Marcus Filshie recently visited the RCOG, alongside Chris Smith of medical equipment manufacturers Femcare. The pair kindly donated significant material showcasing the development of what became known as the Filshie Clip, now regarded as the world’s leading surgical contraceptive device.
An early career interest in birth control led Marcus Filshie to consider developing improved methods of tubal ligation – tying off the fallopian tubes – to prevent pregnancy. The clip he eventually designed with associate Don Casey in the mid-1970s could be applied during a simple laparoscopic procedure.
The design proved both simpler to apply and, according to several studies, more effective than similar existing devices, notably the Hulka Clip. After years of refinement and controlled studies, the device was formally launched in 1982. Since then, over 12 million women have successfully used the Filshie Clip for contraception.
Filshie continued to work on improvements to the design after its introduction and the material donated to the RCOG Museum includes a number of prototype applicators and subtle variations of the clip. These will feature at Union Street in a display on contraception in the summer of 2024.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Heritage Blog 