Improvements in Surgical Dilators.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1893-Accepted 18th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surgical Dilators.
I ARTHUR BEAVIS, of No. 12 Keene Block, Aspen, Pitkin County, State of
Colorado, United States of America, Physician 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 has for its object to provide a simple surgical instrument for the
rapid and safe dilation of the cervical canal and urethra, and it consists in the
peculiar combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter first fully
described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved dilator ;
Figure 2 is a view of the slide rod or sound detached ;
Figure 3 is a cross section of the same on the line 4—4 Figure 1.
Figure is a view of the rubber cap.
This instrument, which offers a novel means for the rapid and safe dilation of the
cervical canal and the urethra, consists of a solid steel rod or sound A, fitting and
held for movement, in a hollow cylinder B. This cylinder is formed of a hollow
piece of steel open at one end and of proper calibre and length to admit of the
introduction of the steel sound A, except two inches at the smallest end, which
projects from the cylinder, as at a, when such rod is adjusted to its innermost
position. To hold the sound A firmly at any point in its backward or forward
motion within the cylinder B, such cylinder has a slot baloug six inches of its
upper surface, through which passes a set screw C connected to the sound, as most
clearly shown in Figure 3.
On the sides of the cylinder is shown a pair of long forceps D, the jaws of which
are held in close opposition with the steel rod by means of strong springs d, d, under
the handle ends d'd', the outer or clamp ends of such forceps projecting inward
over the outer end of the cylinder B, whereby to clamp against the projecting end
of the same when in place.
The manner in which my improved instrument is used is best explained as
follows:
Having the steel rod or sound in position inside of the cylinder, the handles of
the forceps are pressed inwards, opening the jaws, when the rubber cap H
(Figure 4) is pushed over the sound at the smallest end till it is stopped by the
cylinder, the handles of the forceps are then released, when the jaws spring back
and take firm hold of the lower part of the rubber cap.
Holding the set screw of the sound firmly by the thumb and finger of one hand,
with the other the operator draws the cylinder backwards along the sound, and as
the rubber cap is engaged in the jaws of the forceps, it is necessarily stretched
over all that part of the sound which has thus been pushed out of the cylinder.
By this stretching the rubber is reduced to one third of its original diameter.
Now the sound with the rubber cap tightly stretched over it is fixed in its
position by means of the set screw and then introduced into the cervical canal
beyond the internal os.
The pressure of the screw is then released and the rubber cap allowed to
gradually regain its original position and diameter.
The jaws of the forceps are disengaged from the rim of the rubber cap, the
instrument is withdrawn, and the cap is left in situ. The withdrawal of the
rubber cap is accomplished either by means of the dressing forceps, or by a cord
previously fastened around its rim.
In the manufacture, the instrument is made in four different sizes with curved as
FD

page_text: well as straight sounds, adapted to the uterine canal and to the male and female
urethra. The rubber caps are also made of any desired size, from to two inches
in diameter.
By the use of an instrument constructed in this manner, it will serve to dilate
the cervical canal, or the urethra, with greater ease to the operator and safety to
the patient than has ever before been accomplished by means of any artificial
contrivance.
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 an instrument for the purpose described, the combination of the cylinder B,
the rod or sound A adjustably held therein, the spring forceps D, and the removable
rubber cap H all arranged as and for the purposes described.
2. In an instrument for the purpose described, the combination of the cylinder B,
slotted as at b, the sound or rod A, movably held in such cylinder and provided
with a set screw held to pass through the slotted cylinder, the removable rubber
cap H and the spring forceps D pivoted on the cylinder and having their ends
projected inward over the upper end of such cylinder, all substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Dated this 17th day of October 1893.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
A. BEAVIS,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.