Embalming implement

Nov. 22, 1938

R. W. TYLER

2,137,635

EMBALMING IMPLEMENT

Filed Dec, 21, 1935

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Patented Nov. 22, 1938

2,137,635

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,137,635 EMBALMING IMPLEMENT Ralph W. Tyler, Hancock, N. Y. Application December 21, 1935, Serial No. 55,667

Claims.

This invention relates to an embalming implement and it more particularly pertains to the provision of a tubular instrument having means for maintaining the instrument unobstructed by 5 blood clots and coagulations during the process of embalming and blood drainage.

In cases of deaths of a pulmonary nature or deaths in which blood clots and coagulations occur it has been the general experience of em10 balmerstoencounteruntold difficulties in draining the blood from the veins of the corpse due to the impeded flow of the blood stream through the drainage tubes inserted in the veins by such blood clots. Obviously for efficient and clean embalm15 ing operations the embalming instrument should be equipped with means which will insure a rapid and positive removal of the impeding obstruction from the inlet mouth of the drainage tube of the embalming instrument.

The instruments in present use fail to overcome the above noted difficulties adequately and with certainty. One type of instrument employs a manually operated plunger which fits snugly within the passageway of the tube. When the 25 rod connected to the plunger is operated manually the plunger is moved to the entrance end of the tube, extending slightly therebeyond, so as to expel the obstructing material from the tube. The return movement of the plunger cre30- ates a pumping action to facilitate blood drainage from the vein through the tube, passing, of course, by way of an integral elblow and an elastic or flexible tube to a suitable receptacle. In practice this type of instrument has not proved 35 satisfactory for the reason that the clots or coagulations are not properly multilated whereby they may be easily conducted by the flowing blood stream through the tube passageway when the plunger has been retracted. The plunger generally has to be manipulated repeatedly to dispose of the clogging obstruction or else the instrument has to be withdrawn from the vein for cleaning purposes with the attendant inconveniences.

45* Another type of instrument has to depend on the use of an extender in the tube to remove the clots from the mouth thereof. This extender is made up of a number of wire loops securely attached to the manually operated rod extending through the tube passageway. The extender in its forward position in the tube serves as a blunt head for the tube when inserted into the vein. By rotating the rod the extender wires tend to break down or mutilate the clots but in prac55 tice experience has demonstrated that this type (Cl. 27—24) of instrument fails to function adequately when fibrinous clots are encountered, as distinguished from gelatinous clots which are comparatively easy to destroy. Asin the other type above noted the rod and the extender must under circum- 5 stances be frequently removed for cleaning purposes, a wholly unsatisfactory and undesirable procedure for obvious reasons.

In a third type of instrument similar to the extender type a spiral-ribbed conical cleaner car- 10: ried on a manually operated rod coacts with cutting edges on the end of the tube to cut up the clots so that they may pass freely in and with the blood stream outwardly through the tube. The cleaner is surrounded by a wire cage which 15 acts as a blunt head at the mouth of the tube. As in the other cases this type of instrument has not satisfactorily performed the intended and desired: results, the fibrinous clots becoming entangled in the cleaner and: the: surrounding cage. 20

In a fourth type of instrument the manually operated rod acting in the tube passageway carries: a pair of spring forceps which are used in conjunction with an appropriate sleeve or contracting member. When forwardly extended by 25* the rod to the mouth of the tube the natural resilient spring action of the fingers extends the same and the withdrawal action of the rod causes the· fingers to grip onto the clot by virtue of the constrictive force applied by the sleeve on the 30fingers. When the forceps reach the junction of the elbow with: the: tube the fingers are intended to release: the clot. In practice this type of instrument has not proven entirely satisfactory and adequately reliable, ₃₅

With a view to provide an instrument which will entirely-overcome· the inherent as well as the apparent shortcomings and inadequacies of the present: instruments, briefly reviewed: above, I have developed my hereindescribed invention to 4® meet the needs of the· profession, although it is to be clearly understood that my invention is not intended to be confined and limited to the particular field of embalming instruments but is considered to be applicable to other uses which 45 fall within the· spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the· appended claims.

Briefly stated, I have accomplished: the desired objects and results by originating and perfecting an instrument whose: principal feature comprises 50 a pair of gripping members actuated by a rod in cooperation with means frictionally engaging or frictionally coupled.: with and coacting with the wall of the tube in which the gripping members are operated whereby the gripping members are 55

2,137,636 permitted to be extended and retracted so as to obtain the desired clamping action.

Another object and feature of the invention is to provide an instrument for removing obstructing materials in drainage or other tubes in an efficient and positive manner so as to dispense with all necessity of tube withdrawal from the work for purposes of cleaning or of removing the clogging materials during operating conditions.

Another object and feature of the invention resides in the provision of a device having coacting members operatively controlled by a single manipulative operating member and connected to a slidable carrier block member- tending to resist motion whereby manipulation of the operating member actuates the coactirig members as well as moves the actuated coactihg members with the block member.

Another object and feature of the invention resides in the provision of a rod carried coupling member occupying slots in the butt ends of the gripping members arranged in overlapping relation and means pivotally connecting the plunger in the tube with the butt ends whereby the gripping members may be effectively actuated.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawing when considered in connection with the following description.

I will describe certain forms of the invention and then will point out the novel features thereof in claims. ;; . . ·

In the illustrative drawing herewith— ,

Figure 1 is a view of the assembled embalming instrument shown in perspective;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of the instrument shown in Figure 1 showing the parts thereof in.section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 2 but at right angles thereto showing the jaw members in open position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the jaw members in closed position and partially withdrawn into the tube; and

Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of a jaw member in perspective.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

The preferred embodiment of my invention comprises . the well known longitudinally elongated tube or sheath 10' provided with an axially disposed bore li of a general circular cross section. The tube i 0 may be straight or somewhat curved (as shown), as desired, and is shown as being externally threaded at one end 12, hereinafter referred to as the rear end, so as to receive a knurled cap 13. The opposite or forward end 14 is open, as clearly indicated, being suitably rounded so as to facilitate insertion of the tube 10 into the blood vein or canal of the corpse without puncturing the same.

Intermediate the open or forward end 14 arid the closed or rear end 12 and located near the latter is a laterally positioned discharge outlet or neck 15 integrally united to the tube 10 and having a nipple 16 adapted to accommodate a discharge elastic or flexible tube (not shown) which conveys the discharged fluid to a suitable receptacle (not shown), as is commonly practiced. ' .

The cap 13 has an opening indicated at 17 adapted to accommodate a thrust propulsion member or operating rod 18 having a finger ring 19 formed on one end thereof and carrying a plunger and gripping unit designated generally by the reference character 20 on the other end. β The operating rod 18 carrying the unit 20 is adapted to be reciprocated axially or longitudinally within and through the tube 10. A gasket (not shown) of rubber, leather or other suitable material is fitted in the cap 13 and serves to effec- io tively seal the opening 17 around the rod 18.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, attention is directed to the reciprocable tool which comprises the operating rod 18 and the gripping unit 20. To the forward end of the rod 18, op- 15 posite the ring 19, is secured or fixed a shoulder member 21 which is centrally apertured and threaded to receive coupling means or member 22.

This coupling member 22 in one embodiment 20 is shown as formed of longitudinal arms 23, a transverse connecting part or pin 24, and transverse parts 25, these arms and parts being preferably made from a single rod bent into the coupling member as shown. The transverse con- 25 necting part or .pin 24 serves as a pin occupying cam slots in the gripping members, in a manner to be described, and is preferably integrally united to the longitudinal arms 23 which in turn are integrally united to the angularly bent parts 25. 30 The parts 25 at their extremities are parallel to the arms 23 and disposed in juxtaposition and are also externally threaded whereby the same may be conveniently detachably secured to the rod 18 by fitting in the; internally threaded shoul- 35 der member 21. Lock nut 26 securely locks the coupling member 22 to rod 18. Obviously any other suitable coupling means may be employed to detachably connect the rod 18 to the coupling member 22 provided the same is rigid, easy to ₄₀clean, reliable, and preferably simple in construction. The purpose of using a detachable connection is to permit dismounting and removal of plunger 35 in event the plunger 35 should need replacement due to wear after a long period of ₄₈use. By loosening lock nut 26 and unscrewing the coupling member 22 from the rod 18 the arms 23 are free to be sprung apart sufficiently to be removed from grooves 36 whereby the plunger 35 may be readily removed for repair or replacement. 53

Figure 5 illustrates clearly one of the jaw members 27 and since the jaw members are similar except that they are relatively reversed in some respects so as to cooperate it is thought that a description of one will suffice for both. M As clearly shown the jaw member 27 comprises a clamping extremity 28 with its working face positioned in one plane and a butt end 29 with its faces positioned in other planes approximately at right angles with the first plane and 80 with the inner face 31 on the center line of the jaw face. The clamping extremity 28 preferably has serrations or teeth 30 formed on its working face. The inner face 31 and the outer face of the butt end 2 9 . are flat and the butt end 29 is reduced as indicated at 32. The reduced portion 32 of the butt end 29 is provided with a pivotal opening 33 centrally formed therein. A cam slot 34 is formed diagonally with respect to the γθ longitudinal axis of the jaw member in the intermediate portion 32' of its body between the reduced portion 32 and the clamping extremity 28, The cam slot may be straight or arcuate. The back of the clamping extremity 28 has a 75

2,137,638 contour somewhat like that of the bore of the tube 10.

These parts of the gripping jaws 27 are so constructed, arranged and- disposed that when the 5 jaws are assembled in the manner illustrated- in Figures 2, 3, and 4 the jaw working faces will be toward each other and the butt end faces 31 will be placed in sliding contiguous and overlapping relation with each other. At the same time 10 the pivotal openings 33 will be arranged in alignment, being adapted to receive a pin 31, and cam slots 34 will be in partial alignment but oppositely diagonally disposed,- being adapted to receive transverse arms 24 of coupling mem15 ber 22.

In order to minimize lost motion between the coupling member 2-2 and the jaw members 27 the butt ends 29· may be of Such thickness as to occupy substantially the entire space between 20 the arms 23 except for sufficient space to permit free movement of the jaws 27 in opening and closing. That is, the parts should be reasonably close fitting so that the arms 23 will serve as a guiding support for the jaws 27 to avoid un25 necessary bending or twisting of the jaws 27 into abnormal positions and to promote smooth operation of parts.

A slidable block or body member or plunger 35 is contained in and reciprocally mounted within 30 the tube 10 and is provided with diametrically opposite longitudinal grooves 36 through which pass the arms 23 of the coupling member 22. In one of these grooves 36 is also positioned a pivot stud or pin 37 one end of which engages the 35 rear face of the plunger 35 and the other end of which occupies the pivotal openings 33 of the jaw butt ends 29, the said other' end carrying a head 37' to retain the pin 37 in the pivotal openings 33. The plunger 35 snugly fits the internal 40 wall of the tube 10 so that it is in positive frictional coupling engagement, therewith for a purpose explained hereinbelow. The slidable block member or plunger 35 may be made of a suitable material, such as a hard rubber composition, 4₅ metal, pressed fiber or the like, possessing good frictional characteristics.

The parts of the unit 20 are so arranged and disposed that reciprocation of the coupling member 22 axially within the tube 10 while plunger 35 is held relatively fixed or stationary causes ^υ the pin 24 to move in the slots 34 in such manner that the jaw extremities approach or recede from each other.

In order to provide ample space for free action 55 of the gripping jaws 27 within the tube 10 I have provided diametrically increased portions 38 and 39 of predetermined lengths, the portion 38 being located at the forward end 14 of the tube 10 and the portion 39 being situated at a 60 location intermediate the closed and open ends 12 and 14, respectively, preferably contiguous to the junction of the discharge neck 15 with the tube 10. The parts of the tube 10 forming the transitions from the normal bore 11 of the tube 65 10 to the diametrically increased portion 39 as indicated at 40, 41 and 42. should have a gradual slope so that the plunger 35 will not be hindered in its reciprocal movement through tube 10.

To reduce or avoid the back pressure action 70- created by the plunger 35 when moved forwardly in the tube 10, which action may tend to force the obstructing material away from the tube mouth ! 4, it may be advisable to provide longitudinal tubular holes or passageways 43 in the 75 plunger 35. These tubular holes 43 permit the fluid to pass by the unit 20 when the latter is moved forwardly in the tube 10 so that the obstructing material-Will not be forced away from the tube mouth 14. Such'provision of tubular holes 43 obviates an otherwise time delay which elapses while the obstructing material returns to the tube mouth 14.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The operating rod 18 is thrust forwardly in the tube· 10 by the operator as far as possible so that ]!(jt the tips or extremities of the jaws 27 protrude slightly beyorid the mouth of the tube 10. The forward end 14· of the tube. Id is then inserted the proper distance into the cut vein, the tips of the jaws 27 serving as a-relatively blunt head for jfgi the tube so as to prevent mutilation or puncturing of an undesirable nature of the vein. It should be pointed out here that the forward thrust action of the rod 18 in the tube 10 tends to urge the gripping jaws 27 apart for the reason 2()-: that the plunger 35, being restrained by friction resulting from positive frictional engagement with the internal wall of the tube 10, tends to oppose the forward motion of the gripping unit 20 by the rod 18 and since the plunger 35 is piv- 25· otally connected to the jaws 27 by the. stud 37 and since the pin 24 of the coupling member 22 is being urged forwardly by the rod 18 in cam slots 34 it will be clear that the pin 24 acts upon the sides of the cam slots 34 in. such manner as to· 30 expand the jaw members 27. As the rod !8 carrying the gripping unit 20 is thrust forwardly from its retracted position, shown in dotted outline near the closed end 12 in. Figure 2, the jaws 27 will be opened as far as the slots 34 will per- 3.5; mit while passing through the diametrically increased portion 39 and then will be partially closed by the converging sides 41 of the tube internal wall and held thus by the tube internal wall until the gripping unit 20 reaches the diametrically increased portion 38 at which time the jaws 27 will be opened to their substantially fullest extent permissible again.

It is assumed of course that an elastic or flexible tube has been attached to neck 15 on the 45 nipple IS so that the discharge fluid may be properly conducted- to· a suitable receptacle and that the usual injector tube has been inserted in an artery or other canal of the corpse to supply embalming fluid therein. _go;

After the embalming tube 10 has been properly placed as above described the operator withdraws the rod 18 by means of finger ring 19 rearwardly through the tube 101 The first or initial movement of the rod 18 toward the rear of the tube 55; 10 causes the pin 24 carried by the coupling member 22 to move toward the rear of the jaw butt ends 29 in slots 34 so as to urge the jaw extremities .28 toward each other, the pivot stud 37 being held relatively, stationary or fixed by g(j plunger 35 which is restrained by friction resulting from frictional engagement with the internal wall of the tube 10. When the jaw faces of the members 27 have moved into contiguous relation further movement of the rod 18 causes 65 the gripping unit 20 to be withdrawn axially through the tube 10 until the shoulder member 21 abuts cap 13 to come to rest in the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 2. In this retracted position the plunger 35 serves as a sub- 70 stantial stop to prevent flow of fluid toward cap 13 in the case where the tubular holes 43 are not present in plunger 35.

During the process of embalming the mouth or the open end 14 of the tube 10 occasionally, 75

2,137,635 and sometimes often, becomes clogged or obstructed by blood coagulations, either of the gelatinous or the fibrinous (or fibrous) form in such manner as to materially or effectively impede 5 fluid discharge through the tube 10 and neck 15.

The gelatinous coagulations do not create a very serious problem since they may be comparatively easily mutilated so as to pass on with the flowing stream but the presence of the fibrinous coagulate tions gives rise to a heretofore serious difficulty.

As the name suggests this type of clot or coagulation is composed of tenacious and tough fibers or fibrins which are difficult to mutilate.

To remove the clogging material when the 15 tube mouth 14 becomes clogged the operator moves the rod (8 and the gripping unit 20 forwardly through the tube 10 to the extreme position in Figures 1, 2, and 3 in the manner previously described in which position the jaw mem20 bers 27 are expanded. The operator then starts the withdrawal movement of rod 18. The first or Initial movement of rod 18 causes the jaw members 27 to approach each other in a closing action by virtue of the coaction between pin 24 25 in the slots 34 and the stud 37 in pivotal openings 33, the plunger 35 remaining relatively stationary due to friction resulting from the frictional contact of the plunger 35 with the internal wall of . tube 10. When the jaw members 27 have grasped 30 the coagulated clot or obstructing material further movement of the rod 18 causes the coupling member 22 to draw the gripping unit 20 carrying the material through the tube 10 until the shoulder 2i abuts the cap 13. The plunger 35 at 35 the same time tends to act as a pump to accelerate the blood discharge in the same manner that the plungers of the present instruments act in the case where the tubular holes 43 are not present in plunger 35. The operator then moves 40 the rod 18 forwardly again just far enough to open the jaw members 27 but not to move the plunger 35, as previously described, in order to release the material which is thereby picked up and carried by the flowing stream through the 45 discharge outlet 15.

The operation may be repeated as often as the demand requires in a most expeditious, efficient, reliable and positively effective manner. After the instrument has been used in the above man50 ner it is readily dissociated by removing the cap 13 and withdrawing the rod 18 to remove the gripping unit 20 from the tube 10. These parts may then be easily and thoroughly cleaned.

From the foregoing description and a study of 55 the drawing it will be apparent that I have provided a comparatively simply constructed and consequently inexpensive device for particular use in embalming but it is to be clearly understood that the device may be used as a handling 60 implement in general. For example, with a few changes obvious to one skilled in the art the member to which the jaws are pivotally connected may be positioned so as to frictionally engage the outer surface of a tube or rod instead 65 of the inner wall of the tube. It is also contemplated that the rod may be pivoted to the jaw members and the plunger coupled to the slots thereof.

It is further contemplated that other well 70 known operable means may be employed in place of the gripping members to perform various functions in the simple and efficient manner embodied in the present invention. It is also contemplated that the gripping unit including the op75 erating member, coacting members and the block member may be used upon and with any body in place of the tube. It is believed such constructions may be obviously provided in place of the gripping means 27 by those skilled in the art.

One advantage of the present instrument is 5 that with the tube maintained relatively stationary the operator has only to manipulate one operating member, the tube acting as a pivotal member through the agency of the member frictionally engaging or coupled with the wall of the 10 tube.

The simplicity and positiveness of action of the gripping members within the tube are highly important as provided by my invention. By merely manipulating a single rod the operator is ₁₅enabled to clamp positively upon the material at the mouth of the tube before the gripping members have begun their retractive movement, thereby better ensuring a secure hold upon the material at all times. 20

The arrangement also permits of the use of clamping jaws, forceps or tongs in places where only a tube may be employed as a sheathing member and inserted in a cavity containing the material to be removed to best advantage. ₂5

The metal parts should be made of good quality metals or their alloys, preferably rust- and weather-resistant.

In the appended claims the term “friction” is intended to mean the resistance to motion due to 39 contact of surfaces, including both static and kinetic friction.