General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

10

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal body; plastic switch

Dimensions

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

Length

12.8 cm

Width

6.4 cm

Height

5.1 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Chemicals & medications

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Ayerst

Country

Canada

State/Province

Québec

City

Montréal

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Part of a collection of medical technologies donated to the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation by the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society. This object was on display as part ‘An Exhibit on Inhalers and Vaporizers, 1847-1968’ at CAS’s Annual Meeting in Ottawa in 2003. This inhaler was developed by Dr. Ronald Stephen of Montreal in partnership with colleagues at Duke University.

Function

Used for the administration of trilene for dental analgesia.

Technical

“The Duke inhaler for the administration of Trilene was developed in 1951-52 by Ronald Stephen (formerly of Montreal) and others at Duke University. It was used primarily as a self-administered means of pain relief in childbirth, but liked the Columbus inhaler, it could be used to provide analgesia during dentistry and dressing changes. It is of interest that similar self-administration devices had been used in the 19th century for the delivery of chloroform during childbirth. The Duke inhaler was evidently successful: some 50,000 inhalers were sold, with the royalty of $2.00 per inhaler going to improve laboratory facilities in the Duke department of anesthesia. (The department was a division of surgery rather than an autonomous department, which is why laboratories were, in Stephen’s words “sorely needed” – and why Stephen moved to Dallas and then to St. Louis.)” “The inhaler made use of the drawover principle, and a nonrebreathing mechanism prevent accumulation of carbon dioxide. An inlet tube at the neck of the apparatus permitted the addition of oxygen. The concentration of Trilene, which did no exceed 0.3 to 0.5%, could be controlled by the patient. The face mask was applied over the nose and mouth. A wrist strap kept the inhaler from falling too far from the patient when not in use.” (ref.2)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

On body: 'The "DUKE" University Inhaler/ for use with "TRILENE"/ 024594'/ On body next to the switch: 'MAX/ 5/ 3/ MIN'/ On top end: 'MODEL - D'/ On bottom end: 'MADE IN USE/ FILL'/

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Bright silver coloured metal finish with black plastic switch

Decoration

N/A