Gordh needle:
Torsten Gordh, in 1945, described
a modification Olovson needle for
intravenous anaesthesia. From
then on, the needle was often
referred to as the "Gordh needle".
His modifications involved joining a
conical connector to the proximal
end so that it could be attached to
an intravenous infusion. This could
be capped off when the needle was
only required for intermittent
injections. A fine needle was
required to administer injections
and the membrane could
apparently be used 200 times. The
needle was taken apart for
sterilization. It was an extremely
popular needle but the membrane
did leak when used too often which
allowed blood to flow back and clot
in the needle. Needles puncturing
the membrane also soon became
blunt.
Magill Laryngoscope
This laryngoscope was designed by
Sir Ivan W. Magill (1888-1986) and
Dr. Stanley Rowbotham in 1926. It
consists It consists of a battery
compartment, a light switch, a light
bulb and a blade. The blade is
straight with U-shaped cross
section.
Yankauer mask:
Yankauer's face mask with mesh
and removable spiral wire collar for
holding in place lint or gauze onto
which agents such as ether or
chloroform were applied. This
mask was very popular for the drop
method of anaesthesia. The drop
method involved placing the mask
over the patient’s nose and mouth,
and then placing gauze over the
mesh of the mask. Next, liquid
anaesthetic, such as ether or
chloroform, was applied in drops
or lightly poured onto the gauze so
that the patient breathed in
evaporated anaesthetic as well as
air.
Mitchell needle:
It was a self-sealing needle
intended for intermittent
intravenous anaesthesia. It was
designed by Dr JV Mitchell to
replace the Gordh needle. It had a
lateral opening and an occluded
tip. A spring kept a rubber guard
over the skin and against the vein
wall and thus kept the needle
opening free of clotting. It could be
sterilized by boiling or autoclaving.
Schimmelbusch mask:
Invented by Curt Schimmelbusch in
1890 for delivering inhaled
anaesthesia using open drop
method. The device consisted of a
wire frame which is covered with
several layers of gauze and applied
to the patient's face over the
mouth and nose. Then anaesthetic
agent (usually diethyl ether
halothane, chloroform) was
dripped on it, allowing the patient
to inhale a mix of the evaporated
anesthetic and air. The device was
designed to prevent the
anaesthetic from coming in contact
with the patient's skin, where it
could cause irritation.
EMO Vaporiser:
Variable bypass, flow over with
wick, in system, temperature
compensation by supplied heat
and flow alteration, agent specific
vaporizer. Used for ether,
halothane, chloroform and trilene.
Works between 15-29OC and
delivers ether 0-20%. Surrounding
vaporizing chamber (450 ml) is a
water reservoir with a capacity of
1250 cc. Advantages included
compact and portable and could be
used with air.
Goldman vaporizer:
Consists of small glass bowl
attached to a metallic head. It has
a splitting device which is used to
alter vaporiser output. Maximum
device output is 3%. It is classified
as variable bypass, flow over
without wicks, in or out of circuit,
no temperature compensation, not
agent specific.
Oxford miniature vaporizer (OMV
50):
Variable bypass, draw over with
metal mesh wicks. Uses 30%
ethylene glycol as heat sink.
Originally used together with EMO
vaporiser to speed up the
induction. Agent capacity 50 ml. It
was not agent specific and
different agents could be used by
changing concentration dials.
Maximum vaporiser output was
4% for halothane. Its advantages
include portability, easy cleaning
and serviceability.
Oxford inflating bellows:
This is a hand-operated bellows
unit for inflating the lungs, it
consists of an inlet connection and
valve, the bellows in the middle, an
outlet valve and outlet connection,
the valve consists of a disk of metal
that lifts by air flow and falls by
gravity, there is also an oxygen
inlet connection and tap. It has a
magnet in a holder, under the Boyle's bottle vaporizer:
bellows this is used to immobilise Designed by Dr. Henry E. G. Boyle
the outlet valve when a non- (1875-1941) in 1917. It was
rebreathing valve such as the predecessor of modern plenum
AMBU valve is in use. vaporizers. It had relatively high
internal resistance and patients’
inspiratory effort was insufficient
to draw gas over it. It was used to
deliver ether, trichloroethylene or
chloroform. It had a glass reservoir
for anaesthetic agent. Two levers
controlled the fresh gas flow and
delivered agent concentration. It
Pinson Ether Bomb:
did not have any temperature
Invented 1921 by Kenneth Bernard
compensation and concentration
Pinson & Stanley Rawson Wilson.
of anaesthetic agent delivered as
The Pinson Bomb was designed to
imprecise. However, a water bath
be filled with ether, sealed,
could be added to decrease the fall
immersed in hot water for a period
in temperature.
and then used while still hot. Pure
ether vapor emerging would be fed
to the anaesthetic breathing
system where it would be diluted.
The heavy cast, gun metal
construction, necessitated by its
pressure vessel status, also
provided thermal inertia to
support extended ether
vaporisation
Fluotec Mark II Vaporizer:
It is classified variable bypass,
agent specific, flow over with wick,
out of system and had
temperature compensation by
flow alteration using bimetallic
strip in vaporization chamber. It
had capacity of 150 ml. Maximum
delivered concentration was 4% for
halothane. The concentration
control dial had to be pulled
forward before it could be turned
on. Back pressure affected the
vaporizer output especially at low
flow rates.
London Hospital mouth/airway
prop:
This device was used to prevent
biting of endotracheal tube by
lightly anesthetized patient. It was
passed around the tube and placed
between patient’s teeth. It was
made of corrosion resistant metal
and was available in three sizes. It
was designed to withstand a force
of at least 25 kgf. It had a hole at
base to allow it to be connected to
a chain or wire.
Mouth-to-Mouth (Safar) Airway:
It was introduced by Austrian-
American anaesthesiologist, Dr.
Peter Safar (1924-2003) and Mr.
Frank McMahon (1911-2005) as
Mouth-to-Mouth Airway in 1958. It
as “S” shaped and looked like two
oropharyngeal airways joined
together. Dr. Safar has been called
“the father of cardio-pulmonary
resuscitation”. His work, together
with that of Dr. James Elam (1918-
1995), led directly to the
development of today’s CPR
technique, and to the design of CPR
training mannequins. Dr. Safar
also founded new academic
departments and research
programs in the fields of
anaesthesiology, critical care
medicine, pain medicine,
resuscitation and emergency
medicine. Initial prototype was
metallic. The plastic version
“Resuscitube” made by Johnson &
Johnson; it became standard
equipment in ambulances.
Waters Airway:
Dr. Ralph M. Waters (1883–1980)
introduced his oral airway in 1930.
It has a side port or “nipple" so that
tubing can be attached to deliver
air or oxygen. It had two holes at
pharyngeal end. Its metal
construction prevented patients
from accidentally biting on the
airway and blocking gas flow.
However, metal airways including
the Waters airway were prone to
result in cut or bruised lips and
dental damage. Dr. Waters also
invented the “to and fro" carbon
dioxide absorber that led the way
to closed circuit anaesthesia, and
introduced the anesthetic use of
cyclopropane. He is best known as
the founder of the first academic
program in anaesthesiology, at the
University of Wisconsin.
Connell Airway:
This was one of the earliest
oropharyngeal airways. Described
by Dr. Karl Connell (1878-1941) in
1913. The oral airways introduced
a few years before Connell’s
featured a rubber tube, which
could be closed off by the patient's
bite. The Connell Airway was made
of metal to prevent compression. It
was shaped to fit the roof of the
mouth and the upper throat – an
ergonomic design that inspired
many later airways.
Heidbrink Valve:
A Heidbrink Valve is an adjustable
expiratory valve used to permit
exhaled air from the patient to
pass back into the breathing
system while preventing the entry
of air from outside the breathing
system. It also lets air escape if
pressure in the system reaches or
exceeds a set level on the valve. Dr.
Jay A. Heidbrink first described this
valve in a patent that he filed in
1929 for a ventilator. ‘Heidbrink
Valve’ has become a common
name for valves of similar design
that can be found on many
manufacturers’ anesthesia
machines.
Ruben valve:
It is a non-rebreathing valve with
body made of clear plastic and
metal fittings. Red coloured
connector is patient’s end while
blue is inlet and gold colour is
outlet. It has spring loaded bobbin
within the valve housing. It has
dead space of 9 ml and a low
resistance. Non-rebreathing valves
are used to ensure unidirectional
flow of gases during ventilation.
Other examples are Laerdel valve,
Ambu E and Lewis Leigh valve.
Fuller’s biflanged tracheostomy
tube:
It is a specially designed metallic
tracheostomy tube. It has a shorter
outer tube which is split into two
flanges to facilitate insertion into
trachea by pressing them together;
and a longer inner tube. It also has
a small speaking valve and helps in
decannuation process. This
tracheostomy tube is particularly
useful in young children who have
relatively small trachea.
Ambu Bag:
In 1954, a shortage of oxygen
deliveries to hospitals prompted
Danish anaesthesiologist Dr
Henning Ruben (1914-2004) to
invent the first self-inflating
resuscitator, the Air Mask Bag Unit
(AMBU). Originally built on a frame
of bicycle spokes, the bag springs
back into shape after each
compression, automatically
refilling itself with fresh air. An
inflating (non-rebreathing) valve
prevents the patient from
rebreathing his exhaled carbon
dioxide. The following year, Dr
Ruben introduced a slightly
modified non-rebreathing valve for
paediatric anaesthesia patients.
These have become standard
equipment in ambulances, hospital
emergency rooms, and patient
rooms.
Waters CO2 Absorber:
Also commonly referred to as the
“Waters Canister” and the “Waters
To and Fro,” the absorber was
introduced in 1924 and continued
to be used into the 1960s. This first
simple and easily transportable
absorber was invented by Dr Ralph
Waters (1883-1979).The metallic
canister filled with soda lime
granules was place between
patient’s mask and reservoir bag.
Waters emphasized the benefits of
administering anaesthesia using a
CO2 absorber. These included a
reduction in the amount of
anesthetic gas required to
anesthetize patients, a reduction in
the amount of gas that leaked into
the air of the operating room,
better humidity of delivered gases,
and reduced loss of body heat. This
device was cheap, easy to operate
and sterilize. It is available for both
adult and paediatric patients.

Connell’s harness:
It was similar to Clausen’s harness.
It was also made of rubber. It had
four straps and a head rest.
Ayre’s T-piece:
It was introduced by Dr Philip Ayre
in 1937. It consisted of a small T-
shaped metal tube with broader
straight tube and narrow and small
side arm. Narrow end is for fresh
gas inlet and the other two ends
are for reservoir and patient
connection. This circuit is mainly
used for endotracheal anaesthesia
in neonates, infants and small
children as it has very low dead
space and offers low resistance.
Cyclopropane:
In 1882, August Freund (1835-
1892) synthesized cyclopropane. In
1929, Velyien E. Henderson (1877-
1945) and George H. W. Lucas
(1895-1974) reported its
anaesthetic properties. Dr. Ralph
M. Waters (1883-1979) conducted
clinical studies of it at the
University of Wisconsin, and
reported the results in 1934.
Cyclopropane acted more rapidly
and had fewer physiological effects
than other inhalation agents of the
time. It became the most widely
used anaesthetics gas until the
development of non-explosive
agents in the 1950s. Its cylinder
colour is orange and pin index is 3,
6.

Trilene:
It is brand name of
Magill connections:
trichloroethylene. The chemical
These ware curved metal
formula for trichloroethylene was
connectors. The proximal end was
discovered in 1864 by Fischer, and
expanded to facilitate connection
it was popularized as an
with catheter mount. It was
anaesthetic by Langton Hewer in
available in 16 different sizes. Two
1940s. It was a colourless, volatile,
types –oral and nasal connections
non-inflammable, sweet smelling
were available. Nasal Magill
liquid with high lipid solubility. It
connections had sharper curve
was a powerful analgesic and good
while oral Magill connections had
general anaesthetic. It was
gentle curvature and were longer.
decomposed into
Paediatric Magill connection is also
trichloroacetylene and phosgene
displayed beside these.
by soda lime. In 1977 the use of
trichloroethylene as an anaesthetic
was banned by the FDA.
Diethyl Ether:
It was prepared by Valerius Cordus
in 1540 and first demonstrated by
Crawford Long in 1942 and by WTG
Morton in 1846. It is a colourless,
pungent smelling, highly
inflammable volatile liquid. It is
relatively non-toxic safe and
potent agent. It could be used with
open drop method, draw over
technique or in or out of circuit
vaporizer. Induction of anaesthesia
is relatively slow and usually
associated with unpleasant stage
of excitement. Recovery is also
slow with prolonged ether
anaesthesia.
Methoxyflurane:
Methoxyflurane, a halogen
substituted methyl ethyl ether,
was introduced in anaesthesia
practice by Artusio in 1960. It was
sweet smelling colourless, non-
inflammable, volatile, liquid with
high lipid solubility. It had good
analgesic effect. It had no
interaction with soda lime but was
extensively metabolised and
produced toxic levels of inorganic
fluoride. Fluoride was responsible
for high output renal failure.
Oxford non-kinking endotracheal
tube:
It is made of red rubber and is
moulded to form 90O bend inside
the oral cavity. It was used for
orotracheal intubation for
surgeries in prone or sitting
position. It was also sometimes
used for palate surgery. It needed
stylet for insertion and could
sometimes entered mainstem
bronchus.
Clausen’s Harness:
It is a Y-shaped rubber strap to
keep the face ask in position during
use. The strapping should be across
the patient’s cheeks and its long
arm is hooked over the top of head.
The straps have holes which are
attached to metal clips around the
connector of face mask. A major
disadvantage was that it took a
longer time to remove in case of
vomiting or other airway
emergency.
Esophageal-tracheal combitube:
Designed by Dr Michael Frass, Dr
Jonas Zahler and Dr Reinhard
Frenzer in 1988 with an aim to
devise an airway which could be
inserted quickly and easily without
a laryngoscope. It is made of two
tubes of unequal length and can be
used for maintaining airway and
ventilation whether its tip is placed
in oesophagus or trachea.

Wright’s Respirometer:
Cole Tracheal Tube:
This respirometer was invented by
The Cole Tracheal Tube was
British physician Dr BM Wright in
introduced by anesthesiologist
1958. It was used by
Frank Cole, M.D. (1909-1982), in
anaesthesiologists or monitoring
1945, when endotracheal
the functioning of anaesthesia
anesthesia in infants and young
ventilators and pulmonary
children was still uncommon.
function of patients, especially in
Narrower tube diameters cause
post-operative period. It can be
more resistance to the flow of air
used to measure volume of expired
through the tube, and can increase
gas during a single breath or during
the work of breathing. Dr. Cole
a given time (for minute
created his endotracheal tube so
ventilation). With use of
that it was narrowest only where it
connectors, it can also be placed on
had to be: through or below the
expiratory limb of breathing
larynx. The portion of the tube that
system to measure tidal volume as
remained above the larynx could
it was sensitive to movement of
be larger in diameter. The part of
gases in one direction only.
the tube with a larger diameter
also helped to prevent the tube
from being inserted too far. In
1957, Dr. Cole proposed a formula
to estimate the best endotracheal
tube size for a pediatric patient. A
modified version of the formula is
still in use today.
Nosworthy connection:
These were two piece metal
connectors. The curved piece was
connected to catheter mount while
straight piece was connected to
endotracheal tube. Its distal end
varied in size to fit endotracheal
tubes of different sizes while
proximal end was of standard size.
It allowed rapid disconnection and
reconnection and allowed easy
tracheal suction.
Rowbotham connection:
This is metal right angled
connector. The tapered and
serrated end was used to connect
endotracheal tube while the wider
end was connected with catheter
mount. This connector caused
increased resistance to airflow due
to turbulent airflow.
Fluotec Mk. I Vaporiser:
This was introduced by Cyprane
Company in 1956. It was the first
agent specific vaporizer and one of
the first vaporizer to use bimetallic
strip for temperature
compensation. It was recalled
shortly after introduction as it had
a design flaw which could cause
the proportioning valve to stick
thus posing a risk of overdose to
the patient. It came with a ready
reference card indicating the
vaporizer output at various gas
flows.
Cobb suction Union:
Cobb suction union is a metallic
right angled connection with a
removable cap to allow
endotracheal suction by removing
the cap and inserting a suction
catheter into lumen of
endotracheal tube.
Magill suction Union:
It is also a metallic right angled
connector and has a rubber plug in
its short projection. This connector
also facilitates suction in intubated
patients.
Cyprane Trilene Inhaler:
This was a simple hand held
drawover inhaler designed for use
with trilene in 1947 by Cyprane
Company. Used mainly for
providing analgesia for obstetric
patients and other minor surgical
procedures. The device was
attached to a mask and trilene was
inhaled by patient with the device
in patient’s hands for analgesia. If
too much drug was inhaled, the
device used to fall from patient’s
hand and preventing overdose.
This collar of the device could be
rotated to vary the concentration
from about 0.22% to 0.54%.
Barth Three Way Stopcock:
The three-way stopcock shown
here was introduced by the London
manufacturer, George Barth &
Company. The short tube was
connected to a mask that would be
placed over the patient’s nose and
mouth. The longer tube was
connected to a rubber re-breathing
bag that would be filled with
nitrous oxide gas.
The stopcock has three settings
which are controlled by a lever. The
“No Valves” setting allowed the
patient to inhale only from the re-
breathing bag, and directed his
exhaled breath into the bag. Each
exhalation added carbon dioxide to
the gas mixture. The “Valves”
setting allowed the patient to
inhale only from the bag, while his
exhaled breaths were directed
away from the bag through a one-
way expiration valve. The “Air”
setting closed off the bag, so that
the patient would breathe to and
from only the surrounding air.
Lumbard & Miller Airways
Dr. Joseph Lumbard (1865–1942)
specialized in anaesthesia at the
turn of the 20th Century. He was an
early member of the organization
that became the American Society
of Anesthesiologists. In 1912, he
introduced his "tongue controller"
airway. This design is open at both
ends. The cage construction makes
the flexible breathing tube visible
while preventing the patient from
accidentally biting the tube. In
Europe, the Lumbard airway was
sometimes incorrectly called "The
Mayo Tube". But in fact Dr.
Lumbard worked in New York City,
and was not affiliated with the
Mayo brothers.
Dr. Albert H. Miller (1872–1959)
was another of the early
specialists. He developed
groundbreaking techniques, and
also led several professional
organizations. In 1918-1919, he
served as President of the
American Association of
Anesthetists; this later became the
International Anesthesia Research
Society. In 1918, he modified the
Lumbard airway by wrapping the
cage around the distal end. Both
Lumbard's original design and
Miller's modification of it were
popular for over fifty years.