Improvements in Method of Putting up Surgical Threads, Ligatures, and Sutures, for Convenience in Use, Preservation from Entangle- ment, and Transportation of same.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date or Application, 21st Nov., 1887
Complete Left, 31st Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
Improvements in Method of Putting up Surgical Threads, Ligatures,
and Sutures, for Convenience in Use, Preservation from Entangle-
ment, and Transportation of same.
JOHN MILNE, Antiseptic Works, Ladywell, London, S.E. Surgical Dressing
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"
My invention consists in the use of a reel, or an oblong tablet, the ends of the
latter being cut away in a U or V shaped form, constructed of glass, porcelain, wood,
bone, metal, or any other suitable material, for the purpose of winding ligatures, or
guts,"
sutures, (which are also known as "tendons," "threads," "silks,"
"cat-
guts," &c.), the reels having one, two, or more flanges. The flanges of reels, and the
tablets being provided with a hole, slot, or other contrivance for the purpose of
securing the ends of the before mentioned ligatures, &c. For convenience in use and
for transportation the reels or tablets are placed in bottles, flasks, or other protecting
covers, containing liquids when the requirements of the articles demand it.
Dated this 10th day of November 1087
A. G. PRITCHARD,
Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Method of Putting up Surgical Threads, Ligatures,
and Sutures, for Convenience in Use, Preservation from Entangle-
ment, and Transportation of same.
JOHN MILNE, Antiseptic Works, Ladywell, London, S.E., Surgical Dressing
Manufacturer, 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:-
66
My invention consists in the use of a reel, or of an oblong tablet, the ends of the
latter being cut away in a U or V shaped form, either being constructed of glass,
porcelain, wood, bone, or any other suitable material, the reel or tablet being for the pur-
pose of winding ligatures, or sutures, which are also known as tendons,' "threads,"
silks," "guts," "catguts," and various other names, the reels being provided with
one, two, or more flanges, the better to wind various sizes of suture &c., upon-The
flanges of the reels, and the ends of the tablets being provided with a hole, slot, or
other contrivance for the purpose of securing the ends of the before mentioned
ligatures, &c. For convenience in use & for the better preservation from dust, and
for transportation, the reels or tablets are placed in bottles, flasks, or other protecting
covers, such bottles, or flasks, or other covers containing liquids, when the require-
ments of the article wound upon the reel or tablet, demand such.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1) The sutures &c. (which are also otherwise called) being wound upon the reel or
tablet, are instantly accessible, there being no knots to be untied to render the
suture, &c., available.
(2) The sutures being wound upon the reel or tablet cannot become entangled, a
state to which they are especially liable in the methods usually pursued, particularly
when the sutures are kept in liquids.
(3) As the sutures &c. are not liable (under my plan) to become entangled, a great
saving of material is effected, as the entire length of the suture can be utilized without
any waste.
Doted this 30th day of December 1987