Franz Weitlaner (; 1872–1944) was an Austrian

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

who is known for designing the self-retaining retractor bearing his name.

Life

Weitlaner was born in Welsberg, a German-speaking municipality in Italy's

South Tyrol it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol , settlement_type = Autonomous province , image_skyline = , image_alt ...

province. His initial higher education was in theology, but at the age of 20 he began medical studies at the

University of Innsbruck The University of Innsbruck (german: Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck; la, Universitas Leopoldino Franciscea) is a public research university in Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol, founded on October 15, 1669. ...

, where he completed his doctorate in 1898 and his clinical training in 1902. After a stint as a ship's surgeon, he married Leopoldine (''née'' Kraubmann), and established a

general practice General practice is the name given in various nations, such as the United Kingdom, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to the services provided by general practitioners. In some nations, such as the US, similar services may be describe ...

in the remote village of Ottenthal. Lacking adequate surgical assistants there, he developed the retractor which bears his name, publishing an article on its genesis and design in 1905. Weitlaner departed Ottenthal in 1909 to take up similar positions in rural Austria.

References

1872 births 1944 deaths Austrian general practitioners Austrian inventors University of Innsbruck alumni People from Welsberg-Taisten {{Austria-med-bio-stub