Medtronic Lawsuti Attorney, Williams Kherkher

A History of Pacemakers

The study of the heart has been around for centuries, as long as there have been recognized heart problems. It wasn’t until a half century ago, however, that individuals began to explore the possibilities around fixing heart problems. During this time, the first available pacemakers were developed.

In the beginning, the biggest obstacle with pacemaker development was short battery life. The pulse generators at the time lasted only 12 to 13 months. But scientists were on their way to making a remarkable breakthrough. A different power source called the radioisotopic generator would extend the battery life tremendously. By 1972, the first of these devices was implanted into a live patient.

Not long after this momentous event, over 165 were implanted in different patients from around the country. With an expected lifetime of twenty years, the pacemakers became extremely popular over the next few decades. However, soon, a newer and even more efficient battery design emerged. A lithium-powered battery with a ten-year life expectancy came without regulatory paperwork, thus ridding the earlier version of its longevity advantage. The last radioisotopic generator was implanted in 1988.

Studies which have tracked the performance of these devices over time have suggested that the radioisotopic generator performed as expected. While they were in use, maintenance measures were only for mode changes rather than battery failure.

Since then, pacemakers have become extremely sophisticated, requiring less maintenance while still giving more performance. However, these devices can become dangerous in the event that they malfunction. If this ever happens, you may be eligible to seek out legal aid.

If you or someone you know has suffered because of a malfunctioning pacemaker or heart defibrillator, especially ones manufactured by Medtronic, call a Medtronic lawsuit attorney the law offices of Williams Kherkher at 866.950.9000 today.