Specification of Robert Blackbee : surgical instruments.

  • Blackbee, Robert.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Robert Blackbee : surgical instruments. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Provisional Specification. Blackbee's Improvements in Surgical Instruments termed Specula. other pair, one of which is superior and the other inferior, which two pairs of blades, with the exception of certain curves, or in a line parallel to each other. This formation refers to the anterior position of the instrument, posteriorly the four blades from the peculiar construction of the instru- 5 ment are parallel transversely, thus there are two superior and two inferior blades set at such an angle to each other as to form the skeleton of an octagonal tube. Anteriorly the termination of the lateral pair of blades are bent at a certain distance from the posterior end of the instrument so as to form 10 a notch or shoulder, which when the speculum is fairly introduced into the vagina shall by its own resiliency spring into the foramina ovalia, and thus retain its position, and these blades having a greater length of wire than the other blades are extended beyond the shoulder or notch into a circular form so as to answer the purpose of a pair of handles, which 15 when pressed together by the thumb and index finger (the anterior end of the superior and inferior blades being first brought within them) separates the four blades of the speculum, thus giving a clear and uninterrupted view of the entire length of the vaginal passage up to the os uteri. 20 Posteriorly the blades have a circular termination and are set outwardly, thus giving a greater power of separation and at the same time a steady retention of the instrument in the vaginal passage. The anterior termination of the four blades are curved outwards so as to separate the labiae completely in every direction, the inferior blade is 25 curved at its anterior termination so as to repress the os coccvgis when needful. One pair of the posterior transverse lateral blades is made shorter than the other pair, so that the other or longer pair of transverse blades may overlap or he included in each other, thus compressing the 30 posterior ends of the four blades into such a space as may be introduced into the vagina without inconvenience to the patient.