Implantable Pacemaker

Wilson Greatbatch, USA, patent 3,057,356 of 1962. The accidental circuit that keeps hearts on rhythm.

Overview

Greatbatch grabbed the wrong resistor in 1956 and watched his oscillator tick at heartbeat pace. His mercury-powered implant, patented 1962, entered human trials 1960 at Buffalo's VA hospital. Patient Arne Larsson lived 42 more years, outliving Greatbatch himself and receiving 26 devices. Wilson's company faced years of patent litigation with Medtronic, which licensed and then led the field. Lithium cells from 1975 made implants decade-long. Millions of hearts keep his 1.5-volt beat today.