This pacemaker is from the first production run of ten or so, modeled after the 1957 prototype developed by Earl Bakken for C. Walton Lillehei. It has been preserved by Dr. Lillehei as a souvenir of those early days of heroic surgery.

There are a number of improvements. The dials have been recessed, so children will be less likely to adjust them. The two metal handles are for a strap to hold the pacemaker to the body, so the patient can conveniently move about and use both hands. To quote from product literature:

"So small and light that it may be attached to and worn by the patient, the Medtronic Cardiac Pacemaker stimulates ventricular function in cases of atrio-ventricular dissociation that are induced during the surgical repair of septal defects, or that occur spontaneously as in Stokes-Adams syndrome. The Pacemaker is designed for internal applications with at least one wire attached directly to the myocardium [heart muscle] for temporary stimulation or with a bipolar patch for prolonged stimulation.

"Created with imagination and originality, the transistorized circuit completely removes the hazards and nuisance associated with AC powered instruments. Its self-contained miniature power source will operate the instrument for approximately 1000 hours."

Museum Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 to 5
Thursdays 10 am to  8pm 
Closed Major Holidays
Library Hours: Monday - Friday 9 to 4:30

Admission: $7 Adults; $5 Students & Seniors; Children 3 and under are FREE!

© The Bakken Updated: April 6, 2007