Improvements in and relating to Aseptic Tables and the like for Surgical Use.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Aseptic Tables and the like for
Surgical Use.
We, ARTHUR WILLIAM DOWN and HERBERT VINCENT Down, both of
5 and 7 St. Thomas' Street, Borough, London, Surgical Instrument Makers, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in and relating to aseptic tables and the
like for surgical use, and the object of our invention is to prevent that class
of furniture for surgical use which consists of slabs resting on supports affording a
resting place for germs, particularly at the corners where said slabs have hitherto
rested on their supports.
It is well known that in hospital furniture of the usual construction, disease germs
accumulate at the corners and other crevices, and also that it is difficult to keep said
furniture aseptic, and our invention consists in the improved construction of aseptic
hospital furniture as will be hereinafter described, which furniture may be readily
cleaned and rendered aseptic and the construction of which furniture is such that
there are no corners or other crevices in which disease germs can collect.
In order that our invention may be readily understood, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings which represent a perspective view of an aseptic table
constructed in accordance with our invention, but we wish it to be understood that
our invention is equally applicable to other hospital furniture as bottle stands,
washstands, operation tables, instrument stands, and instrument cabinets.
In carrying our invention into practice and referring to an aseptic table
constructed in accordance with our invention, we employ a suitable number of posts
or legs A which are retained in their relative positions by means of suitable ties B,
and which posts are preferably provided with rollers or castors C to enable the
table being readily moved. The posts A have affixed to them at suitable points
preferably two pairs of opposite supporting bars D, D' adapted to support slabs E
and having each end of bars cranked as shown, so that said slabs E and supporting
bars D, D, do not touch at the corners of the table, whereby the collection of disease
germs at such
corners is entirely obviated, and the cleansing of the parts
considerably facilitated. The supporting bars D, D₁ are preferably round so that
the surface of said bars which is in contact with the slabs E is reduced to a
minimum, whereby the collection of disease germs at such surface is practically
prevented but it will be readily understood that instead of circular bars, triangular
or other suitably shaped bars cranked as shown may be employed, the bars being
fixed to the posts A in such a manner that the slabs E are supported on the edges
of said bars but an open space left at the corners. The slabs E-which may
be made of glass, slate, enamelled metal or other suitable aseptic material—are cut
away at the corners as shown at e so that said slabs while normally retained in
position by the posts A are readily removable for cleaning purposes, and also so
that there shall be no corners or crevices in which disease germs collect.
The posts and other parts of our improved aseptic table are made of enamelled
iron or other aseptic material, and the configuration of said table may be different
to that shown, as for instance square, semi-circular or other requisite shape. We
wish it to be understood as herein before stated, that our invention is not confined
to an aseptic table as herein described, but is applicable to other aseptic furniture,

page_text: such as bottle stands, washstands, operation tables, instrument stands or cabinets in
which slabs or trays are employed.
Instead of the supporting bars being cranked at each end only, we may make said
bars corrugated throughout their entire lengths, thereby still further reducing the
surface which is in contact with the supported slabs E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. Aseptic furniture having cranked supporting bars, for the purposes and
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In aseptic furniture the combination of slabs E having their corner portions e
cut away and cranked supporting bars, for the purposes and substantially as
set forth.
•
Dated this 15th dow of Man 1905
ARTHUR WILLIAM DOWN,
HERBERT VINCENT DOWN,
By their Agents, Horn, Son & Co.,
Somerset Chambers, 151, Strand, London.