In 1985, Medical Engineering and Development started developing
veterinary surgical equipment that would help veterinarians
dealing with wildlife and endangered species. The first product
designed and produced was an arterial blood pressure monitor for
lions, elephants and other wildlife on game farms. The wildlife
veterinarian performed an arterial stick, then monitored blood
pressure fluctuations to determine the animal's plane of
anesthesia while the testing, tagging and physical examination
was performed. This was followed in 1986 by the introduction of
the first electronic respiration monitor which directly measured
the mass flow of air to and from the patient (i.e. tidal
volume). Over the following three years additional sensors were
developed to allow respiration monitoring of all avian, reptile
and mammal species - from parakeets and white mice to reptiles
and elephants. In 1990 the company introduced the first of their
lifting transport tables and stretchers for small animal
practitioners. The Liftin