Larry C. Olsen
| Larry C. Olsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 25, 1937 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | BS Engineering Physics, PhD Solid State Physics |
| Alma mater |
University of Kansas BS Engineering Physics PhD Solid State Physics |
| Known for | Pioneering Research in Betavoltaic Technology |
| Awards | R&D 100 Award, DOE FLC Award, Tri-City Herald "Man of the Year" |
Larry C. Olsen, PhD is Director of Research at City Labs, Inc, an early stage manufacturer of betavoltaic batteries for microelectronics based in Homestead, Florida. Dr. Olsen is a pioneer in the commercialization of betavoltaic technology due to his successful work in leading the development of the first commercially available betavoltaic nuclear battery at McDonnell Douglas Corporation in the 1970s.[,] Several hundred of these batteries were fabricated and a large number were used to power implanted heart pacemakers[]. Throughout his career, Dr. Olsen has published more than 80 articles in the fields of betavoltaics, photovoltaics, thermoelectric materials, and solid state physics. He has also earned several awards for his research, including the R&D 100 Award, presented each year by R&D Magazine to identify the 100 most significant, newly introduced research and development advances in multiple disciplines. (See Awards,below.)
Dr. Olsen’s early work began as a Research Scientist with DWDL (1965 to 1974). Following this initial work, he became a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Washington State University (1974 to 2001). More recently, he served as a Staff Scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory from 2000 until his retirement in 2009. He chose to come out of retirement in order to join City Labs as Director of Research.
From 1967 to 1972, Dr. Olsen led research efforts in betavoltaic and thermoelectric energy conversion as a Research Scientist at DWDL. He led a team in developing the Betacel, the first commercial betavoltaic nuclear battery for cardiac pacemakers.[,] The Betacel was based on Promethium 147 beta sources coupled to custom designed silicon devices. Betacel powered cardiac pacemakers were implanted in numerous patients in the 1970s. Biotronik GmbH & Co., Ingenieurburo, Berlin, adapted its chemical battery-powered pacemakers to accept the promethium-fueled betacel battery. The Betacel-Biotronik pacemaker began in Europe in 1972 and was extended to the United States under State of Washington license in 1973. By early 1973, over 60 implanted Betacel-Biotronik pacemakers were being monitored as part of the clinical investigation. By mid-1974, the United States Atomic Energy Commission (USAEC) had authorized the licensing in the United States of a Clinical Investigation Program that allowed the implantation of 50 Betacel-Biotronik pacemakers per month in major clinics in the U.S.
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