The History of the Pacemaker

The History of the Pacemaker

The pacemaker is described as an artificial gadget that uses electric impulses to control the heartbeat by relying on its contact with the skin next to the heart. The pacemaker is used to aid people to maintain a constant heart rate in people suffering from cardiac problems. The concept of the pacemaker was developed in the year 1899 by J.A. McWilliams when he discovered that the heartbeat could be evoked by electric impulses applied at intervals equal to 60 -70-heartbeats a minute (Jordeans et al, 2007). The artificial pacemaker concept underwent modifications in the preceding years until an American psychologist Albert Hyman improved on the concept and developed what he called the Hyman’s artificial pacemaker, which continues in use to this date (Greatbatch, 2000). His new invention relied on an electromagnet that was powered by spring-wound cranked motor.

The use of the electric pacemaker has been used to aid people suffering from myocardial infarction to manage the disease. The patients who use pacemakers usually suffer from sinus node dysfunction. The pacemaker was first used in Australia after development in 1926 by doctors Mark Lidwell of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital aided by physicist Edgar Booth of University of Sydney devised the pacemaker, which was first used to resuscitate a baby who had developed complications (Jordeans et al, 2007). The pacemaker was successful such that it was so effective on the baby that the baby’s heart was bale to function after ten minutes. The first clinical application of the pacemaker was in the year 1952 whereby the Zolla pacemaker was used on a 75-year old patient in Boston Beth Israel Hospital who suffered from two consecutive Stokes Adams attacks and heart blockage for two years was aided by the use of the Pacemaker (Jordeans et al, 2007).

The first implanted pacemaker was used on a British man Arne Larsson on March 8 1958 who was suffering from Stoke Adams attacks at the age of 43. The pacemaker underwent more advancement because of technological advancements. During the 1970’s pacemakers were developed which relied on plutonium isotopes for energy. The pacemakers had a remarkable lifespan of ten to twenty years regardless of constant use. Contrary to the advantages attributed to their lifespan, they had a devastating effect on the life of the user due to the exposure to the radioactive plutonium. Moreover, people were concerned over the methods that would be used to dispose of the radioactive isotope and the pacemaker after use (Jordeans et al, 2007).

In the year 1972, a programmable pacemaker was developed that set a precedent for the development of pacemakers with programmable ability. The pacemakers have been a source of hope for people with cardiac problems and continue to give more hope to people as technological advancements aid people to live better lives with the aid of the artificial pacemaker. The use of the pacemaker has increased due to several factors. The existence of foods and advancements in societies has led to people living sedentary lifestyles, which has resulted to an increase in heart related problems. In addition, the increase in populations across the world has resulted in an increase in the demand for the pacemakers (Greatbatch, 2000). The effectiveness of the pacemakers aided by the developments in technology resulted in devices that were reliable for the treatment of myocardial infarction and sinus node syndrome. In the year 1980, most of the pacemakers in the market functioned by the use of lithium ion batteries that were hybrid in nature and would facilitate easy management of the heartbeats of the user. During the 1980’s there was significant competition among manufactures of the pacemakers who delved into the manufacture of pacemakers that were dual chambered which meant that the pacemaker had the ability to facilitate better coordination of the contraction in the ventricles and the atria. In addition, the dual chambered pacemakers had positive physiological effects on the patients

For an individual to meet the criteria for implant he or she must exhibit signs of sinus node syndrome, which is the most common cause of use of the pacemakers according to cardiac medical practioners (Greatbatch, 2000). Sinus mode syndrome is usually common among elderly people due to their ages. In addition, heart block is another common use of the pacemaker and bradycardia, which is caused by drug treatment for heart conditions, warrants the use of pacemakers to save the lives of the patients. Over the past years, advancements have aided in the treatment of more diseases such as tachyarrhythmia, several kinds of syncope and progressive heart malfunction. In addition, technology has aided in the treatment of permanent atrium ventricular blockage (Greatbatch, 2000).

The estimated number of cardiac pacemakers implanted around the world was estimated at 548,000 pacemakers according to estimates from Cardiac Pacing Incorporated. By the end of the year 2000, more than 200,000 pacemakers were implanted in the United States alone at estimated costs of $2 billion (Jordeans et al, 2007).Beyond the year 200 new pacemakers that were more energy efficient than. However, the use of the pacemaker does nor in itself reduce the effect of the disease nor does it cure the sinus node syndrome but instead improve the quality of life of the sufferers and the effects of the disease (Jordeans et al, 2007).

In conclusion, the pacemaker has undergone various advancements owing to the technological advancements attributed to modernization of civilizations. The pacemaker has turned out to be one of the most important gadgets in the history of man. It has aided people with cardiac problems to live quality lives and have the chance to live for prolonged periods that they never thought were possible. Hence the pacemaker can be described a gadget of hope that gives life to those who did no think of living amid their sympathetic health conditions.

 

Attached Article link

Symptomatic Brady arrhythmias in the Adult: Natural History Following Ventricular Pacemaker Implantation http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1982.tb02245.x/abstract
Reference

Greatbatch, W. (2000). The making of the pacemaker: Celebrating a lifesaving invention. Amherst, N.Y: Prometheus Books.

Jordaens, L., & Theuns, D. A. M. J. (2007). Implantable cardioverter defibrillator stored ECGs: Clinical management and case reports. New York: Springer.

Simon, A. B., & Janz, N. (January 01, 1982). Symptomatic bradyarrhythmias in the adult: natural history following ventricular pacemaker implantation. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : Pace, 5, 3, 372-83..

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