Improvements in the Construction of Urethroscopes, Otoscopes, and Rhinoscopes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Urethroscopes, Otoscopes, and
Rhinoscopes.
I KARL SCHALL of 55 Wigmore Street London, W., Electrical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said 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 reference to those surgical appliances which are used for
illuminating the interior of the ear, nose and male urethra for the purposes of
examination. In these appliances as at present in use, the light of an open
incandescent electric lamp is reflected by means of a mirror into the tubes
which are introduced into the ear, nose or urethra, ouly a small portion of the
light, however, reaches the spot to be illuminated, owing to the divergence of
the rays of the lamp.
The object of my invention is to produce an instrument that is free from
this defect and at the same time is greatly simplified in construction, rendered
more portable and more easily handled.
According to my invention, I fit a lens above the lamp whereby the rays of
the lamp are collected and made parallel, the distance between the lens and the
lamp being adjustable. A flat mirror or preferably a prism is fitted in place of the
usual concave mirror whereby the light is broken in a right angle or reflected.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 a sectional elevation of an appliance constructed
according to my invention.
a is a frame carrying a screwed or other socket 6 at one end and a tube c at the
other end, the socket or ring b being fitted with a tube d to suit the orifice to be
illuminated and examined. The tube c is fitted with a lens e at its upper end and
encloses an incandescent lamp f, the latter being capable of sliding within the tube
and is secured in the desired position by a set screw g. h is a cylindrical hood or
cover carrying the prism i one side and both ends of which are covered as shown
in Fig. 2, the hood or cover being also capable of adjustment if necessary.
more
By this arrangement of lens and prism, the light of the lamp is
economically utilized and with the same expenditure of electricity as with the
appliances in which a mirror only is used, a brighter illumination being obtained
at the end of the tubes.
It will be seen that this construction and arrangement of instrument is more
portable and is more easily held in the hand, a matter of great importance during
examination.
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. The improvements in urethroscopes, otoscopes, and rhinoscopes substantially as
described.
2. In urethroscopes, otoscopes and rhinoscopes the application and use of a
lens, fitted above the lamp and a prism, substantially as and for the purposes
described.

page_text: 3. In urethroscopes, otoscopes, and rhinoscopes the combination and arrange-
ment of an electric incandescent lamp with a lens and prism or flat mirror
substantially as, and for the purposes, described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. The improved construction and arrangement of parts constituting my improved
urethroscope otoscope and rhinoscope substantially as herein described and shewn
by the drawings.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.