GB2081105A

GB2081105A - Anaesthetic apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2081105A
Application number: GB8023210A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-16
Filing date: 1980-07-16
Publication date: 1982-02-17

Abstract

A method of administering an anaesthetic gas to a child comprises supplying an anaesthetic gas by tube 20 to the mouthpiece 16 of a telephone handpiece 12 of conventional appearance, and simultaneously supplying a suitable prerecorded sound e.g. from cassette recorder 30 to the earpiece 24 of the handpiece. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anaesthetic apparatus This invention relates to a device for administering anaesthetic gas to children.

Children often react strongly against the use of a conventional mask to administer an anaesthetic gas, and also dislike injections. The aim of the present invention is to administer an anaesthetic gas without distressing the child.

According to the invention, a method of administering an anaesthetic to a child comprises supplying an anaesthetic gas to the mouthpiece of a telephone handpiece of conventional appearance and simultaneously supplying a suitable prerecorded sound to the earpiece of the handpiece. The sound may be a fairy story, a series of nursery rhymes or suitable music.

Using the method of the invention, the anaesthetic gas is administered by means of a familiar object, and the child is simultaneously distracted and entertained until a level of anaesthesia is reached when a conventional mask can be used without the child being aware of its presence.

According to the invention, apparatus for administering anaesthetic gas comprises a telephone hand piece of conventional appearance; tube connection means to supply an anaesthetic gas to the mouth piece of the handpiece; sound emission means in the earpiece of the handpiece; and connecting means to connect the sound emission means to sound record ing means. The sound recording means may be a cassette recorder.

Conveniently, a telephone body of conventional appearance may also be used, with a spirally coiled insulated connection wire between the handpiece and the body. The tube connection and the connect ing means in the form of an insulated conductor may then pass through the central passage of the spirally coiled wire. If required, the sound recording means may be contained in the body.

The end of the tube connection remote from the telephone may be in the form of a British standard fitting suitable for connection to a source of anaesthetic gas.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying draw ing which illustrates a telephone body 10 and hand piece 12 connected by a spirally coiled wire 14. The body and handpiece may be of two thirds normal size, but should closely resemble the familiar form of telephone, and may be an attractive colour such as bright red. Fixed to the side of the mouthpiece 16 of the handpiece 12 is a nipple 18 over which fits a flexible gas supply tube 20 which passes through the centre of the spirally coiled wire 14to the body, then extends considerably further and is terminated by a british standard anaesthetic gas connecter 22.

Within the earpiece 24 of the handpiece is a louds peaker 26 connected by a wire 28 through the hand - piece and through the spirally coiled wire 14 towards the telephone body 10, then to a cassette recorder 30. The cassette recorder may be separate or may in a variation, (not illustrated) be concealed within the body 10.

In use, the gas connector 22 is connected to a supply of anaesthetic gas from an anaesthetic machine.

The child is then given the handpiece to hold in the normal position and the cassette recorder 30 switched on. The child lies with the mouthpiece 16 and his own mouth under a bedsheetorothercovering and anaesthetic gas is supplied thrnughthe mouthpiece to the localised atmosphere. When the child has reached a required level of anaesthesia, the telephone handpiece is removed and a mask substituted.

It has been found that the use of a familiar object and the provision of entertainment in the form of a story is beneficial in keeping a child calm in the unaccustomed surroundings of an operating theatre

Claims

1. A method of administering an anaesthetic to a child comprises supplying an anaesthetic gas to the mouthpiece of a telephone handpiece of conventional appearance and simultaneously supplying a suitable prerecorded sound to the earpiece of the handpiece.

2. Apparatus for administering anaesthetic gas comprises a telephone handpiece of conventional appearance; tube connection means to supply an anaesthetic gas to the mouthpiece of the handpiece; sound emission means in the earpiece of the handpiece; and connecting means to connect the sound emission means to sound recording means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 further comprising a telephone body of conventional appearance containing the sound recording means.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 in which the handpiece and the body are connected by a spirally coiled wire, and the tube connection and the connecting means pass through the central passage of the spirally coiled wire.

5. Apparatus for administering anaesthetic gas substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.