Robert Fischell (born February 10, 1929) is a physicist,prolific inventor, and holder of more than 200 U.S. and foreign medical patents.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} His inventions have led to the creation of severalbiotechnology companies. He worked at theJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory full-time for 25 years and part-time for an additional 13 years. He contributed to APL's satellite navigation work; he later developed a rechargeable implantable pacemaker that could be programmed with radiowaves,^[6][7][8][9] (Pacesetter Systems purchased by Siemens, now the CRM division ofSt. Jude Medical). He and his team at Hopkins also helped miniaturize theimplantable cardiac defibrillator.^[10] Mr. Fischell went on to invent the implantableinsulin pump (MiniMed, spun off fromPacesetter Systems in 1985), numerous coronarystents used to open clogged arteries (IsoStent merged withCordis, in turn purchased byJohnson & Johnson),^[11] and two feedback systems that provide early warning ofepileptic seizures (NeuroPace) andheart attacks (Angel Medical Systems).^[4] Fischell recently donated $30 million to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation to establish a bioengineering department and an institute for biomedical devices at theA. James Clark School of Engineering.^[12]

In 2005, he was awarded theTED Prize, receiving $100,000 and three wishes, including a braintrust on medical liability and the successful design of a device to curemigraines.^[13]

Fischell received hisB.S. inmechanical engineering fromDuke University in 1951, where he became a brother ofZeta Beta Tau.^[14] He received hisM.S. from theUniversity of Maryland in 1953 inphysics, which is part of theUniversity of Maryland College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. Fischell was awarded anhonorary doctorate from theUniversity of Maryland in 1996.^[15][16]

He has three sons (from oldest to youngest), David, Tim, and Scott Fischell. He is married to Susan R. Fischell, and they live in Maryland.

He was awarded theNational Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2016.^[17][18]

• Duke Pratt School of Engineering Alumni Profile
• Robert Fischell atTED
  • Dr. Fischell'sintroductory video atTED Conference 2005.
  • "My wish: Three unusual medical inventions" (TED2005)

• 1929 births
• Living people
• 20th-century American inventors
• 21st-century American inventors
• 21st-century American physicists
• American biomedical engineers
• Johns Hopkins University faculty
• Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering
• University of Maryland, College Park alumni
• Duke University Pratt School of Engineering alumni

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• Short description matches Wikidata