Morton Mower

Morton Maimon Mower (January 31, 1933 – April 25, 2022) was an American cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology and the co-inventor of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2002 for the development of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator with Michel Mirowski in the 1970s.

During his summers while in grade school, Mower worked at his Uncle Sam's salt-water bathhouses in Atlantic City.

[3] From 1963 to 1965, he served as a captain and Chief of Medicine in the Medical Corps of the United States Army in Bremerhaven, Germany.

From 1995 to 1996, he was a senior consultant for Guidant Corporation, a branch of Boston Scientific that manufactures cardiovascular medical products.

[2] Mower held 26 patents, which includes one for a special ski boot that helps skiers make sharp turns.

In 1972 Bernard Lown, the inventor of the external defibrillator, wrote in the journal Circulation, "The very rare patient who has frequent bouts of ventricular fibrillation is best treated in a coronary care unit and is better served by an effective antiarrhythmic program or surgical correction of inadequate coronary blood flow or ventricular malfunction.

In fact, the implanted defibrillator system represents an imperfect solution in search of a plausible and practical application."

Physicians Marlin Stephen Heilman, Alois A. Langer, Morton Mower, Michel Mirowski and engineer William Staewen jointly developed the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

While serving his fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, Mirowski discovered that Heller had suffered an attack of ventricular fibrillation.

Heller's death prompted Mirowski to begin work on an implantable defibrillator for patients in need of continuous heart monitoring.

In 1973, Mirowski and Mower partnered with Heilman, the founder of Medrad, a medical device company, to develop a working prototype of the implantable defibrillator.

[3] Alois Langer was also involved in the development of the AICD because he held extensive knowledge in the field of electrocardiograph signal analysis.

If something had gone awry, we would have never lived it down.” After the device was implanted, physicians induced a cardiac arrhythmia in the patient and the AICD was successful in restoring normal electrical activity to the heart.

The device is now implanted in over 300,000 people worldwide and is 99% effective in correcting heart rhythm abnormalities and cardiac arrest.

In 2002, Mower was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, for his involvement in the invention of the AICD.

[5] Mower and his wife often put their extensive collection of art on exhibit at the Mattin Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Their home collection includes works by Degas, Pissarro, Sisley, Bonnard, Renoir, Picasso, Léger, and Warhol.

And he gives us a window into both the everyday life and cosmopolitan themes that captured his imagination.”[9] In 2008, Mower contributed $2,000 to the political action committee of Republican Andy Harris (U.S. Congress).

Neil M. Meltzer, president and chief operating officer of Sinai Hospital, said, “It is an honor, on behalf of the institution where their journey began, to salute the enduring legacy of Michel Mirowski, M.D., and Morton Mower, M.D.

The hospital continues to follow in their footsteps, providing the highest level of commitment to cardiology and medicine to its patients.” Method and apparatus for treating hemodynamic dysfunction Method and Apparatus to Allow Cyclic Pacing at an Average Rate Just Above the Intrinsic Heart Rate so as to Maximize Inotropic Pacing Effects at Minimal Heart Rates Cardioverting Device Having Single Intravascular Catheter Electrode System and Method for its Use Cardiac Electrode with Attachment Fin Atrial Sensing and Multiple Site Stimulation as Intervention Means for Atrial Fibrillation Method and apparatus for correcting abnormal cardiac activity by low energy shocks Low Energy Defibrillation Electrode Antitachycardial Pacing System and method for multiple site biphasic stimulation to revert ventricular arrhythmias Wickelgren, Ingrid.

The American Journal of Nursing 86 (1986): 1004-007 [1] National Inventors Hall of Fame Profile [2] An Inquiring Mind for the Beating Heart - University of Maryland Medical Alumni Association [3] Pop Art Prints to Be Displayed at Johns Hopkins April 12-30 – Headlines@Hopkins [4] Remastered – Baltimore Citypaper [5] 8th International Dead Sea Syposium[permanent dead link‍] [7] Lifebridge Health: Sinai Hospital Celebrates 25th Anniversary [8] National Inventors Hall of Fame 2002 Induction Ceremony Video [9] American Jewish Life Magazine: Six Who Matter [10] Morton Mower Political Campaign Contributions