Talk:Membrane oxygenator

Membrane vs. bubble oxygenator
Cardiac surgery was made successful using the bubble oxygenator, the membrane oxygenator is an improvement. The bubble oxygenator is obsolete in the U.S., but is still used in other countries. I do not believe the membrane oxygenator "paved the way for successful" cardiac surgery is correct. Dlodge 04:34, 29 December 2006 (UTC)


 * A pubmed literature search on the terms history, oxygenator and peirce revealed only one match. A pubmed search on the history of oxygenators revealed an excellent summary.   There is one reference to a journal article by Dr. Peirce in the article, but no mention by name.  I do not doubt Dr. Peirce as a notable figure, but he did not pave the way for successful cardiac surgery. Dlodge 15:46, 29 December 2006 (UTC)
 * Perhaps then you will add a history of later developments to the article.DGG 04:47, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

I have made some major edits to this page as it glossed over much of the development and history and gave credit to the patent holders, rather than the real inventors: it should be remembered that Kolff did not believe in patents, and observed oxygenation of the blood in his dialyser as early as 1944. Dr Pierce was an important early pioneer but by no means the inventor of the membrane oxygenator. Alastair Ritchie --155.69.5.236 04:07, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

Dr. Peirce?
Why is Dr. Peirce listed as an inventor of this technology? He doesn't appear to hold any patents for this sort of thing. The earliest patent I can find for a membrane oxygenator is Us Patent #3070092 issued to J.J. Wild. Dr. Peirce's work is cited by a later patent #3459310 but he is not listed as an inventor (nor is the citation critical to the patent). Irene Ringworm 05:25, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
 * wording has been adjusted--if satisfied, remove tag. If other people should be mentioned, add them. DGG 05:38, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
 * I have added references to early efforts at oxygenator and original inventors. I still can't find any mention of a "Peirce-General Electric" apparatus outside of work published by Mt. Sinai hospital, suggesting that it is a real but not-so-important derivative apparatus.  I have contextualized accordingly.  I have also removed the unverifiable claim that this apparatus "paved the way" for organ transplants.  The first successful kidney transplant traces to 1954, prior to any patents on membrane oxygenators.  Irene Ringworm 05:53, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Dr Pierce has popped up again. To the (I assume PR or media editor at Mt Sinai, or maybe relative of Dr Pierce) who added this, if you're going to link to him, I think you really should link to Brukhonenko, Gibbon, Kolff, Kolobow, and many more who made a far greater contribution to making the technology viable.

This is not free advertising
To the vandal who put in the thing about SIDD life science - this is not an advertising space, it's an online encyclopaedia, manufacturers and brand names were deliberately left out.