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Patricia Bath Innovative Lives Presentation
and Interview,
February 17, 2000 and March 1, 2000 |
Extent and Forms of Material: .50 cubic feet, including BetaCam
SP and one-half-inch VHS videotapes
Creator: Dr. Patricia Bath and the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson
Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation
Abstract: Dr. Patricia Bath was born in 1949 in New York. She
conceived of the Laserphaco Probe in 1981 and patented it in 1988 (US Patent
# 4,744,360 for an “Apparatus for ablating and removing cataract lenses”).
The collection contains original and reference video footage of Dr. Bath’s
Innovative Lives Presentation documenting her work in the field of ophthalmology
and her work creating and patenting the LaserPhaco Probe, an instrument to remove
cataracts. Also included is an interview with Dr. Bath at her home in Los Angeles
and an interview with her daughter, Eraka Bath and supplemental documentation
assembled by Dr. Bath. The documentation includes photocopies of articles, patents,
biographical sketch material, and selected publications and references to related
to lasers and surgery of Dr. Bath.
Repository: Archives Center, National Museum of American History,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. archivescenter@si.edu
202-633-3270
www.americanhistory.si.edu/archives
Collection Number: AC0753
Processing Note: Processed by Alison L. Oswald, November 2000,
revised May 2001, February 2006.
© 2006 by the Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved.
 Information for users of
the collection
Conditions Governing Access: The collection
is open for research use.
Physical Access: Series 1: Original Videos is
stored off site and may not be used by researchers.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use: Copyright
held by the Smithsonian Institution. Collection items available
for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees
concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from
Archives Center: fees for commercial use.
Preferred Citation: [Title and date of item],
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives Presentation and Interview,
March 1, 2000 and February 17, 2000, Archives Center, National
Museum of American History, box number X, folder number XX, digital
file number XXXXXXXX
In-depth information about the collection
- Administrative/biographical history
Scope and content
System of arrangement
Acquisition information
Custodial history
Related artifacts
Access points
Container listing
Dr. Patricia Bath (1949-) was born in New York. She attended
Charles Evans Hughes High School, Hunter College (B.A. 1964),
and Howard University College of Medicine (M.D. 1968). Bath held
a fellowship in ophthalmology at Columbia University (1969-1970)
and an internship at New York University (1970-1973) where she
was the first African American resident in ophthalmology. Dr.
Bath later joined the faculty of UCLA and Charles R. Drew University
in surgery and ophthalmology and later the Department of Ophthalmology
at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute. In 1976, Dr. Bath and
other colleagues formed the American Institute for the Prevention
of Blindness (AIPB). Dr. Bath conceived of the Laserphaco, an
instrument to remove cataracts in 1981. She received US patent
#4,744,360 for an “Apparatus for ablating and removing cataract
lenses” on May 17, 1988. Later patents include a method
and apparatus for ablating and removing cataract lenses; laser
apparatus for surgery of cataractous lenses; and pulsed ultrasound
method for fragmenting/emulsifying and removing cataractous lenses.
Dr. Bath retired from the UCLA Medical Center in 1993 to work
in telemedicine, the use of electronic communication to provide
medical services to remote areas where healthcare is limited.
The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention
and Innovation was founded in 1995 at the Smithsonian Institution's
National Museum of American History through a generous gift from
the Lemelson Foundation. The Center’s mission is: to document,
interpret, and disseminate information about invention and innovation;
to encourage inventive creativity in young people; and to foster
an appreciation for the central role invention and innovation
play in the history of the United States. The Innovative Lives
series brings together Museum visitors and especially, school
age children, and American inventors to discuss inventions and
the creative process and to experiment and play with hands-on
activities related to each inventor’s product. This collection
was recorded by the Innovative Lives Program of the Jerome and
Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.
This collection consists of 8.5 hours of original (BetaCam SP)
video recordings and reference (viewing) copies (VHS) documenting
the life and career of Dr. Patricia Bath. The recordings include
a presentation by Dr. Bath for the Lemelson Center's Innovative
Lives Program and interviews at her home and laboratory in Los
Angeles. The collection also includes an interview with Dr. Bath's
daughter, Eraka Bath, and copies of footage from other sources
about Dr. Bath's work. Additionally, there is supplemental documentation
assembled by Dr. Bath. The documentation includes photocopies
of articles, patents, biographical sketch material, and selected
publications and references to related to lasers and surgery of
Dr. Bath.
- Series 1: Original Videos
- Series 2: Reference Videos (viewing copies)
- Series 3: Supplemental Documentation
This collection was recorded by the Innovative Lives Program
of The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention
and Innovation on March 1, 2000. The Innovative Lives series brings
Museum visitors and American inventors together to discuss inventions
and the creative process and to experiment and play with hands-on
activities related to each inventor’s product.
The collection was transferred to the Archives Center in 2000.
An anatomical eye (accession # 2000.0038.01) was donated to the
Division of Science, Society and Medicine in 2000 by Dr. Patricia
Bath.
Subjects/Topical:
Inventors—20th Century, Inventions—1980-2000
Women inventors—20th century,
Medicine—Communication systems
African American physicians,
African American women
Eye diagnosis, eye diseases and defects,
Eye equipment and supplies
Eye examination,
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmologists
Surgeons
Subjects/Names:
Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention
and Innovation
Form/Genre:
BetaCam SP (videotape format)
Interviews—1980-2000
Videotapes
Oral History—1990-2000
| Box |
Folder |
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| |
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SERIES
1: ORIGINAL VIDEOS |
| |
OV 753.1
RV 753.1 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives
Presentation, Camera A,
March 1, 2000
Total Running Time:
29:26
Sondra Berger, NMAH staff provides opening remarks
about the videoconference, introduces Dr. Bath. Dr. Bath begins
with a slide show discussing 3 basic areas: life/family background;
laser invention; and basic anatomy of the eye. Discusses her
family background growing up in Harlem, the importance of
education, and her experiences at the Yeshiva Albert Einstein
Medical College during high school which was her first exposure
to science and one that shaped her decision to become a doctor.
Emphasizes her enjoyment of international travel and encourages
the students to travel and learn about places outside of their
environment. Elaborates on several of her international trips,
specifically to Tunisia where she performed corneal transplants.
Eraka Bath, Dr. Bath's daughter provides narration of the
work performed in Tunisia. |
| |
OV 753.2
RV 753.2
|
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives
Presentation Camera A,
March 1, 2000
Total Running Time:
29:52
Same information as RV 753.1, but shot a different
angle. |
| |
OV 753.3
RV 753.3 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives
Presentation, Camera A,
March 1, 2000
Total Running Time:
19:05
Continuing coverage of Dr. Bath's work in Tunisia.
Discussion of "telemedicine and reaching out to those who
do not have access. Anatomy of the eye discussed with a camera
shot of a model eye for the explanation. Slides are discussed
during Dr. Bath's presentation, but not shown. Gives the students
a quiz. |
| |
OV 753.4
RV 753.4 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives
Presentation, Camera A,
March 1, 2000
Total Running Time:
19:05
Same footage as RV 753.3, but shot at a different
angle showing the slides and video footage components of Dr.
Bath's presentation. |
| |
OV 753.5
RV 753.5 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives
Presentation, Camera A,
March 1, 2000
Total Running Time:
22:09
Discusses the definition of a cataract, and opacity
of the eye. Slides used by Dr. Bath at this point in the presentation
are not seen from this camera angle. Demos where the lens
of the eye is on dissected cow's eyeballs. Describes the types
of lasers used in ophthalmology. Videotape of a television
newscast discussing Dr. Bath is played, but not seen from
this camera angle. Shows the prototype of her Laserphaco Probe
and emphasizes to the students to exercise their minds, participate
in community service, and to have discipline, work hard and
be truthful. Slight loss of audio. Conclusion of her presentation.
Closing remarks by Sondra Berger. Judy Chelnick, NMAH staff
member displays and explains anatomical models of the whole
eye and a cross section of the eye. |
| |
OV 753.6
RV 753.6 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives
Presentation, Camera A,
March 1, 2000
Total Running Time:
22:09
Same footage as RV 753.5, but this camera angle shows
slides and video footage. |
| |
OV 753.7
RV 753.7 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives
Presentation, Camera A,
March 1, 2000
Total Running Time:
28:50
Laser demonstration by Tom O'Brien, NMAH staff member.
Dr. Bath participates in a question and answer session with
students. Interviews with students asking if they want to
be inventors. |
| |
OV 753.8
RV 753.8 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Innovative Lives
Presentation, Camera A
March 1, 2000
Total Running Time:
3:50
Dr. Bath and her daughter Eraka Bath walking outside
NMAH. |
| |
OV 753.9
RV 753.9 |
Eraka Bath Interview (at NMAH)
March
1, 2000
Total Running Time: 20:35
Discusses her background
and interest in science and medicine and why she decided to
become a doctor. Provides her image of her mother-professional,
detail oriented person who is independent and confident. Speaks
of the obstacles her mother had to overcome-growing up in
Harlem and being the first black, female resident at New York
University in ophthalmology. Eraka states that her goal is
to identify areas in healthcare that need to be fixed and
to allocate funds to the needed areas. |
| |
OV 753.10
RV 753.10 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Interview (February
17, 2000, at her home in Los Angeles)
Total Running Time:
27:43
Discussion begins with the question what did you invent?
Bath discusses her research that culminated in the area of
laser tissue interaction and the surgical technique of inserting
devices used to restore vision. Bath invented while a practicing
ophthalmologist. It was the one-on-one care that inspired
her to do research. Bath cites her project work at UCLA that
was successful and resulted in a publication, and recognition
in the medical community. Explanation of her work in Tunisia
where she restored sight to several patients. Discussion of
her patenting, fiber optic technologies and her 1986 sabbatical
at Berlin's Laser Medical Center where she perfected her technique
of precise drill holes in the eyes lens and sculpting out
parts of the lens. |
| |
OV 753.11
RV 753.11 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Interview (February 17, 2000, at home in Los Angeles)
Total Running Time: 29:44
Bath provides definition of cataract and the Laserphaco. The laser portion of the term refers to the modality for the procedure while the “phaco”is from the Greek term for hard
lens. Continues speaking about her Berlin experience and filing
for a patent in the United States in December 1986. In April
1987, Bath announces to the medical community her invention
and the need for a major manufacturer to commit funding for
clinical trials to bring it to market. In 1991, companies
in the United States start FDA clinical trials with the Laserphaco.
Clarifies the difference between Laserphaco and the laser
technologies available in malls for refracting. In 1998, Bath's
patent issues for an "Apparatus for Ablating and Removing
Cataract Lenses, US patent #4,744,360. Provides a message
to young people to have faith in the power of your own ideas
and self.
|
| |
OV 753.12
RV 753.12 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Interview (February
17, 2000, at home in Los Angeles)
Total Running Time: 28:52 |
| 1 |
OV 753.13
RV 753.13 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Interview (February
17, 2000, at home in Los Angeles)
Total Running Time: 29:00
Telemedicine
meets Dr. Bath's goal of the perfect practice of medicine.
It enhances knowledge and judgment of physicians and the way
they practice. Discusses her work with St. Georges University.
Demonstration of Dr. Bath at her computer working. |
| |
OV 753.14
RV 753.14 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Interview (February
17, 2000, at home in Los Angeles)
Total Running Time: 28:49
Discussion
of anthrax while Dr. Bath is at her computer. Her US patent
#4,744,360, May 17, 1988, An Apparatus for Ablating and Removing
Cataract Lenses is shown. Still photo of Dr. Bath; shots of
academic and professional awards; still photo Dr. Bath with
daughter Eraka as small child, interior shots of Dr. Bath's
home; Dr. Bath leaving her home and getting into her car;
Dr. Bath working in the lab. |
| |
OV 753.15
RV 753.15 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Interview (February
17, 2000, in Los Angeles)
Total Running Time: 21:03
Dr.
Bath in lab at UCLA with eye model explaining the internal
structure of the eye. |
| |
OV 753.16
RV 753.16 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Interview (February
17, 2000, in Los Angeles)
Total Running Time: 13:11
Endocapsular
Excimer Laser Cataract surgery video, no audio.
Part 1
is the technique of phakoablation, a demonstration only. |
| |
OV 753.17
RV 753.17 |
Dr. Patricia Bath Interview (February
17, 2000, in Los Angeles)
Television news coverage regarding
cataract surgery in general and excimer laser research featuring
Dr. Bath. Dr. Bath explains the Laserphaco procedure with
demonstrations at the Laser Medicine Center of Berlin. Includes
a French television piece on Dr. Bath's work in Tunisia, January
1994. |
| |
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SERIES
2: REFERENCE VIDEOS (VIEWING COPIES) |
| 1 |
RV 753.1-14 |
|
| 2 |
RV 753.15-17 |
|
| |
1 |
SERIES
3: SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTATION |
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