Health Sciences · Hospital for Sick Children
A metal medical instrument consisting of a narrow cylindrical handle and a Macintosh-type laryngoscope blade. The blade has a cross-sectional “C” shape profile and an incandescent bulb mounted near its tip. Near the centre of the blade is a flattened, polished section that serves as a mirror permitting a view of the trachea. The blade is attached to the handle using a hook-on type mounting system. The electrical connection to the lamp is made when the blade is hooked onto the handle on the base and snapped into place.
Accession Number: 2025.sk.38
Alternative Name:
Primary Materials: Metal
Stamped or engraved on the side of the handle mounting system: “U.S.A// 60300// AUTOCLAVE”
Stamped or engraved on rounded section above this: “SIKER”
Stamped or engraved on the narrow collar below this: CE (Conformité Européenne) symbol.
Stamped or engraved on the other side of the handle mounting system: “Welch Allyn”
Engraved in cursive lettering along the bottom of the blade: “H. S. C.// Anaesthesia:
2025.sk.58.1: Height = 14, Width = 3, Length = 16
A laryngoscope is used to view deep into the throat. The blade is used to trap the tongue and move it out of the way. An integrated lamp provides illumination.
Within the context of general anaesthesia, the laryngoscope is used to facilitate tracheal intubation.
The Siker laryngoscope blade was designed for cases with anatomical variations that preclude the use of conventional laryngoscopes. The blade is composed of three jointed segments and features a mirrored section that permits the physician to view the trachea.
This instrument is in good condition, with minor wear to the finish of the blade and handle.
Associated Instruments:
Manufacturer: Welch Allyn, Auburn, New York.
Date of Manufacture: Post 1956.
Provenance:
Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology (WLM) in Schaumburg, IL, USA, has catalogued an example of the prototype of the Siker laryngoscope blade. The entry contains useful historical context. (Webpage archived 20 July 2025)
The Siker laryngoscope blade was introduced in 1956 by Dr. Ephraim S. Siker (1926-2013). A detailed description, along with images of the prototype instrument, can be found on the website of the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology.