Pacemaker
date: label: date made
content: about 1972
name: label: maker
content: Wilson Greatbatch LTD
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This is the inner casing of the first lithium battery for pacemakers. It is housed in a custom made oak case with a brass clasp, hinges, and a key. The rectangular brass plate on the lid is engraved "CPI's Lithium Demand Pacemaker c1973." Staff at Boston Scientific custom made the case. Knowing the pacemaker and case were being donated to the Smithsonian, the craftsmen found information on the web about how to make an "archival" box. The interior of the box has two foam platforms covered with acid-free paper. The bottom platform has a cut out to accommodate the pacemaker. A second platform is fitted to the interior of the lid. The oak box has been stained.
label: Description (Brief)
content: Cardiac Pacemaker Inc. (CPI) established in 1972 was the first company to manufacture a lithium-powered pacemaker. Prior to using lithium batteries, multiple mercury batteries were needed to power implantable pacemakers. The problem? The life of the mercury batteries were good for only about 18 to 24 months. People who relied on pacemakers to regulate their heart had to have their pacemakers replaced and undergo surgery every two to three years.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York
topic: label: Subject
content: Cardiology
label: Subject
content: Surgery
label: Subject
content: Medicine
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2017.0114.02
label: accession number
content: 2017.0114
label: catalog number
content: 2017.0114.02
label: model number
content: 702
objectType: label: Object Name
content: pacemaker
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: stainless steel (can material)
label: Physical Description
content: oak (case material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (case material)
label: Measurements
content: pacemaker: 7.5 cm x 5.1 cm x 1.6 cm; 2 15/16 in x 2 in x 5/8 in
label: Measurements
content: case: 10 cm x 20.1 cm x 17.7 cm; 3 15/16 in x 7 29/32 in x 6 31/32 in