1965

Medtronic’s release of the flexible transvenous lead contributes to shift toward transverse implantation in cardiac pacing in U.S. In 1963 London surgeon Harold Sidons began locating pacing generator in patient’s left or right chest just below collarbone, but in 1965 Furman advocated crucial improvement in transvenous pacing: abandon jugular and insert the permanent lead via left or right cephalic vein. By 1970, experienced pacers had switched to transvenous pacing, and four-fifths of all pacemaker breakdown were due to battery exhaustion (Jeffrey, 122-124, 128).