Health Sciences · Hospital for Sick Children
A grey cardboard box with a white label on its upper surface contains a respirator consisting of a black rubber face mask and a reflective metal vaporizer. The two pieces are assembled as a single unit for use.
The vaporizer has a red switch (a regulator) at one side that is used to adjust the flow of gas. It is attached to a short bead chain that ends in a strap with a buckle that is meant to be attached to a user’s wrist.
The box also contains the following
– A metal key that is inserted into the vaporizer in order to adjust the regulator switch.
– A paper instructional booklet.
– A paper information sheet about Trilene (Trichloroethylene) anesthetic.
Accession Number: 2025.sk.19
Alternative Name:
Primary Materials: Rubber, Iron Aloy.
The engraving on the metal element includes the following information: “U.S Pat. No. 2,677,370”; “CO94470”
The label on the box lid includes the following information: NDC (National Drug Code Directory) “46-3160-EA”
(Box) Height = 10, Width = 16, Length = 16.
This device was designed in the early 1950s for patients to self administer Trilene anesthetic for pain relief.
Liquid anesthetic is poured into a hole (filling orifice) at the base of the device and is absorbed into material that lines the walls of the cylinder. The respirator was secured to the user’s wrist so that it would not be dropped when the patient fell unconscious.
This artifact is in excellent condition. It is very lightly used, if at all.
Associated Instruments:
Ayerst Laboratories Inc., New York, N. Y., U. S. A.
Date of Manufacture: c. 1960s
Provenance:
“DUKE UNIVERSITY Inhaler.” Journal of the American Medical Association 157, no. 1 (1955): 39–39.
Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology (WLM) in Schaumburg, IL, USA, has catalogued an example of this vaporizer. The entry contains useful historical context. (Webpage archived 6 May 2025)
The Duke Inhaler was developed by Dr. C. Ronald Stephen, then professor and chief of anesthesia at Duke University and Duke Hospital. Stephen received his medical training at McGill University.
The instrument was produced by Ayerst Laboratories Inc. 22E. 40th St. New York, NY, USA.