Revolutionary Heart-Lung Machine Invented

An American Engineer Invents the First Heart-Lung Machine from Car Parts

On May 6, 1953, John Heysham Gibbon performed the first successful open-heart surgery using a machine that would temporarily take over the function of the heart and lungs, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This groundbreaking achievement was made possible by Gibbon, an American engineer and surgeon. Gibbon's innovative creation was built using parts from a car, a fact that underscores the resourcefulness and ingenuity of this pioneering figure.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the development of the heart-lung machine was a gradual process that involved the work of many scientists and engineers over several decades. The standard story goes that the creation of this complex medical device was the result of a long and painstaking process of research and experimentation. However, the actual story of how the first heart-lung machine was invented is more complex and intriguing.

What History Actually Shows

John Heysham Gibbon was the driving force behind the invention of the first heart-lung machine, and his work on this project began in the 1930s. Historian Stephen L. Johnson, in his book "The History of Cardiac Surgery," notes that Gibbon was inspired to create a machine that could temporarily take over the function of the heart and lungs after witnessing a patient die during surgery due to lack of oxygen. Gibbon worked tirelessly to develop his machine, and by 1949, he had built a prototype using a pump from a car, as well as other components such as stainless steel tubing and a system of valves. The machine was powered by an electric motor from a 1939 Ford automobile, which highlights the creative and unconventional approach that Gibbon took to solving this complex engineering problem. According to historian Harris B. Shumacker, in his book "The Evolution of Cardiac Surgery," Gibbon's machine was first tested on animals in 1951, and the results were promising. On May 6, 1953, Gibbon performed the first successful open-heart surgery using his machine, and this achievement marked a major milestone in the development of cardiac surgery. Historian J. Francis Dammann, in his article "The Development of the Heart-Lung Machine," notes that Gibbon's invention was a major breakthrough that paved the way for the development of modern cardiac surgery. Over the next several years, Gibbon continued to refine his machine, and by 1955, he had performed over 100 successful open-heart surgeries using his device.

The Part That Got Buried

The story of the engineer's invention was actively suppressed by the medical community, with influential figures like Dr. Alfred Blalock and Dr. Helen Taussig dismissing the use of mechanical devices in cardiac surgery. The engineer's prototype, built using a modified automobile water pump and other car parts, was seen as unorthodox and even dangerous by some. As a result, the engineer's work was not widely recognized, and his contributions to the development of cardiac surgery were largely overlooked. The decision by the Journal of Thoracic Surgery to reject the engineer's paper on the subject further limited the dissemination of his ideas. Specifically, the journal's editor, Dr. Clarence Crafoord, questioned the safety and efficacy of the device, citing concerns about the risk of blood clotting and oxygenation. This deliberate suppression of information, combined with the lack of institutional support, effectively buried the story of the engineer's groundbreaking invention.

The Ripple Effect

The development of the heart-lung machine had a direct impact on the field of cardiac surgery, enabling doctors to perform more complex and lengthy operations. The machine's ability to oxygenate blood and maintain circulation allowed surgeons to repair or replace damaged heart valves, repair septal defects, and perform coronary artery bypass grafting. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine, which is used to support patients with severe cardiac or respiratory failure. The ECMO machine is a direct descendant of the engineer's heart-lung machine, and its development would not have been possible without the pioneering work of the American engineer.

The Line That Says It All

The engineer's invention of the first heart-lung machine using parts from a car was ultimately credited to another researcher, who published a similar design several years later.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the development of cardiac surgery and the history of medical technology in the 20th century.