US2013156A - Method of embalming dead bodies - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1935. H. l. JONES ET AL 2,013,156

I METHOD EMBALMING DEAD BODIES Filed Aug. 15, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENIORS WITNESS.

g BY I 7 m 9W M l 'A'ITORNEYS HI. dbnes 11 BL. 66. eer-re,

Sept. 3, 1935. H. 1. JONES ET AL METHOD OF EMBALMING DEAD BODIES Filed Aug. 15, 1955 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 BY M ATTORNEYS 3 Patented Sept. I 3, 1935 UNITED-"STATES PATENT OFFICE Hilton Ira .fiones, Wilmette, Ill.,- and Robert L.

- St. Pierre, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application August', 1933, Serial No. 685,282

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method of embalming dead bodies.

An'object of the invention is the provision of a process for embalming bodiesin which the body I is placed in a confined space and subjected to either a vacuum or pressure or both, in connection with a sterilizing fluid.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a process for embal'ming bodies in which the body is placed in a confined space so that after the blood vessels have been drained of their contents an embalming fluid may be injected intravenously after which the body may be covered with the embalming fluid and pressure and a vacuum may be alternately applied to the confined space so that the embalming fluid may be forced inwardly and withdrawn through the tissues of the body so that all parts of the body will be afiected by the fluid.

r A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tank or container having a slidably mounted tray therein for receiving the dead body, the tank being provided with an air-tight seal so that a vacuum may be-produced in the '1 container or pressure is created for applying the embalming fluid to all parts of the body, the container being provided with tubes which are adapted to be connected with the veins and arteries for draining the same and for supplying said veins and arteries with embalming fluid as is well known. 1 I

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description,'in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not conilnedto the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation constructed in accordance with the our invention,

45 Figure 2 is a top plan view with parts broken Figure 3 isa front end view with parts brokenaway showing the interior of the apparatus, and

of an apparatus principles of Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

ll designates a base member which is supported by standards II and I2.

so constructed at their upper ends as to support 5 a cylindrical tank or container l3.

These standards are I This tank is provided with windows I which are sealed to openings in the top wall of the tank in order to create an air-tight compartment within the tank. A drain I5 is located at one end of the tank and on the bottom and is normally closed by a plug it. The drain is only employed for I removing any liquids remaining in the tank after theembalming process has been completed. The drain may also be employed for cleansing the in terior oi the apparatus.

One end of the cylindrical tank is open as shown at but is normally closed. A circularangle iron member 20 is secured to the outer wall of the tank adjacent-the opening 2 0 in any approved manner to provide a laterally disposed flange 22 M which is provided withslots 23 to receiveheaded bolts 24.Nuts 25 are threaded onto the alter ends of the bolts forsealing a flange it of acover 21 to theflange 22. The cover plate is provided with laterally projecting arms having journals 3! adapted to be alined with journals 3! formed at the ends of thearms 33 which are secured to the side wall of the container. A pintle '34 is received by the journals 3!! and 32 thus forming a hinged mounting for the cover ordoor 21.

The interior of the container is provided with a pair oftracks 35 which are secured in any approved manner to the inner wall of the container and these tracks are adapted to supportrollers 36. Atray 31 which is curved is adapted to receive the body to be embalmed and the tracks extend substantially the full length of the container so that thetray 3i may be moved inwardly or outwardly of the container after the door H has been opened.Blocks 38 are. secured at spaced points upon the underface of thetray 37 and axles as are threaded at into the blocks. The tray is provided with a curved flange ti and adjacent theaxles 39 are provided passages to receive the axles so that the axles are supported by 40 theblocks 38 and the flange.

Projecting into the container it at spaced points are a pair of metal tubes and it. These tubes are provided with a nipple M to which is adapted to be attached arubber tube 48. This t5 tube as shown in Fig. 3 is adapted to be extended to the body and inserted into a vein o1: artery. as the case may be. Any number of these tubes may be employed for the purpose. As shown at 5 0 in Figure 1, the free ends of thesetubes 45 and 46 project beyond the wall of the container and are adapted to be connected with a device for supplying, an embalming fluid for intravenous injection. I

A pipe52 extends from anair pump 53 up around the outer wall of the container l3 and enters the top of the container, as shown at 56. Apipe 55 enters'the container as shown at 54 at the top and extends downwardly to theair pump 53. A valve 51 is interpolated in thepipe 52 and is adapted to cut off this pipe from the interior of the tank or container l3. A pipe 58 is provided with a valve 59 which is connected with thepipe 52 between the valve 5'! and theair pump 53 and is adapted to supply the, pump with air when desired. A valve 69 is adapted to cut off communication between the tank i3, thepipe 55 and theair pump 53. A pipe 6| is connected with thepipe 55 between thevalve 60 and theair pump 53 and is provided with avalve 52 adapted to close the pipe 6| to the atmosphere. Amotor 53 drives thepump 53 through ashaft 64.

Themotor 63 by means of ashaft 65 drives a.fluid pump 66. This pump is connected by apipe 61 having a valve 68 with a source of fluid, not shown. A pipe 69 connects thepipe 61 with the bottom of the tank l3 and is controlled by a. valve Ill.

A pipe ii connects thepump 56 with the. storage tank containing an embalming fluid and is adapted to provide means for supplying the pump with the embalming fluid while thepipe 61 returns the fluid to the storage tank. A valve 12 controls the flow of the fluid to the pump. Apipe 13 connects the pipe II with the bottom of the tank I3 and is a discharge pipe for the fluid which has been supplied to the tank. Avalve 14 controls the flow of the fluid from the tank.

A pressure gage I5 is connected with the top of the tank while a vacuum gage 16 is connected with the top of the tank l3 and located adjacent thepressure gage 15.

In carrying out my method for embalming dead bodies in the tank l3 the body is placed upon thetray 31 and is securely fastened thereto. The tubes 49 which may be of any number are connected with the veins and arteries so that the vascular system may be drained in the usual manner by connecting the outer ends 50 of thepipes 45 and 46 with some form of pump. The pipes may then be connected with a storage tank and an embalming fluid pumped into the vascular system. In certain cases, the embalming fluid may be pumped into the tank l3 through the inlet pipe 69 until the body is covered with the same. Thevalves 60 and GI of the associatedair pump 53 in Figure 4 are then closed while the valves 51 and 59 are opened and the pump will force air through thepipe 52 and into the chamber in the tank I3 until the desired pressure is registered in the gage and this pressure is maintained for a predetermined period so that the embalming fluid will be forced from the exterior of the body to the interior.

After the fluid has been drained from the chamber l3 thevalves 60 and 62 are opened to permit the escape of air. The valve 59 is then closed while the valve '51 is maintained open. The pump operating in this manner will create a vacuum in the tank l3 so that the fluids which have been forced into the body by the air pressure and also the fluid which has been forced into the vascular system will be drawn outwardly through the tissues of the body so that all parts of the body will be properly affected by the. embalming fluid. The operation just described, including a series of steps of supplying the tank with fluid, applying pressure to the fluid.

removing the fluid and then creating a vacuum in the tank may be repeated until the embalming process has been completed.

It will be appreciated that any type of fluid may be employed for embalming bodies such as gaseous disinfectants and certain of these disinfectants may be formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide and the like. The disinfectants may be applied singly or in combination.

The thorough penetration of all the tissues of the body is what is accomplished by this method.

The circulatory system of the body may be drained of the normal body fluids and then injected with the embalming fluid while the body is in the tank and when a. pressure or vacuum has been applied to the tank. During the injection of the embalming fluid into the vascular system the body may be subjected to a pressure of formaldehyde and sulphur dioxide gases.

The tank may also be employed for dehydrating bodies where the bodies contain an excess of water in such cases as dropsy and in those bodies where drowning has occurred. In this case dry air is admitted after a vacuum has been main-- tained in the tank.

This method of embalming the body is particularly eflicacious in those cases where the body has been mutilated by an accident or by necropsy. In such cases where mutilation has been such that it is impossible to drain the blood vessels, the dissevered portions of the body may be placed "on the tray and alternately subjected to vacuum and pressure in connection with the embalming fluids so that the embalming fluids will be forced through the tissues and withdrawn so that the tissues will be thoroughly saturated. When the mutilated body and the parts are placed on the tray they are first subjected to a vacuum in order to remove blood and air from the tanks. After the body has been in a high vacuum for some time air is allowed to enter and very considerable pressure is maintained on the parts. The embalming fluid, however, is maintained about the body and the parts so that the tissues will be thoroughly saturated.

Not only may human bodies be embalmed as has been described above, but the tank may be employed for curing meats, such as hams, bacon, and the like. Ordinarily the hams, for example, are soaked in a strong solution of sodium nitrate, to which some sugar has been added. After the saturation is complete, the hams are dried and smoked. The saturation process requires a great deal of time and this time may be considerably reduced by employing the alternate vacuum and pressure method described-above for causing saturation of the meats with the sodium nitrate solution.

We claim:

1. The method of embalming bodies that have their vascular systems drained which comprises confining a body in a restricted space, injecting an antiseptic fluid into the vascular system, enveloping the body in an antiseptic fluid in the confined space, creating for predetermined periods alternately pressures and vacuums in the confined space for alternately forcing the antiseptic flu d through the tissues to the interior of the body and for withdrawing through the tissues a portion of the antiseptic fluid thus forced into the body and also some of the antiseptic fluid from the vascula: system until the tissues of the body are thoroughly saturated with the fluid, the antiseptic fluid being withdrawn from the space before the periods of vacuum.

2; The method of embalming bodies that have their vascular systems drained which comprises confining a body ina space sealed against the atmosphere, injecting an antiseptic fluid into the vascular system, creating a vacuum in the space for withdrawing fluids from the body, supplying an antiseptic fluid to the space to completely envelop the body with said antiseptic fluid, then creating a pressure in the space and maintaining the pressure on the antiseptic fluid to force the same into the tissues of the body, removing the envelop of the antiseptic fluid and creating a vacuum in the space for a predetermined time and until the antiseptic fluid in the vascular system is drawn outwardly from the interior of the body and through the tissues, supplying the confined space with the withdrawn fluid and applying alternate pressures and vacuum to the space until the tissues of the body have become saturated with the fluid.

HILTON IRA JONES. ROBERT L. ST. PIERRE.

Images