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. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
NationalityNaturalized United States citizen in 1955; carried out his major career work at the University of Utah. FAQs
What is Willem Kolff known for in medicine?
He pioneered hemodialysis and the artificial heart.
Kolff was a pioneer of hemodialysis, the artificial heart and the wider field of artificial organs. He made his major discoveries in dialysis for kidney failure during the Second World War, and emigrated from the Netherlands to the United States in 1950, becoming a US citizen in 1955.
Connections
Associated With
Built the first working dialysis machine.
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.
Source Willem Kolff (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Invented
Part of the team, with William DeVries and Robert Jarvik, that developed the Jarvik-7, implanted as the first permanent artificial heart on December 1, 1982.
Source Kolff, Willem J. (Case Western Reserve Encyclopedia of Cleveland History)
Kolff built the first working rotating drum kidney in 1943 in Kampen, Netherlands, with engineer Hendrik Berk.
Source Kolff, Willem J. (Case Western Reserve Encyclopedia of Cleveland History)
Long-Form Articles
In the Other Atlases
Nationality
Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.
Source Willem Kolff (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributorsLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articletier 2Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
Willem was a member of the Kolff family, an old Dutch patrician family.
Sources
1. Willem Kolff (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationEarly 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.
In Group: Medical Device Inventors, Introduction
Willem Johan "Pim" Kolff (February 14, 1911, February 11, 2009) was a pioneer of hemodialysis, artificial heart, as well as in the entire field of artificial organs.
View the Source Kolff, Willem J. (Case Western Reserve Encyclopedia of Cleveland History)
Case Western Reserve UniversityInvented: Hemodialysis Machine, ArticleQuote, Invented: Hemodialysis Machine, Article
In 1943, Kolff created the "rotating drum kidney (RDK)," which is regarded as the first working artificial kidney.
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