28 February 2009

Willem "Pim" Kolff ~ R.I.P.

A biomedical engineering giant has fallen to the relentless ravages of age. Dutch inventor-engineer-physician Willem "Pim" Kolff persevered through Nazi occupation in the Netherlands -- helping the Resistance, protecting Jews and others at risk -- all while inventing-perfecting the first kidney dialysis machine. He then migrated to the USA and went on to play key roles in developing artificial hearts, eyes, ears, and an early prosthetic arm. Remarkable. R.I.P.

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