Rune Elmqvist

Rune Elmqvist was born on December 1, 1906, in Lund. Qualifying as a medical doctor, his fascination with medical technology led him to join Elema-Schönander (later Siemens-Elema), where he invented the Mingograf ink-jet electrocardiograph in 1948.

In 1958, collaborating with cardiac surgeon Åke Senning at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Elmqvist tackled heart block. Using early silicon transistors and rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, he cast the electronics inside an empty Kiwi shoe polish tin using epoxy resin. On October 8, 1958, the world's first implantable pacemaker was successfully placed into patient Arne Larsson, who went on to outlive both his inventor and surgeon, surviving over forty years to receive twenty-six successive pacemaker units. Elmqvist's invention initiated modern bio-implant medicine.