Hermon Taylor Flexible Gastroscope

Accession #:2011078

Description: The gastroscope, manufactured by the Genito Urinary Manufacturing Company, is contained in a compartmented mafogany storage box and comes complete with instructions. It was donated by Mr Srinivasan, Consultant Urologist at Glan Clwyd who had received it from a GP in Ruthin, a Dr Davies.

The instrument was flexible at its tip (+- 40° in one plane) but rigid for most of its length and could be 'sterilised' only by wiping with alcohol or a weak solution of formalin. The rubber sleeve has now vulcanised with age and is inflexible. The insertable length is 73 cm with a maximum diameter at the flexible (widest) section of 15mm. The eyepiece bears a stud revealing the axis of flexibility and the viewing window is angled at 90° from the axis. The illumination is by an incandescent bulb. The tip of the instrument bears a flexible rubber taper to minimise tissue damage.In use, the viscus can be dilated with air by means of a detachable, valved, self inflating rubber bulb. A cable premits the lamp to be illuminated using a rheostat battery box (not included). This would have meant that the bulb could be easily 'blown' by an over zealous assistant in response to demands for more light. Invented in 1941 by Hermon Taylor, a surgeon at the London Hospital and an improvement to a similar device. The fibre-optic fully flexible gastro-duodenoscope was introduced in the early 1960s. It would have been introduced into a conscious, fully cooperative patient after morphine and atropine or hyoscine premedication and the patient had dissolved an anethaine lozenge or two in the mouth.

Dimensions: Box 870 x 100(H)x 120(W) mm

Acquired:30/08/2011