US2808833A - Gas blanketed clotting instrument - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 8, 1957 w. AUGUST GAS BLANKETED CLOTTING INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 6, 1952 INVENTOR. MLL/A/ /"fluaus 7 BY E, I

United States Patent 2,808,833 GAS BLANKETED CLOTTING INSTRUMENT William August, Arcadia, Calif., assignor to The Birtcher Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 6, 1952, Serial No. 324,515 4 Claims. o]. 128303.17)

This invention relates to a clotting instrument.

It has been determined that blood can be coagulated by a high frequency current of given characteristics. Frequently such action takes place in an operating room wherein the air is charged with anesthetic. Since many anesthetics are explosive, there is considerable danger of an explosion from sparks caused by the current carrying instrument.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a high frequency current carrying member which is electrically insulated from the atmosphere.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for enveloping the operative extremity of the clotting instrument in an inert gas to avoid possible explosion.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a high frequency current carrying member which is insulated from the atmosphere and enveloped in an inert gas to avoid possible explosion.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a clotting instrument embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken alongline 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the current carrying tube with the gas tube in section.

Figure 4 is a section taken alongline 44 of Figure l with an insulating coating added.

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2 with an insulating coat added.

The clotting instrument'is in this embodiment in the form of a tube having an enlarged head of clotting tool 12 at one extremity. The other extremity has aflange 14 and a nipple 16. The nipple is corrugated as at 18 adapting same to telescopically receive theflexible tubing 20 which is secured thereon bybands 22, which tubing is of a suitable electrically non-conductive material.

Thehollow tubing 20 is at its other extremity connected to a reduced pressure source such as a suitable vacuum pump so that air is drawn through thetube 10. Anaperture 24 is provided in thetube 10 with a suitablecurved finger plate 26 having a corresponding aperture therein attached to thetube 10. Thus when theaperture 24 is unobstructed no suction is created at the head 12,

but when the thumb of the user covers the aperture 24 a suction is created at the head 12 so that excess blood can be siphoned through the instrument.

Surrounding thetube 10 adjacent the head bearing extremity is agas tube 26 which has a threadedhead 28 thereon. Aknurled nut 30 screws onto the head and packing 32 is a 2 2,808,833 Patented Oct. 8, 1957 rectingtube 38 directs flow from thetube 34 intogas tube 26.

Spiral teeth 40 are formed 'on theclotting tool tube 10 to insure that it remains centrally located ingas tube 26 and that flow of gas through the gas tubejis unobstructed. The spiral fiutingbetween teeth form gas channels and impart a rotary motion to the flowing gas insuring no voids in the gas blanket.

One lead from a high frequency current source is attached to the patient; The other lead iswire 42 which is inside oftube 34 so it is insulated from the atmosphere; This wire passes through gas flow .directing'tube 38 and is secured to the clotting tool"tube"10 by means ofsleeve 44.

The instrument with the exception of that portion of theclotting tool tube 10 withingas tube 26 is coated with an electrically non-conductive material, such as rubber or the like, to insulate same from the atmosphere avoiding the possibility of a spark causing an explosion. This insulation has not been illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 toavoid complication of the drawings. Of course, the head 12 of the clotting tool is not insulated.

In operation, high frequency current is supplied to head 12 throughwire 42 through suitable control means. Inert gas is directed intogas tube 26 fromtube 34 and is discharged. at the extremity thereof in the form of an envelope encasinghead 12 and eliminating it as a source of an explosion causing spark. The head 12 is first incess blood has been drained in this manner, the high frequency current source is energized causing the re maining blood to clot.

While What hereinbefore has been described is the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention, which alterations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. An electrical clotting instrument of the type adapted to be connected to a source of high frequency current, a source of inert gas and a vacuum source, comprising: a hollow clotting instrument body carrying a clotting member at one extremity, a concentric gas directing member surrounding said hollow body and terminating short of said clotting member, means attached to said hollow body directing flow of inert gas from said source between said hollow body and said gas directing member, whereby said clotting member is enveloped in .inert gas, means on the clotting instrument body adapted to attach said clotting instrument body tosaid current source, which means is surrounded by saidgas flow directing means, and means on the clotting instrument body adapted to attach said hollow clotting instrument body to said vacuum source.

2. An electrical clotting instrument of the type adapted to be connected to a source of high frequency current, a source of inert gas and a vacuum source, comprising: a suction tube having a clotting tool on the end thereof, a gas tube concentric therewith and terminating before, said clotting tool, means'on said gas tube adapted to attach said gas tube to said source of inert gas, whereby gas flows through said tube and is discharged therefrom enveloping said clotting tool, meanson said suction tube adapted toattach said suction tube to said vacuum source, and means on said suction tube adapted to attach said suction tube to said source of current. p

3. An electrical clotting instrument of the type adapted to be connected to a source of high frequency current,

- 3 a 'sgulgce, of inertgas-and a vacuum source; comprising: a t n y n a slettine tee; t e a e qf gas t'ubecbncentric thereii ifli Having an open end adjacent said clotting tool and a closed end before termination fi s t en b-e. Mi k nemas n o said gas-tube =5 @12 etc in nt d 1 91111 1 ei closed enabefars er gas tube and adapted to be connected to said source of 15? 5. 15; a. @29 Ti4aP ?S 9. 9 .tik hfid t0. sai Gurrent source inside said last mentioned tube connected to said suction tube, means forming an aperture in said suction tube positioned outside of said gas tube, and means on the suction tube adapted to connect the suction tube to said vacuum source.

Reiereuce Gites! i the-fi e at this pat n UP -1251 31 M52 LATENTQ 1,813,902 Bon 2 July 14,1941

2,243,285 Pope May 27, 1941 Switzerland July 15, 1934

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