Earl E. Bakken
Interview:
7½ hours, December 19, 1995 (Conversazione) audio—January 10, 1997, August 28, 1997, September 11, 1997, February 1, 1998 video—May 3, 1999; August 28, 2000, Kiholo Bay, Hawaii; Fridley, Minnesota; Minneapolis, Minnesota
Interviewer: David Rhees
Interview Excerpt:
Audio MP3 File
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Excerpt Transcript
Interview 2 Excerpt:
Audio MP3 File
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Excerpt Transcript
Interview 3 Excerpt:
Audio MP3 File
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Excerpt Transcript
Interview 4 Excerpt:
Audio MP3 File
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Excerpt Transcript
Subjects Discussed:
December 19, 1995 (Conversazione)—One in a series of informal talks on the medical device industry sponsored by the Bakken Library and Museum.
January 10, 1997—Description of first battery operated pacemaker; production model; changes and improvements to the model; prototype; design features; how it was worn; internal workings; price; competition; assistance.
August 28, 1997—Childhood fascination with electricity; influence of Frankenstein movie; science fiction; devices he built as a child; using talent to help others; influential magazines; teaching in the Air Corps; college experiences; leadership opportunities; interest in research; science teachers; radiotelephone license; Medtronic journal-club to learn medical terminology; how Medtronic began.
September 11, 1997—More on pacemaker design—heart fibrillation; voltage divider circuit; vacuum tube devices; why he used a transistor in the first battery operated pacemaker; circuit for the pacemaker; reliability of transistors; batteries; epoxy resin; transformers; special therapeutic devices; “ready, fire, aim” philosophy.
February 1, 1998—Medtronic 5800 pacemaker; patent; implantable pacemakers; differing doctor response to internal and external pacemakers; magnitude of health improvement with pacemaker use; public response; different ways to show output; why the first battery operated pacemaker was developed; color and purpose of blinking light; discussion of different models.
Video—May 3, 1999—Bakken addresses a group of students assembled at the Bakken Library and Museum. A video log is available in the Oral History Office.
August 28, 2000—Bakken’s interest in electricity and Frankenstein; Frankenstein story as inspiration and social commentary; influence of mother and teachers; building robots; founding of, educational programs of, and future plans, hopes and dreams for the Bakken Library and Museum. A video log is available in the Oral History Office.
Sound Recordings:
User copies: 3 60-minute cassettes
(No tape for 1/10/1997 interview)
8/28/2000 video interview
Audio Dub: 1 90 minute cassette
(Audio from Video interview)
Conversazione—December 19, 1995
Audio Dub: 1 90-minute cassette
(Audio from Video interview)
(Video available at The Bakken Library and Museum)
Original: 3 60-minute cassettes
(No tape for 1/10/1997 interview)
Video Recordings:
User copies:
1 90 minute VHS tape
1 120 minute VHS tape
1 30 minute VHS tape with time code window burn
2 60 minute VHS tape with time code window burn
1 120 minute VHS tape with time code window burn
Restrictions on Use: None
Transcript: 83 pages - includes 1/10/1997 interview
Accession Number: AV 2001.104.3
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