Video

Powering the possible

Powering the possible

Empowered by her own internal drive and the support of loved ones, Esther Takeuchi worked tirelessly to hone the skills needed to make a positive impact in the world. Her efforts resulted in the development of the Lithium/Silver Vanadium Oxide (Li/SVO) battery. Used in implantable cardioverter defibrillators, Takeuchi’s battery technology benefits more than 150,000 people annually.

1 min read


Each month, our Journeys of Innovation series tells the stories of inventors or entrepreneurs who have made a positive difference in the world. This month we focus on Esther Sans Takeuchi, a chemical engineer and energy storage expert who invented the Li/SVO battery used in implantable cardioverter defibrillators. For these efforts, Takeuchi was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2011. To learn about other inductees, check out Greatest in American Innovation.

Do you know an innovator or entrepreneur with an interesting story?

Share here

Credits

Produced by the National Inventors Hall of Fame in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Graphic on the homepage by Gabriella McNevin-Melendez. For feedback or questions, please contact inventorstories@uspto.gov.

View more

The Statue of Liberty fading into a sketch from left to right, with the torch and Bartholdi’s patent in the background
The Statue of Liberty
16 min read
The Statue of Liberty’s patented design Full Story >
Ted Hoffman
Ted Hoff
1 min read
Ted Hoff co-invented the microprocessor, found in nearly every modern electronic device Full Story >