How is plutonium-238 used in pacemakers?

Over the years, various power sources have been used for pacemakers, including thermoelectric batteries containing 2 to 4 curies of plutonium-238 (88 year half-life). As the term “thermoelectric” implies, the heat from the decaying plutonium is used to generate the electricity that stimulates the heart.

What is plutonium-238 used for?

What is it used for? Plutonium-238 generates significant heat through its radioactive decay process, which makes it useful as a heat source for sensitive electrical components in satellites, as a well as a power source (for example, battery power) for satellites. Plutonium-239 is used to make nuclear weapons.

Do they still use plutonium in pacemakers?

Parsonnet said 139 people received the first versions of the nuclear pacemaker and even after 88 years, when half the plutonium would have decayed, the batteries would have enough power to drive the circuit. “Nine of these devices are still in use,” Parsonnet said.

What type of battery is used in a pacemaker?

Lithium iodine battery invented and used by Wilson Greatbatch and his team in 1972 made the real impact to implantable cardiac pacemakers. This battery lasts for about 10 years and even today is the power source for many manufacturers of cardiac pacemakers.

How much plutonium is in a pacemaker?

That’s right—at one point, pacemakers were nuclear powered. Medtronic’s nuclear battery contained a small 2.5 Ci slug of Plutonium 238 (Pu-238).

How long does plutonium 238 last?

87.7 years
Pu-238 has a half-life of 87.7 years, making it a much longer-lasting source of energy than polonium-210, which was used in the 1959 RTG prototype and has a half-life of 138 days.

Does having a pacemaker shorten your life?

Having a pacemaker should not significantly alter or disrupt your life. As long as you follow a few simple precautions and follow your healthcare provider’s schedule for periodic follow-up, your pacemaker should not noticeably impact your lifestyle in any negative way.

How do they change a battery in a pacemaker?

After local anesthesia is applied to the skin, the electrophysiologist makes an incision in the pacemaker scar. The doctor removes the generator and then disconnects the leads, which are checked to make sure they are still intact. A new generator is then attached and reinserted under the skin.

Is the battery on a pacemaker nuclear or chemical?

If you see the word “Nuclear” or “Curies” – or if you see the radiation symbol, or the abbreviation “Pu-238,” the device battery does indeed contain radioactive material. If none of these markings occur, chances are the pacemaker is non-nuclear and simply contains a chemical-type battery.

How long does a lithium pacemaker battery last?

For comparison, lithium pacemakers last 10 to 15 years. Due to the extremely long battery life, nuclear pacemakers tended to outlive their users, and couldn’t be buried with them due to radiation exposure risks.

What kind of plutonium was in the Medtronic pacemaker?

Medtronics “Laurens-Alcatel Model 9000” pacemaker, pictured with plutonium removed. (Credit: Oak Ridge Associated Universities) Medtronic’s nuclear battery contained a small 2.5 Ci slug of Plutonium 238 (Pu-238).

What do the markings on a pacemaker mean?

Observe the markings on the pacemaker body. If you see the word “Nuclear” or “Curies” – or if you see the radiation symbol, or the abbreviation “Pu-238,” the device battery does indeed contain radioactive material.