Laerdal Jet Suction Unit

Nicholas Studer

PCS Elected Director 2022-2025
The Gray (late 1960s/1970s) and Blue (later, generally 1980s) Laerdal Suction Units have been discussed here before. However, I cannot find any reference here to the Jet Suction Unit. This device uses a CFC aerosol can to generate a vacuum. Certainly an interesting concept.

I recently picked up a few of these, and have attached photos. First photo shows a unit in storage condition on the left, ready-for-use on the right. Second photo is a close-up of the aerosol can and the artwork printed there showing intended use. The patent for this device is visible at https://www.google.com/patents/US3665919

As a side note - while the electric LSU's haven't really been discussed here in a few years, there was some confusion on when they actually were introduced. It was submitted for patent in 1968, but this does not necessarily mean it wasn't available before then. https://www.google.com/patents/US3499601 I have a few news articles which mention the device in the late 1960s. The May 1970 ACS "Essential Equipment for Ambulances" article also cites the device. http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4026
 

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during the mid to late 70's, we had 2 ambulances that had the Laerdal aerosol suction units. The amount of vacum was decent when the aerosol cartridges were new, but they tended to empty pretty quickly.
 
If we only knew

When I see retro equipment like this and then I have vivid flashbacks of “back in the day” and recall cleaning out the main station storage and drop kicking these exact same units into the dumpster, I think WTF was I thinking....

So posts like this will be why I get divorced because my wife says I’m becoming a pack rat. I say I am building her retirement fund.
 
............. some of us did that with cars! I parted out cars that never should have been scrapped. Rough at the time(when tey were 22-25 years old), but far rougher cars are being restored today.
'57 Coupe deVille
'59 Coupe deVille
'40 Miller LaSalle limo style combo
'56 Superior 3-Way Landau
'58 Eureka 3-Way Landau
etc., etc., etc....
 
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