Melrose N.E.P. Extra Corporeal Heart and Lung Machine, which consists of (a) the heart and lung machine and (b) a stainless steel oxygenator; the machine is somewhat rectangular in shape and has a rubber and metal wheel on the bottom of each corner; the front of the machine is flat, then comes out …
Melrose N.E.P. Extra Corporeal Heart and Lung Machine, which consists of (a) the heart and lung machine and (b) a stainless steel oxygenator; the machine is somewhat rectangular in shape and has a rubber and metal wheel on the bottom of each corner; the front of the machine is flat, then comes out at a 135 deg. angle to form a flat dial panel, then goes down at another 135 deg. angle to form a flat front again; the top left side of the front of the machine has a round bakelite button which can be pushed in to reset the pump; there are three on/off switches to the right of the pump reset button; each on/off switch is made of rounded bakelite that is flat at the bottom and tapers to a blunted point; each switch is set into the machine and has a round plastic backing piece which identifies what part of the machine it controls and indicates the on and off positions; the switches control L--;R: the pump, heaters and oxygenator; there is a round increase/decrease dial below each on/off switch; each dial is made of rounded metal and plastic with a cylindrical handle set onto one edge; a small counter is set into the machine beside each dial; the lower left side of the front of the machine has a round warning unit button as well as four round fuses for (L--;R) pump, heaters, oxygenator and pilot lights; there are two plastic-covered plug inlet areas below the fuses, one of which has a square-backed, three-pronged plug in it; the centre of the machine has an engraved plastic manufacturer's label attached with screws; the label lists product information; the top right corner of the front of the machine has an attached roller pump; the roller pump consists of a U-shaped piece of perspex plastic with an open centre, a large rectangular opening on the straight side and closed, rounded edges; the roller pump is set onto a square piece of metal; the centre of the plastic piece has an attached piece of solid four-sided metal with straight sides and rounded top and bottom; the top right side and bottom left side of this metal piece have attached rollers; these rollers each have straight backs that hold two spherical metal balls with a cylindrical metal bar through the centre that holds them in place; there are three hollow cylindrical plastic hoses looped through this roller and coming out from it; the right side of the machine is flat with a heavy cylindrical metal handle formed into a D-shape, set into the top right and left corners; the right side of the machine is flat with rounded handles at the top right and left side; the back of the machine is flat; there are nine large round screws around the edges; the left side of the machine is flat with a hinged door set into the centre; the door allows access to the inside of the machine; there are rounded handles at the top right and left sides; the lower right corner of the left side has a domed plastic light and two round bakelite fuses; below these is a short hollow cylindrical piece of metal sticking out from the machine, as well as a 337 cm. length of electric cord with a round metal plug at the end; the top of the machine is flat and painted black; the top of the machine slopes down from the right to the left; there is a metal mesh-covered rectangular hole at the left half of the top; the right side of the top has a flat piece attached and sticking up from the top; there is a hole through this piece through which eight lengths of hollow cylindrical tubes go; all of the tubes have open bevelled ends that turn up very slightly; four tubes are almost as long as the top of the machine and four are very short; the left and right sides of the top of the machine also have two inset metal rollers each, which hold and turn the oxygenator; the oxygenator (b) consists of a large, hollow cylindrical metal tube made of seven sections joined together with eight solid cylindrical metal bars at the outer edges; the bars run the entire length of the oxygenator; each section has a thin round rubber cushion between them; each section contains around 20 flat circular inner discs; each disc has a hole through its centre -- some are off-centre; the seven sections are off-centred to the right, then to the left, alternately; the outer edges of each section have eight small holes through them for the bars to go through; the top of the bars are threaded and have a round screw which holds the sections together on the bars
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a- heart-lung machine - Size: Length 121.0 cm x Width 50.3 cm x Height 92.0 cm
b - oxygenator - Size: Length 80.0 cm x Diameter 24.5 cm
Provenance
Originally purchased and used by Kingston General Hospital; owned by Ivan Cohen (dates?); purchased from Mr. Cohen by Mr. John Porter in the 1960s.
The heart-lung machine was purchased by Kingston General Hospital after Dr. Lynn came in 1958
Material
metal: silver
rubber: black
plastic: clear; red; black; white; off-white
Inscriptions
(a) The front of the machine reads, "RESET // PUMP // PUMP // OFF // ON // ON // OFF // INCREASE // DECREASE // HEATERS // OFF // ON // ON // OFF // INCREASE // DECREASE // OXYGENATOR // OFF // ON // ON // OFF // INCREASE // DECREASE // WARNING UNIT // PUMP // HEATERS // OXYGENATOR // PILOT // LIGHTS // MELROSE - N.E.P. // EXTRA CORPOREAL // HEART AND LUNG MACHINE // MADE IN NEP ENGLAND // NEW ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS LTD // LONDON // SERIAL NO. C474/120 // TYPE No. 914"
Permanent Location
(a): Storage Room W1
W1-7-1
(b): Storage Room W1
W1-12-1
Condition Remarks
The heart-lung machine arrived extremely dirty and oily; the paint shows minor chips and scratches, but no corrosion is visible; the oxygenator also arrived dirty and dusty, with minor wear and no missing parts or corrosion
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Document
Photo
Reference Comments
Dr. R. Beverley Lynn; "Development of the Cardiopulmonary Bypass Machine: Two Hundred Years of Enquiry," by Daniel Sipes, 1998, pp. 72-75
Research Facts
The heart-lung machine was purchased by Kingston General Hospital after Dr.Lynn came in 1958; the oxygenator was made by Mr. Fred Siemonsen in 1960; the oxygenator shape is a spigelian helix
Exhibit History
On display in the exhibit: The Heart-Lung Machine: Key to Open Heart Surgery, Nov. 1, 1999