I met Dr. Kolff in 1980 when he was invited to speak to the entire staff of the Donald S. Gilmore Research Laboratories of Upjohn. All the workers were given the opportunity to listen to his speech and then enjoy a buffet luncheon with him. He toured the entire laboratory so that he could become better aware of its capabilities. With the full permission of Upper Managemnt at Upjohn and later Dow Chemical, Henri Ulrich who was Director of the laboratories at the time and me with whom Dr. Kollf had a more personal relationship, continued to suuprt his work aimed at making better artificial hearts and heart valves. We provide him with materials and samples and guidance so that his group was able to adapt vacuum forming and dielectric sealing of thermoplastic polyurethane articial heart was implanted in an experimental animal without thrombosis. This was possible not only because of our own expertise, but the combined network of thermoplastic polyurethane extruders and experts who provided their services at no cost to Dr. Kolff. There are other examples, but these would make this tribute overly long. As Dr. Jarvik said in a recent article of Time, Dr. Kolff's indomitable spirit will not be forgotten.
Posted by: Henry W. Bonk - Wallingford, CT Feb 27, 2009
John
Russell
