IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE FOREHEAD OR OTHER PART FOR USE IN CERTAIN SURGICAL OPERATIONS, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A M and W
Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
LIGHTING APPARATUS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE FOREHEAD OR OTHER PART
FOR USE IN CERTAIN SURGICAL OPERATIONS, AND OTHER PURPOSES communi-
cated to him from abroad by Gustave Trouvé, of Paris, France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE
FOREHEAD OR OTHER PART FOR USE IN CERTAIN SURGICAL OPERATIONS, AND
"
PURPOSES [communicated to him from abroad by Gustave Trouvé, of Paris,
France]
This Invention relates to electric lighting apparatus for surgical and other uses
as hereinafter fully described.
In performing certain surgical operations or for the examination of the larynx,
the generative organs, &c, a reflector has been attached to the forehead for directing
the rays of light from a lamp upon the parts to be examined. The great objection
to this is that the light required to be shifted at each movement of the patient
which materially interfered with the performance of the operation or the results of
the inspection.
The present invention consists essentially-(1) in the arrangement of a frontal
illuminating apparatus for surgical purposes and which may or may not be made
adjustable about a centre in order to project the rays in any direction desired so as
to follow the movements of the patient while leaving the hands of the operator
perfectly free; and (2) in apparatus employed for obtaining luminous effects for
decorative, theatrical, and other purposes.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example,
Figure 1 representing a side view of the apparatus complete. Figure 2 a longitudinal

page_text: vertical section, and Figure a plan of the same; and figures 4, 5, & 6 represent
detail views of the apparatus.
The entire apparatus is attached to a frontal plate a padded on the inside of the
forehead and secured to the forehead by an elastic band b, or by one or more
springs like those of fencing masks, or by means of a spectacle frame resting on
the nose, or the apparatus may be attached to a cap or other head piece. The
lighting apparatus is mounted on plate a by a ball and socket joint c, the ball c
being attached to a plate d which may or may not be furnished with a reflector
and which forms the end of a cylindrical casing e upon which fits a tubular socket f,
figure 5, carrying the source of light preferably in the form of an incandescent
lamp, figure 6, to whose terminals g are attached the wires from a battery or other
generator. The lamp may be attached in any suitable manner to the socket f.
The socket f carrying the lamp is fitted upon the cylindrical part e and the tube h
carrying a lens i is fixed in the end of tube e, the rays being directed either in
parallel, converging or diverging lines, by suitably adjusting the tube h in part e.
The conducting wires may either be inserted in the bend b or otherwise
arranged, and instead of an incandescent lamp any other kind of lamp may be
employed the parts being modified to suit the apparatus besides being employed
for medical purposes as described may also be used in mining travelling and other
purposes, it being so adapted to suit the nature of such application.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Patent Office on the 11th June
1884.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE
OR OTHER PART FOR USE IN CERTAIN SURGICAL OPERATIONS AND
"
FOREHEAD
OTHER PURPOSES
Paris, France
A communication to me from abroad by Gustave Trouvé of
This Invention relates to electric lighting apparatus for surgical and other uses,
as hereinafter fully described.
•
In performing certain surgical operations or for the examination of the larynx,
the generative organs &c a reflector has been attached to the forehead for
directing the rays of light from a lamp upon the parts to be examined.
The great objection to this is that the light required to be shifted at each
movement of the patient which materially interfered with the performance of the
operation or the results of the inspection.
The present Invention consists essentially (1) in the arrangement of a frontal
illuminating apparatus for surgical purposes which may or may not be made
adjustable about a centre in order to project the rays in any direction desired to
suit the movements of the patient while leaving the hands of the operator perfectly
free.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example,
figure 1 representing a side view of the apparatus complete, figure 2 a longitudinal
vertical section, and figure 3 a plan of the same. Figures 4, 5, 6 show details.
The entire apparatus is attached to a frontal plate a padded on the inside and
secured to the forehead by an elastic band b or by one or more springs like those
of fencing masks, or by means of a spectacle frame resting on the nose, or the
apparatus may be attached to a cap or other head piece. The lighting apparatus is
mounted on plate a by a ball and socket joint c the ball c being attached to a
plate d which may or may not be furnished with a reflector and which forms the
end of a cylindrical casing e upon which fits a tubular socket f, figure 5, carrying
the source of light preferably consisting of an incandescent lamp, figure 6, to
whose terminals g are attached the wires from a battery or other generator. The
lamp may be attached in any suitable manner to the socket f. The socket f
carrying the lamp is fitted upon the cylindrical part e and a tube h carrying a
lens is fixed in the end of tube e the rays being directed either in parallel
converging or diverging lines, by suitably adjusting the tube h in part e.
The conducting wires may either be inserted in the band b'or be otherwise
arranged, and instead of an incandescent lamp any other kind of lamp may be
employed the parts being modified to suit.
The apparatus besides being employed for medical purposes as described may
also be used in mining travelling and for other purposes it being so adapted to
suit the nature of such application.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
An illuminating apparatus for surgical and other purposes consisting of an

page_text: electric incandescent lamp mounted in a casing provided with a reflector and lens
and connected by means of a ball and socket universal joint c to a frontal plate,
the parts being combined for attachment and use as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eleventh day of June A.D. 1884.