Improvements in and relating to the Sterilization of Surgical Dressings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
Improvements in and relating to the Sterilization of Surgical
Dressings.
I, WILLIAM CORBETT, trading as W. G. Taylor, of Charford Mills, Bromsgrove,
in the County of Worcester, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improvements in and relating to the sterilization
of surgical dressings, my object being to render lints, wools, gauzes, bandages,
ligatures, and similar dressings perfectly sterile and at the same time prevent
any subsequent infection or deterioration of the aseptic properties of the dress-
ings whilst they are kept for use.
In carrying my invention into effect I sterilize the dressings in the usual and
ordinary manner and afterwards pack the same in specially prepared cartons or
pasteboard boxes, which are porous to the admission of superheated steam at a
high temperature, but effectually prevent access of micro-organisms to the dress-
ings when out of contact with the steam.
To further sterilize the dressings and destroy any infection that may have
occurred during the packing process, I seal the cartons by means of labels and
insert the same in a sterilizer, the inner shell or jacket which contains the cartons
being formed preferably of copper. The outer shell is made in the usual manner
from steel plates.
After the cartons containing the previously sterilized dressings have been
placed in my special or supplementary sterilizer herein before described, the cap
or cover of the appliance is secured and dry super-heated steam at a temperature
preferable of 280° to 300° F. is admitted to the interior of the copper jacket,
such steam being passed through any suitable separator before admission to
remove water of condensation. On the completion of the sterilization of the
cartons with the contained dressings, the steam within the jacket is allowed to
escape and dry steam at a temperature preferably of about 240° F. is admitted to
the annular space between the copper and steel shells until the cartons and their
contents have become thoroughly dried.
By my method of sterilization the dressings remain aseptic for any length of
time until the cartons are opened by the user.
I vary the size and shape of the cartons to meet any particular requirements.
but preferably make the same of a square section, the one complete carton or box
being formed by two such sections one of which fits within the other with the
closed end of the inner part outermost and when thus fitted or telescoped together,
after the insertion of the dressings, I cover the edges at the open end of the outer
part or section by a paper or other strip or label and thus hermetically seal the
complete box.
When the carton is subjected to the super-heated steam in my special or
supplementary sterilizer the cardboard or other like material of "which it is
formed will permit such steam to pass into its interior and thus act upon the

page_text: dressings, but when at an ordinary temperature the carton will effectually exclude
the admission of the external atmosphere.
Dated this 10th day of March 1800
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, & 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to the Sterilization of Surgical
Dressings.
I, WILLIAM CORBETT, trading as W. G. Taylor, of Charford Mills, Bromsgrove,
in the County of Worcester, 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 :-
-
This invention consists of improvements in and relating to the sterilization
of surgical dressings, my object being to render lints, wools, gauzes, bandages,
ligatures, and all surgical dressings perfectly sterile and at the same time prevent
any subsequent infection or deterioration of the aseptic properties of the dress-
ings whilst they are kept for use.
In carrying my invention into effect I sterilize the dressings in the usual and
ordinary manner and afterwards pack the same in specially prepared cartons or
pasteboard boxes, which are porous to superheated steam at a high temperature,
but effectually prevent access of micro-organisms to the dressings.
To further sterilize the dressings and destroy any infection that may have
occurred during the packing process, I seal the cartons by means of labels and
insert them in a sterilizer, the inner shell or jacket of the appliance which con-
tains the cartons being formed preferably of copper. The outer shell is made
in the usual manner from steel plates.
After the cartons containing the previously sterilized dressings have been
placed in my special or supplementary sterilizer hereinbefore referred to, the cap
or cover of the appliance is secured and dry super-heated steam at a temperature
preferably of 280° to 300° F. is admitted to the interior of the copper jacket,
such steam being passed through any suitable separator before admission to
remove any particles of water contained in it. On the completion of the sterili-
zation of the cartons with the contained dressings, the steam within the jacket
is allowed to escape and dry steam at a temperature, preferably of about 240° F.
is admitted to the annular space between the copper and steel shells until the
cartons and their contents have become thoroughly dried.
By my method of sterilization the dressings remain aseptic for any length of
time until the cartons are opened by the user.
I vary the size and shape of the cartons to meet any particular requirements,
but preferably make the same of a square section, the one complete carton or box
being formed by two such sections one of which fits within the other with the
closed end of the inner part outermost and when thus fitted or telescoped together,
after the insertion of dressings, I cover the edges at the open end of the outer
part or section, or the complete box or carton, by a paper or other strip or label
and thus hermetically seal the complete box before placing it in the supple-
mentary sterilizer
When the carton is subject to the super-heated steam in my special or
supplementary sterilizer the cardboard or other like material of which it is

page_text: formed will permit such sieam to pass into its interior and thus act upon the
dressings, but when at any ordinary temperature the carton will effectually
exclude the admission of the external atmosphere.
Figure 1 on the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings is a sectional
side elevation, and Figure 2 a sectional end elevation representing one of my
cartons filled with cotton wool.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the complete box or carton covered and her-
metically sealed by a paper label. Figure 4 is a plan showing the bottom part
of the sealed carton.
To provide for the ready and convenient opening of the carton I dispose a
string or other band around the lower part of the box, as indicated by the dotted
lines at Figures 3 and 4. By cutting through the string at any point and pull-
ing one of the ends the paper will be readily torn through around the entire
carton which can then be at once opened.
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 sterilization of surgical dressings after the packing and scaling of the
same in cartons or boxes, substantially as described.
2. The improved method of effecting the perfect sterilization of surgical dress-
ings and preserving the same in such condition until required for use, com-
prising the ordinary sterilization of the dressings, packing and sealing the same
in cartons or boxes porous to super-heated steam at a high temperature but
ferming an effective barrier to micro-organisms, and submitting such complete
sealed package and its contents to a supplementary sterilizing process, substan-
tially as described.
༄Ht
MARKS & CLERK,.
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, & 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.