US693358A - Vaginal irrigator. - Google Patents

Description

'Patented Feb. Il, |902.

H. Vw..l wEsTLAKl-:pI yVMINAL IRRIGA'TOR. App'licmn med-June' 25, labs (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

HENRICUS W. WESTLAKE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VAGINAL IRRIGATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,358, dated February 11, 1.902. Y l

i Application filed June 25, 1898. Serial No. 684,510. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRIoUs WALLACE WESTLAKE, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California,

have invented a new and useful Vaginal Irrigator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to syringes or other forms of irrigators by means of which to cleanse the vaginal cavity to remove impurities therefrom and to apply -medicinalprepa'- rations to the parts aifected.

An object of my invention is to provide means for applying the liquids directly to the affected parts with an elfective force, butin such a manner that there will be no deleterious results, but the cleansing will be perfect.

It is an object of my invention to avoid any regurgitation and to immediately 'remove from the cavity all of the vitiated liuids.

My invention relates to the nozzle-head by which the application of the liquid is made, and also relates to the construction of the appliance With relation to the immediate removal of-the liquid from the cavity Without any regurgitation.

I have discovered that the difficulty heretofore experienced in cleansing all'of the parts of the cavity by means of a syringe or other form of i'rrigator arises largely from the fact that the irrigators heretofore used have been sol constructed that the action of the liquid on those parts which are most subject to disease and which are most usually affected is mainly reflex and is not direct. So far as I am aware no vaginal syringe has heretofore been provided that could make a continued application of the liquid directly tothe external os, the neck, and lower portion of the womb to remove .the impurities therefrom. On the contrary, the expediency of the use of such a syringe has heretofore been considered doubtful. These parts are peculiarly sensitive, but they are also peculiarly exposed to and subject to affection, and an object of my invention is to provide a vaginal syringe. by means of which these delicate parts can be thoroughly cleansed. In some syringes of which I am aware it has been proposed .to perforate the ends of the nozzle, so that a stream is thrown directly forward, the

body ofthe syringe rearward of the nozzle being enlarged, and thereby forming an obstruction to the immediate discharge of the liquid, thus causing a damming up of the liquid within the cavity suicient to obstruct thedirect action of the forwardly-directed streams, whereby the retained liquid affords a measurable protection to the delicate parts, but at the same time prevents their absolute cleansing. In order to provide for a perfect cleansing of the cavity any damming up of t-he liquid vmust be avoided, and I provide against any deleterious action of the cleansing-streams by so constructing my nozzlehead as to produce extremely fine and delicate though forcible streams or jets of liquid from the end of the nozzle. This I produce by so constructing the nozzle as to combine hydrostatic action with great frictional resistance-that is to say, my newly-invented nozzle-head is provided with comparatively very thick walls with very fine dischargeoutlets therefrom, the same being minute tubular ducts, the length of which is over three times the diameter, and these issue from an enlarged chamber Within the head, which is supplied through an inlet of less diameter than the chamber and of greater cross-sectional area than the combined cross-sectional area of the outlets. By this means the liquid is supplied vto the outlets under hydrostatic pressure-that is to say, the liquid in the chamber is practically undisturbed and there are no cross-currents within the chamber to interfere with the even and constant supply of the liquid to any and every outlet. Then the liquid in passing through each of the outlets is subjected to great friction, so that the issuing stream is much finer than can be produced by any means other than my device, sof

far as I am aware; but such streams may be made to issue with great velocity and a consequent considerable force which is ample to edectively remove the impurities from any diseased surface within the cavity; but the streams do not have such momentum Vas to prove deleterious. It is insufficient for the purpose of my invention that the fine perforations be used without a hydrostatic supply, for it is important for the purpose of my invention that the streams while fine, so as to have but little momentum, shall have com- IOO effect. My syringe is also provided with a thin case surrounding the supply-tube rearward of the nozzle-head, a chamber being provided between the supply-tube and the case and inlets being provided into said chamber, which inlets are large and spirally arranged all around the tube, so that the liquid finds immediate exit therethrough from all sides and without being dammed up within the cavity. The case is of the saine diameter as the nozzle-head to form a straight cylinder therewith, and the use of all tampons are dispensed with, so that there is no obstruction to the outflowing liquid, and I avoid all regurgitation and all retention of any impurities.

My invention is a notable departure from all vaginal irrigators heretofore known, in that by means of it it is possible to safely and without shock, discomfort, or inconvenience to the patient apply the liquids (with a force eil'ective to remove all impurities) direct in front of the nozzle to cleanse the external os, the neck, and the lower portion of the womb, at the same time removing all impurities from the entire vaginal cavity. The nozzle-head is so constructed and the discharge perforations or outlets are such that the cleansing and medicinal liquids are thrown direct forwardly and also laterally in individual and very line forcible jets which project themselves against the parts named, so that all such parts are acted on by the freshly-injected jets of the liquid before such liquid has come into contact with other diseased parts or impurities therefrom, and the force of each jet can be sufficient under a convenient pressure by bulb or fountain to cleanse where it strikes, and yet be so gentle as to cause no inconvenience to the patient. The perforations are mere pin-holes in diameter and are arranged very close together. The head which I have used is circular and is five-eighths of an inch in diameter. The perforations are one thirty-second of an inch in diameter and pass through walls five thirtyseconds of an inch thick from a chamber fivesixteenths of an inch in diameter, which is supplied through a circular inlet which is three-sixteentbs of an inchin diameter. With these dimensions I have used thirty-three'and thirty-four perforations successfully. Care must be taken that the aggregate capacity of the outlets is less than the capacity of the inlet which supplies the expanded chamber.

My irrigator differs from all previous forms in that the head of the irrgatorhas numerous very fine and closely-arranged discharge-passages, the aggregate capacity of which is less than the capacity of the supply-opening into the head, and said passages are promiscuously arran ged-that is to say, in spiral or staggered rows and not in longitudinal series-and they open from a chamber in the head, which chamber is of larger cross-sectional area than the inlet, and the length of the bore of said passages is much longer than the diameter, so as to give direction to the issuing streams and to project such streams as individual jets to a considerable distance under a gentle pressure. The length of each outlet is preferably equal to from four to five times the diameter thereof, so that the friction of the walls upon the issuing stream modifies such stream and causes it to be very fine and gentle, though eective in its cleansing action, so that direct application can be made to thoroughly cleanse tender parts which heretofore could be cleansed only by local treatment. The promiscuous spiral or staggered arrangement of the outlet-openings of the head causes the issuing jets to operate more effectively in cleansing the cavity than if theoutlets were arranged in series-tl e., in straight rows-longitudinally along the head. It' arranged in straight rows extending lengthwise of the head, the space between the rows of jets will not be so effectively cleansed, the action of the rows of jets being much as though the liquid were discharged through parallel slots, thus failing to cut up and wash away the impurities lying between the lines where the discharge is effective.

By means of the direct method of application which is made possible by my invention iniiarnmation of the uterus, vaginal walls, including the anterior wall of the rectum, the external os, neck, and, in cases of prolapsus, the lower part of the womb can be reduced and the parts perfectly cleansed by the direct application of hot water or solution. This is not possible with any of theirrigators heretofore known. The endwise perforations of the head are virtually and actually forward extensions of the bore of the injectingtube, and the cavity of the head is expanded beyond the inlet and is in the expanded portion so large, compared with the inlet, as to give the effect of hydrostatic pressure to force the liquid through the fine perforations and to avoid forming any currents across the inner mouths of the perforations--that is to say, my nozzle-head is so proportioned and constructed that the streams are thrown with equal and even force from all the perforations lalike under any given pressure.

My irrigator comprises the combination, with an inner injecting-tube and an outer discharge tube or case, a discharge-chamber being provided between such tubes and said tubes terminating in about the same plane, of a nozzle-head of the same circumference as the tube and having an expanded chamber with comparatively thick walls, with fine perforations, a short neck externally and :internally screw-threaded, the injecting-tube being screwed into the neck and the neck screwed into the case. These members are easily taken apart and cleansed. The inter- IOO IIO

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in Fig. 2.

is an enlarged fragmental sectional detail tov illustrate the case-inlets. Inr this View and in tively, in- Fig. 6.

nal chamber of the headis of comparatively large'size, its cross-section being substan-j tially equal to or slightly greater than the `entire cross-section of the in'jecting-tube,and

vaginal cavity. 'Said i'nletsare elliptical, ex-` tending along the case .and with outwardlyi` daring mouths gentlysloping at the inner or front margins and risingzmore abruptly and bulging outward slightly at the .rear margins. Also a staggered orspiralfarrangement of these holes alongv` the case. is employedto fa-v cilitate collecting"theimpure matter. Y

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. i Y i Y Figure 1 is afragnientaliview ofthe-irrigator. Fig. 2 is a'fragrnental view'ofthe same -looking from the right of Fig. l at the end of the vperforated nozzle. Y discharge-tube shown-in Fig.' 1v isA also shown Fig. 3 is an axialsection. Fig.` 4

Fig. 3, the-inlets@ c2 are cut bythe line of section, as indicated by theli'nes c co2 crespece larged fragmental perspective detail yillustrating one of the inlets into the case. Fig. 7 isan enlarged axial 4sectional detailofthe nozzle-head.

A indicates an injecting tube which is adapted at one end a for Vattachment to the rubber tube l through whichthe liquid medi canle'ntv is forced intotube A. The other end -a ofy tube Ais screw-threaded for attachmentv to the perforated discharge-nozzle-head B, which is provided with a neck b,screwthread' edV externally and internally and with an expanded chamber b. with discharge-outlets b therefrom, which are three or more times greater i'nlength than diameter, sothat the friction thereof will reduce the streams to an The tube A is screwed extreme ineness. into the neck. f

C indicates an outer tube whichforms a case surrounding the tube A and is screwed onto the lneck and provided along its body with inlets c, and also provided at the reary or outer end with a branch or outlet c,which y is a tube on which a rubber tube 2 may be fastened to conduct the outtlowing liquid away without soiling the garments of lthe user. The case' C is contracted at the outer end, as with an inwardly-proj ectin g collar c",

' which lits upon the tube A to close the end of the chamber 3 between the case C and the tube A. The inlets c are arranged in spiral The fragment'of-.the

Fig. 5 is an enlarged frag-f. mental detail of the head. Fig. .6 is an en.

rows; andthe liquid passing outward from z 4'the ynozzle-head rB will `rind its way into-the chamber 3 vthrough the`l inlets. .Thein'letopenings c are provided with daring rounded ,7o fmouths to facilitate the collection ofthe liq-y uid andj its introduction into the chamber be-A tween thel case andr the tube; The front margins 4 of the flaring mouths slope inward4v gently,` andthe rearmargins 5 are more abrupt t than saidfront margins, so that the liquid i passes into the openings freely over thefront margins andthe rear margins intercept the liquid, thus-.to directit in and preventitfrom passing-the openings along outside the walls. @The openings are` elliptical, their 'greatest length being lengthwise the case. walled nozzle-head isrounded at front and `cylindrical at the rear,'and the inlet-tube 2, 'which is screwed into the neck, has an inter nalcross-sectionalarea less than that of said chamber and a capacity greaterthantheag- The thickgregate capacity of the duets, softhat the chamber is expanded as compared .with the inletthereinto, and theliquid will be forced `through the ducts under the influence of hy `drostatic pressure.

The tubular caseis thinwalled and is .screwed onto said "neck and forms with the cylindrical rear portion of said head a straight cylindrical body, so that there vis no obstruction which will preventtheoutward movement of the liquidsfafter they have limpinged upon the vaginal walls, and the outlet-openings in the case are oval-shaped and spirally arranged, so that, the 'liquid is collected with vthe greatest facilityand is conducted through the outlet"c.= w Incases where miscarriages have taken place one great difliculty a physician has to meet with is poisoning, and to remove that poisonous substance makes the operation IOO l very complicated,and heretofore in such cases lanesthetics, such as chloroform or ether, have been`used,often with fatal results. Such dif `ficulties are overcome by using this syringe.

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In practical operation the'medicated liquid f is forced through the f tube by some suitable means-sueh as by a rubber bulb or by graV-' 'ity--and issues from the nozzle-head Bin nu- Inerous streams-through the radiating perforations b', which are bored through the thick walls of the head, and which perforations are of comparatively great length to give direction to the issuing streams and by the' friction of the walls reduce the lstreamsto very ne and delicate but distinct and efectivejets.

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The chamber in the head being of greater diameter than the interior of the inlet-tube avoids the production of currents across the inner mouths of the perforations and gives greater force to the issuing streams, in accordance with the laws of hydrostatics, thus forcibly applying the liquid to the aected parts and washing and cleansing the parts withgreat efficiency. The liquid introduced is free from any contaminations until it has reached the parts desired, vand the outlowing liquid passing along the case enters the inlet-openings and lioWs out from the outlet c. Arrows in Fig. 3 indicate the course of the liquid. The outlet-tube c also serves the purpose of a handle.

The instrument may be made of metal, hard rubber, or any other suitable material.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is-

l. A vaginal irrgator which comprises an outer tube, an inner tube and a head; the walls of the outer and innertubes being thin and the diameters of the tubes being such that a chamber is formed between the outer and inner tubes; the walls of the head being thick and formingaclosure for one end ofsuch chamber and having a cavity which forms a laterally-enlarged continuation of the bore of the inner tube; perforations being provided through the end wall of the head, laterally and endwise,' and being of extreme neness and of comparatively great length as set forth for the purpose of producing a frictional resistance to reduce the size of the streams issuing through said perforations; and a tube through which liquid may be forced into the inner tubes for producing hydrostatic pressure in the cavity of the head to force the liquid out laterally, obliquely and endwise, in streams of extreme fineness, but of considerable force; and the outer tube being furnished with comparatively large side inlets and with a discharging-tube; the end of the cavity between the outer and inner tubes being closed opposite the head and the outer tube and head forming a slender straight cylceases inder, substantially as and for the' purpose set forth.

2. A vaginal irrigator which comprises an outer tube, an inner tube and a head; the walls of the outerand inner tubes being thin vand the diameters of the tubes being such that a chamber is formed between the outer and inner tubes; the Walls of the head being thick and forming a closure for one end of such chamber and having a cavity which forms a laterally-enlarged continuation of the bore of the inner tube; perforations being provided through the end wall of the head, laterally and endwise, and being of extreme fineness and of comparatively great length as set forth for the purpose of producing a frictional resistance to reduce the size of the streams issuing through said perforations; and a tube through which liquid may be forced into the inner tubes for producing hydrostatic pressure in the cavity of the head to force the liquid out in streamsof extreme ineness, but of considerable force; and the outer tube being furnished with comparatively large side inlets and with a laterally-projecting tube c to serve as a discharging-tube and also as a handle for manipulating the instrument; the end of the cavity between the outer and inner tubes being closed opposite the head by a Wall c", and the outer tube and head forming a slender straight cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

H. W'. VESTLAKE.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. TOWNSEND, ALFRED I. ToWNsEND.

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