Electric stimulation of the phrenic nerve for resuscitation began in 1872. American cardiologist Stanley J. Sarnoff (1918-1990) reintroduced the technique for artificial respiration in the late 1940s. This portable version of Sarnoff’s apparatus was probably made in the 1950s. A tag on the front reads “SANBORN / Electrophrenic Respirator.”
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.