US2847012A - Device for rupturing the amniotic membranes - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1958 R. L. EASTMAN DEVICE FOR RUPTURI-NG THE AMNIOTIC MEMBRANES Filed Oct. 13, 1954 INVENTOR. BObQZ LZwZ W MQYM-Mr Wm 2,847,012 PaientedAug; 12, 1958 DEVICE FOR RUPTURING THE'AMNIOTIC MEMBRANES Robert L; Eastman,-Mount Vernon, @hio Application October 13, 1954, Serial No; 462,026 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-t303) During the duced into the pregnancy period" amniotic fluid is introuterus with the result that when labor befiuid present, baby may be merely moved from one area to another Within the uterus; Whenthe obstetrician recognizes this condition it is-the usual practice for him to interference from the fluid. It is the common practice for the obstetrician to rupture the membrane by a procedure in which asmall 'pli'er-lik'e instrument, such as an Allifs character that injury to the patient or the baby is diflicult child and the g which does not reduce the degree of sensitivity in the finger or the hand whereby the device may be manipulated' bytthe-user for engaging the point with the membrane to rupture the same without danger of injury to thevaginal. walls, the cerviX,-and/or thebaby.

It is another object of the-invention to provide a device for use in obstetrical examinations which comprises a rubber-like glove for the hand contact with the membrane cervix.

ing drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a glove having incorporated therein the principal features of the invention;

Fig.- 2.is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of a portion of thesend. of the middle finger of the glove showing the membrane. rupturing element thereon;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on-the line 33 of Fig. l, to an enlarged scale;

Fig, 4 is a side elevation'of-a'portion of theend'ofthe middle finger of the gloveshowing a modified form of the membrane rupturing member;

Fig. S'is a section similar toFig. 3-illustrating afu'rth'er modification of the device;

Fig; G'isa sectional viewa of a portion ofthe endof the middletfinger of the glove illustrating-a further modi fied form of the device; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view throughth'e body illustrating theme of the device.

Inuall operations and-examinations where-there is danger'of infection it is the universal practice for'the operat-' for reasons which will be explained.

In the form of the device as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 16 is generally conical in shape A modification is illustrated in Fig. in which the tip 41 is of the same generally conical form as the tip 16 with the base thereof recessed at 42 to receive the end of the finger 43 and with the marginal edges 44 joined to the inside and adjacent the end margins of the finger forming portions 45 of the glove, the latter being apertured at the end and the element 41 being secured therein in the form of an insert. In this form the element 41 may, of course, be preformed of a different material than the rubber glove.

In the form of the device illustrated in Fig. 6 the tip 51 may take any of the shapes illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, and it may be integrally cast with the finger portion 52 of the glove itself or attached thereto in any manner. The base portion of the conical shaped peak or tip 51 is recessed at 53 to receive the end of the finger 54 and on the inside wall defining the recess 53 there is provided a small protuberance 55 which is adapted to be engaged by the end of the fingernail 56 to permit the tip 51 to be more readily manipulated by movement of the finger 54.

All forms of the glove structure which are described herewith are employed in the same manner in the surgical operation which is illustrated in Fig. 7. The glove is placed on the hand of the physician and the fingers are introduced into the vagina 60 with the point or tip formation 16 extending from the finger 13 so that it will be engaged with the membrane 61. The rupturing of the membrane 61 is accomplished 'by pulling the tip 16 across the surface of the same by crooking or manipulating the finger 20, to puncture or tear the membrane and permit the fluid 62 to escape through the aperture made in the membrane 61. Draining the fluid from the uterus in this manner not only hastens labor but also facilitates the dilation of the cervix by the the babys head and contributes to an easier birth.

Generally the tip or point formation will be non-metallic and formed of the same material as the glove with the material comprising the tip having somewhat greater hardness than the membrane so that it will be capable of tearing or rupturing the membrane and will still not be so sharp or hard as to make it dangerous to the walls of the cervix or the baby if it is accidentally brought in contact with the same during the operation.

While specific details of the device and particular materials have been referred to in describing the several forms illustrated it will be understood that other details of construction and other materials may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A surgical glove adapted for use in an obstetrical operation which involves rupturing the amniotic membrane to release the amniotic fiuid and facilitate childbirth, said glove being formed of a relatively thin pliable and contractible rubber-like sheet material whereby it fits over the hand of the user and closely conforms to the contour thereof, said glove having finger enclosing portions and an integral membrane rupturing member at the end of one of said finger enclosing portions, said membrane rupturing member comprising a relatively hard generally cone-shaped non-metallic element integrally attached at its base to the glove, which cone-shaped element is formed to provide a relatively hard pointed end projecting from said finger enclosing portion for engaging the membrane by manipulation of the finger whereby the same may be readily ruptured.

2. An obstetrical glove for use in rupturing the amniotic membrane to release the amniotic fluid and hasten childbirth, said glove being 'formed of a relatively thin pliable rubber-like material which fits over the hand of the user and which closely conforms to the contour thereof so that it is frictionally retained thereon, said glove having a finger forming portion and a membrane rupturing member adjacent the end thereof, said membrane rupturing member comprising a projecting element which is integrally attached adjacent its base to the finger forming portion of the glove and which is formed with a relatively hard pointed and somewhat blunt end for engaging the membrane by manipulation of the finger whereby the same may be ruptured by said element.

3. A glove for surgical use, said glove being formed of a relatively thin pliable and contractible material which fits over the hand of the user and closely conforms to the contour thereof so that it is frictionally retained thereon, said glove having an end portion covering the fingers of the user and a membrane rupturing member on said end portion comprising an element having a base portion integrally joined with said end portion of the glove, said element having a relatively stiff non-metallic pointed end projecting in the direction of the axis of the finger whereby said projecting end may be engaged with an amniotic membrane by manipulation of the fingers of the user to rupture said membrane.

4. A surgical device which is adapted to be placed on a finger for use in rupturing the amniotic membrane in an obstetrical operation, said device comprising a finger carried member of relatively thin pliable rubber-like material which closely conforms to the contour of the finger and which encompasses a substantial end portion of the finger sufiicient to grip the finger and to be frictionally retained thereon, a pointed membrane rupturing element of relatively hard non-metallic material integrally secured at the end of said member, said element having a pointed end which is somewhat blunted and which is directed outwardly of the end of the finger in the direction of the long axis thereof whereby when said pointed end is drawn across the surface of the membrane 'by manipulation of the finger the membrane will be ruptured.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,741 Longden Oct. 18, 1898 2,084,692 Little June 22, 1937 2,157,293 Lenta May 9, 1939 2,501,571 Liedtke Mar. 21, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES An Obstetric Ring for Artificial Puncture of the Membranes, from Journal American Medical Association of February 9, 1935, page 462. (Copy in Division 128-329.)

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