WASHINGTON - The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced on Tuesday that Al Langer, the engineer on the medical team that invented the first automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a life saving device used by Vice President Dick Cheney among others, has joined the roster of speakers at this year’s Independent Inventors Conference.

According to a USPTO press release, the conference, co-sponsored by the USPTO and the National Inventors Hall of Fame will take place August 12-13. It will be held this year at the USPTO’s new headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

The registration deadline is August 1. The 10th Annual Independant Inventors Conference is co-sponsored by the USPTO office and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.