Millions of people around the world are alive today thanks to a device called the pacemaker. But who invented it?
The credit goes to John Hopps, a Canadian electrical engineer who changed modern medicine in the mid-20th century. In the early 1950s, he was working on research related to hypothermia and heart function. During his work, he discovered that electrical impulses could restart a stopped heart.
This discovery led to the invention of the first external cardiac pacemaker, a machine that could regulate heartbeats. Hopps’ early device was large and bulky, but it paved the way for today’s compact, implantable versions.
Pacemakers send electrical signals to the heart to maintain a regular heartbeat. They are used for people with arrhythmia, a condition where the heart beats too slowly or irregularly. Without a pacemaker, these patients would be at serious risk of heart failure or even death.
Thanks to Hopps’ invention, an estimated eight to twelve million people are now living longer, healthier lives. His work has saved countless lives and inspired decades of medical innovation.
John Hopps may not be a household name, but his contribution is felt worldwide. Every heartbeat controlled by a pacemaker is a tribute to his legacy. The story of the pacemaker is a powerful reminder of how engineering and medicine can work together to save lives. One idea can truly change the world.
