Blood transfusion apparatus believed to be designed by Oswald Hope Robertson

Made:
1917-1918 in United Kingdom
maker:
General Surgical Company Limited
and
Duncan Flockhart and Company Limited
Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Top half detail of bottle from blood transfusion apparatus Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during Bottle from blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during

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Blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey Keynes during
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 designed by Geoffrey Keynes during
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 designed by Geoffrey Keynes during
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 designed by Geoffrey Keynes during
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 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

Top half detail of bottle from blood transfusion apparatus
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

Bottle from blood transfusion apparatus designed by Geoffrey
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.

Details

Category:
Public Health & Hygiene
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A625893
Materials:
case, wood
Measurements:
case: 136 mm x 490 mm x 371 mm,
type:
blood transfusion apparatus
credit:
Welsh Regional Transfusion Service

Parts

Graduated blood transfusion bottle

Graduated blood transfusion bottle

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.

Measurements:
overall: 241 mm 104 mm, .82 kg
Materials:
whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt1
type:
bottles
Slide, part of blood transfusion apparatus

Slide, part of blood transfusion apparatus

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.

Measurements:
overall: 1 mm x 77 mm x 28 mm, .0005 kg
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt2
type:
slides
Chinagraph pencil, part of blood transfusion kit

Chinagraph pencil, part of blood transfusion kit

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.

Measurements:
overall: 87 mm 7 mm, .0005 kg
Materials:
whole, wood
Object Number:
A625893 Pt3
type:
pencil
Lancet, part of blood transfusion kit

Lancet, part of blood transfusion kit

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.

Measurements:
overall: 12 mm x 117 mm .02 kg
Materials:
whole, metal
Object Number:
A625893 Pt4
type:
lancets
Eight glass tubes from blood transfusion apparatus

Eight glass tubes from blood transfusion apparatus

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.

Materials:
whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt6
type:
tubes
Seven glass tubes from blood transfusion apparatus

Seven glass tubes from blood transfusion apparatus

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.

Materials:
whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt7
type:
glass tubes
Glass tubes, part of blood transfusion kit

Glass tubes, part of blood transfusion kit

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.

Materials:
whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt8
type:
tubes
Four tubes  from blood transfusion apparatus

Four tubes from blood transfusion apparatus

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.

Measurements:
overall: 260 mm x 95 mm, 9.3 mm, .02 kg
Materials:
whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt9
type:
tubes
Test tube, from blood transfusion apparatus

Test tube, from blood transfusion apparatus

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.

Measurements:
overall: 18.4 mm, .0005 kg
Materials:
whole, glass and whole, cottonwool
Object Number:
A625893 Pt10
type:
tubes
Glass tube,cotton wool each end

Glass tube,cotton wool each end

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.

Measurements:
overall: 170 mm 12.6 mm, .02 kg
Materials:
whole, glass and whole, cottonwool
Object Number:
A625893 Pt11
type:
tubes
Metal adaptor from blood transfusion apparatus

Metal adaptor from blood transfusion apparatus

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.

Measurements:
overall: 22 mm 7.5 mm, .0005 kg
Materials:
whole, metal
Object Number:
A625893 Pt12
type:
adaptors
Hone, part of blood transfusion apparatus originally thought to be designed by Geoffrey Keynes

Hone, part of blood transfusion apparatus originally 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.

Measurements:
overall: 7 mm x 64 mm x 23 mm, .0005 kg
Materials:
whole, stone
Object Number:
A625893 Pt13
type:
hones
Hypodermic needles

Hypodermic needles

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.

Measurements:
overall: 8 mm x 63 mm x 3 mm, .005 kg
Materials:
whole, metal
Object Number:
A625893 Pt14
type:
needle
Hypodermic needles

Hypodermic needles

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.

Measurements:
overall: 61 mm x 12.1 mm, .005 kg
Materials:
whole, metal
Object Number:
A625893 Pt15
type:
needles
Petroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly

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.

Measurements:
overall: 15.1 mm x 65.6 mm x 20.4 mm, .005 kg
Materials:
metal and petroleum spirit
Object Number:
A625893 Pt16
type:
paramol
Cannula from blood transfusion apparatus

Cannula from blood transfusion apparatus

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.

Measurements:
overall: 62 mm 7 mm, .005 kg
Materials:
whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt17
type:
canulae
Box for transfusion needles

Box for transfusion needles

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.

Materials:
whole, wood , whole, brass and whole, steel
Object Number:
A625893 Pt18
type:
cases
Stopper and tube

Stopper and tube

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.

Measurements:
overall: 50 mm x 185 mm x 100 mm, .08 kg
Materials:
whole, rubber and whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt19
type:
stoppers
Bottle and pipette

Bottle and pipette

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.

Measurements:
overall: 85 mm 16 mm,
Materials:
whole, rubber and whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt20
type:
bottles
Bottle, part of blood transfusion apparatus

Bottle, part of blood transfusion apparatus

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.

Measurements:
overall: 85 mm 16 mm,
Materials:
whole, rubber and whole, glass
Object Number:
A625893 Pt21
type:
bottles
Glass bottle for citrated blood transfusion

Glass bottle for citrated blood transfusion

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.

Measurements:
overall: 330 mm x 240 mm x 280 mm, .66 kg
Materials:
whole, glass , whole, rubber , whole, steel and whole, liquid, ? citrate
Object Number:
A625893 Pt22
type:
blood transfusion apparatus
Glass and rubber tubes with bung and needles

Glass and rubber tubes with bung and needles

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.

Measurements:
overall: 50 mm x 185 mm x 100 mm, .18 kg
Materials:
glass , rubber and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
A625893 Pt24
type:
tubes
Stopper with glass tubes

Stopper with glass tubes

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.

Measurements:
overall: 50 mm x 185 mm x 100 mm, .08 kg
Materials:
glass and rubber (unidentified)
Object Number:
A625893 Pt25
type:
stoppers
One stopper, three bent glass tubes

One stopper, three bent glass tubes

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.

Measurements:
overall: 50 mm x 185 mm x 100 mm, .08 kg
Object Number:
A625893 Pt26
type:
stoppers