John Holter
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2008-07-14T07:31:52Z
Biomed1
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{{Infobox Person
|name = John Holter, DSc, CBE
|image = Replace_this_image_male.svg
|image_size = 150px
|caption = John Holter
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|birth_date = [[April 1]], [[1916]]
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|death_date = [[December 22]], [[2003]]
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|known_for = [[silicone]] [[one-way valve]]
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|children = [[Charles Case "Casey" Holter]]
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'''John Holter''' ([[April 1]], [[1916]] - [[December 22]], [[2003]]) was a toolmaker working for the Yale and Town Lock Company [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]] [[Connecticut]]. His son [[Charles Holter|Charles Case "Casey" Holter]] was born on [[November 7]], [[1955]] with a severe form of [[spina bifida]]. Shortly after birth he contracted [[meningitis]], which caused his head to expand rapidly. His parents were told that he had developed "water on the brain" or [[hydrocephalus]].
As luck would have it Holter's son was being looked after in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], where the surgeons Nulsen and Spitz had already demonstrated that a ventricle-to-atrium diversion system could work. What they needed was an inexpensive and practical valve that could control the direction of the flow and maintain normal cranial pressure.
A chance discovery showed Holter, after a failed attempt in which a young boy died, that he could use a [[silicone]] [[one-way valve]] (pressure sealing). After refinement of the [[silicone]] and rubber to a medically suitable grade it was patented and manufactured as [[Silastic]].
John Holter set up a company to manufacture the [[shunt]]s.
Although he was unable to save his son Casey, his design, the Holter valve/shunt has helped millions around the world since the late 1950s.
==References==
*[http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2007/04/john_holter_brain_e.html Mind Hacks.com]
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[[Category:Inventors|Holter, John]]
[[fi:John Holter]]