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Maintenance of Urologic Armamentarium
THE JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
Vol. 77, No. 2, February 1957 Printed i'n U.S.A.
MAINTENANCE OF UROLOGIC ARMAMENTARIUM LUIS A. SANJURJO
From the Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P.R.
The great majority of the instruments used for urological diagnosis and treatment are of such mechanical precision that their construction requires much experience and a great deal of skill which adds immensely to their price value. Therefore, the urologist, nurses and personnel entrusted with cleaning and handling these instruments must and usually do exercise great care to avoid injuring the delicate lens system and the various component parts. This presentation is limited to the movable parts of the various instruments at our disposal such as stopcocks, cystoscopic forceps, rongeurs, scissors locks and levels. Like any piece of machinery the movable parts of our instruments suffer the inexorable effects of friction, oxidation and fair tear and wear. Adequate lubrication is required to ensure a smooth performance, reduction of friction and their sticking because of the effects of oxidation. Often enough one finds a stopcock that freezes, or the working element of a resectoscope or a cystoscope does not move properly. Unless parts have been bent by injury the cause is obvious: lack of proper lubrication. Beeswax is employed almost universally to maintain and insure proper lubrication of the moving parts of these instruments, the use of mineral or vegetable lubricants being inadvisable for obvious well known reasons. In our experience however, the use of solid beeswax does not lubricate these instruments completely in many instances unless the wax is melted and this we have found to be time consuming. It occurred to us some two years ago that if wax could be incorporated into a solvent, lamp threads could be made water tight and the stopcocks, latches, etc., lubricated more thoroughly without excessive deposition of wax and with great expedition of time. After trying several solvents we found that benzene in the form of lighter fluid is ideal because wax is readily dissolved, and the fluid does not evaporate too rapidly which allows proper penetration into the inaccessible recesses of these parts. Four to five cubic centimeters of lighter fluid to 1 gm. of wax has proved the most satisfactory proportion. The results have been highly satisfactory. Frozen stopcocks and locks have been rendered serviceable, again avoiding the expense at the hands of the manufacturer or the annoyance of time lost during repairs. To obtain the best results we proceed as follows: The moving parts are carefully washed with soap and water, dried and cleansed well with cotton swabs. Rust if present is removed with a toothpick or wood applicators. If necessary a drop or Accepted for publication September 20, 1956. 320
MAINTENANCE OF UROLOGIC ARMAMENTARIUM
321
two of lighter fluid is deposited to remove any dirt or old wax. This is followed by the deposition of one drop of the mixture lighter fluid-vvax and the parts worked several times to ensure a good penetration of the lubricant. In a few minutes after evaporation of the solvent the instrument is ready for use. Rarely if ever there is some excess of wax but if that is the case it can be easily removed with a piece of tissue paper and a toothpick. Since we began using this preparation our instruments are always ready for use. Routinely we clean and lubricate all our instruments at one sitting approximately every three months. vVe are satisfied with the results and wish to give this information to those confreres who might be interested in giving it a trial. 303 de Diego Ave., Santurce, Puerto Rico
Vol. 77, No. 2, February 1957 Printed i'n U.S.A.
MAINTENANCE OF UROLOGIC ARMAMENTARIUM LUIS A. SANJURJO
From the Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P.R.
The great majority of the instruments used for urological diagnosis and treatment are of such mechanical precision that their construction requires much experience and a great deal of skill which adds immensely to their price value. Therefore, the urologist, nurses and personnel entrusted with cleaning and handling these instruments must and usually do exercise great care to avoid injuring the delicate lens system and the various component parts. This presentation is limited to the movable parts of the various instruments at our disposal such as stopcocks, cystoscopic forceps, rongeurs, scissors locks and levels. Like any piece of machinery the movable parts of our instruments suffer the inexorable effects of friction, oxidation and fair tear and wear. Adequate lubrication is required to ensure a smooth performance, reduction of friction and their sticking because of the effects of oxidation. Often enough one finds a stopcock that freezes, or the working element of a resectoscope or a cystoscope does not move properly. Unless parts have been bent by injury the cause is obvious: lack of proper lubrication. Beeswax is employed almost universally to maintain and insure proper lubrication of the moving parts of these instruments, the use of mineral or vegetable lubricants being inadvisable for obvious well known reasons. In our experience however, the use of solid beeswax does not lubricate these instruments completely in many instances unless the wax is melted and this we have found to be time consuming. It occurred to us some two years ago that if wax could be incorporated into a solvent, lamp threads could be made water tight and the stopcocks, latches, etc., lubricated more thoroughly without excessive deposition of wax and with great expedition of time. After trying several solvents we found that benzene in the form of lighter fluid is ideal because wax is readily dissolved, and the fluid does not evaporate too rapidly which allows proper penetration into the inaccessible recesses of these parts. Four to five cubic centimeters of lighter fluid to 1 gm. of wax has proved the most satisfactory proportion. The results have been highly satisfactory. Frozen stopcocks and locks have been rendered serviceable, again avoiding the expense at the hands of the manufacturer or the annoyance of time lost during repairs. To obtain the best results we proceed as follows: The moving parts are carefully washed with soap and water, dried and cleansed well with cotton swabs. Rust if present is removed with a toothpick or wood applicators. If necessary a drop or Accepted for publication September 20, 1956. 320
MAINTENANCE OF UROLOGIC ARMAMENTARIUM
321
two of lighter fluid is deposited to remove any dirt or old wax. This is followed by the deposition of one drop of the mixture lighter fluid-vvax and the parts worked several times to ensure a good penetration of the lubricant. In a few minutes after evaporation of the solvent the instrument is ready for use. Rarely if ever there is some excess of wax but if that is the case it can be easily removed with a piece of tissue paper and a toothpick. Since we began using this preparation our instruments are always ready for use. Routinely we clean and lubricate all our instruments at one sitting approximately every three months. vVe are satisfied with the results and wish to give this information to those confreres who might be interested in giving it a trial. 303 de Diego Ave., Santurce, Puerto Rico