US2345875A - Apparatus for regional analgesia - Google Patents

Description

April 1944- N. R. JAMES ET AL APPARATUS FOR REGIONAL ANALGESIA Filed Oct. '7, 1943 Fig.2.

'matically or otherwise.

Patented Apr. 4, l944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUSFOR REGIONAL'ANALGES'IA Norman Reynolds James, Twickenham, and Henry Alfred Talley, Stanmore, England, assigners of one-fourth to Cedric Gordon Blaker, North Finchley, England, and one-fourth to Harriet Maude James, Twickenham, England Application October 7, 1943, Serial No. 595,510 In Great Britain May 5, 1943 (Cl. 128--2l6) 7 Claims.

The invention may also be used to administer regional analgesics or other solutions for the prophylaxis of shock due to trauma, heat, cold or chemicals or the treatment of such conditions if they exist.

According to the invention the apparatus essentially comprises a source of compressed gas or means of compressing a gas such as air, oxygen, carbon dioxide and so on, or any suitable mixture thereof may be used. For example, the compressing means may consist of a pump actuated by hand, pedal or otherwise and in the case of a compressed gas it may be stored in a suitable bottle or cylinder, a regulatable reducing valve or the like being included if desired.

The compressed gas is supplied to a. reservoir or container of suitable material, such as non-- ferrous metal, stainless steel, or otherwise, the interior surface having if desired, a vitreous or other suitable glaze or lining of any appropriate material and advantageously adapted to be sterilised by suitable treatment.

The reservoir or container which is of suitable capacity has at its lower end an outlet, preferably fitted with a valve controlled auto- To this outlet is connected a flexible or other conduit, the other end of which is detachably connected to a valve controlled gun or the like.

Where necessary, there is advantageously provided means for separating oil and water as well as a filter or filters for the elimination of dust or other noxious substances, for instance, on the air or gas line; or on the liquid line, or both. Moreover all piping, conduits, connections and the like are advantageously made readily detachable for sterilisation whilst where the conduits are flexible they can be formed fromreinforced canvas tubing or otherwise.

The gun which may be of any suitable kind ispreferably'shaped to provide a pistol grip and lable valve therebetween, such control being, if

desired, formed as a trigger.

Detachably connected to the outlet from the pistol is a hollow surgical needle, preferably of stainless steel and of appropriate length which may vary to suit particular needs.

The needle after being sterilised is jabbed or inserted into the patient in such a manner thatthe discharge end thereof is located in the desired position, whereafter the valve of the pistol is operated so that the saline solution with its analgesic drug is caused to pass to and through the needle under the effect of the pressure in the reservoir or container until the requisite injection has been effected. The volume of solution injected can be ascertained by the use of a gauge or the like connected to the reservoir or container, or could be provided on the gun.

Where the needle is detachably connected to.

the pistol it advantageously has a conical or other recess lined with a soft or comparatively soft metal to make a firm joint with a conical projection from the pistol, the whole being held firmly in position by a union nut whilst, in some cases the connection may include a ball joint to permit the needle to be set at various angles to the pistol.

Instead of making direct connection between the needle and the pistol a fitting may be em ployed comprising a pipe or conduit which can be opened to the air through a cock and is so disposed that if said cock is open after the needle has been inserted into the patient, the saline solution charged with the analgesic drug instead of passing through the needle, passes to the open air as for instance, to a discharge bucket, exerting an aspiration on the needle to cause slight suction therethrough. Thus, should the actual.

discharge end of the needle have been incorrectly located, the said aspiration may draw blood, cerebral spinal fluid, pus or otherwise through the needle. This, in the particular construction envisaged, can be seen through a sight 1 glass coming in a tube between the actual joint of the needle and the said fitting so that if the needle had been incorrectly set, its position can be' quickly adjusted. Then by closing the cock, the saline solution charged with the analgesic drug can be injected as previously explained.

An air trap may be suitably located in the connections, if desired, to prevent air or other gas passing through the needle to the patient.

Any suitable sterilizing means may be utilised embodies an inlet and outlet with readily controlfor the needles, pistol, conduits, connections and so on while for field and other emergency purposes there may also be included a kettle or the like of stainless steel or other suitable material for generating steam at required temperature and pressure by means of a suitable portable heater or stove in order to-pass through a suitable flexible or other conduit (or conduits) for sterilising purposes.

The needle may remain if desired, in position on the pistol when not in use and be protected by a readily detachable cap of stainless steel or other suitable material.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention may be made in a great variety of forms but where primarily intended for field or emergency useis advantageously adapted to be readily portable by,

one or more individuals with the reservoir or container charged with the saline solution carrying the analgesic drug. In some cases where the weight may be excessive, in order to enable the reservoir or container to be charged with an adequate quantity of such solution and drug so that a great number of injections can be carried out without re-charging, a suitable fixed or detachable carrying handle or handles of bar-like form or the like may be provided to enable the app-aratus to be carried by one or more persons.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the main container consists of two separate struc tural units. The outer unit is designed to withstand mechanical shocks and may be of any suitable metal while the innermost unit is preferably of stainless steel and adapted to withstand chemical reactions. These structures are preferably of cylindrical form, the outermost one having a base, preferably flanged to form a foot. The upper end of the outer unit is such as to co-operate witha readily attachable and detachable cover, as for instance by means of clamping bolts or the like carried by pivoted swing-down arms or the like. If desired the cover may be of a dual nature, that is to say its outer part is suitable for withstanding mechanical shocks and to take the main mechanical. connections, whilst its inner part, may be of stainless steel. As a practical expedient, the cover is utilised for the carryingand attachment of the various accessory devices; for example it has attached thereto a pressure gauge, a release valve and a relief valve, and is formed or provided with passage connections communicating with a filter unit or units and an air trap device ,moroever, as will be readily understood, it can be utilised for the attachment of any other necessary fitments.

The air trap device may be of such a nature that when the supply of liquid falls below a predetermined level the supply to the pistol is cut off by means of a ball valve or'other mechanism and, should the pressure continue to operate, the liquid from the container passes to the atmosphere'or the compressed air or other gas itself passes to the atmosphere.

Although a saline solution charged with an analgesic drug would generally be used it may equally be used with any other suitable liquids.

'Ihe sterilising means may be suitable for all parts of the apparatus or certain parts may be subjected to other known means of sterilisation. For example, the filter units either for the liquid side or the air or gas pressure side may be subject to different kinds of sterilisation. Thus, either before or after cleaning, the filter can be baked in an oven at a suitable temperature.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference will hereinafter be made to the accompanying drawing which shows diagrarm matically at Figure i an elevation to illustrate by way of simple example the general principle embodied and at Figure 2 a gun to a larger scale in part sectional elevation.

From this drawing it will be clear that the reservoir I, which may consist of two separate units I, la but which may on the contrary be a single unit I made of stout material to withstand shock and lined internally with chemically re- I sisting material or again treated internally with air filter B which is connected to the reservoir I through a valve 5 serving to shut off the supply of compressed air. The pressure exerted upon the solution in the reservoir l or la will force the solution through an outlet at the bottom, here shown as a pipe 6a depending to near the bottom of the reservoir I and connected at its outlet end with a non-ferrous air trap C which remains closed until the solution is exhausted. The reservoir is also provided with a safety or relief valve 60 and a pressure release valve 6b.

The solution is taken from the air-trap C to a valve-controlled gun D to the outlet of which is detachably secured a hollow surgical needle E.

The air filter Bis of any usualkind with a sump 7 and drain cock 8.

The air trap C consists of a vessel 9 in which is a ball-valve 10 which closes an air inlet II until the solution falls below a pre-determined level whereupon, if the pressure should continue to operate, the air inlet ll opens and the solution from the container or the compressed air or gas passes to the atmosphere therethrough. The solution normally passes from outlet Ha to the gun D through pipe C The valve-controlled gun D is advantageously in the form of a pistol grip I2 with inlet I3 for the solution which passes to an outlet Hi through a valve I5 controlled by a trigger, press-button or other means l6. To the outlet M is detachably connected the surgical needle E which is enclosed when not in use by a cap ll.

In Fig. 1 the needle is directly secured to the piston but there may preferably be embodied a fitting F shown in Fig. 2 which consists of a pipe l8 to which the needle is secured and which pipe [8 is fitted with a cock I9 which controls the outlet Illa from a jet and Venturi tube contained in the cock body I92) and which cock can be opened to the atmosphere after the needle has been inserted in the patient so that the solution can be discharged through an outlet l9a into a receptacle to produce a slight suction on the needle for the purpose of making an aspiration test to ascertain whether the needle is correctly inserted,.a sight glass 20 being included in the fitting F so that the matter drawn out by the suction can be examined. The subsequent closing of the cock I9 will then permit of solutionbeing injected into the patient in normal manner.

The apparatus is sterilised in hospital by. blowing steam through the whole circuit from the air filter to the outlet orifice of the gun but where this is not possible steam maybe generated in a kettle boiled on a suitable source of heat, the steam being taken through a pipe and connected to th air filter B or it may be connected to theorifice I I of the air trap. The use of a detachable cover permits of easy cleaning and inspection.

The connection from the outlet Ila of the air trap to the gun D may suitably pass through a junction box or T-piece 2| so that another connection or connections C2 may be taken therefrom to another gun or guns thus permitting of several patients being treated at the same time. A valve or valves 22 may be provided on the junction box 2| in this case to permit of controlling the delivery of solution to the several guns.

To enable the apparatus to be readily carried by one or two persons in emergency cases, it is provided with carrying means such as by removable bars or handles 23 inserted in appropriate lugs or sockets 24 on the lid 2 or otherwise.

There may also be provided as a separate entity or in conjunction with the air filter, means for separating oil and water.

The diagrammatic drawing hereto shows the air filter and air trap distinct from the reservoir but it is to be understood that these parts are generally mounted upon the lid or the lid may be in the form. of a somewhat deep container adapted to house these and other fittings including the gun if necessary.

It is obvious that the gun can be of various types other than those herein specifically described. For instance the gun may incorporate a finger control suction valve as well as the finger control valve for the solution. Or again, the cock body l9a could be incorporated in the body of the gun itself.

To facilitate removal of the inner reservoir unit Ia where such is used, it can be formed with an upper portion lb of restricted diameter terminating in a flanged lip or rim lc.

Further, in order to obviate the need of removing the cover to fill the reservoir, a filler cap, not shown, can be provided suitably on such cover.

The invention is not limited to the precise forms or details of construction herein described, as these may be varied to suit particular requirements.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for regional analgesia comprising a reservoir to contain solution, a detachable cover hermetically closing said reservoir, means for supplying compressed air to said reservoir, filter means therefor, means by which the solution is conveyed to an air trap and delivered therefrom to a valve-controlled gun associated with a hollow surgical needle.

2. Apparatus for regional analgesia comprising a reservoir containing saline solution and a drug, a detachable hermetic closure and carrying means therefor, means for supplying filtered, compressed air to said reservoir, means for discharging the solution to a valve-controlled hollow surgical needle consisting of an outlet passage from said reservoir to an air trap, a delivery pipe from the air trap to a trigger operated valve controlling the delivery of solution to the needle.

3. Apparatus for regional analgesia comprising a reservoir containing saline solution and a drug, said reservoir consisting of a pair of nested vessels of which the outer one is adapted to with stand mechanical shock and the inner one to con tain the solution and drug and to withstand chemical reaction, a detachable cover mounted on the outer part of the reservoir to hermetically close the same, an inlet valve serving also as a stop cock mounted on the cover and connected to a source of compressed air, filter means interpolated between the source of supply and the inlet valve for the reservoir, an outlet from said reservoir through which solution passes to an air trap attached to said outlet, said air trap serving to prevent admission of atmospheric air thereto until the solution which has risen therein falls below a predetermined level, a delivery passage from the air trap to a junction box and connections from said junction box to a plurality of hollow surgical needles each mounted on a gun and actuated by a finger-controlled valve.

4. Apparatus for regional analgesia as claimed in claim 3 having filter means for the air and liquid supply lines and an air trap having a ball-actuated valve to control the delivery of solution to the valve controlled gun.

5. Apparatus for regional analgesia as claimed in claim 3 having a relief valve and a safety release valve mounted on the cover of the reservoir.

6. Apparatus for regional analgesia as claimed in claim 3 wherein the surgical needle is mounted on the gun and provided with a cock and a sight glass so that said cock can be opened to the atmosphere in order to obtain an aspiration test.

'7. Apparatus for regional analgesia as claimed in claim 3 the gun having a spring actuated trigger controlled valve, an inlet passage for the solution and an outlet passage on which the surgical needle is detachably connected.

NORMAN REYNOLDS JAMES. HENRY ALFRED TALLEY.

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