Where are pacemakers made

Hi everyone.only my second post.thanks to all who responded to my first post.i have come to realize its what needs to get done.so on the 5th of november the implant will be done.it was kinda funny the nurse asked me if i had one pacemaker picked out yet.i was no i didnt know i had a choice!i guess my choice will be what ever one they make in the usa.i dont want a Chinese made one. But i suppose they are all made here.does any body here know?

16 Comments

What difference does it make ?

by IAN MC - 2014-10-01 04:10:53

Hi Eliprz52 I imagine most of them are made in China. Why exactly do you think that one made in the US would be any better ?

Don't worry about it, they all work and are all incredibly reliable !

Ian

Why dont you think there is a diffrence

by Eliprz52 - 2014-10-01 05:10:48

I have to depend on an item made in china! I think there might be a diffrence. Maybe toys and other items but i would feel better knowing an item was made here in america. Just saying.?if they give me a choice then no to china.

What will u do if.....

by natandhop - 2014-10-01 06:10:09

They are all made in China? Your heart needs help and without it, well, you've got some serious planning to do.

Make the decision that is right for you and I wish you well.
Natalie

That's curious...

by Lurch - 2014-10-01 06:10:55

I don't think I have ever heard of anyone being asked which device they wanted! Maybe I just don't get out enough...

It is my understanding that they, Doctors, generally go with a specific manufacturer either because they are more familiar with them or the specific unit meets the needs of the patient.

I know that my EP uses a variety of units, but I was not asked for my input on which type of unit or manufacturer I would get.

I know that Biotroniks has a manufacturing facility in Oregon. Don't know if all components are made there or simply assembled there....

Medtronic

by billylittle - 2014-10-01 09:10:28

Medtronic pacemakers are made in Minnesota

It's the reliability......

by donr - 2014-10-01 09:10:32

....that counts, not where they are made. PM's have proven themselves reliable over the years, so there is no worry there.

Who makes them matters not - MOF, human hands do very little in the assy of a PM - it's all done on automated machinery - people, no matter where they are from are not good enough to do those kind of jobs.

Do NOT sell the Chinese short - they can produce very high quality electronics. Let's see, now - they build aircraft that operate in the supersonic range; manufacture nuclear weapons; put satellites in space; build inertially guided missiles; build enough consumer goods in the electronic genre that they have practically run the US out of the field. It's the law of supply & demand in the international market - you make shoddy goods, no one will buy them. Try buying a TV set made in the USA. We got run out of Dodge in that business because we lost our fire in the belly to be the best - the hospital lines were as long as the manufacturing lines in US TV mfg facilities. I believe that Motorola was the last man standing in that field, but the cost of US labor kept their 6 sigma Quality Control system from being competitive.

C'mom, KAG, chime in here w/ your take on this.

I have no ideas where they are made, but the simple fact remains that they are far more reliable than our already failed hearts when they implant them in us. At least over the ten yr expected life span of the current battery technology.

To date, I've read of no one who has had a PM replaced because the electronics failed. It is mostly failed leads & failed implants due to poor surgeon technique.

Just take your new PM & run!

Don

thanks for the input

by Eliprz52 - 2014-10-02 02:10:26

Well thanks to all your comments.i have read all of them.Maybe me doing some research will help.I dont have anything against china.I was just thinking out loud and posted here.In the end it will be my choice and at this point dont know.All i can hope for is to just feel better and get well.Thanks again.
Eli

More info

by Parrothead57 - 2014-10-02 02:10:39

Here is a good link with some basic info on the manufacturing of pacemakers.

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Pacemaker.html

The article doesn't go into exactly where each brand of pacemaker is built but I can just about promise you that many of the components used are indeed made in China.

No matter where its assembled, rest assured each pacemaker goes through very extensive testing and quality control.

wasn't given a choice

by kels - 2014-10-02 03:10:13

I was not given a choice. Nor did I have time for questions or research. mine was placed under emergency situation. I have Medtronic dual lead. Just placed Sep 3,2014. I would hope that all pacemakers would be good being the nature of the device. So far medronic is keeping me alive so far so good lol

Just a little observation.....

by Tattoo Man - 2014-10-02 05:10:38


.........we have been posed with an interesting question...and a question..in my view..steeped in nationalism.

We all have,..and we all believe that we rise above such things as nationalism and racism...and most of the time we all do pretty well...

To be proud of ones nation is fine and dandy.

To miss the point is ,..interesting.

An open question to all here in PMC........

Where are Porsche sports cars made...???

Answer..
Zuffenhausen....Leipzig..Bratislava..Slovakia ..Finland ( Valmet ).....just maybe also in Stuttgart..

NONE in Gmund.

So ..that's where your Brand is Born......

My advice is ...Buy Chinese...

Tattoo Man

China

by IAN MC - 2014-10-02 08:10:51

I read this in the press today :-

Officials in China this week examined the anuses of 10,000 pigeons that were set to be released today in celebration of National Day, amid government fears of a possible terrorist attack. According to reports
from state-run media outlets, the birds had their feathers, legs, and anuses searched for "suspicious
objects" yesterday, before being packed onto a truck and sent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing for today's ceremony. Many reports on the probe disappeared from China's tightly-controlled media after being
published, though some articles and tweets remain online. The entire process was reportedly videotaped.

I hope that the Chinese wash their hands before assembling our pacemakers !!

Cheers

Ian

Berlin

by golden_snitch - 2014-10-03 04:10:17

My pacemaker has been manufactured in Berlin, just 40 minutes from where I live :-) And since Biotronik has a vertically integrated manufacture, all critical components of the pacemaker are made in the same facility.

Inga

Well Blimey,..Inga................

by Tattoo Man - 2014-10-03 05:10:12


.....................how can any Facility..both vertically or ...for heavens sake,. horizontally..compete with what you can get,..just a few short 40 minutes from your Penthouse ??

For us who dwell in the technologically benighted Lincolnshire ..the concept of verticality and, indeed , horizontality,..is largely measured by colleagues down at the Pub..

Here in the Fen we are no match for your advanced ways..

I include myself with Mr Clinton who so proudly announced that he was a 'Berliner'...as in,...a bit of a sausage..

Tattoo Man

I have a Biotronik

by iforget1 - 2014-10-03 09:10:25

The only one available that day in hospital.

I personaly have a affinity towards German ISO standards.

But lets be honest the Japanese make great stuff too.

I believe all new PM's to be of great quality enough to outlast the battery.

So I'm not worried where it is made.

More worried about my failing body and the doctors ability to place said PM in my screwed up body.

Just bad year i guess

by Eliprz52 - 2014-10-04 09:10:53

I guess maybe i was venting and its true, it will not matter much. Your all correct that the pm are far better than when my grandfather had his.but its been one heck of a year for me.went from low b12 to low t,to need vitamin d. Now this year went pre diabetic to being diabetic, got two hearing aids fitted to now a pacemaker.jeez what a year. I do ok for the most part. Well you all have a great day.
Eli

"You are a long time dead"

by TickTock-UK - 2014-10-14 08:10:32

Eli,

It sounds like you really need a pacemaker....It matters not where the pacemaker is made!!, Even Rolls Royces break down, just remember one thing even if you forget everything else...
"You are a long time dead"

Len

You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.