| Earl E. Bakken |
Wilson Greatbatch |
1924
Born |
1919
Born |
1949
Founds Medtronic |
1950-57
Medical sensor research at Cornell and University of Buffalo |
1956
Develops tolerable external pacemaker electrode |
1958
Approached Dr. Wm. Chardack with re-implantable pacemaker |
1957
Medtronic manufactures first wearable, battery-powered, external pacemaker |
1959
First animal implant by Dr. Chardack |
1958
Medtronic invents bi-polar electrodes |
1959
First human gets implanted pacemaker |
1959
First human gets implanted pacemaker (Patient lives seven years) |
1960
Forms Wilson Greatbatch, Inc. |
1961
Licenses Greatbatch-Chardack patent |
1961
Licenses implantable pacemaker patent to Medtronic |
1968
Manufactures spinal cord stimulator for pain management |
1963-65
Founds Mennen-Greatbatch Electronics, Inc. |
1973
Manufactures mechanical heart valve |
1970
Founds Wilson Greatbatch, Inc. |
1976
Retires from Medtronic, serves as chairman of the board |
1970-72
Develops lithium-iodide battery |
1978
Starts work on implantable drug pump (FDA approved in 1989) |
1980s
Develops components for pacemakers |
1990
Medtronic develops brain implant for Parkinson's Disease |
1985
Founds Greatbatch Gen-Aid, Ltd. |
1994
Retires as chairman of the board of Medtronic |
1993
Patents "Method of Conferring Resistance to Retroviral Infection" |
