Dr. Samuel Robinson’s Apparatus For Artificial Pneumothorax

Description: The purpose of this device was to induce an artificial pneumothorax as the first positive treatment for tuberculosis (TB) in the early 20th century (1890-1910). The idea was that by collapsing the lungs one at a time (for months or even years at a time) the infected organ was able to “rest” and rid itself of the disease which would not have been possible with the typical cyclical inflating and deflating of the lungs. The air was introduced into the pleural cavity by its penetration using a lung operating needle.

1. Time of Use: Late 19th-Early 20th Century (1890-1910)
2. Prior Treatment for TB: Sanatoriums where patients were treated with fresh air and food and the introduction of gold compounds into tuberculosis treatments (due to the discovery in the early 20th century that gold cyanide was found to be effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
3. Modern Treatment for TB: The use of antibiotics (Isoniazid and Rifampin) which began in 1945.
4. Additional Information:
   –  Origin: Circa Late 19th-Early 20th Century (1890-1910); United States
   –  Manufacturer: Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. (Founded in 1838 and purchased by Johnson & Johnson in 1965)

Key Terms:

• Pneumothorax
  • The buildup of air/gas in the pleural cavity (space inside the chest cavity surrounding the lungs between the visceral and parietal pleura) which causes one of the lungs to collapse under pressure.
• Tuberculosis
  • A highly-infectious disease attributed to the exposure of a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis which is spread by coughing or sneezing of individuals with active TB, releasing the bacterium from their diseased lungs.
  • Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases known to date having been referenced in ancient Greek literature and evidence of remnants of the disease being found in Egyptian mummies from 3000 B.C.
• Manometer
  • Used to measure the pressure of gas in the pleural cavity to ensure the correct amount of pressure was used to collapse the lung
• Samuel Robinson
  • Contributed to the creation of artificial pneumothorax boxes as TB treatments