Willem Einthoven Biography

Childhood & Early Years

Willem Einthoven was born on May 21, 1860, in Semarang on the island of Java, Indonesia, then known as Dutch East Indies. His father, Jacob Einthoven, born and educated in Netherlands, was an army medical officer posted there. He later became parish doctor in Semarang. Willem’s mother, Louise M.M.C. de Vogel, was the daughter of the then Director of Finance in the Indies. He was the third child and the eldest son his parent’s six children. Willem lost his father at the age of six. Four years later his mother decided to shift to Netherland and subsequently settled down at Utrecht with her six children.

Willem graduated from the secondary school in 1878 and then entered the University of Utrecht as a medical student. Initially it was expected that he would follow his father’s foot step and become a doctor; but soon he began to show an outstanding talent in research work.

Career

After Einthoven gained his ‘candidaat’ diploma, which was equivalent to the B.Sc. degree, he joined a renowned eye-hospital, Gasthuis voor Ooglidders. There he started working as an assistant to distinguished ophthalmologist H. Snellen Sr. Sometime now, he broke his wrist. The accident kindled his interest in anatomy. Before long he published his first major paper titled ‘Quelques remarques sur le mécanisme de l’articulation du coude’ (Some remarks on the elbow joint) under the guidance of anatomist W. Koster. It attracted a widespread attention. He next studied under physiologist F.C. Donders and in 1885 published his second paper entitled ‘Stereoscopie door kleurverschil’ (Stereoscopy by means of colour variation). It served as his doctoral thesis.

On July 4, 1885, Einthoven received his medical doctoral degree from the University of Utrecht. In the same year, he was appointed as the Professor of Physiology at the University of Leiden. However, he took up the position in January 1886, after he had qualified as a general practitioner.

At Leiden, Einthoven continued with his research work. In 1892, he published his first important paper titled ‘Über die Wirkung der Bronchialmuskeln nach einer neuen Methode untersucht, und über Asthma nervosum’ (On the function of the bronchial muscles investigated by a new method, and on nervous asthma) from there. At the same time, he began working on optics and remained devoted to the topic throughout his life. In 1898, he published another paper titled ‘Eine einfache physiologische Erklärung für verschiedene geometrisch-optische Täuschungen’ (A simple physiological explanation for various geometric-optical illusions).

However much before that, in 1889, Einthoven had witnessed Augustus Desiré Waller registering the current of the heart as deduced from the body surface with the help of a capillary electrometer at the First International Congress of Physiologists. It interested young Einthoven a great deal.

Einthoven’s great opportunity came when he was assigned the task of accurately registering the heart sounds. Since capillary electrometer, used for measuring the heart beats, was not suitable for diagnostic purpose, he began working in that direction. He first began to investigate the theoretical principles of capillary electrometer and then devised ways to correct the mathematical errors in the photographically registered results, which generally occurred due to the inertia of the gadget.

In 1901, after intense research he invented a prototype of string galvanometer, which did not involve any kind of mathematical calculation. However, the instrument needed to be more sophisticated and precise if it were to be used for medical purpose. He then went on to refine the instrument and at the same time continued his work on optics. In 1902, he published his second important paper, titled Die Accommodation des menschlichen Auges” (The accommodation of the human eye) on the topic. Finally in 1903, after a hard labor, Einthoven developed the first string galvanometer, later known as the Einthoven galvanometer. The device could measure the changes of electrical potential caused by contractions of the heart muscle and record them graphically.

The instrument he designed was bulky, but could be used as effectively in medical science as in other types of technical research. Einthoven now began to study electrocardiographic features of different types of cardio vascular diseases and collaborated with P. Battaerd to study heart sounds. At the same time, he worked with W. A. Jolly to carry on research into retina current. In 1908, Einthoven published his third most important paper on optics titled ‘The form and magnitude of the electric response of the eye to stimulation by light at various intensities’. Also from 1908 to 1913, Einthoven studied the patterns of normal heart sounds so that deviations could be recognized and interpreted instantly. He also continued to work on electrode arrangements and in 1912 developed the concept of imaginary inverted equilateral triangle centered on the chest, today known as Einthoven’s Triangle. In fact, many of the terminologies used in electrocardiography even today have originated from Einthoven. For example, he had assigned the letters P, Q, R, S and T to the various deflections; they are being used even today.

Einthoven spent his later years working on acoustic and capacity studies. It led to development of string phonograph in 1923. He continued working till his death publishing number of important papers from the University of Leiden.

Major Works

Einthoven is best remembered for his invention of string galvanometer, which was the first practical electrocardiograph suitable for medical use. Although one such machine had been recorded in 1887 it could not produce any quantifiable result. Contrarily, Einthoven’s invention could detect and record even the minutest electric currents produced by human heart. In addition to that the string galvanometer is widely used in the study of the periphery and sympathetic nerves.

Awards & Achievements

Willem Einthoven was awarded with the 1924 Nobel Prize in Medicine ‘for his discovery of the mechanism of the electrocardiogram’. In 1902, Einthoven became a Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1886, Einthoven married his first cousin Frédérique Jeanne Louise de Vogel. She was the sister of Dr. W.Th. de Vogel, former Director of Public Health Service in the Dutch East Indies. The couple had four children; Augusta, Louise, Willem and Johanna. Among them, Willem was the Director of the Radio Laboratory in Bandung, Java. He was also a reputed electro-technical engineer. Around 1912, he along with his father developed the first vacuum model of the string galvanometer and used it for wireless communication. Johanna was a physician. Towards the end of his life Einthoven suffered from various ailments. He died 29 September 1927 in Leiden and his mortal remains were buried in the graveyard of the Reformed Church in Oegstgeest.

Trivia

Einthoven was also very fond of sports and was a keen sportsman in his student days. Later he became the President of the Gymnastics and Fencing Union. He was also one of the founders of the Utrecht Student Rowing Club.