John Simpson, MD, PhD

German physician Andreas Gruentzig invented balloon angioplasty in 1977, but University of Texas physician and bioengineer John Simpson developed the “over the wire” improvement that made balloon angioplasty safer and easier to perform.  In Simpson’s catheter, a tiny wire passes through the artery at its narrowing point, which then guides the balloon into position.  A pump inflates the balloon for 30 seconds to two minutes, pushing plaque away and restoring blood flow.  This, of course, is far less invasive that coronary bypass surgery. Recently, Dr. Simpson was UT’s distinguished alumnus award for this work.          MORE