Purdue ECE alumna Kristen Cattin earns Medtronic's highest technical honor
Purdue University alumna Kristen Cattin, a Distinguished Engineer and Technical Fellow at Medtronic, has been inducted into the Medtronic Bakken Society, the company’s highest technical honor.
Named for Medtronic co-founder Earl Bakken, the society recognizes employees whose work has made lasting contributions to the company and the biomedical device industry. Fewer than 200 individuals have received the honor in Medtronic’s 75-year history.
Cattin earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2001 and her master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2004.
She has spent more than 22 years with Medtronic as a systems engineer in Cardiac Rhythm Management, starting as an intern working on pacemakers and defibrillators. As a systems engineer, Cattin has guided product development from concept through market release, collaborating with scientists, engineers, and physicians to bring life-saving devices to patients.
Cattin was the lead systems architect on the development of transvenous pacemaker devices that integrated wireless technology. Her work contributed to Medtronic’s BlueSync pacemakers, which advanced remote patient management through the MyCareLink Heart app. The technology, which allows patients to connect directly through their smartphones, has been widely adopted and has improved both efficiency and patient care.
“My commitment to technical excellence to improve patients' lives, address clinicians' needs and impact the broader medical device community is my motivation,” Cattin said. “Hearing patients' stories about how our products have impacted their lives is inspirational and rewarding.”
Cattin credits her time at Purdue, particularly her senior design course, biomedical instrumentation labs, and master’s research under George Wodicka, Vincent P. Reilly Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering with preparing her for the challenges of biomedical engineering.
“It was through this research that I learned how to put engineering principles into practice,” she said. “Dr. Wodicka instilled in me the critical thinking and methodical research approach that continues to guide my work today.”
Reflecting on her induction into the Bakken Society, Cattin said, “I am honored, humbled and grateful to become a member of the Bakken Society. Receiving this recognition alongside other outstanding Medtronic employees is an extraordinary moment. I look forward to continuing to support Medtronic's mission of alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life.”