Artificial cardiac pacemaker - wikipedia Artificial cardiac pacemaker Jump to : navigation , search `` Pacemaker '' redirects here . For other uses , see Pacemaker ( disambiguation ) . A pacemaker ( or artificial pacemaker , so as not to be confused with the heart 's natural pacemaker ) is a medical device which uses electrical impulses , delivered by electrodes contracting the heart muscles , to regulate the beating of the heart . The primary purpose of a pacemaker is to maintain an adequate heart rate , either because the heart 's natural pacemaker is not fast enough , or because there is a block in the heart 's electrical conduction system . Modern pacemakers are externally programmable and allow a cardiologist to select the optimum pacing modes for individual patients . Some combine a pacemaker and defibrillator in a single implantable device . Others have multiple electrodes stimulating differing positions within the heart to improve synchronisation of the lower chambers ( ventricles ) of the heart . Contents ( hide ) 1 Methods of pacing 1.1 Percussive pacing 1.2 Transcutaneous pacing 1.3 Epicardial pacing ( temporary ) 1.4 Transvenous pacing ( temporary ) 1.5 Subclavicular pacing 2 Basic function 3 Biventricular pacing 4 Advancements in function 5 Considerations 5.1 Insertion 5.1. 1 Pacemaker patient identification card 5.1. 2 Periodic pacemaker checkups 5.2 Magnetic fields , MRIs , and other lifestyle issues 5.3 Turning off the pacemaker 5.4 Privacy and security 5.5 Complications 6 Other devices 7 History 7.1 Origin 7.2 Transcutaneous 7.3 Wearable 7.4 Implantable 7.5 Lithium battery 7.6 Intra-cardial 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Methods of pacing ( edit ) An ECG in a person with an atrial pacemaker . Note the circle around one of the sharp electrical spike in the position where one would expect the P wave . An ECG of a person with a dual chamber pacemaker Percussive pacing ( edit ) Percussive pacing , also known as transthoracic mechanical pacing , is the use of the closed fist , usually on the left lower edge of the sternum over the right ventricle in the vena cava , striking from a distance of 20 -- 30 cm to induce a ventricular beat ( the British Journal of Anaesthesia suggests this must be done to raise the ventricular pressure to 10 -- 15 mmHg to induce electrical activity ) . This is an old procedure used only as a life saving means until an electrical pacemaker is brought to the patient . Transcutaneous pacing ( edit ) Main article : Transcutaneous pacing Transcutaneous pacing ( TCP ) , also called external pacing , is recommended for the initial stabilization of hemodynamically significant bradycardias of all types . The procedure is performed by placing two pacing pads on the patient 's chest , either in the anterior / lateral position or the anterior / posterior position . The rescuer selects the pacing rate , and gradually increases the pacing current ( measured in mA ) until electrical capture ( characterized by a wide QRS complex with a tall , broad T wave on the ECG ) is achieved , with a corresponding pulse . Pacing artifact on the ECG and severe muscle twitching may make this determination difficult . External pacing should not be relied upon for an extended period of time . It is an emergency procedure that acts as a bridge until transvenous pacing or other therapies can be applied . Epicardial pacing ( temporary ) ( edit ) Main article : Epicardial ECG rhythm strip of a threshold determination in a patient with a temporary ( epicardial ) ventricular pacemaker . The epicardial pacemaker leads were placed after the patient collapsed during aortic valve surgery . In the first half of the tracing , pacemaker stimuli at 60 beats per minute result in a wide QRS complex with a right bundle branch block pattern . Progressively weaker pacing stimuli are administered , which results in asystole in the second half of the tracing . At the end of the tracing , distortion results from muscle contractions due to a ( short ) hypoxic seizure . Because decreased pacemaker stimuli do not result in a ventricular escape rhythm , the patient can be said to be pacemaker - dependent and needs a definitive pacemaker . Temporary epicardial pacing is used during open heart surgery should the surgical procedure create atrio - ventricular block . The electrodes are placed in contact with the outer wall of the ventricle ( epicardium ) to maintain satisfactory cardiac output until a temporary transvenous electrode has been inserted . Transvenous pacing ( temporary ) ( edit ) Main article : Transvenous pacing Transvenous pacing , when used for temporary pacing , is an alternative to transcutaneous pacing . A pacemaker wire is placed into a vein , under sterile conditions , and then passed into either the right atrium or right ventricle . The pacing wire is then connected to an external pacemaker outside the body . Transvenous pacing is often used as a bridge to permanent pacemaker placement . It can be kept in place until a permanent pacemaker is implanted or until there is no longer a need for a pacemaker and then it is removed . Right atrial and right ventricular leads as visualized under x-ray during a pacemaker implant procedure . The atrial lead is the curved one making a U shape in the upper left part of the figure . Subclavicular pacing ( edit ) Permanent pacing with an implantable pacemaker involves transvenous placement of one or more pacing electrodes within a chamber , or chambers , of the heart , while the pacemaker is implanted inside the skin under the clavicle . The procedure is performed by incision of a suitable vein into which the electrode lead is inserted and passed along the vein , through the valve of the heart , until positioned in the chamber . The procedure is facilitated by fluoroscopy which enables the physician to view the passage of the electrode lead . After satisfactory lodgement of the electrode is confirmed , the opposite end of the electrode lead is connected to the pacemaker generator . There are three basic types of permanent pacemakers , classified according to the number of chambers involved and their basic operating mechanism : Single - chamber pacemaker . In this type , only one pacing lead is placed into a chamber of the heart , either the atrium or the ventricle . Dual - chamber pacemaker . Here , wires are placed in two chambers of the heart . One lead paces the atrium and one paces the ventricle . This type more closely resembles the natural pacing of the heart by assisting the heart in coordinating the function between the atria and ventricles . Rate - responsive pacemaker . This pacemaker has sensors that detect changes in the patient 's physical activity and automatically adjust the pacing rate to fulfill the body 's metabolic needs . Basic function ( edit ) Modern pacemakers usually have multiple functions . The most basic form monitors the heart 's native electrical rhythm . When the pacemaker does not detect a heartbeat within a normal beat - to - beat time period , it will stimulate the ventricle of the heart with a short low voltage pulse . This sensing and stimulating activity continues on a beat by beat basis . The more complex forms include the ability to sense and / or stimulate both the atrial and ventricular chambers . The revised NASPE / BPEG generic code for antibradycardia pacing II III IV V Chamber ( s ) paced Chamber ( s ) sensed Response to sensing Rate modulation Multisite pacing O = None O = None O = None O = None O = None A = Atrium A = Atrium T = Triggered R = Rate modulation A = Atrium V = Ventricle V = Ventricle I = Inhibited V = Ventricle D = Dual ( A + V ) D = Dual ( A + V ) D = Dual ( T + I ) D = Dual ( A + V ) From this the basic ventricular `` on demand '' pacing mode is VVI or with automatic rate adjustment for exercise VVIR -- this mode is suitable when no synchronization with the atrial beat is required , as in atrial fibrillation . The equivalent atrial pacing mode is AAI or AAIR which is the mode of choice when atrioventricular conduction is intact but the natural pacemaker the sinoatrial node is unreliable -- sinus node disease ( SND ) or sick sinus syndrome . Where the problem is atrioventricular block ( AVB ) the pacemaker is required to detect ( sense ) the atrial beat and after a normal delay ( 0.1 -- 0.2 seconds ) trigger a ventricular beat , unless it has already happened -- this is VDD mode and can be achieved with a single pacing lead with electrodes in the right atrium ( to sense ) and ventricle ( to sense and pace ) . These modes AAIR and VDD are unusual in the US but widely used in Latin America and Europe . The DDDR mode is most commonly used as it covers all the options though the pacemakers require separate atrial and ventricular leads and are more complex , requiring careful programming of their functions for optimal results . Biventricular pacing ( edit ) Three leads can be seen in this example of a cardiac resynchronization device : a right atrial lead ( solid black arrow ) , a right ventricular lead ( dashed black arrow ) , and a coronary sinus lead ( red arrow ) . The coronary sinus lead wraps around the outside of the left ventricle , enabling pacing of the left ventricle . Note that the right ventricular lead in this case has 2 thickened aspects that represent conduction coils and that the generator is larger than typical pacemaker generators , demonstrating that this device is both a pacemaker and a cardioverter - defibrillator , capable of delivering electrical shocks for dangerously fast abnormal ventricular rhythms . Main article : Cardiac resynchronization therapy Cardiac resynchronization therapy ( CRT ) is used for people with heart failure in whom the left and right ventricles do not contract simultaneously ( ventricular dyssynchrony ) , which occurs in approximately 25 -- 50 % of heart failure patients . To achieve CRT , a biventricular pacemaker ( BVP ) is used , which can pace both the septal and lateral walls of the left ventricle . By pacing both sides of the left ventricle , the pacemaker can resynchronize the ventricular contractions . CRT devices have at least two leads , one passing through the vena cava and the right atrium into the right ventricle to stimulate the septum , and another passing through the vena cava and the right atrium and inserted through the coronary sinus to pace the epicardial wall of the left ventricle . Often , for patients in normal sinus rhythm , there is also a lead in the right atrium to facilitate synchrony with the atrial contraction . Thus , timing between the atrial and ventricular contractions , as well as between the septal and lateral walls of the left ventricle can be adjusted to achieve optimal cardiac function . CRT devices have been shown to reduce mortality and improve quality of life in patients with heart failure symptoms ; a LV ejection fraction less than or equal to 35 % and QRS duration on EKG of 120 ms or greater . Biventricular pacing alone is referred to as CRT - P ( for pacing ) . For selected patients at risk of arrhythmias , CRT can be combined with an implantable cardioverter - defibrillator ( ICD ) : such devices , known as CRT - D ( for defibrillation ) , also provide effective protection against life - threatening arrhythmias . Advancements in function ( edit ) X-ray image of installed pacemaker showing wire routing A major step forward in pacemaker function has been to attempt to mimic nature by utilizing various inputs to produce a rate - responsive pacemaker using parameters such as the QT interval , pO -- pCO ( dissolved oxygen or carbon dioxide levels ) in the arterial - venous system , physical activity as determined by an accelerometer , body temperature , ATP levels , adrenaline , etc . Instead of producing a static , predetermined heart rate , or intermittent control , such a pacemaker , a ' Dynamic Pacemaker ' , could compensate for both actual respiratory loading and potentially anticipated respiratory loading . The first dynamic pacemaker was invented by Anthony Rickards of the National Heart Hospital , London , UK , in 1982 . Dynamic pacemaking technology could also be applied to future artificial hearts . Advances in transitional tissue welding would support this and other artificial organ / joint / tissue replacement efforts . Stem cells may be of interest in transitional tissue welding . Many advancements have been made to improve the control of the pacemaker once implanted . Many of these have been made possible by the transition to microprocessor controlled pacemakers . Pacemakers that control not only the ventricles but the atria as well have become common . Pacemakers that control both the atria and ventricles are called dual - chamber pacemakers . Although these dual - chamber models are usually more expensive , timing the contractions of the atria to precede that of the ventricles improves the pumping efficiency of the heart and can be useful in congestive heart failure . Rate responsive pacing allows the device to sense the physical activity of the patient and respond appropriately by increasing or decreasing the base pacing rate via rate response algorithms . The DAVID trials have shown that unnecessary pacing of the right ventricle can exacerbate heart failure and increases the incidence of atrial fibrillation . The newer dual chamber devices can keep the amount of right ventricle pacing to a minimum and thus prevent worsening of the heart disease . Considerations ( edit ) Insertion ( edit ) A pacemaker is typically inserted into the patient through a simple surgery using either local anesthetic or a general anesthetic . The patient may be given a drug for relaxation before the surgery as well . An antibiotic is typically administered to prevent infection . In most cases the pacemaker is inserted in the left shoulder area where an incision is made below the collar bone creating a small pocket where the pacemaker is actually housed in the patient 's body . The lead or leads ( the number of leads varies depending on the type of pacemaker ) are fed into the heart through a large vein using a fluoroscope to monitor the progress of lead insertion . The Right Ventricular lead would be positioned away from the apex ( tip ) of the right ventricle and up on the interventricular septum , below the outflow tract , to prevent deterioration of the strength of the heart . The actual surgery typically lasts 30 to 90 minutes . Following surgery the patient should exercise reasonable care about the wound as it heals . There is a follow - up session during which the pacemaker is checked using a `` programmer '' that can communicate with the device and allows a health care professional to evaluate the system 's integrity and determine the settings such as pacing voltage output . The patient should have the strength of his or her heart analyzed frequently with echocardiography , every 1 or 2 years , to make sure that placement of the right ventricular lead has not led to weakening of the left ventricle . The patient may want to consider some basic preparation before the surgery . The most basic preparation is that people who have body hair on the chest may want to remove the hair by clipping just prior to surgery or using a depilatory agent ( preoperative shaving has been on the decline as it can cause skin breakage and increase infection risk of any surgical procedure ) as the surgery will involve bandages and monitoring equipment to be affixed to the body . Since a pacemaker uses batteries , the device itself will need replacement as the batteries lose power . Device replacement is usually a simpler procedure than the original insertion as it does not normally require leads to be implanted . The typical replacement requires a surgery in which an incision is made to remove the existing device , the leads are removed from the existing device , the leads are attached to the new device , and the new device is inserted into the patient 's body replacing the previous device . Pacemaker patient identification card ( edit ) International pacemaker patient identification cards carry information such as patient data ( among others , symptom primary , ECG , cause ) , pacemaker center ( doctor , hospital ) , IPG ( rate , mode , date of implantation , manufacturer , type ) and lead type . Periodic pacemaker checkups ( edit ) Two types of remote monitoring devices used by pacemaker patients Once the pacemaker is implanted , it is periodically checked to ensure the device is operational and performing appropriately . Depending on the frequency set by the following physician , the device can be checked as often as is necessary . Routine pacemaker checks are typically done in - office every six ( 6 ) months , though will vary depending upon patient / device status and remote monitoring availability . At the time of in - office follow - up , the device will be interrogated to perform diagnostic testing . These tests include : Sensing : the ability of the device to `` see '' intrinsic cardiac activity ( Atrial and ventricular depolarization ) . Impedance : A test to measure lead integrity . Large and / or sudden increases in impedance can be indicative of a lead fracture while large and / or sudden decreases in impedance can signify a breach in lead insulation . Threshold : this test confirms the minimum amount of energy ( both volts and pulse width ) required to reliably depolarize ( capture ) the chamber being tested . As modern pacemakers are `` on - demand '' , meaning that they only pace when necessary , device longevity is affected by how much it is utilized . Other factors affecting device longevity include programmed output and algorithms ( features ) causing a higher level of current drain from the battery . An additional aspect of the in - office check is to examine any events that were stored since the last follow - up . These are typically stored based on specific criteria set by the physician and specific to the patient . Some devices have the availability to display intracardiac electrograms of the onset of the event as well as the event itself . This is especially helpful in diagnosing the cause or origin of the event and making any necessary programming changes . Magnetic fields , mris , and other lifestyle issues ( edit ) A patient 's lifestyle is usually not modified to any great degree after insertion of a pacemaker . There are a few activities that are unwise such as full contact sports and activities that involve intense magnetic fields . The pacemaker patient may find that some types of everyday actions need to be modified . For instance , the shoulder harness of a vehicle seatbelt may be uncomfortable if the harness should fall across the pacemaker insertion site . Any kind of an activity that involves intense magnetic fields should be avoided . This includes activities such as arc welding possibly , with certain types of equipment , or maintaining heavy equipment that may generate intense magnetic fields ( such as a magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) machine ) . However , in February 2011 the FDA approved a new pacemaker device from Medtronic called the Revo MRI SureScan which was the first to be labeled as conditional for MRI use . There are several limitations to its use including certain patients ' qualifications and scan settings . Most major cardiac device manufacturers now have FDA - approved MR - conditional pacemakers . A 2008 U.S. study has found that the magnets in some headphones included with portable music players , when placed within an inch of pacemakers , may cause interference . Some medical procedures may require the use of antibiotics to be administered before the procedure . The patient should inform all medical personnel that he or she has a pacemaker . Some standard medical procedures such as the use of MRI may be ruled out by the patient having a pacemaker . In addition , according to the American Heart Association , some home devices have a remote potential to cause interference by occasionally inhibiting a single beat . Cellphones available in the United States ( less than 3 watts ) do not seem to damage pulse generators or affect how the pacemaker works . Turning off the pacemaker ( edit ) A panel of The Heart Rhythm Society , a specialist organization based in Washington , DC found that it was legal and ethical to honor requests by patients , or by those with legal authority to make decisions for patients , to deactivate implanted cardiac devices . Lawyers say that the legal situation is similar to removing a feeding tube , though there is currently no legal precedent involving pacemakers in the United States of America . A patient in the United States is thought to have a right to refuse or discontinue treatment , including a pacemaker that keeps him or her alive . Physicians have a right to refuse to turn it off , but are advised by the HRS panel that they should refer the patient to a physician who will . Some patients believe that hopeless , debilitating conditions , like those brought on by severe strokes or late - stage dementia , can cause so much suffering that they would prefer not to prolong their lives with supportive measures , such as cardiac devices . Privacy and security ( edit ) Security and privacy concerns have been raised with pacemakers that allow wireless communication . Unauthorized third parties may be able to read patient records contained in the pacemaker , or reprogram the devices , as has been demonstrated by a team of researchers . The demonstration worked at short range ; they did not attempt to develop a long range antenna . The proof of concept exploit helps demonstrate the need for better security and patient alerting measures in remotely accessible medical implants . In response to this threat , Purdue University and Princeton University researchers have developed a prototype firewall device , called MedMon , which is designed to protect wireless medical devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps from attackers . Complications ( edit ) Play media Ultrasound showing non capture of a pacemaker Complications from having surgery to implant a pacemaker are uncommon , but could include : Infection where the pacemaker was implanted . Allergic reaction to the dye or anesthesia used during the procedure . Swelling , bruising or bleeding at the generator site , especially if the patient is taking blood thinners . A possible complication of dual - chamber artificial pacemakers is ' pacemaker - mediated tachycardia ' ( PMT ) , a form of reentrant tachycardia . In PMT , the artificial pacemaker forms the anterograde ( atrium to ventricle ) limb of the circuit and the atrioventricular ( AV ) node forms the retrograde limb ( ventricle to atrium ) of the circuit . Treatment of PMT typically involves reprogramming the pacemaker . Another possible complication is `` pacemaker - tracked tachycardia , '' where a supraventricular tachycardia is tracked by the pacemaker and produces beats from a ventricular lead . This is becoming exceedingly rare as newer devices are often programmed to recognize supraventricular tachycardias and switch to non-tracking modes . Sometimes the leads , which are small diameter wires , from the pacemaker to the implantation site in the heart muscle will need to be removed . The most common reason for lead removal is infection , however over time leads can degrade due to a number of reasons such as lead flexing . Changes to programming of the pacemaker may overcome lead degradation to some extent . However a patient who has several pacemaker replacements over a decade or two in which the leads were reused may require a lead replacement surgery . Lead replacement may be done in one of two ways . Insert a new set of leads without removing the current leads ( not recommended as it provides additional obstruction to blood flow and heart valve function ) or remove the current leads and then insert replacements . The lead removal technique will vary depending on the surgeon 's estimation of the probability that simple traction will suffice to more complex procedures . Leads can normally be disconnected from the pacemaker easily which is why device replacement usually entails simple surgery to access the device and replace it by simply unhooking the leads from the device to replace and hooking the leads to the new device . The possible complications , such as perforation of the heart wall , come from removing the lead ( s ) from the patient 's body . The other end of a pacemaker lead is actually implanted into the heart muscle . In addition leads that have been implanted for a decade or two will usually have attachments to the patient 's body at various places in the pathway from device to heart muscle since the human body tends to incorporate foreign devices into tissue . In some cases such as a device that has been inserted for a short amount of time , removal may involve simple traction to pull the lead from the body . Removal in other cases is typically done with a cutting device which threads over the lead and is moved down the lead to remove any organic attachments with tiny cutting lasers or similar device . Pacemaker lead malposition in various locations has been described in the literature . Depending on the location of the pacer lead and symptoms treatment varies . Another possible complication called twiddler 's syndrome occurs when a patient manipulates the pacemaker and causes the leads to be removed from their intended location and causes possible stimulation of other nerves . Other devices ( edit ) Sometimes devices resembling pacemakers , called implantable cardioverter - defibrillators ( ICDs ) are implanted . These devices are often used in the treatment of patients at risk from sudden cardiac death . An ICD has the ability to treat many types of heart rhythm disturbances by means of pacing , cardioversion , or defibrillation . Some ICD devices can distinguish between ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia ( VT ) , and may try to pace the heart faster than its intrinsic rate in the case of VT , to try to break the tachycardia before it progresses to ventricular fibrillation . This is known as fast - pacing , overdrive pacing , or anti-tachycardia pacing ( ATP ) . ATP is only effective if the underlying rhythm is ventricular tachycardia , and is never effective if the rhythm is ventricular fibrillation . NASPE / BPEG Defibrillator ( NBD ) code -- 1993 II III IV Shock chamber Antitachycardia pacing chamber Tachycardia detection Antibradycardia pacing chamber O = None O = None E = Electrogram O = None A = Atrium A = Atrium H = Hemodynamic A = Atrium V = Ventricle V = Ventricle V = Ventricle D = Dual ( A + V ) D = Dual ( A + V ) D = Dual ( A + V ) Short form of the NASPE / BPEG Defibrillator ( NBD ) code ICD - S ICD with shock capability only ICD - B ICD with bradycardia pacing as well as shock ICD - T ICD with tachycardia ( and bradycardia ) pacing as well as shock History ( edit ) In 1958 , Arne Larsson ( 1915 -- 2001 ) became the first to receive an implantable pacemaker . He had 26 devices during his life and campaigned for other patients needing pacemakers . Origin ( edit ) In 1889 , John Alexander MacWilliam reported in the British Medical Journal ( BMJ ) of his experiments in which application of an electrical impulse to the human heart in asystole caused a ventricular contraction and that a heart rhythm of 60 -- 70 beats per minute could be evoked by impulses applied at spacings equal to 60 -- 70 / minute . In 1926 , Mark C Lidwill of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital of Sydney , supported by physicist Edgar H. Booth of the University of Sydney , devised a portable apparatus which `` plugged into a lighting point '' and in which `` One pole was applied to a skin pad soaked in strong salt solution '' while the other pole `` consisted of a needle insulated except at its point , and was plunged into the appropriate cardiac chamber '' . `` The pacemaker rate was variable from about 80 to 120 pulses per minute , and likewise the voltage variable from 1.5 to 120 volts '' . In 1928 , the apparatus was used to revive a stillborn infant at Crown Street Women 's Hospital , Sydney whose heart continued `` to beat on its own accord '' , `` at the end of 10 minutes '' of stimulation . In 1932 , American physiologist Albert Hyman , with the help of his brother , described an electro - mechanical instrument of his own , powered by a spring - wound hand - cranked motor . Hyman himself referred to his invention as an `` artificial pacemaker '' , the term continuing in use to this day . An apparent hiatus in publication of research conducted between the early 1930s and World War II may be attributed to the public perception of interfering with nature by `` reviving the dead '' . For example , `` Hyman did not publish data on the use of his pacemaker in humans because of adverse publicity , both among his fellow physicians , and due to newspaper reporting at the time . Lidwell may have been aware of this and did not proceed with his experiments in humans '' . Transcutaneous ( edit ) In 1950 , Canadian electrical engineer John Hopps designed and built the first external pacemaker based upon observations by cardio - thoracic surgeon 's Wilfred Gordon Bigelow and John Callaghan at Toronto General Hospital , although the device was first tested at the University of Toronto 's Banting Institute on a dog . A substantial external device using vacuum tube technology to provide transcutaneous pacing , it was somewhat crude and painful to the patient in use and , being powered from an AC wall socket , carried a potential hazard of electrocution of the patient and inducing ventricular fibrillation . A number of innovators , including Paul Zoll , made smaller but still bulky transcutaneous pacing devices in the following years using a large rechargeable battery as the power supply . In 1957 , William L. Weirich published the results of research performed at the University of Minnesota . These studies demonstrated the restoration of heart rate , cardiac output and mean aortic pressures in animal subjects with complete heart block through the use of a myocardial electrode . In 1958 Colombian doctor Alberto Vejarano Laverde and Colombian electrical engineer Jorge Reynolds Pombo constructed an external pacemaker , similar to those of Hopps and Zoll , weighing 45 kg and powered by a 12 volt car lead -- acid battery , but connected to electrodes attached to the heart . This apparatus was successfully used to sustain a 70 - year - old priest , Gerardo Florez . The development of the silicon transistor and its first commercial availability in 1956 was the pivotal event which led to rapid development of practical cardiac pacemaking . Wearable ( edit ) In 1958 , engineer Earl Bakken of Minneapolis , Minnesota , produced the first wearable external pacemaker for a patient of C. Walton Lillehei . This transistorized pacemaker , housed in a small plastic box , had controls to permit adjustment of pacing heart rate and output voltage and was connected to electrode leads which passed through the skin of the patient to terminate in electrodes attached to the surface of the myocardium of the heart . One of the earliest patients to receive this Lucas pacemaker device was a woman in her early 30s in an operation carried out in 1964 at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford by cardiac surgeon Alf Gunning from South Africa and later Professor Gunning who was a student of Christiaan Barnard . This pioneering operation was carried out under the guidance of cardiac consultant Peter Sleight at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford and his cardiac research team at St George 's Hospital in London . Sleight later became Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Oxford University . Implantable ( edit ) Illustration of implanted cardiac pacemaker showing locations of cardiac pacemaker leads The first clinical implantation into a human of a fully implantable pacemaker was in 1958 at the Karolinska Institute in Solna , Sweden , using a pacemaker designed by Rune Elmqvist and surgeon Åke Senning , connected to electrodes attached to the myocardium of the heart by thoracotomy . The device failed after three hours . A second device was then implanted which lasted for two days . The world 's first implantable pacemaker patient , Arne Larsson , went on to receive 26 different pacemakers during his lifetime . He died in 2001 , at the age of 86 , outliving the inventor as well as the surgeon . In 1959 , temporary transvenous pacing was first demonstrated by Seymore Furman and John Schwedel , whereby the catheter electrode was inserted via the patient 's basilic vein . In February 1960 , an improved version of the Swedish Elmqvist design was implanted in Montevideo , Uruguay in the Casmu 1 Hospital by Doctors Orestes Fiandra and Roberto Rubio . That device lasted until the patient died of other ailments , nine months later . The early Swedish - designed devices used rechargeable batteries , which were charged by an induction coil from the outside . It was the first pacemaker implanted in America . Implantable pacemakers constructed by engineer Wilson Greatbatch entered use in humans from April 1960 following extensive animal testing . The Greatbatch innovation varied from the earlier Swedish devices in using primary cells ( mercury battery ) as the energy source . The first patient lived for a further 18 months . The first use of transvenous pacing in conjunction with an implanted pacemaker was by Parsonnet in the United States , Lagergren in Sweden and Jean - Jacques Welti in France in 1962 -- 63 . The transvenous , or pervenous , procedure involved incision of a vein into which was inserted the catheter electrode lead under fluoroscopic guidance , until it was lodged within the trabeculae of the right ventricle . This method was to become the method of choice by the mid-1960s . Cardiothoracic Surgeon Leon Abrams , and Medical Engineer Ray Lightwood , developed and implanted the first patient controlled variable rate heart pacemaker in 1960 at Birmingham University . The first implant took place in March 1960 , with two further implants the following month . These three patients made good recoveries and returned to a high quality of life . By 1966 , 56 patients had undergone implantation with one surviving for over  5 ⁄ years . Lithium battery ( edit ) World 's first Lithium - iodide cell powered pacemaker . Cardiac Pacemakers Inc. 1972 The preceding implantable devices all suffered from the unreliability and short lifetime of the available primary cell technology which was mainly that of the mercury battery . In the late 1960s , several companies , including ARCO in the USA , developed isotope - powered pacemakers , but this development was overtaken by the development in 1971 of the lithium iodide cell by Wilson Greatbatch . Lithium - iodide or lithium anode cells became the standard for future pacemaker designs . A further impediment to reliability of the early devices was the diffusion of water vapour from the body fluids through the epoxy resin encapsulation affecting the electronic circuitry . This phenomenon was overcome by encasing the pacemaker generator in a hermetically sealed metal case , initially by Telectronics of Australia in 1969 followed by Cardiac Pacemakers Inc of Minneapolis in 1972 . This technology , using titanium as the encasing metal , became the standard by the mid-1970s . On July 9 , 1974 , Manuel A. Villafaña and Anthony Adducci founders of Cardiac Pacemakers , Inc . ( Guidant ) in St. Paul , Minnesota , manufactured the world 's first pacemaker with a lithium anode and a lithium - iodide electrolyte solid - state battery . Others who contributed significantly to the technological development of the pacemaker in the pioneering years were Bob Anderson of Medtronic Minneapolis , J.G ( Geoffrey ) Davies of St George 's Hospital London , Barouh Berkovits and Sheldon Thaler of American Optical , Geoffrey Wickham of Telectronics Australia , Walter Keller of Cordis Corp. of Miami , Hans Thornander who joined previously mentioned Rune Elmquist of Elema - Schonander in Sweden , Janwillem van den Berg of the Netherlands and Anthony Adducci of Cardiac Pacemakers Inc . Intra-cardial ( edit ) In 2013 , multiple firms announced devices that could be inserted via a leg catheter rather than invasive surgery . The devices are roughly the size and shape of a pill , much smaller than the size of a traditional pacemaker . Once implanted , the device 's prongs contact the muscle and stabilize heartbeats . Engineers and scientists are currently working on this type of device . In November 2014 a patient , Bill Pike of Fairbanks , Alaska , received a Medtronic Micra pacemaker in Providence St Vincent Hospital in Portland Oregon . D. Randolph Jones was the EP doctor . In 2014 also St. Jude Medical Inc. announced the first enrollments in the company 's leadless Pacemaker Observational Study evaluating the Nanostim leadless pacing technology . The Nanostim pacemaker received CE marking in 2013 . The post-approval implants have occurred in Europe . The European study was recently stopped , after there were reports of six perforations that led to two patient deaths . After investigations St Jude Medical restarted the study . But in the United States this therapy is still not approved by the FDA . While the St Jude Nanostim and the Medtronic Micra are just single - chamber pacemakers it is anticipated that leadless dual - chamber pacing for patients with atrioventricular block will become possible with further development . See also ( edit ) Biological pacemaker Button cell Electrical conduction system of the heart Implantable cardioverter - defibrillator Infective endocarditis Pacemaker syndrome WiTricity Qi ( inductive power standard ) References ( edit ) Jump up ^ Eich C , Bleckmann A , Paul T ( October 2005 ) . `` Percussion pacing in a three - year - old girl with complete heart block during cardiac catheterization '' . Br J Anaesth. 95 ( 4 ) : 465 -- 7 . doi : 10.1093 / bja / aei209 . PMID 16051649 . ^ Jump up to : `` Pacemakers , Patient and Public Information Center : Heart Rhythm Society '' . Jump up ^ `` Self - contained mini pacemaker is implanted right into the heart '' . Gizmag.com . Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 18 . Jump up ^ Strickland , Eliza . `` Teeny Tiny Pacemaker Fits Inside the Heart -- IEEE Spectrum '' . Spectrum.ieee.org . Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 18 . Jump up ^ Bernstein AD , Daubert JC , Fletcher RD , Hayes DL , Lüderitz B , Reynolds DW , Schoenfeld MH , Sutton R ( 2002 ) . `` The revised NASPE / BPEG generic code for antibradycardia , adaptive - rate , and multisite pacing . North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology / British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group '' . Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 25 ( 2 ) : 260 -- 4 . doi : 10.1046 / j. 1460 - 9592.2002. 00260. x . PMID 11916002 . Jump up ^ Böhm A , Pintér A , Székely A , Préda I ( 1998 ) . `` Clinical Observations with Long - term Atrial Pacing '' . Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 21 ( 1 ) : 246 -- 9 . doi : 10.1111 / j. 1540 - 8159.1998. tb01097. x . PMID 9474681 . Jump up ^ Crick JC ( 1991 ) . `` European Multicenter Prospective Follow - Up Study of 1,002 Implants of a Single Lead VDD Pacing System '' . Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 14 ( 11 ) : 1742 -- 4 . doi : 10.1111 / j. 1540 - 8159.1991. tb02757. x . PMID 1749727 . Jump up ^ Cleland JG , Daubert JC , Erdmann E , Freemantle N , Gras D , Kappenberger L , Tavazzi L ( 2005 ) . `` The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure '' . N. Engl. J. Med. 352 ( 15 ) : 1539 -- 49 . doi : 10.1056 / NEJMoa050496 . PMID 15753115 . Jump up ^ Bardy GH , Lee KL , Mark DB , Poole JE , Packer DL , Boineau R , Domanski M , Troutman C , Anderson J , Johnson G , McNulty SE , Clapp - Channing N , Davidson - Ray LD , Fraulo ES , Fishbein DP , Luceri RM , Ip JH ( 2005 ) . `` Amiodarone or an implantable cardioverter - defibrillator for congestive heart failure '' . N. Engl. J. Med. 352 ( 3 ) : 225 -- 37 . doi : 10.1056 / NEJMoa043399 . PMID 15659722 . Jump up ^ Ganjehei L , Razavi M , Massumi A ( 2011 ) . `` Cardiac resynchronization therapy : a decade of experience and the dilemma of nonresponders '' . Texas Heart Institute journal . 38 ( 4 ) : 358 -- 60 . PMC 3147217 . PMID 21841860 . Jump up ^ `` Anthony Francis Rickards '' . Heart . 90 ( 9 ) : 981 -- 2 . 2004 . doi : 10.1136 / hrt. 2004.045674 . PMC 1768450 . Jump up ^ Wilkoff BL , Cook JR , Epstein AE , Greene HL , Hallstrom AP , Hsia H , Kutalek SP , Sharma A ( December 2002 ) . `` Dual - chamber pacing or ventricular backup pacing in patients with an implantable defibrillator : the Dual Chamber and VVI Implantable Defibrillator ( DAVID ) Trial '' . JAMA. 288 ( 24 ) : 3115 -- 23 . doi : 10.1001 / jama. 288.24. 3115 . PMID 12495391 . Jump up ^ de Oliveira JC , Martinelli M , Nishioka SA , Varejão T , Uipe D , Pedrosa AA , Costa R , D'Avila A , Danik SB ( 2009 ) . `` Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to the implantation of pacemakers and cardioverter - defibrillators : Results of a large , prospective , randomized , double - blinded , placebo - controlled trial '' . Circ Arrhythmia Electrophysiol. 2 ( 1 ) : 29 -- 34 . doi : 10.1161 / CIRCEP. 108.795906 . PMID 19808441 . Jump up ^ European Pacemaker Patient Identification card Archived December 6 , 2010 , at the Wayback Machine . Jump up ^ `` Eucomed - Home '' . eucomed.com . Jump up ^ Marco D , Eisinger G , Hayes DL ( November 1992 ) . `` Testing of work environments for electromagnetic interference '' . Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 15 ( 11 Pt 2 ) : 2016 -- 22 . doi : 10.1111 / j. 1540 - 8159.1992. tb03013. x . PMID 1279591 . Jump up ^ FDA , `` Recently - Approved Devices : Revo MRI SureScan Pacing System '' . 2013 . Jump up ^ magneticresonancesafetytesting.com Jump up ^ Larry Husten . `` FDA Approves Second Generation MRI - Friendly Pacemaker System From Medtronic '' . Forbes , 2013 - 02 - 13 . Jump up ^ `` MP3 Headphones Interfere With Implantable Defibrillators , Pacemakers -- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center '' . www.bidmc.org . Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 10 . Jump up ^ `` What is a pacemaker ? '' . HRMReview . Archived from the original on 22 May 2014 . Retrieved 22 May 2014 . Jump up ^ Heart devices can be turned off near end of life ; Physicians can deactivate implanted defibrillators and pacemakers when terminally ill patients request it , according to new guidelines from the Heart Rhythm Society . Kevin B. O'Reilly , amednews , May 31 , 2010 . Jump up ^ What Broke My Father 's Heart By KATY BUTLER , New York Times , June 14 , 2010 ^ Jump up to : Halperin , Daniel ; Thomas S. Heydt - Benjamin ; Benjamin Ransford ; Shane S. Clark ; Benessa Defend ; Will Morgan ; Kevin Fu ; Tadayoshi Kohno ; William H. Maisel ( May 2008 ) . Pacemakers and Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators : Software Radio Attacks and Zero - Power Defenses ( PDF ) . IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy . Retrieved 2008 - 08 - 10 . Jump up ^ `` Researchers Develop Personal Firewall Solution for Pacemakers , Insulin Pumps '' . eSecurityPlanet.com. 2012 - 04 - 20 . Retrieved 2012 - 04 - 20 . Jump up ^ `` UOTW # 15 - Ultrasound of the Week '' . Ultrasound of the Week . 26 August 2014 . Retrieved 27 May 2017 . Jump up ^ `` Risks - Pacemaker - Mayo Clinic '' . www.mayoclinic.org . Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 01 . ^ Jump up to : eMedicine > Pacemaker - Mediated Tachycardia Author : Brian Olshansky , MD . Coauthor ( s ) : Chirag M Sandesara , MD ; Noel G Boyle , MB , BCh , MD , PhD . Updated : Jun 17 , 2008 Jump up ^ Transvenous Lead Extraction : Heart Rhythm Society Expert Consensus on Facilities , Training , Indications , and Patient Management Author : Bruce L. Wilkoff , MD . Coauthor ( s ) : Charles J. Love , MD , FHRS , Charles L. Byrd , MD , Maria Grazia Bongiorni , MD , Roger G. Carrillo , MD , FHRS , George H. Crossley , III , MD , FHRS , Laurence M. Epstein , MD , Richard A. Friedman , MD , MBA , FHRS , Charles E.H. Kennergren , MD , PhD , FHRS , Przemyslaw Mitkowski , MD , Raymond H.M. Schaerf , MD , FHRS , Oussama M. Wazni , MD Jump up ^ Kalavakunta , Jagadeesh Kumar ; Gupta , Vishal ; Paulus , Basil ; Lapenna , William ( 2014 - 01 - 01 ) . `` An unusual cause of transient ischemic attack in a patient with pacemaker '' . Case Reports in Cardiology. 2014 : 265759 . doi : 10.1155 / 2014 / 265759 . ISSN 2090 - 6404 . PMC 4008350 . PMID 24826308 . ^ Jump up to : Bernstein AD , Camm AJ , Fisher JD , Fletcher RD , Mead RH , Nathan AW , Parsonnet V , Rickards AF , Smyth NP , Sutton R ( 1993 ) . `` North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology policy statement . NASPE / BPEG defibrillator code '' . Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 16 ( 9 ) : 1776 -- 80 . doi : 10.1111 / j. 1540 - 8159.1993. tb01809. x . PMID 7692407 . Jump up ^ McWilliam JA ( 1899 ) . `` Electrical stimulation of the heart in man '' . Br Med J. 1 ( 1468 ) : 348 -- 50 . doi : 10.1136 / bmj. 1.1468. 348 . PMC 2154721 ... `` Electrical Stimulation of the Heart in Man -- 1899 '' , Accessed Jan 27 , 2014 . Jump up ^ Lidwell MC , `` Cardiac Disease in Relation to Anaesthesia '' in Transactions of the Third Session , Australasian Medical Congress , Sydney , Australia , Sept. 2 -- 7 , 1929 , p. 160 . ^ Jump up to : Mond HG , Sloman JG , Edwards RH ( 1982 ) . `` The first pacemaker '' . Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 5 ( 2 ) : 278 -- 82 . doi : 10.1111 / j. 1540 - 8159.1982. tb02226. x . PMID 6176970 . Jump up ^ Aquilina O ( 2006 ) . `` A brief history of cardiac pacing '' . Images Paediatr Cardiol. 27 : 17 -- 81 . Archived from the original on 2014 - 05 - 22 . Jump up ^ Furman S , Szarka G , Layvand D ( 2005 ) . `` Reconstruction of Hyman 's second pacemaker '' . Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 28 ( 5 ) : 446 -- 53 . doi : 10.1111 / j. 1540 - 8159.2005. 09542. x . PMID 15869680 . Jump up ^ `` John Alexander Hopps fonds '' . Archival description . Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved 16 Sep 2016 . Jump up ^ `` IEEE Milestone in Electrical Engineering and Computing '' . Retrieved September 5 , 2009 . Jump up ^ Harvard News Office . `` Harvard Gazette : Paul Maurice Zoll '' . harvard.edu . Jump up ^ Weirich WL , Gott VL , Lillehei CW ( 1957 ) . `` The treatment of complete heart block by the combined use of a myocardial electrode and an artificial pacemaker '' . Surg Forum. 8 : 360 -- 3 . PMID 13529629 . Jump up ^ `` Gunning , Alfred James -- Biographical entry -- Plarr 's Lives of the Fellows Online '' . Livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk . Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 29 . Jump up ^ `` Our history -- NDS '' . Nds.ox.ac.uk . Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 29 . Jump up ^ `` British Cardiovascular Society '' . Bcs.com . Archived from the original on 2013 - 12 - 12 . Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 29 . Jump up ^ Record CO , Sleight P , Gunning AJ , Kenworthy - Browne JM , Richings M ( Nov 1971 ) . `` Treatment of chronic heart block with the Lucas induction coil pacemaker '' ( PDF ) . Br Heart J. 33 : 938 -- 42 . doi : 10.1136 / hrt. 33.6. 938 . PMC 458452 . PMID 5120241 . CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Altman , Lawrence ( 18 Jan 2002 ) . `` Arne H.W. Larsson , 86 ; Had First Internal Pacemaker '' . New York Times . Retrieved 3 March 2014 . Jump up ^ Furman S , Schwedel JB ( 1959 ) . `` An intracardiac pacemaker for Stokes - Adams seizures '' . N. Engl. J. Med. 261 ( 5 ) : 943 -- 8 . doi : 10.1056 / NEJM195911052611904 . PMID 13825713 . Jump up ^ Parsonnet V ( 1978 ) . `` Permanent transvenous pacing in 1962 '' . Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1 ( 2 ) : 265 -- 8 . doi : 10.1111 / j. 1540 - 8159.1978. tb03472. x . PMID 83641 . Jump up ^ Parsonnet V , Zucker IR , Asa MM ( 1962 ) . `` Preliminary Investigation of the Development of a Permanent Implantable Pacemaker Using an Intracardiac Dipolar Electrode '' . Clin. Res. 10 : 391 . Jump up ^ Parsonnet V , Zucker IR , Gilbert L , Asa M ( 1962 ) . `` An intracardiac bipolar electrode for interim treatment of complete heart block '' . Am. J. Cardiol. 10 : 261 -- 5 . doi : 10.1016 / 0002 - 9149 ( 62 ) 90305 - 3 . PMID 14484083 . Jump up ^ Lagergren H ( 1978 ) . `` How it happened : my recollection of early pacing '' . Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1 ( 1 ) : 140 -- 3 . doi : 10.1111 / j. 1540 - 8159.1978. tb03451. x . PMID 83610 . Jump up ^ Lagergren H , Johansson L ( 1963 ) . `` Intracardiac stimulation for complete heart block '' . Acta chirurgica Scandinavica. 125 : 562 -- 566 . PMID 13928055 . Jump up ^ Jean Jacques Welti : Biography , Heart Rhythm Foundation Jump up ^ Blue Plaque Guide Jump up ^ `` University of Birmingham '' . bhamalumni.org . ^ Jump up to : US 3822707 Jump up ^ `` Pioneers of the Medical Device Industry '' . Minnesota Historical Society . Jump up ^ US US3822707 Jump up ^ `` Medtronic 's Minimally Invasive Pacemaker the Size of a Multivitamin '' . Singularity Hub . Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 29 . Jump up ^ `` European Post-Approval Trial for Nanostim '' . DAIC . Jump up ^ `` First - in - Human Data '' . Medscape . Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 19 . Jump up ^ `` Leadless Pacing from St. Jude Medical '' . Archived from the original on 2014 - 10 - 29 . Jump up ^ `` First Published Data on Leadless Pacemaker Supports Efficacy '' . Medscape . Jump up ^ Lucas Mearian ( 31 October 2012 ) . `` Power play : Wireless charging at a distance arrives '' . Computerworld . Jump up ^ `` Wireless Power & The QI Standard - Wireless Charging Standard '' . qistandard.org . External links ( edit ) Detecting and Distinguishing Cardiac Pacing Artifacts Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator from National Heart , Lung and Blood Institute Biventricular Pacemaker : What is Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ? Podcast from the Medical University of South Carolina Current indications for CRT - P and CRT - D : Webinar from the European Heart Rhythm Association ( EHRA ) ( hide ) Surgery and other procedures involving the heart ( ICD - 9 - CM V3 35 -- 37 + 89.4 + 99.6 , ICD - 10 - PCS 02 ) Surgery and IC Heart valves and septa Valve repair Valvulotomy Mitral valve repair Valvuloplasty aortic mitral Valve replacement Aortic valve repair Aortic valve replacement Ross procedure Percutaneous aortic valve replacement Mitral valve replacement production of septal defect in heart enlargement of existing septal defect Atrial septostomy Balloon septostomy creation of septal defect in heart Blalock -- Hanlon procedure shunt from heart chamber to blood vessel atrium to pulmonary artery Fontan procedure left ventricle to aorta Rastelli procedure right ventricle to pulmonary artery Sano shunt compound procedures for transposition of great vessels Jatene procedure Mustard procedure for univentricular defect Norwood procedure Kawashima procedure shunt from blood vessel to blood vessel systemic circulation to pulmonary artery shunt Blalock -- Taussig shunt SVC to the right PA Glenn procedure Cardiac vessels CHD Angioplasty Bypass / Coronary artery bypass MIDCAB Off - pump CAB TECAB Coronary stent Bare - metal stent Drug - eluting stent Bentall procedure Valve - sparing aortic root replacement Other Pericardium Pericardiocentesis Pericardial window Pericardiectomy Myocardium Cardiomyoplasty Dor procedure Septal myectomy Ventricular reduction Alcohol septal ablation Conduction system Maze procedure Cox maze and minimaze Catheter ablation Cryoablation Radiofrequency ablation Pacemaker insertion Left atrial appendage occlusion Cardiotomy Heart transplantation Diagnostic tests and procedures Electrophysiology Electrocardiography Vectorcardiography Holter monitor Implantable loop recorder Cardiac stress test Bruce protocol Electrophysiology study Cardiac imaging Angiocardiography Echocardiography TTE TEE Myocardial perfusion imaging Cardiovascular MRI Ventriculography Radionuclide ventriculography Cardiac catheterization / Coronary catheterization Cardiac CT Cardiac PET sound Phonocardiogram Function tests Impedance cardiography Ballistocardiography Cardiotocography Pacing Cardioversion Transcutaneous pacing GND : 4024697 - 8 NDL : 00576730 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Artificial_cardiac_pacemaker&oldid=815365380 '' Categories : 1959 introductions Cardiac electrophysiology Embedded systems Implants ( medicine ) Neuroprosthetics Prosthetics Cybernetics Biomedical engineering Medical devices Australian inventions Colombian inventions Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from December 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Articles with dead external links from July 2017 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2013 Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه বাংলা Беларуская ( тарашкевіца )  Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Español Euskara Français Frysk ગુજરાતી हिन्दी Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Magyar Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Slovenčina Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Türkçe Українська Winaray 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 14 December 2017 , at 11 : 31 . Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply . By using this site , you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation , Inc. , a non-profit organization . About Wikipedia

Question: pace maker is associated with which body organ


NBA Most Valuable player award - wikipedia NBA Most Valuable player award This is the latest accepted revision , reviewed on 4 December 2017 . Jump to : navigation , search ( hide ) National Basketball Association awards and honors Championship O'Brien Trophy Brown Trophy ( defunct ) Individual awards All - Star Game MVP Bill Russell Finals MVP Coach of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Executive of the Year J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Community Assist Award Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player Rookie of the Year Sixth Man of the Year Sportsmanship Award Twyman -- Stokes Teammate of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award Honors All - NBA Team All - Rookie Team All - Defensive Team The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award ( MVP ) is an annual National Basketball Association ( NBA ) award given since the 1955 -- 56 season to the best performing player of the regular season . The winner receives the Maurice Podoloff Trophy , which is named in honor of the first commissioner ( then president ) of the NBA , who served from 1946 until 1963 . Until the 1979 -- 80 season , the MVP was selected by a vote of NBA players . Since the 1980 -- 81 season , the award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada , each of whom casts a vote for first to fifth place selections . Each first - place vote is worth 10 points ; each second - place vote is worth seven ; each third - place vote is worth five , fourth - place is worth three and fifth - place is worth one . Starting from 2010 , one ballot was cast by fans through online voting . The player with the highest point total wins the award . As of June 2017 , the current holder of the award is Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder . Every player who has won this award and has been eligible for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has been inducted . Kareem Abdul - Jabbar won the award a record six times . Both Bill Russell and Michael Jordan won the award five times , while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James won the award four times . Russell and James are the only players to have won the award four times in five seasons . Moses Malone , Larry Bird and Magic Johnson each won the award three times , while Bob Pettit , Karl Malone , Tim Duncan , Steve Nash and Stephen Curry have each won it twice . Only two rookies have won the award : Wilt Chamberlain in the 1959 -- 60 season and Wes Unseld in the 1968 -- 69 season . Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria , Tim Duncan of the U.S. Virgin Islands , Steve Nash of Canada and Dirk Nowitzki of Germany are the only MVP winners considered `` international players '' by the NBA . Stephen Curry in 2015 -- 16 is the only player to have won the award unanimously . Shaquille O'Neal in 1999 -- 2000 and LeBron James in 2012 -- 13 are the only two players to have fallen one vote shy of a unanimous selection , both receiving 120 of 121 votes . The most recent winner , Russell Westbrook , is the first to have played for a team that failed to win at least 50 regular - season games since the 1982 -- 83 season . Every player to have won the award has made at least one appearance as a player in the NBA Finals , with the exceptions of Steve Nash and Derrick Rose . Contents ( hide ) 1 Winners 2 Multi-time winners 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References Winners Bill Russell ( left ) won the award five times in his NBA career . Wilt Chamberlain ( center ) won the award four times in his career . Kareem Abdul - Jabbar won the award a record - setting six times in his career . Michael Jordan won the award five times in his career . LeBron James is a four - time NBA MVP . Tim Duncan , of the San Antonio Spurs , won back - to - back Most Valuable Player awards in the ' 01 - 02 and ' 02 - 03 seasons . Derrick Rose became the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22 . Stephen Curry won back - to - back MVP awards in the ' 14 - 15 and ' 15 - 16 seasons . Russell Westbrook is the reigning MVP . Denotes player who is still active in the NBA * Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Denotes player whose team won championship that year Player ( X ) Denotes the number of times the player had been named MVP at that time Team ( X ) Denotes the number of times a player from this team had won at that time Season Player Position Nationality Team 1955 -- 56 Pettit , Bob Bob Pettit * Forward United States St. Louis Hawks 1956 -- 57 Cousy , Bob Bob Cousy * Guard United States Boston Celtics 1957 -- 58 Russell , Bill Bill Russell * Center United States Boston Celtics ( 2 ) 1958 -- 59 Pettit , Bob Bob Pettit * ( 2 ) Forward United States St. Louis Hawks ( 2 ) 1959 -- 60 Chamberlain , Wilt Wilt Chamberlain * Center United States Philadelphia Warriors 1960 -- 61 Russell , Bill Bill Russell * ( 2 ) Center United States Boston Celtics ( 3 ) 1961 -- 62 Russell , Bill Bill Russell * ( 3 ) Center United States Boston Celtics ( 4 ) 1962 -- 63 Russell , Bill Bill Russell * ( 4 ) Center United States Boston Celtics ( 5 ) 1963 -- 64 Robertson , Oscar Oscar Robertson * Guard United States Cincinnati Royals 1964 -- 65 Russell , Bill Bill Russell * ( 5 ) Center United States Boston Celtics ( 6 ) 1965 -- 66 Chamberlain , Wilt Wilt Chamberlain * ( 2 ) Center United States Philadelphia 76ers 1966 -- 67 Chamberlain , Wilt Wilt Chamberlain * ( 3 ) Center United States Philadelphia 76ers ( 2 ) 1967 -- 68 Chamberlain , Wilt Wilt Chamberlain * ( 4 ) Center United States Philadelphia 76ers ( 3 ) 1968 -- 69 Unseld , Wes Wes Unseld * Center / Forward United States Baltimore Bullets 1969 -- 70 Reed , Willis Willis Reed * Center United States New York Knicks 1970 -- 71 Aaa Lew Alcindor * Center United States Milwaukee Bucks 1971 -- 72 Abdul - Jabbar , Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar * ( 2 ) Center United States Milwaukee Bucks ( 2 ) 1972 -- 73 Cowens , Dave Dave Cowens * Center United States Boston Celtics ( 7 ) 1973 -- 74 Abdul - Jabbar , Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar * ( 3 ) Center United States Milwaukee Bucks ( 3 ) 1974 -- 75 McAdoo , Bob Bob McAdoo * Forward / Center United States Buffalo Braves 1975 -- 76 Abdul - Jabbar , Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar * ( 4 ) Center United States Los Angeles Lakers 1976 -- 77 Abdul - Jabbar , Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar * ( 5 ) Center United States Los Angeles Lakers ( 2 ) 1977 -- 78 Walton , Bill Bill Walton * Center United States Portland Trail Blazers 1978 -- 79 Malone , Moses Moses Malone * Center United States Houston Rockets 1979 -- 80 Abdul - Jabbar , Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar * ( 6 ) Center United States Los Angeles Lakers ( 3 ) 1980 -- 81 Erving , Julius Julius Erving * Forward United States Philadelphia 76ers ( 4 ) 1981 -- 82 Malone , Moses Moses Malone * ( 2 ) Center United States Houston Rockets ( 2 ) 1982 -- 83 Malone , Moses Moses Malone * ( 3 ) Center United States Philadelphia 76ers ( 5 ) 1983 -- 84 Bird , Larry Larry Bird * Forward United States Boston Celtics ( 8 ) 1984 -- 85 Bird , Larry Larry Bird * ( 2 ) Forward United States Boston Celtics ( 9 ) 1985 -- 86 Bird , Larry Larry Bird * ( 3 ) Forward United States Boston Celtics 910 ! Boston Celtics ( 10 ) 1986 -- 87 Johnson , Magic Magic Johnson * Guard United States Los Angeles Lakers ( 4 ) 1987 -- 88 Jordan , Michael Michael Jordan * Guard United States Chicago Bulls 1988 -- 89 Johnson , Magic Magic Johnson * ( 2 ) Guard United States Los Angeles Lakers ( 5 ) 1989 -- 90 Johnson , Magic Magic Johnson * ( 3 ) Guard United States Los Angeles Lakers ( 6 ) 1990 -- 91 Jordan , Michael Michael Jordan * ( 2 ) Guard United States Chicago Bulls ( 2 ) 1991 -- 92 Jordan , Michael Michael Jordan * ( 3 ) Guard United States Chicago Bulls ( 3 ) 1992 -- 93 Barkley , Charles Charles Barkley * Forward United States Phoenix Suns 1993 -- 94 Olajuwon , Hakeem Hakeem Olajuwon * Center Nigeria Houston Rockets ( 3 ) 1994 -- 95 Robinson , David David Robinson * Center United States San Antonio Spurs 1995 -- 96 Jordan , Michael Michael Jordan * ( 4 ) Guard United States Chicago Bulls ( 4 ) 1996 -- 97 Malone , Karl Karl Malone * Forward United States Utah Jazz 1997 -- 98 Jordan , Michael Michael Jordan * ( 5 ) Guard United States Chicago Bulls ( 5 ) 1998 -- 99 Malone , Karl Karl Malone * ( 2 ) Forward United States Utah Jazz ( 2 ) 1999 -- 00 O'Neal , Shaquille Shaquille O'Neal * Center United States Los Angeles Lakers ( 7 ) 2000 -- 01 Iverson , Allen Allen Iverson * Guard United States Philadelphia 76ers ( 6 ) 2001 -- 02 Duncan , Tim Tim Duncan Forward / Center United States San Antonio Spurs ( 2 ) 2002 -- 03 Duncan , Tim Tim Duncan ( 2 ) Forward / Center United States San Antonio Spurs ( 3 ) 2003 -- 04 Garnett , Kevin Kevin Garnett Forward / Center United States Minnesota Timberwolves 2004 -- 05 Nash , Steve Steve Nash Guard Canada Phoenix Suns ( 2 ) 2005 -- 06 Nash , Steve Steve Nash ( 2 ) Guard Canada Phoenix Suns ( 3 ) 2006 -- 07 Nowitzki , Dirk Dirk Nowitzki ^ Forward Germany Dallas Mavericks 2007 -- 08 Bryant , Kobe Kobe Bryant Guard United States Los Angeles Lakers ( 8 ) 2008 -- 09 James , LeBron LeBron James ^ Forward United States Cleveland Cavaliers 2009 -- 10 James , LeBron LeBron James ^ ( 2 ) Forward United States Cleveland Cavaliers ( 2 ) 2010 -- 11 Rose , Derrick Derrick Rose ^ Guard United States Chicago Bulls ( 6 ) 2011 -- 12 James , LeBron LeBron James ^ ( 3 ) Forward United States Miami Heat 2012 -- 13 James , LeBron LeBron James ^ ( 4 ) Forward United States Miami Heat ( 2 ) 2013 -- 14 Durant , Kevin Kevin Durant ^ Forward United States Oklahoma City Thunder 2014 -- 15 Curry , Stephen Stephen Curry ^ Guard United States Golden State Warriors ( 2 ) 2015 -- 16 Curry , Stephen Stephen Curry ^ ( 2 ) Guard United States Golden State Warriors ( 3 ) 2016 -- 17 Westbrook , Russell Russell Westbrook ^ Guard United States Oklahoma City Thunder ( 2 ) Multi-time winners Rank Player Team ( s ) Awards Years Kareem Abdul - Jabbar Milwaukee Bucks ( 3 ) / Los Angeles Lakers ( 3 ) 6 1971 , 1972 , 1974 , 1976 , 1977 , 1980 Bill Russell Boston Celtics 5 1958 , 1961 , 1962 , 1963 , 1965 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 1988 , 1991 , 1992 , 1996 , 1998 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia Warriors ( 1 ) / Philadelphia 76ers ( 3 ) 1960 , 1966 , 1967 , 1968 LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers ( 2 ) / Miami Heat ( 2 ) 2009 , 2010 , 2012 , 2013 6 Moses Malone Houston Rockets ( 2 ) / Philadelphia 76ers ( 1 ) 1979 , 1982 , 1983 Larry Bird Boston Celtics 1984 , 1985 , 1986 Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers 1987 , 1989 , 1990 9 Bob Pettit St. Louis Hawks 1956 , 1959 Karl Malone Utah Jazz 1997 , 1999 Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs 2002 , 2003 Steve Nash Phoenix Suns 2005 , 2006 Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 2015 , 2016 See also National Basketball Association portal Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award NBA All - Star Game Most Valuable Player Award NBA Development League Most Valuable Player Award NOTES Jump up ^ The official title of the position was President until 1967 when it was changed to Commissioner . ^ Jump up to : Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria , but became a naturalized United States citizen in 1993 . He was the first ever international player to win the award . ^ Jump up to : Although Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and is a United States citizen , the NBA considers him an international player . ^ Jump up to : Steve Nash , who was born in South Africa , was raised in Canada . Jump up ^ Allen Iverson received the only other first - place vote in 2000 , while Carmelo Anthony received the only other first - place vote in 2013 . Jump up ^ Except for seasons affected by lockouts , when the schedule was shortened from the norm of 82 games . Karl Malone won in 1998 -- 99 when Utah was 37 -- 13 in 50 games , which projected to 60 wins in 82 games . James won in 2011 -- 12 when the Miami Heat were 46 -- 20 in 66 games , which projected to 57 wins . ^ Jump up to : Before the 1971 -- 72 season , Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul - Jabbar . Jump up ^ Malone , at 35 years and 284 days old at the end of the regular season , is the oldest MVP in NBA history . Jump up ^ Rose , at 22 years and 191 days old at the end of the regular season , is the youngest MVP in NBA history . References General `` Most Valuable Player '' . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Retrieved July 4 , 2008 . `` Most Valuable Player Award Winners '' . basketball-reference.com . Retrieved July 7 , 2008 . `` NBA MVP -- Maurice Podoloff Trophy -- Marc Mellon Sculpture Studio '' . Retrieved January 19 , 2002 . Specific Jump up ^ Monroe , Mike . `` The Commissioners '' . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Retrieved July 8 , 2008 . Jump up ^ `` LeBron receives 116 first - place votes '' . ESPN.com . May 2 , 2010 . Retrieved May 2 , 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Kareem Abdul - Jabbar '' . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Retrieved July 4 , 2008 . ^ Jump up to : `` Most Valuable Player '' . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Retrieved July 4 , 2008 . ^ Jump up to : Wallace , Michael ( May 5 , 2013 ) . `` LeBron James wins 4th MVP award '' . ESPN.com . Archived from the original on May 6 , 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Wes Unseld '' . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Retrieved July 4 , 2008 . Jump up ^ `` Hakeem Olajuwon Bio : 1992 - 93 '' . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Archived from the original on May 16 , 2008 . Retrieved June 15 , 2008 . Jump up ^ `` Virgin Islands '' . CIA World Factbook . Retrieved August 12 , 2008 . ^ Jump up to : `` NBA Players from around the world : 2005 - 2006 Season '' . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Retrieved March 13 , 2011 . Jump up ^ McPeek , Jeramie . `` The Canadian Kid '' . NBA.com ( from Fastbreak Magazine of Sept. / Oct. 1996 ) . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Retrieved April 22 , 2009 . Jump up ^ `` Who is the leading MVP candidate ? '' . ESPN.com . March 6 , 2015 . Archived from the original on March 16 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Hubbard , Jan ( April 22 , 1990 ) . `` NBA NOTES : Charles Barkley Running a Slick Campaign for MVP '' . Newsday . Archived from the original on March 16 , 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Kareem Abdul - Jabbar Bio '' . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive , Inc . Retrieved August 4 , 2008 . Jump up ^ `` Karl Malone 1998 - 99 game log '' . basketball-reference.com . Retrieved October 2 , 2016 . Jump up ^ `` Derrick Rose 2010 - 11 game log '' . basketball-reference.com . Retrieved October 2 , 2016 . NBA Most Valuable Player Award 1956 : Pettit 1957 : Cousy 1958 : Russell 1959 : Pettit 1960 : Chamberlain 1961 : Russell 1962 : Russell 1963 : Russell 1964 : Robertson 1965 : Russell 1966 : Chamberlain 1967 : Chamberlain 1968 : Chamberlain 1969 : Unseld 1970 : Reed 1971 : Alcindor 1972 : Abdul - Jabbar 1973 : Cowens 1974 : Abdul - Jabbar 1975 : McAdoo 1976 : Abdul - Jabbar 1977 : Abdul - Jabbar 1978 : Walton 1979 : M. Malone 1980 : Abdul - Jabbar 1981 : Erving 1982 : M. Malone 1983 : M. Malone 1984 : Bird 1985 : Bird 1986 : Bird 1987 : Johnson 1988 : Jordan 1989 : Johnson 1990 : Johnson 1991 : Jordan 1992 : Jordan 1993 : Barkley 1994 : Olajuwon 1995 : Robinson 1996 : Jordan 1997 : K. Malone 1998 : Jordan 1999 : K. Malone 2000 : O'Neal 2001 : Iverson 2002 : Duncan 2003 : Duncan 2004 : Garnett 2005 : Nash 2006 : Nash 2007 : Nowitzki 2008 : Bryant 2009 : James 2010 : James 2011 : Rose 2012 : James 2013 : James 2014 : Durant 2015 : Curry 2016 : Curry 2017 : Westbrook Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NBA_Most_Valuable_Player_Award&oldid=813663801 '' Categories : National Basketball Association awards National Basketball Association lists Awards established in 1956 Most valuable player awards 1956 establishments in the United States Hidden categories : Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism Articles containing potentially dated statements from June 2017 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles with hCards Featured lists Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Български Bosanski Català Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français Galego Hrvatski Italiano עברית ქართული Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar Македонски Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Sicilianu Slovenščina Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 4 December 2017 , at 16 : 35 . Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply . By using this site , you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation , Inc. , a non-profit organization . About Wikipedia

Question: who won the most mvp awards in the nba