Stony Brook University recently hosted a film crew from the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) to document the work and legacy of Esther Takeuchi, a SUNY Distinguished Professor and William and Jane Knapp Chair in Energy and the Environment. The filming took place over two days, from June 11 to 12, as part of NIHF's mini-documentary series that highlights influential inventors.
Esther Takeuchi was inducted into the NIHF in 2011. She is recognized as one of the most prolific women inventors in the United States with over 150 U.S. patents. Her contributions to electrochemistry and battery technology have been significant, particularly her invention of the lithium/silver vanadium oxide battery, which enabled implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs). These devices are now standard treatment for preventing sudden cardiac death globally.
The film crew accompanied Takeuchi around Stony Brook campus and Brookhaven National Laboratory, where she chairs the Interdisciplinary Science Department. During interviews, she shared insights into her career and personal journey from Latvia to becoming a prominent figure in science.
Takeuchi attributes much of her success to her husband Ken Takeuchi, a distinguished teaching professor at Stony Brook's Department of Chemistry. They met during their graduate studies at The Ohio State University.
The mini-documentary is expected to premiere on invent.org this September with a runtime between 10 to 15 minutes. This project is part of NIHF's initiative to celebrate stories behind transformative technologies since its founding in 1973.
Beyond her contributions to medical devices, Takeuchi focuses on scalable energy solutions addressing human health and sustainability challenges. She holds memberships in prestigious institutions such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has received several honors including the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2008.
— Beth Squire