Birth of The ASAIO Logo

The Birth of the ASAIO Logo

George E Schreiner, MD

The first meeting of our “unusual” society, ASAIO, was held on June 5, 1955 in Atlantic City, New Jersey after calling together a small but hardy group of some 12 – 15 pioneers. Some people, in questioning the choice Atlantic City for this first meeting, have cynically called it the beginning of gambling in that seaside resort. It was the first medical society, as far as we know, formed by scientists who were devoted to research in, and the clinical applications of, artificial organs. Only the most idealistic dreamers believed that it could be successful or that it could grow to its present proportions. However, its founding has been followed by the formation of similar societies in many countries. ASAIO is proud to be one of the first American medical societies to include a significant number of engineers, physicians, mathematicians, and other non-physician scientists as both active members and officers of what was originally conceived as a “medical society.” In many of the early business meetings, discussions revolved around the choice of the title The American Society for Artificial Internal Organs, which was, I believe, originally suggested by the founder, Dr. Peter Salisbury, and seemed to stick on the glue of continued controversy.
In 1997, the “near term opportunities” for artificial organs list included implantable hearts and left ventricle; hybrid artificial kidney, lung, and liver; bowel substitution for kidney; implantable insulin and heparin pumps; artificial bladder, ureter, stomach, and rectum; implantable neurostimulators; and tissue engineered skin, bone, cartilage, and muscle. The 1998 abstract form included A to V classification that included biomaterials, biosensors, hybrid organs, drug delivery, prostheses, artificial liver, pancreas, and medical implant science. Apparently, they intended to save the last three letters, X, Y, Z, for the new ventures yet to be conceived. Perhaps Y could stand for artificial youth.
At some point in the early history of the society, there was a suggestion that we should have a search for an appropriate logo that would instantly identify the breadth and identity of this unique organization.
While lying on the beach one morning, I made the observation that if I closed my eyes at a certain angle to the rising sun, I could actually see the red cells moving through small veins and capillaries in my retina. The little circles could actually be seen to stick for an instant wherever there was a bifurcation of a capillary and then to sort of float on and move in their course through the circulation. I was quite bemused by this observation that one could see one’s own red cells in transit and extended the thought that maybe this was the answer to our often-discussed name change. I imagined that if there were to be a new name, it would have to be sufficiently all embracing and generalized to pertain to what it is that we stand for and what it is we do. I then imagined what it would be like to follow one of those little circles toward the central organs that are supplied by the circulation and that really establish which organs are vital to survival. Following that, it occurred to me that if we looked at those organs as a surrealist artist might, they would be so central and so vital that they could be represented by a sun toward which my little red cell circles were hurrying.
Armed with this inspiration, I went into the house and set about to paint an artist’s conception of all this with acrylic on canvas, indicating a blood vessel going in the direction of a surrealist sun.
A committee was formed to choose a logo and was chaired by the late Dr E Lovell (Stretch) Becker, a former President. I showed Stretch Becker the painting. He took a photograph and my drawing to an artist who was a logo specialist. The explanation of my painting appealed to the commercial artist and the report that came back from Stretch was that he didn’t see any need to design a new logo. He thought this was perfect but that the sense of perspective and depth of the blood vessel pointing to the surrealist sun as the collection of organs could be considerably enhanced by simply making every other circle radiating out from the sun darker and lighter in contrast to its adjacent neighbor. This had a remarkable effect of transforming the picture into a tube up which the eye was searching for a central and general focal point. This was exactly in tune with my imagination that day on the beach. We had him draw his lines to illustrate the depth perception, and we officially adopted that as the logo of ASAIO. Now you know the rest of the story.