General Information

Serial #

prototype

Part Number

4

Total Parts

10

AKA

artificial kidney machine dialyzer

Patents

N/A

General Description

red-brown rubber

Dimensions

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

Length

23.1 cm

Width

9.0 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Medical equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Murray Roschlau

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

Used c. 1951-1953.

Canada

Second artificial kidney designed and manufactured by Drs. Gordon Murray and Walter Roschlau at W.P Caven Research Foundation, Toronto c. 1951-1953. It was used experimentally in his laboratory on Holmwood Ave. (site of the CRV) and once for emergency treatment on a patient suffering kidney failure at Toronto General Hospital. [Ref.4] Murray's second-generation machine was an improvement from the original: it's design features made it more compact and efficient, easier to handle, set-up and use, and less intimidating for both patient and hospital staff. [Ref. 8] Murray abandoned his renal dialysis research c. 1954 . Murray was a remarkable surgeon and innovator whose work earned him international recognition. In the 1930s Dr. Murray introduced the anticoagulant Heparin to world clinical practice; in the '40s he developed the first artificial kidney in North America; and in 1955 he performed the first successful transplant of a human heart valve. Unfortunately, these achievements are often overshadowed by his later, controversial work on an anti-cancer serum, and on unconventional surgery for injuries caused by traumatic paraplegia. (2002.0619 Ref. 3]

Function

Used to provide a leak-proof seal: specifically, to prevent leaks within and from the dialyzer [filter unit] of an artificial kidney machine.

Technical

Dr. Walter Roschlau worked with Murray at the W.P. Caven Research Foundation on the design of the second generation artificial kidney machine. One of the most significant features of the later model was the parallel plate design of the dialyzer. Roschlau experimented with flow patterns, volume requirements, the dialyzing membrane surfaces and the production of multiples of blood and dialysate chambers before settling on this design. Compact and more robust than the earlier coil dialyzer, this version had an enlarged surface area and reduced blood-volume requirements. [Ref. 8] It consists of 2 head pieces, between which are mounted repeating dialyzing units: each of these units is composed of blood chamber, dialysate chamber, rubber gaskets, and cellophane dialyzing sheets. [see 2002.0620.4-.10] Rubber gaskets located at either end of dialyzing unit, and between the dialysate chambers were used to define and maintain the capacity of the chambers, and to prevent leaks. Made of pure gum [rubber] approx. 0.75mm thick, they are exactly the same size and shape as the blood chambers. [Ref. 5]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

None, save UHN catalogue no. "994.18.1" printed in black ink in one corner of gasket.

Missing

None.

Finish

Smooth red-brown gaskets.

Decoration

N/A