Title :
A Pu238O2 Nuclear Power Source for Implantable Cardiac Pacemakers
Author :
Greatbatch, Wilson ; Bustard, Thomas S.
Author_Institution :
Wilson Greatbatch Ltd., Clarence, N.Y. 14031.
Abstract :
Implantable cardiac pacemakers are currently powered by mercury batteries. These cells have approximately 50-percent reliability for 2-year operation in this application. The patient has an expected lifetime of five and one-half years. Thus the cardiac pacemaker must be replaced several times during the patient´s lifetime.
Keywords :
Batteries; Bismuth; Fuels; Insulation; Lithium; Pacemakers; Radioactive materials; Temperature; Thermal conductivity; Voltage; Electricity; Life Expectancy; Pacemaker, Artificial; Plutonium; Radiation; Temperature; Time Factors;
Journal_Title :
Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TBME.1973.324284
