Colin Murdoch, 79, the creator of the disposable syringe, the tranquilliser gun, the childproof bottle cap and the silent burglar alarm died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.

He was a pharmaceutical and veterinary chemist as well as an inventor. Working late at night at the kitchen table or in his workshop, Murdoch became a self-taught engineer and patented 46 inventions, the Timaru Herald reported.

His most famous and influential invention for the well-being of humankind was the disposable syringe which he developed more than 50 years ago, amid concerns about cross infection between patients.

Colin was born on 6th February 1928 and grew up in Christchurch and Timaru he studied to be a pharmacist and veterinarian. It was here that he invented and patented the disposable hypodermic needle, an invention that today is used by millions of people. It was from there he went on to design the tranquilliser gun.

Murdoch developed a syringe gun in the 1950s. He designed a small valve that controlled compressed gas in the chamber. The valve let the shooter control, to a greater level of precision as the weapon was gradually perfected, the velocity of the tranquilliser dart. This advantage, plus the fact that the gun was extremely quiet, meant far less stress on the targeted animals.

[source: NZ Edge]

Colin follows other great kiwi inventors RJ Dickie (Stamp vending machine) and Bill Hamilton (Jet Boat Propulsion) whose devices are now common place in the world.

Some of Murdoch’s Inventions.

• 1940 Acid ignition muzzle-loading gun
• 1956 Disposable sterile pre-filled hypodermic syringe
• 1958 Designed rotary type vacuum pump
• 1959 Automatic syringe projectile, depression valve type
• 1959 Designed Prototype Syringe rifle
• 1960 Primary design syringe rifle, adjustable velocity control
• 1961 Moulded plastic syringe projectile darts
• 1961 Registered Paxarms trade name & logo worldwide
• 1962 Designed prototype single shot syringe pistol
• 1964 Prepared ampoule type moulded plastic syringe dart
• 1964 Blow moulded multi-dose vaccine containers
• 1966 Twin barrel dual firing syringe pistols – stun system
• 1966 Automatic dialling burglar and fire, silent alarm

1966 Flat tape multi-strand electrical wiring and adapter plugs

• 1966 Heat sensing cells for fire detection
• 1967 Disposable veterinary multi-dose scratch vaccinators
• 1967 Sterile self filling syringes for blood samples
• 1971 Animal marking projectile for dart rifles and pistols
• 1971 Primary design, range-finder telescopic rifle sight
• 1972 Instruments for assisting birth in domestic animals
• 1972 Advanced rifle and pistol projectile velocity control system
• 1974 Designed miniature transmitter relocation darts
• 1974 Automatic veterinary topical applicators
• 1975 Designed the disposable hypodermic for unstable dry-drugs plus solvent
• 1975 Short stroke variable dose drenching gun
• 1975 Short stroke variable dose vaccinator syringe
• 1975 Repeat action self filling liquid spray unit
• 1976 Vacuum drainage unit
• 1976 Sporting rifle range-finder telescopic sights, four types
• 1976 Tranquilliser rifle type, telescopic rangefinder sight
• 1976 Child-proof medical container closures
• 1977 Third generation velocity control, advanced rifle-pistol designs

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