MIT World Speakers

Dean Kamen

Dean Kamen holds more than 150 U.S. and foreign patents, many of them for innovative medical devices. In 1976 he founded his first medical device company, AutoSyringe, Inc., to manufacture and market pumps. At age 30, he sold that company to Baxter International Corporation. He then founded DEKA Research & Development Corporation. Recent projects have included the HomeChoice™ dialysis machine, developed for Baxter (Design News’ 1993 Medical Product of the Year), and the INDEPENDENCE™ IBOT™ Mobility System, also developed for Johnson & Johnson. A decade ago Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), which uses marketing and media techniques to motivate the next generation to learn about science and technology. Among the honors received by Kamen: The Kilby Award, which celebrates those who make extraordinary contributions to society; the Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment; and the National Medal of Technology, awarded by President Clinton in 2000 for inventions that have advanced medical care worldwide, and for innovative and imaginative leadership in awakening America to the excitement of science and technology.