DOCTOR POTAIN'S VACUUM

Dr. Potain's aspirator from the late 19th century, in its original and complete case – a surgical instrument designed to aspirate and evacuate fluids from the human body.

After creating a vacuum in a flask using the pump, the cavity to be drained was punctured with a needle or a trocar.

The instrument includes a steel pump with two nozzles at its end, a hollow metal rod with a double channel branching into two arms, each fitted with a valve, as well as trocars of various sizes and cannulas.

The entire set is housed in a case lined with purple velvet, bearing the inscription: “AUBRY Instruments de Chirurgie Boulevard Saint Michel Paris.”

The rubber tubes have dried out and are no longer usable.

Rare 19th-century medical object that would be perfectly suited for a cabinet of curiosities.

PERIOD: late 19th century
DIMENSIONS: 28 cm x 12 cm
SIZE: 11" x 4.7"

Dr. Pierre-Charles Potain (1825–1901) was a renowned French physician, specialist in heart and lung diseases. A professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris, he left a lasting mark on the field of cardiology through his innovations. He is particularly known for designing the Potain sphygmograph, an instrument used to measure blood pressure, representing a major advancement in diagnostic medicine. He also worked on infectious diseases and pulmonary pathologies, contributing to a better understanding of these conditions. His teaching and publications influenced generations of doctors. His scientific rigor and research made him a key figure in 19th-century medicine.