Specification of Isaiah Lukens : surgical instrument.

  • Lukens, Isaiah, 1779-1846.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Isaiah Lukens : surgical instrument. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    LuJcens Surgical Instrument for Destroying the Stone in the Bladder, dfc. I^OW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Isaiah Lukens, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention by the following description thereof, reference being had to the Drawing and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :— Be it known that I have made a new and useful improvement in an instru- 5 ment called the “ Lithontriptor,” lately introduced in Paris by Mr Civiale, M.D., for the purpose of destroying the stone in the bladder without the operation of lithotomy. The instrument of Mr Civiale consists of a straight cylindrical cathetor, sound, or tube of silver or other metal, through which is introduced a second tube, formed of steel, terminated by three curved elastic branches or 10 prongs, which remain closed so long as they continue in the exterior tube, but when pushed out open by virtue of their elasticity, and form a kind of cage, in which the stone is made to enter, and which is then shut upon it by drawing the exterior tube backwards. When the stone is thus engaged, drills, files, &c., are introduced through the tubes, and by their means the stone is destroyed. 15 The improvement which I claim to have made consists in adapting to the elastic branches or prongs, which may be either three, four, or more in number, fine springs of steel or other metal, which are fastened at one end to one of the branches or prongs by a hinge or otherwise, and pass across to an opposite branch or prong through small eyes or holes, then pass along the 20 interior of the tube in seperate branches or united, until it reaches the handle of the instrument. It then passes out of the tube through a small transverse hole or holes, and is attached to a collar which slides betwixt the handle and end of the instrument. When this collar is drawn back the elastic branches . \ * or prongs may be pressed together, and the whole readily introduced through 25 the catheter or conductor into the bladder ; wdien there, the branches or prongs expand, and the springs are pushed forward by the operator, so that a kind of basket or net work is formed, into which the stone or calculi is introduced. The springs are then drawn tight upon it, and fastened by a screw at the sliding collar or otherwise. The instruments intended to destroy 30 the stone are then introduced through the inner tube alongside of the springs, which, being curved, occupies but a small portion of the cavity of the tube. In another arrangement of the springs they are attached at one end to a small ring by a hinge or otherwise, corresponding in number to the branches or prongs of the basket forceps, the extremity of which each prong is provided 35 with a small eye. The springs pass through those eyes, and into the interior of the tube, and then is managed as above described in the first arrangement of the springs. This instrument may be curved, should it be wanted for withdrawing small calculi through the mithra.