Baroukh Vojtech Berkovits (May 7, 1926 – October 23, 2012[1]) was one of the pioneers of bio-engineering, particularly the cardiac defibrillator and artificial cardiac pacemaker.[2] In particular, Berkovits invented the "demand pacemaker" and the DC defibrillator.[3][4]

Baroukh Vojtech Berkovits
Born(1926-05-07)May 7, 1926
DiedOctober 23, 2012(2012-10-23) (aged 86)
Alma materNew York University Tandon School of Engineering
AwardsDistinguished Scientist Award from the Heart Rhythm Society
Scientific career
FieldsBiomedical Engineering
InstitutionsNew York University Tandon School of Engineering, Medtronic

Biography

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Berkovits was born in Czechoslovakia. His parents and sister were murdered at Auschwitz. He immigrated to the United States in the 1950s, and worked for the pacemaker company Medtronic from 1975 until his retirement. In 1982, Berkovits received the "Distinguished Scientist Award" from the Heart Rhythm Society.[5] He graduated from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering in 1956.[6] He was also a faculty member at NYU Tandon.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Barouh Berkovits Obituary: View Obituary for Barouh Berkovits by Levine Chapels, Brookline, MA". Obits.dignitymemorial.com. 1926-05-07. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  2. ^ "Biography of Barouh V. Berkovits". Author.hrsonline.org. Retrieved 2012-10-26.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Kirk Jeffrey (2001). Machines in Our Hearts: The Cardiac Pacemaker, the Implantable Defibrillator, and American Health Care. The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  4. ^ Cakulev, I; Efimov, I. R.; Waldo, A. L. (2009). "Cardioversion: Past, Present, and Future". Circulation. 120 (16): 1623–1632. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.865535. PMC 2782563. PMID 19841308.
  5. ^ Levy, Samuel; Medina-Ravell, Victor A.; Castellanos Jr, Agustin (2013). "Barouh V. Berkovits, MSEE (1926–2012)". Heart Rhythm. 10 (3): 411. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2013.01.010. ISSN 1547-5271.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2015-09-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Barouh V. Berkovits, MSEE (1926–2012)". Heart Rhythm. 10 (3): 411. 1 March 2013. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2013.01.010.