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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
It’s 1917, and you are a wounded soldier at a British casualty clearing station on the Western Front. You are bleeding badly and going into shock. You are in danger of dying and urgently need blood – but where are you going to get it?
Luckily, it’s right next to you and in the best device available at the time. It was developed by Captain Oswald Hope Robertson, a British-born US Army medical officer working at a base hospital treating British wounded. He designed and pioneered this early portable blood transfusion kit, with a special device in the flask for regulating the flow of blood, both in and out.
His design was effective because it didn’t require the donor to be present unlike other techniques of that time, which connected up two individuals to transfuse blood directly from person to person. The blood collected in his devices remained viable for several hours as the glass containers held a small measure of sodium citrate, which prevented the blood from coagulating. Once collected via one needle, the blood could be taken to the patient who needed it and delivered via the second needle – and the help of the hand pump.
Blood transfusion began to show its huge potential in the latter stages of the First World War and Robertson continued to innovate in the field. Through his blood preservation techniques he went on to develop some of the very first blood banks.
Graduated blood transfusion bottle, part of blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
One slide, part of a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Yellow pencil, chinagraph, part of x blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Lancet in screw mount, part of a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Glass tubes (x6), bent, 4 are attached to /28 (wooden board), two are loose within the box, part of a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Tubes (4, bent) and glass, attached to /28 (wooden board), from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Glass tubes (x4), bent attached to /28 (wooden board) from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Tubes (3, straight with bulb near one end) and glass attached to /24 (wooden board), part of a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Tubes (4, bent) glass, bent, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Glass test tube with cotton wool at both ends, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Glass tube with cotton wool at each end, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Adaptor, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Hone, for sharpening needles, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Needles (x2), bleeding, hypodermic, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
4 bleeding hypodermic needles, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Paramol brand petroleum jelly in metal tube with lid made by Duncan Flockhart & Company, United Kingdom from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
2 venous glass cannulae, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Wooden box marked as 'Transfusion Needles', from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
1 Stopper with a bent glass tube, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Bottle and teat pipette, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Bottle and teat pipette, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Graduated glass bottle for citrated blood transfusion, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Wooden case for blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Apparatus for citrated blood transfusion, comprising: five glass tubes, one rubber bung, six rubber tubes including pump, 2 metal clips and 2 needles, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
1 Stopper with 3 bent glass tubes, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
1 Stopper with 3 bent glass tubes, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
Wooden board with glass tubes attached, from a blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson during the First World War and made by the General Surgical Co. Ltd., England, 1917-1918. Previously thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes.
It’s 1917, and you are a wounded soldier at a British casualty clearing station on the Western Front. You are bleeding badly and going into shock. You are in danger of dying and urgently need blood – but where are you going to get it?
Luckily, it’s right next to you and in the best device available at the time. It was developed by Captain Oswald Hope Robertson, a British-born US Army medical officer working at a base hospital treating British wounded. He designed and pioneered this early portable blood transfusion kit, with a special device in the flask for regulating the flow of blood, both in and out.
His design was effective because it didn’t require the donor to be present like other machines which connected up two individuals to transfuse blood directly from person to person. The blood collected in his devices remained viable for several hours as the glass containers held a small measure of sodium citrate, which prevented the blood from coagulating. Once collected via one needle, the blood could be taken to the patient who needed it and delivered via the second needle – and the help of the hand pump.
Blood transfusion began to show its huge potential in the latter stages of the First World War and Robertson continued to innovate in the field. Through his blood preservation techniques he went on to develop some of the very first blood banks.
