CLARENCE, N.Y., Jun 07, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Greatbatch, Inc. is proud to join the medical community in celebrating
the 50th anniversary of the first successful implantation of
the human cardiac pacemaker in the United States. The pacemaker was
designed, developed and implanted by Wilson Greatbatch in conjunction
with William M. Chardack, M.D. and Andrew A. Gage, M.D.
The device, implanted during surgery at Buffalo's Veteran's Affairs
Hospital,extended the life of a 77 year old man for 18 months. While
there were many other pacemaker concepts being developed simultaneously,
the Greatbatch-Chardack pacemaker marks the first successful device
implanted into a human.
After inventing the device, Wilson Greatbatch licensed the technology to
Earl Bakken, the founder of Medtronic. In 1970, Mr. Greatbatch went on
to start his own company to develop long-lived primary batteries to fuel
the implantable pacemaker. This company is now Greatbatch, Inc.
"The roots of the innovative culture of our Company can be traced to Mr.
Greatbatch who pushed the limits of science to develop the first
successful implantable pacemaker," said Thomas J. Hook, president and
CEO, Greatbatch, Inc. "His invention is one that decade's later is still
used to save and enhance people's lives."
More than 100 thousand pacemakers are implanted each year. Today's
pacemakers are much smaller and thinner in size than Mr. Greatbatch's
device and offer many advanced features. These types of improvements
have been made possible by many device companies including Greatbatch
Medical, a Greatbatch, Inc. brand.
About Greatbatch
Greatbatch, Inc. (NYSE: GB) provides critical technologies to industries
that depend on reliable, long lasting performance through its brands
Greatbatch Medical and Electrochem. Greatbatch Medical develops and
manufactures vital technologies used in medical devices for the cardiac
rhythm management, neuromodulation, vascular access and orthopaedic
markets. Electrochem is a world leader in the design and manufacture of
battery and wireless sensing technology solutions for industrial
applications. For additional information on Greatbatch, visit www.greatbatch.com.
SOURCE: Greatbatch, Inc.
Greatbatch, Inc.
Kathryn Tarquin, 716-759-5540
cel 716-574-5859
ktarquin@greatbatch.com