Instruments

"All that very intensively continues to bloom under the name of Science (especially Natural Sciences) is no science at all but mere curiosity"

Sören Kierkegaard

Devices for monitoring urine

Home self-administered monitoring of glycosuria.

The dosage of glycosuria facilitated sporadic self-monitoring of diabetes with Fehling, Benedict and Nylander reagents, requiring modest lab equipment.

The Bottini Diabetimter

An example of equipmment for home-based monitoring of glycosuria.

The Ames Clinitest

In 1947 Benedict reagents were put into a tablet which, on reaction with diluted urine, changed colour that varied from blue to green to orange according to how much glucose was present: the Ames Clinitest.

Ketostix

In 1956 the reactive strips for research and semiquantitive dosage of blood glucose came onto the market. The same principle was used to create strips to search for ketone bodies.

Clini-tek

Device for reading the Multistix reactive strip and the identification in urine of 10 parameters: glucose, protrein, pH, blood, ketone bodies, bilirubin, urobilinogen, nitrates, specific weight and leucocytes

Zeiss Polarimeter (’70s)

For the dosage of glycosuria.

Glycemia measurement devices

ERKA colour-meter

For measuring glycemia after taking the place of the Crecelius colour-meter (late 1800s), being simpler and faster.

Dextrostix reactive strips

From 1964 to 1967 these were widely adopted for measuring glycemia in capillary blood. Dextrostix by Ames.

Glucose Reflectance Meter

A portable device with a re-chargeable battery for the measurement of Glycemia. It used Dextrostix reactive strips. Designed with a needle capable of showing the intensity of ‘blue light’ reflected by a Dextrostix strip. The data produced by the device revealed the level of glucose in the blood. The tool was supplied with a rechargeable battery.

Reflomat

A German made which, although very precise, was not easy to use.

Glucocheck

1977: Glucochek Medistron: with portable battery

Ames Dextrometer

Ames device from 1978 for measuring glycemia after the Reflectance Meter

Rapidgluco

1979: “Rapidgluco”, simplified electric reflectance meter using Dextrostix strips and self-regulating; designed at the Karen Bruni Boecher Center: low cost and simple to use, it included an original finger-pricking device. (Pungigluco).

Reflolux - Boehringer Mannheim

Reflolux - Boehringer Mannheim Portable Glucometer using a battery. It required Haemoglucotest reactive strips

Reflolux II

An evolution of the previous gluco-meter

One Touch Lifescan 1988

The glucose reactive strip did not need to be wiped.

Glucometer M

It worked using batteries and Dextrostix strips and allowed to record relevant events of the day (meals, physical exercise, hyper-glycemia, etc)

Camit EL

Glucometer with multiple functions. It was able to memorise the time and dose of each insulin administration, together with any particular event during the day. The data were then downloaded onto a computer and elaborated.

Insulin Vials

Iletin Eli Lilly U20

Iletin Eli Lilly U20 (Ca. 1935)
Kind gift of Neumann family-Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Protamine Zinc Eli Lilly U40

Protamine Zinc Eli Lilly U40 (1955)
Kind gift of Neumann family-Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Lente Eli Lilly U80

Lente Eli Lilly U80 (1958)
Kind gift of Neumann family-Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Optisulin Depot Hoechst U40

Optisulin Depot Hoechst U40 (1984)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Monotard Novo U40

Monotard Novo U40 (1987)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Velasulin MC Novo U100

Velasulin MC Novo U100 (1993)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Depot Insulin CS (porcine) Hoechst U40

Depot Insulin CS (porcine) Hoechst U40 (1995)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Ultralente MC Novo Nordisk U40

Ultralente MC Novo Nordisk U40 (1995)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Depot-Insulin CR (bovine) Hoechst

Depot-Insulin CR (bovine) Hoechst (1996)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Syringes and infusers

1 ml syringe

Insulin syringe

Classic sterilizing kettle

for sterilizing syringes

Electric kettle

for sterilizing syringes

Universal Lombardo Autosyringe

Universal Lombardo Autosyringe for insulin injection,
used by the diabetic technical engineer Piero Barbieri,
from 1937 to 1993

Autoinjectors Helinos

Autoinjectors Helinos (Sweden, 1955-1975)

Auto Injector Haselmeier

Auto Injector Haselmeier (Germany, ca. 1965)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Glass Syringe with Container Henke Sass

Glass Syringe with Container Henke Sass (Germany, ca. 1965)
Kind gift of Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Glass syringe for insulin

Syringe and case for transport

Glass Henke Syringe, 2 ml, with “Perpetua” Container

Glass Henke Syringe, 2 ml, with “Perpetua” Container (Germany, ca. 1965)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Pump for subcutaneous insulin infusion

1978: the first Italian model designed by Luigi Canè (Collegno - To)

CPI 9100

Syringe pump for outpatient insulin infusion (1981)

Injector without needle

An instrument for injecting insulin through the skin under pressure, without needle (‘90s). It did not work.

Pen Injectors

Novopen II, Novo

Novopen II, Novo (1986)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Novo Pen

Novopen, Novo (1986)
Kind gift of Dr. Viktor Jörgens - Düsseldorf.

Novopen I

Novopen I, Novo Nordisk (1995)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Novopen 1.5

Novopen 1.5, Novo Nordisk (1996)
Kind gift of Neumann family - Diabetesmuseum München-Pasing

Novopen 3

Novopen 3, Novo Nordisk
Kind gift of Dr. Viktor Jörgens - Düsseldorf

Medical instruments and devices

BMS3 e PHM71 Mk2

‘80s
Instrument for the measurement of blood pH, used in the treatment of diabetic coma.

Lactate Analyzer model 640 - Roche

Instrument for dosage of lactic acid in the blood, used in the treatment of diabetic coma. (end of the ’70s)