US1208701A

US1208701A - Prophylactic and hygienic art.

Info

Publication number: US1208701A
Authority: US
Inventors: Simeon Trenner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1915-08-16
Filing date: 1915-08-16
Publication date: 1916-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1933-12-12

Description

S. TRENNER.

PRoPHYLAcTlc AND HYGIENIC ART.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-16.1915.

Patente Dec. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

S. TRENNER PROPHYLACTIC AND HYGIENIC ART.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6, 1915.

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..Hnh/.Mwhwww 'venfar SIMEON TRENNER, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROPHYLACTIC AND HYGIENIC ART.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

Application filed August 16, 1915. Serial No. 45,773.

' To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMEON TRENNER, a

f citizen of Great Britain, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of lllinois, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Prophylactic and Hygienic Arts, of

A which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to improvements in containers and dispensers for, and in methods of, packing, distributing, storing and dispensing materials in aseptic and hygienic condition for use in medical, surgical, and other treatments by physicians,. surgeons, dentists, or others and in some instances for use as confections, food, etc.

The object of my invention is to provide a system of packing cotton or other materials including applicators in an aseptic or hygienic condition and preserving and dispensing same in such condition. The system provides for sterilization, storage, transportation, dispensing and .use whereby the` materials when withdrawn from the containing case may be safely used. In other words, it is my object to provide a practical system of packing, sterilizing, protecting and dispensing such materials, which shall eliminate in so far as possible the danger of contamination or deterioration by pathogenic or putrefactive organisms, dust, moisture or other means, particularly under circumstances when it is necessary that the materials be handled and used by those not versed in or negligent .of the dangers of contamination incident to such use and without the knowledge and skill necessary to protect against infection.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved carton or boX adapted to4 contain aseptic or hygienic material` and so constructed and arranged that the. possibility oi the contamination of the contained materials is reduced to a minimum and in which the materials are so packed and arranged that they may be withdrawn from the carton as needed without contanrination or deterioration of the part withdrawn or of the remaining materials.

A further object oi my invention` is to provide a plurality of pledgets carried on suitable applicators or handles and soarranged or packed within a carton or container and preserved in aseptic condition that they may be withdrawn from the container one at a time without any danger of contaminating either the pledget which is to be used or the pledgets which remain in the container.

My invention resides in a system of packmg, sterilizing, protecting and dispensing materlals in aseptic and hygienic condition lfor use in medical, surgical and biologic .treatments and operations and 1n some instances for use as food or medicine, whereby the materials may be readily removed from the container as required for use, and whereby the material which remains in the container as well as that withdrawn is prgtected against contamination from organisms in the air and by direct or indirect contact with infected surfaces or bodies and by moisture in the air.

Further, my invention consists in a box, carton or container adapted to hold a plurality of aseptic devices or masses connected in a series and so packed or arranged in the carton that the withdrawal of one device from the carton places the next succeeding device of the series in a position to be withdrawn and wherein the container is so constructed and arranged that it has a downwardly extending passage through which the devices are withdrawn.

My invention also consists in a box or carton provided with a main chamber adapted to contain a plurality of aseptic or other devices connected together in a series and provided with a narrow or thin passage through which the series of devices are adapted to be drawn when being removed from the carton, there being an opening connecting the passage with the interior of the carton, and the exit of said passage being arranged at a lower point than that at which the communicating opening is arranged whereby the ase-ptic devices will travel in a downwardly direction through said passage as they are withdrawn from the carton.

My invention also consists in a box, carton or container of the kind and for the purpose above mentioned, the passage through which said devices are drawn being adapted to automatically close upon the devices and the connecting material or strip with a yielding pressure and thus prevent i ing within the container, which consists in arranging the articles in serial connected form and packing them in such a. manner that they can be removed from the container with no danger of contaminating them.

My invention also consists in a method of packing pledgets to prepare them for placement within a suitable carton and which consists in placing the pledgets in serial order upon a long strip of paper, the strip being wide enough to fold over the pledgets and thus cover them, and the pled ets being so held that they may be removed rom the strip of paper without necessity of touching any part thereof except the handle.

My invention also consists in a plurality of pledgets each thereof mounted or secured upon a.suitable handle or applicator and ar' ranged in series upon a strip of paper, be-` ing arranged parallel with each other and the handles being threaded through suitable openings in the paper whereby the pledgets are maintained in their relative positions, the strip of paper being wide enough to be folded over the pledgets andtheir handles to protect them from contamination.

My inventionalso consists in a system of preparing and packing a series of pledgets or other articles, such as strips of cotton, or gauze, cotton rolls, packets of surgical catgut, gauze swabs, compresses, packets of aseptic and antiseptic powders or materials, soap powders,v biologic preparations, and emollient materials, chemicals, drugs, gum, candies, or other confections or articles of food and X-ray films or other materials, etc., the articles or packages being connected together by suitable means and adapted to be easily and readily withdrawn from the carton or container, either serially or one at a time, Without opening the carton more than sufficient to permit the egress of the articles as they are removed.

My invention also consists in the means for and methods of packing, storing and dispensing articles, hereinafter more fully described, and by means of which I am enn abled to attain the above mentioned and other objects, and all as more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings` forming part of this specification, and in which: I

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional perspective view of a container loaded with sterile or hygienic material, the whole illustrating a typical embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a sections-l perspective View similar to Fig. l showing the cover removed sufliciently to permit Athe withdrawal of the sterile material from the container; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the container on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a vertical perspective section, similar to 2, and showing a modified form of container; Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a container illustrating a different form of over the swabs and protect them; Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8, showing one manner of mounting and protecting the swabs; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, illustrating the manner of mounting and protecting the swabs shown irl-Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 isa cross-sectional view similar to Figs. 10 and 11 taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 2, and showing the manner of packing a strip of sterile material, such as cotton or gauze.

It is well known by those versed in the medical and surgical art that pathogenic organisms do not travel through air by their own motion, but are carried with moving air or are caused to fall by gravity, consequently the)7 cannot enter through an air passage in which the air is not moving or upon the inclosing surfacesA of the passage enter into a closed container. I have made use of this fact in producing my system of packing, storing, and dispensing materials, articles` or devices in aseptic condition whereby I am enabled to dispense articles for use in medical, surgical and other similar treatments in aseptic condition. I arrange the materials within a closed container either sterilized (or put in aseptic condition) before placement therein or sterilized after being placed therein, and I arrange the container so that there Vcan be no rush or strong current of air into the container at any time and from which the materials, articles or devices can be withdrawn one'at a time or in serial order without possibility of contaminating the remaining materials or articles.

Cotton or similar materials, as ordinarily packed and preparedv for use in the treatment of wounds, is held within a box or other receptacle whose top can be opened and from which a quantity of the cotton can be withdrawn. Usually the top remains more or less open and the boX is in condition to permit the direct entrance by gravity from the air above the` box of pathogenic organisms. The cotton has doubtlessly been previously sterilized and before the boX has been opened in all probability the cotton is in aseptic condition, but immediately the boX has been opened there is present the possibility of contamination.

The usual or common method of producing a pledget for use is to take a sterilized applicator, push` it into a mass of cotton and by twisting the applicator secure a small roll of the cotton fiber to the end of .the applicator and by the withdrawal of the applicator separating this small roll from the mass, but the mass of cotton from which the small mass is removed is not necessarily in sterile condition for, as before stated, through the repeated opening of the box or container within which the sterile cotton has been stored the contained material is probably in contaminated condition instead of in sterile condition.

It is a quite usual practice to wind the small mass of cotton upon the applicator by means of the lingers of theV operator, thus directly contaminating the mass `of cotton or pledget from the -ingers and unless the lingers which are thus used have been sterilized immediately before, the possibility of contamination is present. The reasoning applies to all articles, devices, or materials which it is desired to use in sterile or hygienic condition and which may be packed in bulk within a container for distribution and use. These materials may very readily include applicators for the making and using of pledgets, soap powders and other materials for medical or surgical uses, surgical catgut and other similar materials, cotv ton or other similar swabs, rolls, compresses or small masses, tooth picks and similar articles, gum, candies or other articles for food, and any other material, article or device for aplication to or upon the living body. For as is well known, these pathogenic organisms may be easily transplanted from an infected or septic article or material to an open wound, abrasion, cut or sore, being transferred or transplanted from one patient to another and often producing in the transplanted position, results or conditions far worse than that shown or recognized in the patient from Whom they' were derived.

It is well known that in modern practice a careful practitioner uses all possible means to prevent these pathogenic organisms from being transplanted to a place where they will be likely to multiply to the detriment of the patient and it is of course modern practice to use all due care in applying bandages, gauzes, or other materials, that they shall be in aseptic condition, and various means for this purpose have been devised and are in use at the present time in the best hospitals. My invention, therefore, in so far as it is concerned with medical and surgical materials, relates more particularly to the use, by those not highly versed in the medical and surgical art, and in the knowledge of pathogenic organisms, of articles,

devices, and materials in the treatment of home and the workshop and on the battlefield, where it is frequently necessary that first aid shall be given by those not learned in the healing and curative art or to systematize technic and prevent negligence when on occasion the dressing materials are used in rapid succession or in emergencies which may possibly preclude the exercise of the great care ordinarily practised.

Broadly considered, the material or strip A, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is merely illustrative of the materials which may be packed in and be dispensed from my containers. In these two figures I have illustrated them as a continuous strip of material which, as will be made clear herein, may take many forms, and may consist of a continuous strip of cotton or gauze protected by paper or other material or it may consist of a continuous strip of material upon which are secured separated articles which it is desired to dispense in sterile condition. It may consist of a series of separated articles joined by or mounted upon a continuous connector by means of which the articles can be withdrawn from the container one at a time and in serial order. However, my invention is not limited to the necessity of having the sterile articles or material dispensed in a continuous manner or order for my invention, as has been explained, relates to a container from which sterile material is dispensed through a passage which prevents the entrance into the container of pathogenic organisms, and deleterious or infectious insects or dust. Whatever form my container takes for the several uses to which it is adapted, it consists of what may be termed a closed casing lwithin which the sterile articles are held,

'through moves in a downwardly direction for the purpose of better preventing the en trance into the container of pathogenic organisms, etc. In the second-form, that is, where the passage is made up of walls which are not rigid, it is not so necessary that, it be arranged to discharge the material in a downwardly direction, for the walls in this case are adapted to close upon each other and thus prevent any conveyance of pathogenic organisms, etc., into the container, and it should be understood that even discharge passages, as described, are not absolutely necessary provided the passage is so made that it is practically impossible for the pathogenic organisms, etc., to enter the container therethrough.

rl.`he drawings illustrate a number of different forms of containers and a number of different forms of contained material, but, as will be clearly shown, they all relate to containers and contained material which fall within the scope of my invention.

It is my object to not only pack, preserve and dispense sterile material and articles without danger of contamination, but also' to protect the container itself, particularly during intervals after it has been opened and before the material has been all removed and while it is awaiting further use; consequently my containers are usually provided with an outer removable casing or cover, which protects theprojecting end or ends of the contained material during storage periods; but even this outer casing is not necessary in all forms of my container, as will be shown hereinafter.

I t is further my object to dispense articles in hygienic condition, as well as in sterile condition, for it will Ibe understood that my container can be so arranged that it will protect its contents against contamination other than that which would result from the presence' of pathogenic or putrefactive germs, and it is further my object to protect the contained -material in lsome instances from the effect of moisture, light, dust, etc., so that certain materials may be dispensed in commonly termed fresh condition. The latter would apply particularly to the dispensing of candies, gum, and such like articles, and to the dispensing of drugs, chemicalls, and X-ray films and other articles deleteriously affected by light or moisture.

It is further my object to provide a means ofldispensing articles in such a manner as to assure their cleanliness and freshness, and that they have not been substituted,

i' handled, tried, tested or worn, by salespeople or customers. In other words, to insure the fact that the articles dispensed thus one at a time have not had contact with any ones hands or person since they were packed ready for shipment.

In the form of my container illustrated in Figs. l to 4, the container proper B is a closed rectangular (preferably paste board) box which is'provided at one side with a downwardly leading exit or discharge passage bl. This passage is formed between the inner wall 52 and the outer wall 67. The

-wall b? extends upwardly from the bottom b3, of the box and ends near the top wall b4,

leaving a transverse slot or opening b5 between its upper end andthe upper end of the box, through which the contained material can enter the passage b1. The upper edge of this wall, is provided with a smooth, round edge or corner be over which the s trip of material can be freely drawn. Theouter Wall of the exit passage 61 is formed by a wall L7 which depends from the top b4 ofthe box and extends downwardly terminating at LS box. These two walls, b2 and 57, are yielding to some extent to permit the strip A to be drawn therethrough and are 'adapted to press upon the strip with a yielding pressure, so that the strip is held against other than intentional movement in the passage and the movement of air into and out of the container is minimized. Furthermore, the strip A is held in the exit passage with suficient friction to prevent it being forced back into the container as the casing C is withdrawn from the container proper. The strip A normally extends through thepassage and its outer end a1 extends below the lower edge bs so that when it is desired to withdraw the strip from the container theV extending end a1 may be grasped for this purpose.

In order to protect the extending end al of the strip A, and to further protect the passage bg against the entrance of dust, germ or moisture-laden air into the container, I provide a l telescoping casing C which is adapted to fit closely upon the casing B, and is long enough to reach nearly to the bottom of the casing B when' placed thereon from the upper end, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. One reason for making the exit passage fairly long is to prevent flies from crawling into the container for it is well known that iiies will'not go through such a passage, particularly when the passage is dark as in this case. In order to further protect the extending end al of the strip, I form the lower end of the wall b2 outwardly in-v clined, as shown at b9, so that it will contact tightly with the lower end of the casing C when the latter is in position, thus in a sense sealing the space in which the extending end of the strip A is contained when the casing Gis in position uponthe container B. As a further precaution against contamination, I preferably provide the bottom b3 of the container with supporting projections b1", so that when the container 1s standing upon a support its bottom does not contact w1th the support except through the projections or feet 51. n

In order to protect the contents of the container against moisture, or other means of deterioration, I provide in the upper part of the container, a means of absorbing moisture or a means counteracting other deteriosome distance above the bottom of theV rating agencies, in the form of a suitable abas arranged'in'the space be-- naosnoi tween the top of the container proper and the casing C; but, as illustrated in Fig. 5,.

this protector may be advantageously arranged within the upper part of the container proper B itself. In whichever position the protectorD is arranged it serves its function of absorbing moisture or protecting the contents against contamination.

As shown in Fig. 1, I preferably seal the outer casing or cover C in position upon the container proper B by means of a glued strip A', which I secure to the lower part of the box and the lower part of the cover, and thus eiiectually secure and seal the cover in position. And in order that this strip may be moisture-proof, I treat the container after the strip has been placed thereon by formaldehyde or some similar leatherizing chemical and thus make the glue insoluble. I sometimes also paint or cover the whole exterior of the container with glue or some substance and subject it to the action of formaldehyde, cromic acid, alum, or Some other water-proofing process, and thus make the container as a whole Timpervious to moisture. This water-proofing of the container is of importance, both as to protecting the contents against dampness from the outside and, in some instances, 'to preserve the contents against drying out, for the water-proofing of the container eifectually prevents the passage of moisture either into or out of the container.

As shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, I usually make the strip A somewhat narrower than the box, so that the walls which form the exit passage may yield suiiciently to permit the withdrawal from the container of the strip of material even when the strip consists of a strip of paper carrying masses or rolls of cotton, or other articles which form lumps thereon which might be diiicult to draw through a passage whose walls were rigid.

Fig. 2 shows the casing C lifted up a suiicient distance to permit the ready grasping of the outer end al of the strip A, and it is my custom when using this form to Withdraw a suflicient length of the strip,` particularly if it consists of a stripof cotton or gauze, and then sever the strip with a pair of shears which have been sterilized, thus preserving the strip of material against contamination. I am careful to sever the strip at such a point that the projecting end a1 is sufliciently long to permit the grasping thereof when it is desired to remove a further section or part of the strip A. This is clearly shown in Fig. 2. a

As indicated hereibefore, the contained strip may comprise a strip of paper carrying separated articles, and I have illustrated this strip A in Fig. 5 as comprising a strip of paper a2 carrying at intervals thereon masses of cotton or other articles a3. When I make use of a strip of this character I can readily sever the strip between the articles a3 by means` of aknife c carried upm the lower edge of the casing C. In this instance the casing C is withdrawn suiiciently to permit the grasping of the extending end of the strip and the strip is then withdrawn to remove 'from the container a suiiicient number of the articles a3. This having been done the cover C is depressed to the position illustrated in Fig. 5 and the paper carrier is severed by means of the knife c1. The cover C is then depressed to its lower position to protect the container until it is desired to again remove some of the contained material. I preferably make the casing C to fit the container proper B tightly enough so that the frictional contact between the two will prevent the casing C from changing its relative position during the cutting operation. As shown in Fig. 5, I sometimes substitute an antifriction roller Z213 for the rounded edge over which the strip A is drawn. It will be understood that the strip shown in Fig. 5 may generally illustrate a strip carrying any article in separated relation thereon which it is desired to dispense from the container. For instance, this strip may carry swabs, F, as shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, these swabs comprising handles f1 having upon one end thereof a swab or pledget of cotton f2 and these sWabs being mounted in spaced relation upon a strip of paper f3 and secured thereto by any suitable means, such as a thread f4, or by means of pairs of slits f5 formed in the strip of paper and through which the handles f1 can be threaded, as shown in Fig. 9. Preferably the paper strip is wide enough to be folded over the swabs, as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11, to protect the swabs against anv accidental contamination.

It will be readily understood that the paper strip could carry articles other than the swabs,-F, such as small containers or .envelops G (Fig. 19) which may contain soap powders, medicinal powders, candy, gum, or any other articles which it is desired to dispense from the container. In fact,these small containers may contain coils or tubes of surgical catgut, shown in Fig. 20, or I may mount the tubes directly upon a dispensing strip. The strip shown in Fig. 2 is shown in a large cross section in Fig. 12. This strip comprises a continuous strip of aseptic cotton or gauze a4 protected by a paper covering in the form of an elongated strip a5 which is wide enough to fold over and thus form a continuous tube. I preferably strengthen the tube by means of a glued strip of paper a6 which continues throughout the whole length of the tube, and is preferably arranged on its underside so that it strengthens the paper tube containing the cotton and provides a tough surface or wall l JO . container, which it to contact with the upper edge of the wall b2 over which the strip is drawn as it is removed from the container and as a further protection and `for the purpose of toughening the sealing strip a I usually subject the completed strip to the leatherizmg action of formaldehyde or some similarly acting chemical. I sometimes make the paper strip in the form of a long paper tube and then between the several articles arranged thereon I secure the walls of the tube tightly together, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, forming in effect a series of sealed pockets or envelops adapted to contain any material or article which it is desired to dispense from the container, and when the'strip is severed at points between thel pockets the articles dispensed are still protected from contamination until the individual pockets are opened.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated another form of the strip A. In this instance it consists of a long strip of paper in which a series of swabs F are arranged longitudinally in relation thereto with av portion of the paper between the several swabs F free of any material. In this form the swabs may be, withdrawn-from the container one at a time and the paper severed between the swabs and thereafter when it is desired to use a swab.

the paper can be unfolded from the swab, thus insuring delivery in its sterile condition. In a container formed to hold such a series of swabs, the rounded edge over which the strip is drawn, as the strip is withdrawn from the container, is arranged far enough below the top of the container to permit the swabs to freely, rotate within the container t0 a position where they can be drawn down the exit passage, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6./` The container for articles of thisl kind, is preferably made relatively deep, so that the free space at the upper part of the is necessary to provide, does not bear any large relation to the holding capacity of the container. I sometimes arrange the articles on the strip A in groups of articles or materials which may be associated in use or application, such as a swab of cotton followed by a small quantity of powder, or an applicator followed by a swab of cotton for use on the applicator. It will thus be readily understood that my invention is useful for the convenient dispensing in aseptic or hygienic condition of many different materials and devices which could be arranged in suitable groups or sequence.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modified form of container in that that container is provided with a flexible tube H,which serves as the exit passage. This tube is secured to the upper part o the container immediately adjacent to the inlet b5 and practically forms a closed outlet yfor the contained material which may be drawn out through this iexible conduit. This conduit or tube is preferably formed so that its walls contact very closely with thesurface of the strip of material which is lheld within the container as the strip is drawn through the conduit and' thus prevents the entrance into the container of pathogenic organisms even-though the tubedoes not always hang down, and also prevents any free interchange of air between the interior and exterior of the container. The container illustrated. in Fig. 7 is provided with an outer casing C, similar to that already described by means of which the conduit H is protected at times when the material is not being withdrawn from the container.

In order that the sterile devices which are packed* within' the containers may be sterilized from time to time in case considerable time elapses between the use ofthe first article and the use of the last, I prefer to make my containers in such a manner that they may be placed within a sterilizer and properly sterilized Hwithout any destructive effects.

When I mount the articles upon a continuous strip for removal from the container I sometimes designate the articles in some manner so that the user may readily judge as to the remaining number of articles in the container at any time. I may number the articles in serial order, as shown in Fig. 8, where the articles orthe paper strip within which the articles are mounted are shown as being numbered in serial order by the

numerals

99, 98, 97,'etc. When the strip is arranged within the container we may assume that there will be 100 of the articles in the container and the first one withdrawn would be No. 100 and, as the articles are removed, the numbers designating the articles within the container would always be shown on the projecting end of the strip, as the higher numbers would lirst be removed.

I wish it particularly` understood that while I have made use of the word sterile or aseptic in describing the` condition of the material held within the container, my invention is not limited to the exact meaning of this word, but, on the other hand, the word sterile may properly be considered to include hygienic, fresh, or any other word indicating that the material is retained within the container in the condition in which it is placed therein or in the condition in which it is desired to retain the material. Furthermore, while I have shown and described certain specific forms of containers vand contained articles and materials, it should be understood that the scopeand application of my invention are not thus limited.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent:

1.' A' closed container, a series of aseptic 130 FOU comprising a container serving as an exit opening, said exit to the container,I

articles therein, a flexible connector to which the articles are connected in serial order, the container having an elongated closed exit passage open at its ends through which the articles may be removed by means of the connector, the walls of the passage being adapted to close upon the connector between the articles thereon to maintain the container and its contents in aseptic condition and to prevent the inadvertent return to the container of the exposed end of the connector.

2. A closed container for sterile material provided with an elongated tube-like exit passage open at its ends only and through which the material must pass as it is removed rom the container, the walls of said passage being adapted to close toward eachv other upon and yieldable to permit the sterile material to pass.

f3. A closed container adapted to hold sterile material and provided with a down- Wardly extending exit passage through which the material must pass in a downward direction as it is removed from the container, said passage having walls adapted to close` toward each other upon the material therein-which normally acts as a stopper for the passage to reduce to a minimum the flow of air into and out of the container.

4. The improvements herein described having a chamber to holdsterile material and provided with an elongated closed exit passage communicating at one end with said chamber, the other end opening arranged below the other end of the passage, whereby the sterile material must pass in a downwardly direction as it is removed from the container through said passa e.

A closed container in combination with a strip carrying sterile material arranged within the container to be continuously drawn out, said container having an exit passage of appreciable length formed of transversely connected or continuous walls and 'through which the strip extends, the walls of the passage adapted to frictionally engage the strip and prevent its free return and a cover incasing the container and adapted to protect the outer end of the strip.

6. A closed container in combination with a paper strip carrying a plurality of sterile articles secured thereon in longitudinally spaced relation, the container being provided with a downwardly extending exit passage closed on four sides through which the paper strip extends and by means of which the articles may be withdrawn one after the other, the strip being adapted to be severed between the articles, and the spacing thereof being suficient to permit the walls of the passage to close upon the strip, the material in the passage being adapted to act as a stopper therefor. l

7. A closed container for holding sterile material having an exit passage on one side and an exit opening above the bottom thereof, in combination with an open-bottomed cover for normally incasing the container and protecting the exit opening, said container and cover being formed to closely contact with each other below said exit opening to seal the space between the exit opening and the bottom of the container.

8. A container for holding sterile material, provided with an outwardly extending wall near its lower end, in combination with an open-ended casing for normally covering the container, said casing being adapted to contact with said outwardly extending wall to seal the space between the container and the casingT and an exit passage opening into the space between the casing and the container and above said inclined wall.

9. A container for sterile material having an exit opening on one side, a strip adapted to carry sterile material inclosed in the container and adapted to be continuously drawn out through said opening, a casing having an open end adapted to be placed over the container to protect said opening, said casing carrying a knife edge which is adjustable relatively to said opening and whereby the strip may be readily severed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of August, 1915, in

the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SMEON TRENNER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD FAY WILSON, ARTHUR WM. NELSON.