Improvements in Indicating Devices for Inhalers used in the Administration of Chloroform and other Anesthetics.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Indicating Devices for Inhalers used in the
Administration of Chloroform and other Anesthetics.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM KROHNE, of 8 Duke Street Manchester Square
London W. Surgical Instrument Maker do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
66
This invention relates to improved indicating devices, used in connection with
the inhaler described in Specification No. 10876 of 1890, granted to Charles
William Krohne and Henry Frederick Sesemann, and having for its title
Improvements in inhalers for the administration of chloroform and other
anaesthetics." These devices consist, firstly, of a small stop in the form of a bent
wire, fixed to the pin carrying the indicating feather. This projects on each side
of the ring supporting the pin and feather, in such a manner that when the feather
is in its lowermost position, taken up at each inspiration of the patient, one end
abuts against the inner side of the ring, and when the feather is raised, the other
end will abut against the outside of the ring. At each inspiration and expiration
this stop will, in meeting the ring, make a click or slight sound, so that should
the operator's attention be withdrawn from the feather, he will still hear the
sound produced by its motion. A second indicating device to be used in con-
nection with the same inhaler, consists of a tube, leading from the mouthpiece to
the ear of the operator. A pipe or nipple is provided similar to the one used
for the admission of the anaesthetic, and an indiarubber tube is connected thereto.
If it is desired to communicate with both ears of the operator, two nipples and
tubes may be employed, or the tube may divide into two parts, one leading to each
ear. A spring clip may be used to hold the ends of the tubes in the ears, thereby
obviating any necessity for holding the tubes, and allowing free use of the hands.
By this means the breathing of the patient may be clearly heard, even when it is
very light, so that an accurate knowledge can be obtained of his condition.
Dated this 18th day of August 1892.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Indicating Devices for Inhalers used in the
Administration of Chloroform and other Anæsthetics.
.I, CHARLES WILLIAM KROHNE, of 8, Duke Street, Manchester Square,
London, W. Surgical Instrument Maker, 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 :-
65
This invention relates to improved indicating devices, used in connection with
the inhaler described in Specification No. 10876 of 1890, granted to Charles
William Krohne, and Henry Frederick Sesemann, and having for its title
Improvements in inhalers for the administration of chloroform and other
anæsthetics." These devices consist, firstly, of a small stop in the form of a bent
wire fixed to the pin carrying the indicating feather. This projects on each side
of the ring supporting the pin and feather, in such a manner that when the
feather is in its lowermost position, taken up at each inspiration of the patient, one
end abuts against the inner side of the ring, and when the feather is raised, the

page_text: other end will abut against the outside of the ring. At each inspiration and
expiration this stop will, in meeting the ring, make a click or slight sound, so that
should the operator's attention be withdrawn from the feather, he will still hear
the sound produced by its motion. A second indicating device to be used in
connection with the same inhaler, consists of a tube, leading from the mouthpiece
to the ear of the operator. A pipe or nipple is provided similar to the one used
for the admission of the anesthetic, and an indiarubber tube is connected thereto.
If it is desired to communicate with both ears of the operator, two nipples and tubes
may be employed, or the tube may divide into two parts, one leading to each ear.
A spring clip may be used to hold the ends of the tubes in the ears, thereby
obviating any necessity for holding the tubes, and allowing free use of the hands.
By this means the breathing of the patient may be clearly heard, even when
it is very light, so that an accurate knowledge can be obtained of his condition.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan, of the complete device,
Fig. 3 a section of the top, showing the feather or indicator in the position
assumed, while breath is being exhaled,
Fig. 4 a rear view of the top, and
Fig. 5 a section of a cover or protector, which is placed over the top, and prevents
injury to the indicator.
A is the body of the inhaler, suitably formed at its open end for covering the
nose and mouth completely. On top of this body is fixed, the indicating device
consisting of the tube or ring B, attached by means of the flange B¹. This tube
has a tapered top, perforated by a number of holes b, and 2 cylindrical parts, the
upper one of which is slightly smaller than the lower, thus forming a step on which
the outer ring C carrying the feather or indicator D, rests. This feather is
attached to a small pin d, which turns in bearings projecting from the ring C,
allowing the feather to move up or down freely within certain minutes. A small
piece of bent wire d' projects from the pin d on either side, which forms a stop to
limit the motion of the feather in both directions, abutting against the inner side of
the ring when the feather is down, and against the outer side when it is raised. A
slight sound is thus made at each breath by reason of the striking of this wire
against the ring, which forms an additional indication of the breathing. Passing
through the flange B', and attached to the part A by means of nuts, are two
tubes E & F one of which serves to carry the anesthetic into the inhaler, an
ordinary india rubber tube being connected to it. The other is also provided with
a rubber tube which leads to the ear of the person administering the chloroform,
and indicates aurally the state of the breathing, a double indication being thus
given, one optical, by the feather, and the other aurally. The latter tube may be
forked, or the rubber tube may divide if necessary, in order that both ears may
be used, the ends being fixed in the ears by a spring clip or other suitable
arrangements.
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) In an inhaler of the kind described, the combination with a feather or
similar hinged indicator D of a stop d' projecting on each side of the hinge, and
operating in such a manner that at each inspiration and expiration an audible
blow or click will be given, substantially as described and shown, and for the
purposes specified.
(2) In an inhaler of the kind described, the combination with a tube E for
supplying the anæsthetic, of a second tube F, leading from the mouth piece A to
the ear of the operator, providing an aural indication of the breathing of the patient,
substantially as described and shown.

page_text: (3) The improved inhaler furnished with the feather stop and tube indicating
devices, the whole constructed and operating substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 18th day of May 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.