US3056407A - Circumcision ring - Google Patents

Description

O 2, 1962 D. H. KARIHER ETAL 3,056,407

CIRCUMCISION RING Original Filed May 18, 1955 iiii I N V EN TORli.

DONALD H. KAR/HER By no moms 1% SMITH W 6Q 9 ATTURNEY Unite Stats This invention relates to a surgical device used in performing circumcisions and, more particularly, to a circumcision ring which permits the performance of a circumcision by ligation.

This application is a continuation of a pending application entitled Circumcision Ring, bearing Serial Number 509,149 and filed on May 18, 1955, now abandoned and the benefit of this prior filing date is hereby claimed.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a circumcision ring having a handle which is employed by the surgeon to properly locate the ring on the glans penis preparatory to circumcision and which handle is easily removable after the operation has been completed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a circumcision ring of a material having characteristics which permit the ring to be easily altered or changed in configuration so as to conform to any anatomical variations or abnormality.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circumcision ring which can be more conveniently and more comfortably worn by the patient following the operation, and which eliminates the necessity of any post-operative care.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device, of the type described, which is extremely simple in construction and which can be very inexpensively manufactured.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the device showing the front of the handle thereof.

FIGURE 2 is another elevational view, similar to FIG- URE 1, showing the side of the handle thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view showing the posterior end of the device.

FIGURE 5 is a view showing the anterior end of the ring.

FIGURES 6 and 7 are views of the device properly positioned on the glans preparatory to the application of ligature.

FIGURE 8 is a view showing the relative position of the prepuce after the application of ligature.

FIGURE 9 is a view of the device with the handle removed after excision.

The circumcision ring constituting this invention comprises a conical or bell-shaped hollow body 11 having an annular flange 12 formed adjacent the anterior end 13 thereof. The junction of the flange 12 with the body 11 forms a groove 14. A Y-shaped handle 15 is positioned so that each leg thereof is secured at diametric opposite points to the anterior end 13. Each leg of the handle 15 is relatively thin adjacent its junction with the anterior end 13 of the body 11, so that a slight reatent 3,56,4fl7 Patented Oct. 2, 1962 ciprocation of the handle 15 will eifect a fracture at the junction thereof. The handle 15 is disposed parallel and concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body 11. The ring has an interior surface .16 which is conically shaped and so as to conform substantially with the configuration of the glans penis. The interior surface 16 tapers so as to provide an enlarged opening at the posterior end 17 thereof.

The device has been successfully fabricated from butyrate, but may be manufactured from most any suitable plastic which has the characteristic of being sufficiently soft so that it can be manually cut by scissors and also suiiiciently brittle so that alternate bending will effect fracture. The material from which the article is manufactured should further have the characteristic of being light in weight and also the final finish or surface thereof should be extremely smooth to avoid any irritation in its use. It has been found that the article can be cheaply and easily manufactured by the use of molds by many of the numerous methods Well known in the plastic industry.

The circumcision ring described herein is preferably used as follows:

A dorsal slit is made to within a few millimeters of the corona in the usual manner. The device is then placed over the glans and the prepuce is drawn over the body 11 until the apex of the dorsal slit is located adjacent the groove 14, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The ring is positioned at an angle which avoids any excessive pressure on ventral vessels. If the body 11 of the device is found to be too long or improperly shaped, it may be trimmed to a proper size and configuration with a scissors. Naturally, any resultant sharp edges. are removed before the ring is re-applied. Trimming is usually only necessary when anatomical abnormalities or variations exist.

With the ring thus positioned a suitable ligature 18 is applied about the body 11 in the groove .14 thereof and then firmly tied so that the prepuce is compressed into the groove 14 as shown in FIGURE 8. The excess ligature is then removed and the portion of the prepuce distal to the ligature is trimmed off. The handle 15 is then removed by holding the body 11 firmly and reciprocating the handle slightly so as to fracture the same at its juncture with the anterior end 13 of the ring. It has been found that no further dressing or post-operative care is necessary. The ring usually falls ofi along with the devitalized tissue within 5 to 7 days, resulting in a clean, well healed line of excision. The ligature material may be heavily braided silk, braided cord tie, linen fish line (unwaxed) or many other suitable materials.

It is thus seen that the circumcision ring constituting this invention is easily applied and lends itself to a rapid and safe technique and also eliminates the necessity of any post-operative care. The device can be disposed of after use at negligible cost since it is of such simple and inexpensive construction. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the removal of the handle 15 thereof after excision constitutes a very distinct advantage, in that there is no awkward protrusion to catch on diapers or articles of clothing, thus resulting in interference with the normal process of healing by causing irritation or other injury.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. A surgical device for performing a circumcision comprising a hollow bell-shaped body open at both ends thereof, the interior surface thereof being conically shaped and tapered to define an enlarged opening at the posterior end thereof, an annular flange secured to the exterior surface of said body adjacent the anterior end thereof, and a Y-shaped handle positioned adjacent said anterior end and having each leg thereof secured to one of two diametrically opposite points of said anterior end, the legs of said Y-shaped handle adjacent to their juncture with the anterior end of said body 'being thinner than any other portion of said handle, so that upon slight reciprocation of said handle, the latter Will be caused to fracture at said juncture and become detached from said body.

2. A surgical device for performing a circumcision comprising a hollow body Open at both ends thereof, and a Y-shaped handle positioned adjacent said anterior end and having each leg thereof secured to one of two diametrically opposite points of said anterior end, the legs of said 5 ture and become detached from said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,272,072 Ross Feb. 3, 1942

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