A New or Improved Gynaecological Combination Chair and Couch for Operations and Examinations.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1889
A New or Improved Gynaecological Combination Chair and Couch
for Operations and Examinations.
1 HENRY D'AROY POWER of 133 Rye Lane Peckham in the County of Surrey
Physician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This is an invention of improvements in the construction of an inexpensive combina-
tion chair and couch for the use of Surgeons, Doctors and the Medical profession
generally so that it may be rendered available with facility, comfort, and delicacy, for
operating upon, and examining, the uterine or other organs in the like region of
the body of persons of different stature and build.
I make a chair of sound and substantial wood with a back of sufficent height
to reach or overlap the top of the head of a tall person when seated. The upper
part of the back I cover with a pad or rest for the head.
At the
At the rear of the back 1 cut a series of deep slots or indentations at regular
and close intervals from the top thereof until about half way down.
extreme foot thereof I affix by hinges a rectangular wooden frame which forms
the base of the support when converted into a couch, as is hereafter explained.
At the other end of the aforesaid base frame I fix, also by hinges, another
rectangular frame, not quite so long as the one forming the base, but of greater
length than the height of the seat of the chair from the ground, this last mentioned
frame is so shaped at the outer end as to fit the slots or indentations on the upper
portion of the back, and so that when the chair is tipped back the edge of the
last mentioned frame may be inserted in any pair of the corresponding slots or
indentations and the body of the patient instantly placed at any required angle.
The chair when so tipped back forms a couch.
When the invention is not in use as a couch the two before mentioned
rectangular frames fold together and are attached by means of a hook and eye to
the back of the chair.
The seat of the chair is of wood, and the centre thereof is made moveable by
being cut out on the "bevel" or slant" and kept firmly in its place by means

page_text: of bolts or pegs until required to be removed by the operator or examiner.
Immediately underneath the back edge of the portion of the seat which is cut
away I hang a metal or earthenware" vessel on hooks or some such convenient
fittings to enable the vessel to swing with the chair, so as to catch, and prevent
the spilling of, any liquid or medicament that may be used during an operation.
On the front side of the back and resting on the seat of the chair I have a short
inside false back, to the bottom of which is affixed at the rear thereof, a wooden or
metal screw which works in a swivel, and passes through a fixed block having a
worm corresponding with the thread of the screw and which is worked by the
operator to raise the lower portion of the body of the patient, if necessary, to a
higher elevation. The top of this false back is made to fit into the inside of the
main back so as to work easily.
The backs of the front legs are also slotted or indented for the purpose of acting
as holdfasts for foot rests which I make as follows:-I cut a piece of wood a little
wider than the chair-leg, and thereout cut a piece to admit of the front of the leg
fitting easily therein, underneath this I fix another piece of wood at right angles
and upon it I affix by screws a piece of wire sufficiently long to go round the
chair leg. I can then move the foot rests up or down to any required height.
The operation of the invention is as follows:-The patient is seated in the
chair with one foot placed upon each rest, the operator unfastens the back hook
and lets down the frame for the base, retaining the other frame in his hand;
with his other hand he tilts the chair back until the patient is at the required
angle and inserts the end of the frame which he is holding into a pair of the
slots in the back of the chair, the moveable portion of the seat is then taken out.. If
greater elevation is required it can be obtained by means of the false back and
screw.
Dated this 5th day of Jovan 1080

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Gynaecological Combination Chair and Couch.
for Operations and Examinations.
I, HENRY D'ARCY POWER of 133 Rye Lane Peckham in the County of Surrey
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 reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The object of my Invention is to manufacture an improved inexpensive description.
of combination chair and couch for the use of Surgeons Doctors and the Medical
profession generally so that it may be rendered available with facility comfort and
delicacy for operating upon and examining the uterine and other organs in the like-
region of the body of persons of different stature and build. The Invention consists.
in an improved means of converting the Chair as shown in figure 1. into a Couch (as.
shown by the dotted lines in the same figure) with ease rapidity and certainty with the
minimum of inconvenience or fatigue to both the Patient and Operator and enabling the
various parts to be adjusted or removed to suit the required position of the Patient. It
can be made either with or without arms.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the Chair showing by the dotted lines its position as a Couch
I describe it as follows:-
A. X. A. is the back which is made of substantial wood (or other material) of sufficient
strength at the point. X to bear the strain arising from the weight of the body of a
heavy person. The height of the same from the said point X measuring upwards is to
be of sufficient length to reach or overlap the top of the head of an ordinarily tall
person when seated. At the rear thereof is a ratchet or series of slots or indentations
at regular and close intervals from the top thereof until within a short distance of the.
said point X which can be faced with metal if greater strength is required. At the
rear of the lowest point "A" is affixed or attached by hinges of the ordinary con-
struction a rectangular wooden frame B B (of sufficient length to form the base of the
support b. b. on the Chair being converted into a Couch as shewn by the dotted figure)..
At the other end of the rectangular frame B. B. is affixed or attached by hinges of the
ordinary construction another rectangular frame C. C. (which is not quite so long as
the one forming the base b. b. but of sufficient length to allow the back being lowered
parallel with the ground as shown by the dotted figure). This frame is so shaped at
the outer end as to fit into the ratchet or slots or indentations on the upper portion of
the back and can be tipped with metal if greater strength is required. This last.
mentioned frame is shown upon the dotted figure and marked c. c. The object of the
rachet or slots or indentations on the back of the Chair is that the point or outer ·
termination of the rectangular frame C. C. shall (on the Chair being tipped back to
form the Couch) fit into the rachet or slots or indentations and the body of the patient
be thereby placed at any required angle.
When the Invention is not in use as a Couch the two before mentioned rectangular
frames are folded together inwards and are attached by means of a hook and eye D D-
to the side edge of the back of the Chair.

page_text: E. E. is a false inside back, to the bottom of which is attached at the rear thereof a
wooden or metal screw F which works in a swivel affixed thereto and passes through
a chuck or block G (which is more clearly shown in fig. 2) having a worm correspond-
ing with the thread of the Screw. This false back is constructed so as to fit loosely
into and slide easily within the main back. By turning the screw the lower portion
of the body of a patient can be raised or lowered to any required elevation as shown
by the dotted lines e. e.
The seat of the Chair is of wood (to ensure cleanliness) the centre thereof being
made moveable by having a portion cut out on the "bevel" or "slant" and kept firmly
in its place by means of bolts or pegs upon the under side. The shape of the moveable
piece of the seat is immaterial. Fig. 2 is a plan of the Seat and the part marked H
(or by the dotted lines h. h. h. h.) is the moveable part thereof.
Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of my Invention. The upper portion M. between
the rails of the back is padded or cushioned as a rest for the head, and the false back
(in the same figure marked E) is also covered with leather or some such material.
Returning to Fig. 1. Immediately underneath the back edge of the portion of the
Seat which is moveable is hung on hooks or some such convenient fittings a metal or
earthenware vessel J.
This swings with the Chair and is therefore always level and in such a position as
to catch, or prevent the spilling of any liquid or medicament used during an
operation.
The front legs of the Invention K K are made with ratchet or slotted or indented
backs for the purpose or acting as hold fasts for the foot rests L which are made of
wood or metal fitted closely to the front and sides of the legs and having a wire or
other contrivance of the same shape as the legs attached thereto on a swivel and
sufficiently long to go round the same to enable the rests to be moved up or
drawn as required and fixed at any required part of the ratchet or slotted or
indented back thereof.
The operation of the Invention is as follows: The patient is seated in the
Chair with one foot placed upon each rest L L. The operator unfastens the hook
.D. D and lets the frame B B down level with the floor retaining the other
frame : C. with one hand; with the other hand he grasps the top of the
back A and tilts the chair back to the required angle, he then inserts the end of
the frame C. C. into such part of the rachet or slots or indentations in the back A as
may present itself. The patient is then on a Couch as shown by the dotted
figure fig. 1. The moveable portion of the Seat H may then be taken away:
Should alteration or position of the lower part of the body of the Patient be
required it can be obtained by turning the screw F and thereby raising or lowering
the false back E. E.
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
in respect thereof is.
1. A Combined Chair and Couch with adjustable back and moveable seat as
hereinbefore described and represented in the annexed drawings.
2. The manufacture and use of the same.
Dated
this zǝth day of January 1889.
A. SHEFFIELD,
12, George Yard, Lombard Street, London, E.C.,
Agent.