ICD pioneer

ski boot?

by BOBTHOM - 2022-05-04 20:20:28

Not sure how you get from AICD to SkiBoot?

If your wondering about the link, it's a bio of the dr that supposedly invented the AICD.  But it is on the internet so it must be true!

Morton Mower

by Gemita - 2022-05-05 08:11:56

Persephone, thank you for sharing this link.  Without the pioneering work of these dedicated individuals we would all be the poorer.  They often had to work in difficult conditions to try to save lives and never stopped believing that they could make a difference at a time when there was so much skepticism still around.  Like those before him, Morton Mower never gave up the struggle to search for a lifetime solution to problems of the heart

Studying history for perspective

by Persephone - 2022-05-05 14:41:20

Thanks Gemita - I think it's helpful to take a look back at the progression of arrhrythmia treatment and implantable devices over time, and the Morton Mower story helps provide some perspective. Bob Thom, you can find his recent obit all over news outlets by searching on his name - the obits are easier to digest than the Wiki page if you find Wiki objectionable. Or you could not read it at all. I don't see how the sarcastic comment is helpful.

Interesting Read!

by Marybird - 2022-05-10 16:55:28

 I think the invention of both the AICD and ski boot contraption to turn on a dime shows the versatility of Dr. Mower. The article also states he was an avid skier, so why not invent a gizmo that makes your sport more fun? 

I'd never heard of Dr. Morton, or the history of the AICD before this. When you think about the automatic implanted defibrillator in lieu of the treatment of the day for malignant ventricular arrhymias- prolonged observation in a hospital on a monitor- as late as the 1970's or so ( if I recall the dates right) you have to appreciate the freedom and quality of life implanted AICDs have given millions of people with these arrhythmias since then, not to mention the number of lives saved. 

And the first patient in whom they implanted an AICD lived for 10 years with it, dying of unrelated causes. A success from the getgo. 

For some reason reading about histories of implanted cardiac devices reminds me of the historical collection of various implanted cardiac devices owned by one of the EPs who had been a part of the cardiology group/clinic I go to. He had maybe 15 or so pacemakers and ICDs displayed in a case mounted on the wall in the EP waiting area. Some of those devices were large, reminded me of those metal casks used to hold whiskey, they were of various sizes and shapes. I think we were looking at a pacemaker history lesson when we looked at that collection. It's no longer in the office, the EP who owned the collection left the practice and took it with him. 

Thanks, Persephone, for sharing this information. 

He had maybe 15 or so Pacemakers and ICDs displayed in a case mounted on the wall in the EP waiting area.

by Persephone - 2022-05-13 22:23:50

This is so cool! My cardiologist practice has about a million Hummel doctor/medical figurines in cases, which i find a bit creepy :) Thanks for your message, I very much appreciate it, Marybird.