Improvements in Pessaries.
Year: 1891

page_text: being date of first Foreign Application (in 18th Feb., 1891
United States of America).
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 17th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 17th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pessaries.
I, WALTER NATHAN SHERMAN of Merced, in the County of Merced, and
State of California, United States of America, Physician & Surgeon 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 relates to that class of pessaries made of some yielding material and
adapted to be carried to and left in place by a tubular carrier or cylinder having
a plunger or piston.
My invention consists in a peculiar disk or diaphragm adapted to receive and
hold a proper button or cup which is intended for healing purposes.
It also consists, in connection with said disk or diaphragm, of a button
constructed to generate a mild current of electricity for therapeutical purposes.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and readily applicable pessary
adapted for the treatment of various womb diseases for which electricity is often
recommended by physicians, also for the application of various medicaments, and
at the same time providing a useful support for the womb when any tendency to
falling of the womb exists."
Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my
invention,
Figure 1 is a view of the pessary when expanded.
Figure 2 is a section of the same, showing the electric button in place.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the button.
Fig. 4 is a view of a cup adapted to be substituted for the button when
required.
Figure 5 is a section of the cylinder for introducing the pessary, showing the
latter in its seat in said cylinder.
The pessary A consists of a disk or diaphragm of soft rubber, made with radial
stiffening-ribs a, the material of the disk between the ribs being of soft rubber
about the thickness of dentists' rubber dam. It has a stiffening center a¹ of rubber,
about the thickness of the ribs a, and said center has a hole a. The whole disk
is flexible to enable it to be carried in the introducing-cylinder, as will be presently
described.
B is a button having a head plate, a shank b, and a foot b. The head plate is
made of alternate sections of zinc and copper, the different metals being shown
by the shading in Figure 3. The shank and foot are made of hard rubber. The
button is fitted to the disk or diaphragm A with the head-plate on the inner side
thereof, the shank passing through the hole a' in the center and the foot resting on
the back or outer side, whereby the button is held well in place. Between the
button-plate and the inner surface of the disk-center is placed a layer or pad C of
absorbent material, such as chamois skin or felt.
D in Fig. 4 is a cup made of a concave plate, a shank, and a foot, as shown.
This is to be substituted for the button B when required.

page_text: E in Fig. 5 is the introducing-cylinder, to be made of hard rubber. It has an
open inner end, as shown. Within it is a piston e having a stem or rod e¹, which
extends from its outer end and forms a handle. A spring S encircles this stem
within the cylinder and tends to force the piston forward. It is, however, held in
a retracted position by a small pin e upon it, which engages a bar or plate e³, and
is adapted, when turned in line with a slot e therein, to pass through it, thus
freeing the piston. In this figure is also shown the pessary with its button. It is
in a collapsed condition within the open end of the cylinder.
To use the device the layer of chamois or felt is first moistened with vinegar or
other acid, whereby by contact with the metal plate of the button a mild constant
current of electricity is generated; but the acid secretions of the womb and vagina
are often sufficient to generate this current without the use of the acid or the pad
or layer. Then the pessary is fitted to its place in the cylinder and the latter is
introduced into the vagina until its open end reaches the mouth of the womb. The
stem e' is now turned to release its holding-pin, and the spring then forces the
plunger forward, thus pushing the pessary out and leaving it firmly and accurately
in place at the mouth of the womb in an expanded condition.
When it is desired to medicate the womb, the electric button is removed and is
replaced by the cup D. This cup may contain the medicament and hold cotton,
tampons, sponge, tents, medicated pencils, etc., and is a useful support for the womb.
The device is easily cleansed and rendered antiseptic.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
°
1. A pessary consisting of a disk or diaphragm of soft rubber formed with
stiffening-ribs and center and provided with an electric generator, substantially as
described.
2. A pessary consisting of a disk or diaphragm of soft rubber formed with a
stiffening-center perforated to receive an electric generator, substantially as.
described.
3. A pessary of flexible material having a metal center piece.
4. A pessary of non-metallic material having a metal center plate composed of
alternate sections capable of generating an electric current.
5. A pessary consisting of a flexible disk or diaphragm and an electricity-
generator carried thereby, substantially as described.
6. A pessary consisting of a flexible disk or diaphragm, and a plate or button
carried thereby and made of alternate pieces of zinc and copper, substantially as
described.
7. A pessary consisting of a flexible disk or diaphragm, a plate or button carried.
thereby and made of alternate pieces of zinc and copper, and a layer or pad of
absorbent material in contact with said plate, substantially as described.
8. A pessary consisting of a disk or diaphragm of soft rubber having a perforated
stiffening-center, and a button fitted to said perforated center and having a head-
plate made of alternate pieces of zinc and copper, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of September 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.