportion of ether
inhaled.
The chamber is charged with ether by means of a tap to which is attached the
cup F which also. acts as a handle when turned to the position shown in Fig. I, and
the chamber placed on end, the ether flows in through the open tap. When the cup
is reversed. as shown in fig. If the passage to the chamber is closed.
The whole apparatus is generally constructed of copper and plated..
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. In "portable" ether chambers used when ether is employed as an anæsthetic
agent; the mechanism for regulating the proportion of ether inhaled arranged and
constructed substantially as herein before, described.
2. In portable" ether cliambers used when ether is employed as an anesthetic
agent; the contrivance for charging the chamber with ether arranged and constructed
as herein before described.
Dated this 5th day of Santambar' 1880