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Beyond Words

Inventing Green: Inventor Profiles

Contemporary inventors in diverse fields are committed to "inventing green." Here are a few of their stories . . .

Encouraging Innovative Thinking

The Legacy of Dr. InBae Yoon

Dr. Yoon passionately believed—like we do—that everyone is inventive.

Blog

DIY Innovation in the Hospital

Scientists, clinicians, and patients have always been do-it-yourself innovators.

Blog

A Heartfelt Story

The invention of the AED—the automated external defibrillator—saves lives every day.

Places of Invention

Be Still, My Heart: Behind the Scenes in the Cardiac Collections

A group of small archival boxes lay nestled together, each holding a cardiac pacemaker or valve. "It's like being a kid in a candy store," exclaimed inventor Manny Villafaña.

Places of Invention

Invention hot spot: The rise of "Medical Alley" in Minnesota in the 1950s–1970s

Places of Invention tells the stories of historic and modern communities where people, resources, and spaces have come together to spark inventiveness.

Spark!Lab

To get inspiration for themes and activities as we develop the new Spark!Lab, the team has been taking "field trips" to different collections areas in the Museum. Here are some highlights from our visits to the Physical Sciences and Medical collections.

Places of Invention

Manny’s Medical Alley

On a recent research trip to Minnesota for "Places of Invention," I had the special opportunity to meet one of the region’s pioneers, Manuel (“Manny”) Villafaña. You may not know his name, but you’ve probably heard of at least one of the seven medical-device companies he has founded in Minneapolis, including Cardiac Pacemakers Inc. (CPI) and St. Jude Medical.

Places of Invention

Doctors Inventing Auto Safety

Lemelson Fellow Less Vinsel shares his research on the role that medical doctors played in improving auto safety.

Invention Stories

Inventing the Future: 3D Printing

What implications might 3D printing hold for the future?

Places of Invention

Much More than a Garage, a Place of Invention

Like more famous garages in Silicon Valley that begat Apple and Hewlett Packard, the former 800-square-foot garage in Minneapolis served as a convenient, no-rent location for Palmer Hermundslie and Earl Bakken to found Medtronic in 1949.

Invention Stories

Akhil Madhani: Literally on the Cutting Edge of Robotics

"Engineers have to invent things, because that's their job, to develop something as a solution to a problem."

Beyond Words

Podcast: Sharon Rogone Invents for Preemies, Part 1 (of 2)

Sharon Rogone, a neonatal nurse-turned-inventor, talks about her first invention and why she started to invent.

Beyond Words

Podcast: Gertrude Elion Inspires Others, Part 2 (of 2)

Nobel Prize winner Getrude Elion inspired others to follow in her inventive footsteps.

Beyond Words

Podcast: Gertrude Elion Opens Doors, Part 1 (of 2)

Nobel Prize winner Getrude Elion opened doors for women in the field of medical research.

Invention Stories

Innovative Lives: The Right To Sight: Patricia Bath

Trailblazer Dr. Patricia Bath invented the Laserphaco Probe for the treatment of cataracts and continues to passionately fight for the prevention, treatment, and cure of blindness.

Symposia & Conferences

Living with Technology, Inside and Out

Over the last couple of years, the Lemelson Center has been looking at the variety of means invention mediates the interface between human beings and environment.

Roger J. Williams Papers, 1920-1988

Inventor Name Williams, Roger J.

Guide to the Neal Lane Papers, circa 1980-2000

Inventor Name Unknown