Pacemaker Facts | Facts about Pacemakers

Who got the first implanted pacemaker?

Arne Larsson received the first implanted pacemaker in Sweden in 1958 and went on to use 26 different devices before dying at 86.

Wilson Greatbatch invented the implantable pacemaker partly by accident after using the wrong resistor in a circuit.

Early pacemakers were external and had to be plugged into a wall outlet.

Leadless pacemakers can be about the size of a large vitamin capsule.

Pacemaker batteries usually last about 7 to 15 years.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney had his heart device's wireless feature disabled to prevent hacking.

About a million pacemakers are implanted worldwide each year.

Earl Bakken, founder of Medtronic, invented a battery-powered wearable pacemaker in 1957 after a power outage.

Modern pacemakers can send data to doctors remotely.

Pacemakers commonly use lithium iodide batteries.