The Lead Episode 174: A Discussion of The Forgotten History of Semi-Implanted Pacemakers-The Lead Episode 174 Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Jason Jacobson and guests Mike Lloyd and Igor Efimov review the forgotten history of radiofrequency- and inductive-powered pacemakers. Early systems transmitted power from external wearable devices to implanted circuitry, but alignment, corrosion, and battery limitations helped battery-powered pacemakers prevail. Efimov notes that modern designs can reduce alignment sensitivity and may suit tiny or temporary devices, including pediatric applications. The discussion also considers emerging energy sources—such as ultrasound, motion harvesting, and nuclear power—and advances in supercapacitors. Though many remain experimental, the guests see potential for future cardiac devices, while noting technical and commercial challenges.

Keywords

radiofrequency pacemakers

inductive-powered pacemakers

battery-powered pacemakers

energy harvesting

cardiac devices