Dr. William P. Murphy Jr., the pioneering innovator behind significant advancements in battlefield medicine, has passed away at the age of 100. His contributions to biomedical research have left an indelible impact on the field, particularly his invention of the vinyl blood bag in the 1950s, which revolutionized medical practices in military settings and disaster zones. Dr. Murphy’s death was confirmed by U.S. Stem Cell, a biotech company based in Sunrise, Florida, where he served as chairman until 2020. The cause of his passing has not been disclosed.
From an early age, Dr. Murphy displayed a keen interest in both engineering and health sciences. As a teenager, he designed a gasoline-powered snowblower, which he later sold for a significant sum of $1,500. Alongside his father, who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1934 for his work on diet and red blood cell production, Dr. Murphy observed the outdated medical practices at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham and Women’s Hospital) in Boston.
Driven by a desire to modernize medical procedures, Dr. Murphy focused on experimentation and therapeutics throughout his career. His most groundbreaking innovation came in the form of the vinyl blood bag. Recognizing the limitations of glass bottles in transfusions, he collaborated with Dr. Carl W. Walter of Harvard Medical School to develop a cost-effective, durable, and easily stored alternative. The polyvinyl chloride bag proved successful during trials in the Korean War and gradually gained acceptance across the medical community, eventually becoming the standard for blood bags, catheters, and intravenous drips.
Dr. Murphy’s wartime experiences also led to other significant developments. He observed the risks associated with inadequate sterilization of medical instruments, prompting him to create single-use kits of sterilized equipment and drugs. In recent years, he remained active in championing stem-cell research at U.S. Stem Cell, although the company faced legal challenges related to the use of stem-cell treatments.
Born on November 11, 1923, in Boston, Dr. William Parry Murphy Jr. grew up in Brookline. His father’s groundbreaking work in medicine and his mother’s distinction as Massachusetts’ first licensed female dentist influenced his career path. He graduated from Harvard University in 1946 before earning his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1947. Dr. Murphy’s pursuits also encompassed mechanical engineering studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he designed a film projector for enlarged X-ray images.
Throughout his career, Dr. Murphy achieved numerous milestones. In 1957, he founded the Medical Development Corp., which later became Cordis Corp., specializing in cardiovascular device development. During his tenure, the company made significant strides in creating an advanced pacemaker capable of regulating heart rhythms and detecting abnormalities. Dr. Murphy also played a pivotal role in innovations related to diagnosing vascular blockages and developing a device to cleanse blood for patients with failing kidneys.
Dr. Murphy’s passion for invention persisted well into his later years. He remained dedicated to exploring stem-cell treatments and continued his pursuit of various projects, including restoring an antique organ grinder and improving his 100-ton steam-powered tugboat, which he used to navigate the waters of South Florida.
Dr. William P. Murphy Jr. is survived by his wife of 50 years, Beverly Patterson, three daughters from a previous marriage, two grandchildren, and a great-grandson. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy marked by his commitment to pushing the boundaries of medical innovation, always with the intention of improving patient care and making a lasting impact within the field.
