Semiconductor technology has played a major role in the success of the implantable medical device industry. The technical sophistication of implanted devices has generally mirrored that of the broader semiconductor industry, with significant advances in sensing, computational algorithms and telemetry leveraging core technology from other industries. Recent advances in semiconductor technology are not just providing useful therapies for patients, but also empowering clinical scientists and researchers the tools to explore our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of diseases and their treatment. This talk will provide a brief overview of implantable medical devices seen through a semiconductor lens, in particular the evolution from 'metronome' pacemakers to closed-loop neuroprosthesis.
Tim Denison received his S.M. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his A.B. in Physics from the University of Chicago. He is currently the Senior IC Engineering Manager for Medtronic Neuromodulation . He won the 2006 Technical Contributor of the Year award at Medtronic for his work on micropower dynamic compensation techniques. Prior to joining Medtronic, he worked as a Senior Design Engineer with the Micromachined Products Division at Analog Devices.