Pacemaker — Questions and answers
Read the full story
According to Dr. Thompson, what were the early devices used to stimulate the heart like in the 1930s and 40s?
Choices
- Tiny and easy to carry.
- Large, difficult to use, and often hand-cranked. ✓
- Very good for helping people in hospitals.
- Powered by small, long-lasting batteries.
Answer: Large, difficult to use, and often hand-cranked.
From page 2
What important discovery did John Hopps make in 1950 while studying hypothermia?
Choices
- That the heart needed more warmth.
- That tiny batteries could power a heart for years.
- That electrical impulses could restart a stopped heart. ✓
- How to make a heart beat regularly for a long time.
Answer: That electrical impulses could restart a stopped heart.
From page 3
What problem did Dr. Lillehei face during a power outage in Minneapolis?
Choices
- His coffee maker stopped working.
- The babies he was helping were in danger because their pacemakers needed electricity. ✓
- He couldn't find his car keys in the dark.
- All the lights in the hospital turned off forever.
Answer: The babies he was helping were in danger because their pacemakers needed electricity.
From page 4
What was the main reason Bakken needed to use transistors instead of vacuum tubes for his new pacemaker?
Choices
- Vacuum tubes were too quiet.
- Vacuum tubes were too shiny.
- Vacuum tubes were too big, fragile, and used too much power. ✓
- Vacuum tubes only worked with water.
Answer: Vacuum tubes were too big, fragile, and used too much power.
From page 5
What was special about the new pacemaker that Bakken created?
Choices
- It was very heavy and needed to be plugged into a wall.
- It was the world's first wearable, battery-operated pacemaker. ✓
- It made loud beeping noises all the time.
- It could only be used for playing music.
Answer: It was the world's first wearable, battery-operated pacemaker.
From page 6
How did Mrs. Johansson feel after getting her pacemaker?
Choices
- Sad and worried about her heart.
- Upset that she was still dizzy.
- Grateful and strong, looking forward to seeing her grandchildren grow. ✓
- Angry that she had to stay in the hospital.
Answer: Grateful and strong, looking forward to seeing her grandchildren grow.
From page 8
According to Dr. Li, how much smaller are today's pacemakers compared to the original device?
Choices
- They are about the same size.
- They are much larger than a hockey puck.
- They are smaller than a quarter, compared to the original which was the size of a hockey puck. ✓
- They are the size of a basketball.
Answer: They are smaller than a quarter, compared to the original which was the size of a hockey puck.
From page 9
What do pacemakers allow people to do today, according to Dr. Vance?
Choices
- Sit at home and do nothing.
- Hike, dance, and live vibrant lives. ✓
- Only eat ice cream.
- Stay in bed all the time.
Answer: Hike, dance, and live vibrant lives.
From page 10