Health Sciences · Robert W. Jackson Arthroscopy
A metal optical instrument with a long, thin, cylindrical stem. The instrument consists of two parts: an arthroscope and its corresponding sheath.
A black coloured eyepiece is located one the arthroscope. Protruding from the barrel of the instrument, adjacent to the eyepiece, is a port for a fiber optic light source. There is a narrow red band near the base of this port. There is a light blue band around the barrel of the arthroscope just past the port.
The arthroscope is fitted into a sheath with two ports protruding opposite each other from its perimeter. Where the sheath meets the arthroscope, there is a collar that locks the arthroscope into place.
Accession Number: 2020.JAC.17
Alternative Name:
Primary Materials: Metal, Glass, Plastic
Printed around the barrel of the arthroscope: “25°// WOLF// 8475.42//” PANOVIEW”
Printed in white lettering on the eyepiece: “Made in U.S.A// WITH [lettering has worn away] SYSTEM//” lumina”
Stamped or engraved around the eyepiece: “534468”
Printed on the collar of the sheath: “R. Wolf U.S.A// 8865.03”
Stamped or engraved under the valves of the sheath: “31”
Dimensions (cm): Height = 5, Width = 7, Length = 23.
An arthroscope is an optical instrument for viewing the interior of a joint during a surgical operation. Its development made possible minimally invasive surgery for many knee operations. It significantly improved diagnoses and healing times for many knee conditions. Specialized arthroscopes may also be used on smaller joints.
There are light abrasions, nicks, and scratches across the surface of the instrument. There are small nicks in the flat portion of the barrel of the sheath. Some of the lettering has been damaged, especially on the eyepiece.
2020.JAC.6 is the same model of arthroscope and sheath.
Richard Wolf GmbH, Knittlingen, Germany.
Date of Manufacture: 20th C.
The Robert W. Jackson Arthroscopy Collection was acquired by the University of Toronto from Dr. Jackson’s family on November 12th, 2020.
Richard Wolf GmbH., “History” Richard Wolf GmbH Company Website. https://web.archive.org/web/20220616020900/https://www.richard-wolf.com/en Accessed and archived, September 4, 2022.
Richard Wolf GmbH was founded in Knittlingen, Germany in 1947. Production of endoscopes began the following year.
Beginning in the 1970s, Wolf launched a number of subsidiaries in Germany and abroad, including Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corp. in Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA. [Richard Wolf GmbH., “History”]