Historical Perspective of Cardiovascular Devices and Techniques Associated with the University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota has a unique history relative to advances in cardiovascular research, surgery, and the development of medical devices. Interestingly, the writing of this textbook coincides with two important anniversaries in cardiovascular med
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Paul A. Iaizzo and Monica A. Mahre
Abstract
The University of Minnesota has a unique history relative to advances in cardiovascular research, surgery, and the development of medical devices. Interestingly, the writing of this textbook coincides with two important anniversaries in cardiovascular medicine at the University. Sixty years ago, in 1954, cross-circulation for intracardiac operations was first introduced, sparking a number of innovations in the area of open-heart surgery. Additionally, in 2014, the University of Minnesota celebrated the 800th heart transplant performed since 1978 and sustains one of the longest-running heart transplant centers in the world. In this chapter, we will review some of this history and how it has led to the creation of a dynamic medical device industry in the state of Minnesota and surrounding regions. Keywords
Medical device development • Cross-circulation • Bubble oxygenator • Pacemaker • Heart valves
25.1
Introduction
The era from 1950 to 1967 was an incredible time of innovation at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Surgery in the newly emerging fields of open-heart surgery and medical devices. There were many reasons for this, but most importantly (1) the university had excellent facilities, including a unique privately funded 80-bed heart hospital for pediatric and adult patients (this Variety Club Heart Hospital was the first dedicated heart hospital in the USA) (Fig. 25.1) and (2) the Department of Surgery was chaired by Owen H. Wangensteen, M.D., a leader who “created the milieu and the opportunities for great achievements by many of his pupils” and was considered the “mentor of a thousand surgeons” (Fig. 25.2 and Table 25.1) [1]. More specifically,
P.A. Iaizzo, PhD • M.A. Mahre, BS (*) Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, B 172 Mayo, MMC 195 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA e-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Wangensteen encouraged his medical students, residents, and junior faculty to “step out of the box,” innovate, and solve problems in different ways. In other words, take action and not assume that those who went before them had all the answers. He also believed strongly in collaborations with the basic science departments, specifically the Department of Physiology whose department head, Maurice Visscher, played an integral role in supporting both research and the clinical training of surgical residents. To that end, Wangensteen instituted a 2-year research program for all residents; this surgical Ph.D. program was the only one in the country at its inception, and students were required to take various advanced physiology courses offered through the Department of Physiology. In the early 1950s, the innovative surge was credited to the fact that many surgical residents were returning from World War II, where they had experienced life and death situations when managing surgical field units. They had little or no fear of death and their generation was not afraid to “push the envelope” to help patients. By today’s standards, thes
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