In the 1950s Wilson Greatbatch was building an oscillator to record heart sounds, when he mispopulated a resistor the recorder became a transmitter that gave off a rhythmic electrical pulse. In true inventors spirit he realized his broken oscillator could be used as a pacemaker, rather than the normal action of throwing away his failed experiment. Two years after this discovery, his invention was refined and Greatbatch was awarded a patent for the first ever pacemaker.
In the early 70s Greatbatch became increasingly frustrated with battery technology. As we know, a pacemaker is only as good as its battery. Thus, he shifted his research and his company to develop lithium cell batteries. Today Greatbatch Inc supplies 90% of the worlds pacemaker batteries.
Greatbatch was a truly great man who when faced with problems developed solutions. At the time of his death he held over 150 patents.
In an interview for the Lemelson-MIT Lifetime achievement award he said:
“I don’t think the good Lord really cares whether you succeed or whether you fail, but I think He wants you to try and try hard. My most abject failure may be a part of some grand success in His sight that might never take place in my lifetime”
For a truly inspirational watch, check out this Video
