MILESTONE/HISTORY

1985 - THE ALFRED MANN FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED
In 1956, Mr. Alfred Mann started his first company, Spectrolab. Spectrolab quickly became the world's leading supplier of highly reliable solar panels for space power systems. While at Spectrolab, Mann established Heliotek, a semiconductor company that became the world's major supplier of solar cells for spacecraft. Both of these companies were sold to Textron in 1960. Mr. Mann continued to manage these companies until he founded Pacesetter Systems, Inc., in 1969.

In a highly competitive marketplace, Pacesetter captured the number two market position by providing innovative and cutting edge implantable pacemaker technology for the treatment of Bradycardia.

Mann was enamored with dynamic medical electronics technology and was gratified by the improvement in the quality of life of patients who received his products. In 1985, Mr. Mann sold Pacesetter and was able to realize his vision of establishing the Alfred Mann Foundation. Mann's mission was to forever continue developing advanced medical technologies that may improve the health and quality of life of people suffering from debilitating medical conditions.

1985 - GLUCOSE SENSOR DEVELOPMENT
The pioneering development work for an implantable glucose sensor for continuous monitoring of blood sugar levels in diabetics was undertaken in 1985. The Foundation teamed with Medical Research Group in 1996, for continuing development of this complex technology. Clinical trials using the glucose sensor and the MiniMed implantable pump are promising.

The sensor used in conjunction with insulin delivery pump can achieve a totally automated delivery process of insulin tailored to patients’ blood sugar level.

The Foundation continues development of a new generation long-term glucose sensor. This exciting technology could eventually replace a nonfunctioning pancreas.

1986 COCHLEAR IMPLANT DEVELOPMENT
Together with the University of California at San Francisco and the Research Triangle Institute, the Foundation developed the enabling technology for the Clarion Cochlear implant.

In 1991, the first device was implanted in a human. The technology was licensed to Advanced Bionics® for manufacturing and distribution in 1999. Over 8,500 people suffering from severe to profound hearing loss have benefited from this technology.