Engineers
Willem Kolff
Also Known As Pim Kolff
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Dutch-American physician and medical researcher, regarded as a founding figure of biomedical engineering and artificial-organ medicine. He built the first working dialysis machine (an artificial kidney) in 1943, treating patients in occupied Netherlands with a device improvised from orange juice cans, auto parts and sausage casings. He later became head of the University of Utah's Division of Artificial Organs and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, where he led development of the artificial heart; the first permanent artificial heart was implanted in patient Barney Clark in 1982.
Facts
NationalityNaturalized United States citizen in 1955; carried out his major career work at the University of Utah. Cross-Tradition Connections
In Field
Regarded as a founding figure of biomedical engineering; built the first working dialysis machine in 1943 and later led the University of Utah's Institute for Biomedical Engineering.
Invented
Kolff built the first working rotating drum kidney in 1943 in Kampen, Netherlands, with engineer Hendrik Berk.
Sources
1. Willem Kolff (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationEarly career, 1943 dialysis machine sectionQuote, Early career, 1943 dialysis machine section
Kolff's first prototype dialyzer was developed in 1943, built from orange juice cans, used auto parts, and sausage casings.
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