New irrigator for use in temporal bone surgery.

Abstract

In order to perform temporal bone surgery satisfactorily, it is necessary to irrigate the operative cavity frequently as the operation progresses. Most irrigators, whether of the metalvalve variety or of the type that depends upon collapse of a rubber tube, have proved to be unsatisfactory. As the result of repeated sterilization, both types of irrigators soon begin to leak and, consequently, enhance the possibility of field contamination. This same difficulty is encountered when one uses a rubber-bulb type of irrigator. As the result of my displeasure with these various types of irrigators, the Surgical Mechanical Research Company worked with me in developing what I consider to be a satisfactory irrigator. Basically, the irrigator consists of a hollow metal tube covered by a rubber sleeve. The rubber sleeve is divided into two chambers by a rubber ring. The hollow metal tube is blocked at its center so that the solution cannot