Final answer:
Willem Kolff invented the artificial kidney, revolutionizing the treatment of kidney disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The inventor of the artificial kidney is Willem Kolff. In the 1940s, Kolff, a Dutch physician, developed the first practical dialysis machine that could perform the function of the kidneys. His invention revolutionized the treatment of kidney disease and laid the foundation for modern dialysis and kidney transplantation.