Taking castings from the larynx of cadaver's, Archie Brain studied the anatomy and physiology of the upper airway in minute detail. He devised the Laryngeal Airway Marsk (LMA) as an alternative to endotracheal intubation. Since first gaining a patent in 1982, he produced over 1000 prototypes over the next 30 years in a constant effort to improve the device and patient safety. The LMA is a recent innovation and provides an alternative to endotracheal intubation and has made a significant contribution to safe airway management. Ovoid shaped black rubber layrngeal airway with orange access point stopper. Translucent rubber tube is glued into the airway and is cutaway within the internal space of the airway. The item is a prototype and the materials used to construct it are gathered from different medical items. The following text is present on the rubber tubing: 'EX 9.5 ORAL 12.9 USE ONCE Z79-IT 24 26 29'.anaesthesia, dr archie brain, laryngeal, mask, airway, medical advances, rubber, prototype, endotracheal

This item was designed by surgeon Paul Herman Martin Sudeck to administer ether and then chloroform anaesthesia. Paul Hermann Martin Sudeck was a German surgeon (28 December 1866 - 28 September 1945). He first described his inhaler in a 1903 article, "Eine neue Aethermaske" (A New Ether Mask).The metal cone shaped mask has moulded features on the proximal end to fit over the patient's mouth. The distal end is rounded and has an area for the absorbent material (in this item, a sponge) through which the anaestheric ether or chloroform was dripped. The side 'arms' would have been used to attach a strap.inhaler, mask, cone, paul herman martin sudeck, germany, ether, chloroform, sponge, 1900

The small, cylindrical steel airway is used to prop open the patient's mouth to allow air into the lungs. The opening has a wide, curved lip and is covered with T-shaped grating which prevents its use with an endotracheal tube as a bite block.mouth gag, mouth prop, bite blocker, c langton hewer, anaesthesia, endotracheal, airway, oral apparatus, tongue

This is an early example of the Boyle's Anaesthetic Machine which was to become widely used throughout the world. The plaque on the wooden plinth suggests it was a display model from the medical equipment distributor Charles A King of London.The gas anaesthesia apparatus is mounted to a rectangular wooden base. It comprises two long, vertical glass cylinders held in place with metal brackets which are connected to a glass chloroform vaporiser container via metal tubes and associated valves and connections. The bottom of the glass flasks have outlet connections and inscriptions on the glass to measure volume. The chloroform vaporiser and adjacent glass ether vaporiser also have volume measurements etched on the glass, and the latter is the same height as the former but is larger in diameter. Both are connected via metal tubes and include outlet pipes that have associated cork stoppers. The maker's details are provided on a brass plaque attached to thewooden platform.A. Charles King Ltd. London, W1.henry edmund gaskin boyle, vaporiser, rotameter, chloroform, ether, anaesthetic apparatus, charles king ltd, plenum, sectioned, dr geoffrey kaye

Tubular airway with ovoid opening and curved terminal point to allow access to the patient's airway. The long, circular-shaped metal components are moulded to create an 'open bar' system which resemble the vertical bars of a cage.The manufacturer's details, 'DOWN BROS. LONDON', are stamped on the opening rim of the airwayairway, mayo, down bros london, anaesthesia, nickel, ovoid

Replica of original glass ether inhaler used by Dr William Russ Pugh in Launceston in 1847. William Russ Pugh is credited with being the first person in Australia to administer ether as anaesthesia. Pugh created his own ether inhaler based on a report in the London Illustrated News, dated January 1847. The paper reached Pugh in May and by June he had already designed, made and used the ether inhaler. On 7 June 1847 he performed two surgeries using anaesthesia. He also had a journalist present to record the event.The main container comprises an inverted funnel shaped glass jar that is connected to the top glass globe via an etched glass valve. Sea sponges are located within the glass vessel and the woven cloth tube is connected to the base of the glass container. inhaler, anaesthesia, william russ pugh, replica, glass, sea sponge, ether, launceston, illustrated london news, lady howden, dr john belisario, dr gwen wilson

Dr James (Jim) Villiers went to Vietnam as an anaesthetist with the Australian Surgical Team (civilian) during 1963. He used this bag for carry-on luggage. Despite assurances about the quality of resources available on arrival, he carried an essential part of the breathing circuit for an EMO vaporiser in his carry-on. The actual vaporiser was packed in his check-in luggage. In 1963 the Vietnamese government sought training in Australia in anaesthetics for several medical technicians. Australia was not able to meet the request as anaesthesia training in Australia is restricted to qualified doctors. Instead, the Dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at RACS suggested sending a team of anaesthetists to Vietnam to conduct training for technicians there. However, they requested a preliminary survey be undertaken in order to determine the abilities of the prospective trainees and establish contacts with medical authorities in Vietnam. James (Jim) Villiers was one of the people who undertook the survey and made a report. Training of Vietnamese medical technicians was undertaken using the Epstein MacIntosh Oxford Anaesthetic Apparatus (EMO). This equipment was robust, portable and relatively cheap, there are few moving parts for servicing, it requires only ether and air for operation.Brick-red vinyl bag with white Qantas branding including the flying kangaroo printed on both sides. The bag has a zipper opening and contains an anaesthetic apparatus mounted on a piece of wooden particle board. There are two black hoses, a white hose, a black plastic connector, a metal t-bar connect, a green resuscitation bag and black face mask.james villiers, malignant hyperthermia, vietnam, qantas, australian surgical team, long xuyen, bien hoa, anaesthesia training

Dr Alan Holmes á Court enlisted in the Australian Army in 1916 as a medical officer with the rank of Captain. In 1918, Holmes á Court was promoted to Major and attached to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance on the Western Front. As the front advanced, the Casualty Clearing Stations became further removed from the battlefield, creating an urgent need for immediate resuscitation prior to transfer back to the CCS. In June 1918, Holmes a Court and his colleagues established a forward resuscitation team. The team consisted of one doctor trained in surgery, blood transfusion and resuscitation, another doctor trained in anaesthesia, resuscitation and blood classification, and four other assisting staff. This team moved out to the wounded, rather than waiting for them to be stretchered back. They provided on-the-spot, life-saving resuscitation. The wounded were then transported back to the Casualty Clearing Station or Regimental Aid Post for further treatment. Among the assorted surgical and resuscitation equipment carried by the forward resuscitation team, were a number of Kimpton-Brown flasks. Blood was collected from patients with minor injuries using the flask. It was then administered to those in need, after establishing their blood type. Citrated blood was introduced by the Americans in 1917. This allowed blood administration to be delayed for up to two hours but there were many problems with transport, storage and infection in these early experimental days.Round, clear glass bottle with white [discoloured] paper label, with red printed, and metal screw-top lid.Handwritten on white [discoloured] paper label: Phillip HARRIS Moulded into the top of the screw-top lid in red ink: RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICEblood transfusion, red cross, world war one

Black and white photograph showing ten unidentified male students standing around a lecture theatre table watching the unidentified male instructor as he points to one of four anaesthesia apparatus, carbon dioxide absorbers.•Black paper label glued on top of photograph with caption written in all caps in white ink: Demonstration of apparatus (Carbon Dioxide absorbers, in section). •Handwritten in black ink on reverse: Frame 14. •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: 16. 14 has been crossed out.students, anaesthetic equipment, carbon dioxide absorbers

This photograph was reproduced in the book One Grand Chain : The History of Anaesthesia in Australia 1846 - 1962 : Volume 2 1934 - 1962, Gwen Wilson, edited by Jeanette Thirlwell Jones, on page 89.Black and white photograph depicting a dentist's office with a woman patient sitting in a chair receiving anaesthesia. Behind the chair is a fully gowned and masked anaesthetist operating a DM Machine with CIG oxygen cylinders. The male dentist is seated to the left of the patient holding equipment near the patient's mouth. A woman dental nurse is standing to the left of the dentist holding a suction tool.•Stamped in red ink on reverse: C.I.G. Equipment Pty. Ltd. •Handwritten in blue ink on reverse: CG13 •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: Dr H.N. Matthews / Essendon / Return to F Biggs •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: 6 [in a circle]dentist, anaesthetist, dental nurse, patient, cig, oxygen cylinder, shipway, dm machine

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who is receiving anaesthesia. Dr Geoffrey Kaye, wearing a white gown, is holding the patient's mouth open with one hand and is holding medical equipment in the other. The anaesthetist's hands are supporting the patient's head and administering anaesthesia to the patient through an inhaler. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only the anaesthetist's hands, Dr Kaye, and the patient are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: Opening Mouth without a Gag. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse and underlined: Photo. 1.geoffrey kaye, anaesthesia, dental procedure, patient, anaesthetist