Ronald J. Leonard Papers
name: label: Creator
content: Leonard, Ronald J.
label: Donor
content: Leonard, Leona
topic: label: Topic
content: Medical innovations
label: Topic
content: Medical instruments and apparatus
label: Topic
content: Heart -- Surgery
label: Topic
content: Cardiology
label: Topic
content: Medical Equipment
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Donated to the Archives Center in 2007 by Leona Leonard.
creator: label: Creator
content: Leonard, Ronald J.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Ronald J. Leonard Papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The collection  documents Ronald J. Leonard's work at Travenol Laboratories and Sarns/3M, developing pumps and oxygenators used in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Ronald James Leonard was a biomedical engineer and inventor, born on August 17, 1939, in Cuba, New York, a son of Margaret and Roy Leonard. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam, New York, in 1961. He continued his education at Northwestern University in 1962, receiving his Master's in Mechanical Engineering. However, the majority of his work experience was centered in the biomedical engineering field.

He worked for the Naval Ordinance Lab in 1961, Allis-Chambers Research Division from 1962 to 1966, Travenol Laboratories from 1967 to 1985, and the Sarns/3M Company from 1985 to 1997. His early work at Allis-Chambers dealt with fuel cell power supplies. When he worked at Travenol Laboratories, a part of Baxter International Inc., and at the Sarns/3M Company, he helped develop and manufacture several medical devices and products for people with specific disorders, diseases, and conditions. He also worked as an adjunct assistant professor for Northwestern Technological Institute. In his retirement years, he did consulting work. He was also a member of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs and the International Society for Artificial Organs (now known as the International Federation for Artificial Organs).

Leonard designed and patented several devices, including blood oxygenators and heat exchangers, as well as the hollow fiber tubing within the oxygenator. He held more than thirty U.S. patents. Much of his work was dedicated to improving and perfecting these devices, which were widely used for bypass surgeries and aided the lives of many Americans. His dedication to his work, constant research, and developments is clear in the many devices, studies, and years of service he provided.

Ronald J. Leonard passed away, January 14, 2007, at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, when he was 67 years old.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5 Cubic feet (12 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1966-2000
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.1109
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Diagrams
label: Type
content: Design drawings
label: Type
content: Notes
label: Type
content: Lecture notes
label: Type
content: Reports
label: Type
content: Slides (photographs)
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Materials are arranged in chronological order. The collections is arranged into 5 series:

Series 1: Personal Materials, 1966-1996

Series 2: Patent Materials, 1988-2000

Series 3: Project Files, 1969-1998

Series 4: Writings/Lectures/Presentations, 1985-1997

Series 5: Travenol Company Materials, 1967-1995
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Bryanna Bauer and Catarina Hurtado, interns, 2018.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Diagrams
label: Genre/Form
content: Design drawings
label: Genre/Form
content: Notes
label: Genre/Form
content: Lecture notes
label: Genre/Form
content: Reports
label: Genre/Form
content: Slides (photographs)
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The collection documents Ronald J. Leonard's work at Travenol Laboratories and Sarns/3M, developing pumps and oxygenators used in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. The papers include diagrams and design drawings, reports, test data, patent applications, lecture notes, correspondence, photographs, and slides.
separatedmaterial: label: Separated Materials
content: The Division of Medicine and Science holds artifacts related to this collection (Accession #: 2007.0106.01-13) documenting oxygenators, heat exchangers, an artificial heart valve, and vascular graft.