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[The development of artificial kidney--from sausage casing to capillary fibers]
In 1994, Willem Kolff published his results on haemodialysis on humans. His achievements were based on 19th century medicine. Richard Bright had contributed to the knowledge of kidney diseases and Graham and Fick had described diffusion through semipermeable membranes. Some initial tests of haemodialysis had been performed by Abel and Haas in the beginning of the 20th century. But it was Kolff's publication that initiated three innovative decades of development of artificial kidneys: the development from sausage casing to the hollow fiber kidneys.
In 1994, Willem Kolff published his results on haemodialysis on humans. His achievements were based on 19th century medicine. Richard Bright had contributed to the knowledge of kidney diseases and Graham and Fick had described diffusion through semipermeable membranes. Some initial tests of haemodialysis had been performed by Abel and Haas in the beginning of the 20th century. But it was Kolff's publication that initiated three innovative decades of development of artificial kidneys: the development from sausage casing to the hollow fiber kidneys.