Piper Obstetrical Forceps

Description: In the mid 16th century, the Chamberlen family – having then recently fled from France and settling in England – invented a hinged, spoon-shaped obstetric instrument, titled “The Secret” at the time, which improved the field of obstetrics forever. Considering this was at a time prior to the use of patents, these now called “obstetric forceps” were kept a secret by the family to maintain respect for the family name. The Chamberlens went through such lengths to protect their secretive device that no one aside from the Chamberlen family and the blindfolded woman giving birth were allowed in the room at the time of its use. Toward the end of the 17th century, Hugh Chamberlen – the younger son of Peter the Elder who originally invented the instrument – sold the family secret in Europe. By removing the veil of the family’s secrecy, obstetrical forceps then became one of the primary obstetric surgical instruments in the world until the mid 1900s when, despite their importance to the development of the field of obstetrics, they fell out of practice. Obstetrical forceps are used to safely guide the baby out of the birth canal. The surgeon applies the forceps to the head of the baby and pulls lightly in an upwards motion while the mother contracts and pushes the baby out.

Origin: Circa 1850s; France

Manufacturer: Pakistan Standards Institution