The pacemaker inside me | 合法醫療器材資訊網

2014年2月4日—Sheandthehospitalwithwhichsheisaffiliatedgenerallyrelyonpacemakersandleadsfromthethreebiggestcardiacdevicemakers:Medtronic ...

My cardiologist stepped out of the exam room and returned with a medium-sized cardboard box that rattled as she walked. The contents: a few dozen watch-sized, titanium-encased implantable pacemakers of various shapes and thicknesses.

As of Jan. 2, 2014, a version of one of the many pacemakers I examined in that cardboard box has become a part of me, implanted under my right clavicle, with two wire leads snaked through two veins and into my heart.

My knowledge of the industry gave me the ability as a patient to ask questions that helped me choose a safe, reliable pacemaker and lead option. This led to a quick realization that true choices for most U.S. pacemaker patients remain limited, despite the marketing hype around innovation in the industry.

U.S. pacemaker patients get an odd combination of technological wizardry and clunkiness. The market also carries a built-in risk ...