The Stocks Suction Bullet

Abstract

The Stocks suction bullet is a device allowing maintenance of positive pressure ventilation, continuous distending pressure and high inspired oxygen concentrations during tracheal toilet in intubated patients. The effectiveness of this device was studied using an experimental apparatus and a dummy lung to represent neonates being treated with either c.

John G. Stocks (Melbourne)

“…He designed a very simple device – the Stocks bullet – to insert into the connection between the ventilator circuit and the endotracheal tube so that the patient could be suctioned without disconnecting the circuit and interrupting ventilation. This minimized atelectasis and the drop in pO 2 which usually occur during suction (3) (Figures 2 and 3).…”

The early development of pediatric intensive care

“…Suction caused a decrease in pO 2 and a tendency to atelectasis, which had to be followed by inflation. John Stocks devised the Stocks Bullet that allowed suction can be carried out while ventilation was continued without disconnecting the circuit (6).…”

The Inventors

“…As more Australian doctors specialized in anaesthesia, the number of original devices invented by Australians increased. John Stocks' suction bullet 17 , Noel Cass' needle, Bill Cole's pioneering agentspecific halothane vaporizer 18 and Harrison's brilliant lung simulator 19,20 for evaluating ventilators are just a few of these.…”