US1736246A - Skin-graft surgical instrument - Google Patents

Description

V. P. BLAIR SKIN GRAFT SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Nov; 19, 1929.

Filed' Feb. 25, 1929 Patented Nov. 19, 1929 VILRAY I. BLAIR, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI SKIN-GRAFT SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed February 25, 1929. Serial No. 342,343.

This invention relates to surgical instruments and more particularly to instruments for severing skin to be used in skin-graft operations. Heretofore the skin was cut by a knife manually operated without the use of any guides except a pair of boardsspaced apart from each other and pressed against the skin to hold it taut. No means were provided to guide the operator to form a straight out or to obtain skin of predetermined uniform thickness.

The primary objects of the present invention are to provide an instrument for severing the skin to be used in skin graft operations,

which instrument can be easily manipulated and is so constructed that it can be readily sterilized.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an instrument of the class described having a suction box for displacing or drawing up a portion of the skin to be severed-and having aholder for receiving a reciprocable knife in a definite relation with said suce tion box whereby such displaced skin can be severed by said knife along predetermined lines.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide means for adjusting said holder relatively to said box so as to adjust the knife with respect to the skin displaced the suction box, thereby regulating the thickness of the severed skin.

Other objects ofthe invention are to pro-f vide a suction box with automatic reliefvalve which automatically opens said box to the atmosphere in case undue suction is, produced,

within the box, .said valve beingi adjustable to regulate the degree of suction to be produced in said box.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-' Figure 1 is a top plan View of the instrument.

. Figure 2 50 through the same.

is a longitudinal cross section;

Figure 3 is an end elevational viewof the instrument.

Figure 4; is a cross section taken on line 4i4 ofFigure 1.

My invention contemplates the use of. a

The knife used to sever the skin isreciprocally mounted to one side of the box and longitudinally thereof in suitable spaced relation therewith. Thus, as the knife is operated it severs the skin raised or displaced by the suction produced in the box. In this manner only that portion of the skin acted upon by the suction is affected by the knife and thus the width of the severed portion is determined by the width of the box.

In using the instrument, the box is moved forward while the knife is reciprocated and the extent of movement of the instrument is .tuated electrically or by the vacuum pump used in connection with the suction box.

The lnstrument is so constructed that t may be readily ster llzed and the kn1fe1sremovably mounted in the holder so that said knife can be readily removed therefrom. g

7 Referring by numerals-to the accompanying drawings, 10 indicates a box having an open bottom. This box iscomparatively narrow in cross section andis of suitable length to permit manual manipulation thereof. The bottom of box 10-has securedtheretoa frame 11 which extends inwardly'a suitable distance beyond the edges of the vertical walls/1O of box 10. The underside of this frame'is preferably tapered inwardly as indicated at 11 and the edges of said frame are rounded.

Leading from the top wall 10 of box 10 and fixed thereto is one'end of a curved metal tube '12, the opposite endof which is adapted to receive one end of a flexible connection 14:, the opposite end of which is connected to a suitable vacuum pump mechanism (not shown) V A relief valve 15 is disposed in top wall 10 to one side of connection 12. This relief valve comprises a valve seat member 16 disposed withinthe box: and engaged by a valve 17 which latter "is "carried by the lower end. of a stem 18. Valve stem 18 has threaded in its upper end a screw 19 and screw-seated, on the latter and preferably in spaced relation with the upper end of stem 18 is a collar 20.

v A coiled spring 21 is interposed between collar and the upper endof valve seat. memthe atmosphere and is normally closed at its ber 16. I Thus the spring tends to hold the Valve 17 aigainst its seat inmember 16 and the tension of this spring can be adjusted by: manipulating screw 19 and collar 20'. Valve seat member 16 is secured at its 'upper end in the top wall 10 and is provided with an enlarged bore 16 Which communicates with lower end by a valve 17.

l/Vhen the suction in box 10 passes beyond the degree for which the valve is adjusted, the suction in the box overcomes the tension of the coiled spring and allows valve 17 to be displaced, thereby admitting atmospheric air into the box. p The open endbf' the box is provided with a series of transversely disposed short rods" 22 which are arranged immediately above from each other and serve to rna'int'ain uniform displacement of the skin as limit the inward suction of. the skin beyond a pie determined distance.

he reread side wall or member 10' is ramed witl'r integral extensions 2 1 having horizontally disposed threaded "openings in .which are screw-seated screw's 25. .These serene-resin mountings for art of arms 26 which are disposed on each end of. member 10 and extend rjea-rwardly thereof a suitable distance; The f-orwardfeirdsfOf 26 are preferably provided within series of aper with aperture 30 and a o1 wa -d1ypre-' sented slot 31, the latterfopening are said three 27 for engagingscrews25 These apertures are spaced longitudinally of said arms rear end of each a m 26 is revidd with a horizontally dispose'daperture 27in which is V loosely mounted a screw 28. This scre'w has its threaded. end screw s'eatedjin a threaded aperture in a'hol'de'r '29 disposed on the inner side of each armv 26, while the head oflthe c screw is disposed on "the outersidje of the arm. Each holder 29 is provided in its lower end aperture. v The a ertureseo are coa xifally disposed and receive the rigid back 32 of a knife element 32, the blade 32 thereof being slidably arranged in slots 31. The width of the blade is greater than the lengths of the 7 slots 31 and consequently the cutting edge of the blade projects forwardly a suitable disregulate the thickness thereof, arms 26 are connected together by a horizontally disposed rod 33 at a point spaced rearwardly from 'mem'ber i0 and substantially above the cutedge of knife '32. Rod 33 is carried by 26 in any suitable manner, preferably 'by having its "ends secured therein. Extend ing upwardly from rod 33 at a point equidistant from arms 26 is a threaded member 3 1 and threaded on said member is a pair of lock nuts Screw 34 passes through an elongated aperture 36 formed in an extension 37 which latter is carried by and projects rearwardly from member 10. Lock nuts 35 are disposed on each side of extension 37 and serve to hold screw 34 and arms 26 in position. "By turning lock nuts 35 in proper directions arms 26 can be so actuated on their pivots or mountings 25 as to raiseor lower the knife element 32.

The pivotal arms 26 permit adjustment in avertical plane of the knife 32. The holders '29, being pivotally mounted by means of screws 29, provide means for adjusting the 'knife 3 2 an ular-1 This adjustment is accomplished in a manner similar to the adjust ine'nt of arms 26.

The upperends of holders 29receive' the ends of a horizontally disposed rod 38, which and the upper endof said screw passes through an elongated opening 36 formed in Y eXtension 37 rearwardly of aperture 36. A pair of lock nuts is used to raise-and lower screw 39.

As both rods -33 I and 38 are spacedsufficient distance above the bottom of box 10 and knife 32, they in nowiseinterfere with -.70 tance from holders 29. Thus, apertures 30 and :slots 31 form bearings for the knife eleis parallelwith and spaced from rod 33. The lower end of a screw 39 is secured to rod 33 the cutting operation or with the positioning I of the severed skin'on the knife.

By using both adjustments the knife can be accurately adjusted to assure correct positioning of theknife and efficient operation of the device.

The ends of member 10are preferably knurled as indicated at 4:1 and provide suit .able holds so that .the instrumentmay be grasped between the forefinger and thumb of one hand and moved slowly forwardly in the direction indicated by dotted arrow, while the knife 32 receives reciprocating motion.

The entire instrument is made of rustproof metal so that it is not affected by cor-- rosion and can be sterilized. The knife 30 is removable from arms 26's0 that it may be removed from the device during sterilizing or when not in use.

In using the instrument, suction member 10 is placed in position with thesuction openfacilitate the movement of the suction member 10 over the skin, the latter is preferably greased before the instrument is placed in position. The knife can be operated either manually or automatically.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it is obvious that various changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein disclosed, without departing from the spirit of vention.

I claim:.

1. A skin graft surgical instrument comprising a suction box having an opening to draw up the skin, and a knife element operable in correlation with said box for severing the skin thus displaced by said box.

2. A skin graft surgical instrument comprising a suction box adapted to be placed on the skinto displace the same, and a knife" holder mounted on said box and adapted to receive a reciprocal knife for severing the displaced skin.

3. A skin graft surgical instrument com severing the skin displacedby said suction member, said holder being adjustable to ad just said knife in a vertical plane'relat'ively' to said skin so as to vary the thickness of the severed skin.

4. A surgical instrument of the class de-'- scribed comprising a suction member having severed, and a knife disposed longitudinally of said box in spaced relation therewith, said knife being operable to sever the skin along a line adjacent to said suction box.

5. A surgical instrument of the class described comprising a hollow suction member having a rectangular suction opening for engaging the skin to be operated upon, and

a reciprocable knife mounted on said member in correlation with said opening for severing the skin acted upon by said suctionmember.

6. A surgical instrument of the class demy in-.

scribed comprising a hollow suction member having a rectangular suction opening for engaging the skinfto be operated upon, a reciprocableknife mounted on said member in correlation with said .opening for severing the skin acted upon by said suction member, andmeans for adjusting said knife in a vertical plane relatively to the skin for regulating the thickness of the graft.

7. A surgical instrument of the class described comprising a hollow suction member having a rectangular suction opening for engagingthe skin-to be operated upon, a reciprocable knife mounted on said member in correlation with said opening for severing the skin acted upon by saidsuction member, and a flexible conduit leading from said suction member and adapted to be connected to a suit.-

able vacuum apparatus for creating suction within said member.

8. A surgical instrument of the class de scribed comprising a hollow suction member having a rectangular suction opening for engaging the skin to be operated upon, a reciprocable knife mounted on said member in correlation with said opening for severing the skin acted upon by said suction member,

a flexible conduit leading from said suction member andadapted to be connected to a suitablevacuum apparatus for creating suc tion within said member, and a relief valve on said member for connecting the interior thereof with. atmosphere when the suction'in .said member passes beyond a predetermined i 9. A surgical instrument of the class described comprising a hollow suction'member having a rectangular suction opening for engaging the skin to be operated upon, a reciprocable knife mounted on said member in f correlationwith said opening for severing the Skin acted upon by said suction member, a flexible'conduit leading from said suction n'i'einber and adapted to be connected to a suitable'vacuum apparatus for creating suc;

tion within said member, and an adjustable 'member passes beyond a predetermined degree, said valve being adjustable to change thedegree of vacuum in said member. I an open bottom for engaging the-skin to be:

'10. A surgical instrument of the class -described comprising a hollow suction member having a rectangular suction opening for en;-...

gaging the skin to be grafted, a reciprocable knife mounted on sa d member in correlation with said opening for severing the skin and'the atmosphere, and means for'adjusting said valve to regulate the degree of vacuum in said suction member.

relief Valve for automatically establishing 4 r sme rs 11-. A surgical instrument of: the class ide-- scribed comprising ahollow suction member having a rectanguiarsuctim openihgfor en- 'gagi'ng the skin to be 'grafted-, a pair. of'arms 5 carried in spaced relation by saidinember and extending rearwardly thereof, and. a

knife reciprocally mounted in the-rear ends of said arms in spaced relation "with said suction opening-for severing the skinalong. I

a line defined by saidfsuction opening.

12. A surgical instrument of the class described comprising aholl owsuction member having a rectangular suction-opening'for engaging the skin tobe grafted, affair of armscarried in spaced relation by said and extending rearwardly thereof, a knife reciprocally mounted inthe rear ends ofsaid arms in spaced-relation with said suction opening for severing theskin along a line defined by said suction beefing, and meansfor adjusting said arms to regulate the position of said knife relatively-to saidskin.

13. A device of the class described om prising a hollow suctionjmeinber having adownwardly presented suction opening for engaging the skin to be grafted, a pair of arms carried by said I'nember'in spaced relation with each other and extending rearwardly thereof, a reciprocable reinovably mountedin the rear ends "of said arms" in spaced relation with said suction opening for severing the skin'acted upon by the suction along'a predeterminedline relatively to said suction opening, and means for adjusting the vacuum within said hollow member.

14. A device oith'e class described com- 7 prising a hollowsuction member haying a downwardly presented suction opening for; engaging the skin to be grafted, 'ajp'air of arms carried by said member inspa'ced' relaj'tionwith each "other ande'xtending rear- 1 Vacuum Within said hollow member, and a- 'wirdly thereot a reciprocable i e mm.

mounted in therear ends of "saidarms 1n spaced relation with said suction opening for severing the'skin acted upon bythe suction' along a predetermined line relatively'to 7 said suction opening, means for adusting the man'ually adjustable member liked to, said the skin,

arms for adjusting said knife relatively to r r In testimony whereof ihereumb aiiix my 'VI RAY P, BLAIR;

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