General Information

Serial #

prototype

Part Number

1

Total Parts

13

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal (including aluminium) rubber, wood & synthetic parts.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

101.0 cm

Width

58.0 cm

Height

34.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Research

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Cowan

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

This machine used c. 1950s,

Canada

Heart-lung machine was built by Dr. Campbell R. Cowan (b.1906) Banting and Best Dept. of Medical Research, University of Toronto, c. 1951. Dr. Cowan was a very talented designer and builder of mechanical devices. From 1930-1971 he served as Research Associate to Comptroller, Banting and Best Dept. of Medical Research (and with cross- appointment to Dept. of Physiology, University of Toronto) Cowan was largely responsible for the development of apparatus used by Dr. George Clowes in his surgical approach to the mitral valve of the dog's heart. He also developed an extracorporeal chamber making possible the study of extremely thin films of blood with particular reference to platelets, platelet clumping and thrombosis. Dr. Cowan published numerous papers with members of the Dept. on various subjects, including several with Dr. Best on the prevention of thrombosis. During WWII he served as an officer in the R.C.N. Medical Research division, studying protective clothing and ditching suits designed to provide greater protection for soldiers forced to abandon ship. (Ref. 4)

Function

To bypass living heart, so that surgeon may work in a relatively bloodless field.

Technical

Pump developed as result of experience gained making two earlier pumps for Drs. A. L. Chute & W. Mustard of Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto in late 1940s. This pump was used by Dr. Bigelow in experimental heart surgery in the 1950s at the Toronto General Hospital. (Ref. 2) Please see also earlier, smaller version of artificial heart-lung machine 2002.0552.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"BOSTON" stamped into 2 component parts of machine. Scales graduated 0-14. UHN catalogue no. "994.1.25" printed by hand in white ink on base.

Missing

Incomplete: specific missing parts & accessories unidentified.

Finish

All metal (aluminium ? ) construction; 4 red rubber bulbs (.2-.5); black rubber tubing [.6-.13]; clear synthetic tubing junction [on .8]; 2 black coated wood scales; black synthetic adjustment knob.

Decoration

N/A