Pacemakers deliver electric impulses to hearts that beat too slowly.
Medical doctors program pacemakers to suit individual patient needs, modifying the frequency of electric impulses delivered. The infringed patent covered computer-based programming devices used by doctors to program pacemakers and debrillators. Twin Cities associates Steve Schaefer , Mathias Samuel , and John Dragseth were also on the trial team. The technical issues involved complex computer and electronics technology, as well as the physiology of the human heart. St. Jude Medical, Inc. develops, manufactures and distributes medical devices for the global cardiovascular market.