US331128A - Vaginal irrigator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. W. GORDON -& G. T. BLANCHARD.

VAGINAL IR'RIGATGR.

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JOHN WESLEY GORDON AND GEORGE TURNER BLANCHARD, OF PLYMOUTH, MAlNE.

VAGINAL IRRIGATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,128, dated November 24:, 1.885.

Application filed May 24, i884. Serial No. 132,708.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN WESLEY GOR- DoN and GEORGE TURNER BLANCHARD, both citizens of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Syringe; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

Our joint invention consists of an improved device for irrigating and cleansing the human vagina and neck and mouth of the uterus, and for applying medicated solutions thereto;

The drawing is an elevation,- partly in section, of a device embodying` our invention.

In construction we provide the hollow injection-tube E, made of metal, hard rubber, or other suitable material, and for convenience in handling, and to favor the wear of the connecting rubber tubes or piping, curved at its external manipulating end or extremity i, where it is connected with the forcing or discharging tube D of a double-acting or otherwise constructed syringe, hydrant, or fountain, C. The middle portion of the injectiontube is straight or nearly straight, as is also the internally-discharging portion or irrigating extremity E', which terminates in an enlarged bulbous-formed nozzle, cl., of the size generally used in vaginal syringes, perforated with a central and several lateral apertures, the number of apertures or perforations being limited or regulated by the necessities of the particular case in question or the special use to which the irrigation is to be applied.

At or near the external manipulating end t' or" the injection-tube and on the convex exterior of the bend or curve is soldered, brazed, or otherwise rigidly attached a ring, F, of metal or other suitable material, in which the finger may be inserted to steady and control the instrument when in use.

For convenience of manufacture, economy of space, and ease of manipulation the injection-tube E is for a part of its length inclosed in and rigidly connected with a discharging or drainage tube, G, larger than the injectiontube, and having the periphery of its forward or entering end beveled, and a suitable space, h h, is preserved between and around the outside ot' the injection-tube and the inner walls (No model.)

of the discharging or drainage tube G to allow a free and sufficient flowage of all surplus iiuids resulting from the process of irrigation. rlhe injection-tube E is iixed in its relation to the Walls of the drainage-tube G in any convenient method*as, for instance, by pins or longitudinal ribs on the outside of the injection-tube, which serve to define and sustain the relative distance and position of' the twotubes; but in the present case we use a short lip, lformed on the beveled end of and projecting from the drainage-tube G, and soldered to the injection-tube E in such a manner as, when acting in connection with the soldered or brazed joint K, to maintain the relative positions of the tubes, or, in other words, hold the injection-tube in such a way that there shall be no contact of the injection-tube with the drainagetube forward of their union, as shown at K, and leaving suiiicient space, h h,within the drainage-tube and around the injcction-tube for the necessary discharge of all waste fluids. This form of construction is now considered preferable, but the same results may be attained by two independent tubes attached together similarly to the two barrels of a double-barreled gun, the one being used and operated as an injection-tube and the other as a discharge or drainage tube, the two tubes being irmly and rigidly attached7 but the injection-tube being entirely separate and independent fromthe inside of the drainage-tube.

Upon and around the drainage-tube G is mounted and secured at fand e the tampon H, made of rubber or other easily-yielding flexible and compressible material, of a bulbous shape, and having the entering end e suitably tapered to a somewhat egg-shaped form to fit and occlude the external orifice of the human vagina. g

In operation the end d of the inductiontube B of the syringe or similarly-operating apparatus O is merged in the irrigating-luid contained inasuitable vessel, A, and the internally-operating end E ofthe irrigatoris passed into the vagina and inserted or pressed in until the tapering or occluding end e of the tampon H is sufficiently wedged into` the external orifice of the vagina completely to occlude it. By the usual compression and relaxation of the bulb ofthe syringe O the irri` gating-fluid is forced through the tube E and IOO -in a vessel below.

discharged in spray through the several perforations in the nozzle a into and against the internal walls and lining membrane of the vagina and neck and mouth of the womb. The irrigation being sufficiently continued,the irrigatinguid naturally flows out, and is discharged through the drainage-tube G, following the spaces h h, and passing finally through and being discharged by the eXible tube c. Should it be desirable to use the same irrigating-iluid more than once in continued application, the induction and drainage tubes may be inserted in the same vessel, which is then placed below the patient. If a continuous irrigation is required, the vessel containing the iiuid may be placed at an altitude above the patient, and the flow, once started by means of the syringe, will continue on the principle `of the siphon until the supply of fluid is eX- hausted, the waste passing off through the drainage-tube, as before, and being received If it is desired that the iiuid be retained in the vagina for a considerable time, this end may be accomplished by closing the drainage-tube,either by a suitable mechanical device, or by compressing the iieXible attachment of the drainage-tube between the thumb and finger, so preventing the escape of the fluid, andby the same means, together with, the continued action of the syringe, the vagina may be distended to its full capacity, thereby putting its walls upon the stretch and separating its ruge. After the irrigation is completed a few additional compressions of the syringe will entirely force out and cleanse the irrigating-iiuid from the vagina.

Among the advantages arising from the use of our device may be mentioned, iirst, the simple and painless manner in which the instrument may be introduced within even the most sensitive vagina and efficiently operated by the patient or individual herself without extraneous manual assistance or the presence vof a medical or other attendant; second, the perfect occlusion of vaginal orifices of varying sizes, effected by the conical elastic and eompressible tampon without the intervention of a speculum or other extraneous auxiliary appliance; third, the application of fluid directly to the walls ofthe vagina and neck and mouth of the uterus in a spray; fourth, the improved drainage, which is more perfect than any hitherto obtained; fifth, the distention of the vagina by the gentle means of equable hydrostatic pressure, whereby the rugee of the vagina are entirely separated and the irrigating-iiuid brought in contact with every part of its surface; sixth, the retention ofthe iiuid within the vagina in direct contact with its walls, and also with the neck and month of the uterus for any length of time required; seventh, the expulsion of all fluid from the vagina before the tampon is removed at the termination of each f period of irrigation; eighth, the effectual and cleanly operation of the instrument, and the fact that the patient may occupy any desirable position during the operation.

We are aware that vaginal irrigators have been used with drainage and injection tubes operating in connection; but they have not in reality been combined in one integral and identical instrument and mounted with an elastic compressible tampon, and therefore We do not claim, broadly, the mere operation ofa vaginal syringe in connection with adrainage-duct or discharge-tube; but

What we do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a liquid-forcing apparatus, an injection-tube connected therewith, a drainage-tube attached to said injection-tube, and a tampon consisting ofahollow elastic and compressible soft-rubber bulb surrounding and carried by said tubes and tapering at its inner end, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination ofthe injection-tube, the drainagetube G, of greater diameter, surrounding and rigidly attached to the same, and the tampon H, carried by tube G, the injection-tube being curved up at its outer end at an angle to the nozzle portion to form a handle, and being provided upon its lower 9 side with the ring F, for the insertion of the linger of the operator, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the dischargetube G, the surrounding tampon bulb H, and the rigid injection-tube E E', the latter being arranged within and secured to the tube G, and passing out laterally through the side thereof, to connect with the liquid-forcing apparatus and form a convenient handle for the instrument, substantially as described.

JOHN WESLEY GORDON. GEORGE TURNER BLANCHARD.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. CURRIER, SARA S. EATON.

IOO

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