2006 - Life Cycle Assessment

This report deals with the environmental aspects of a cardiac pacemaker from a chemical point of view. By analyzing some of the materials an assessment on their pollutive abilities is constructed. Focus is placed on the case and the lithium iodine battery.

Problem Statement
- What raw materials does the pacemaker consist of?
- What chemical actions are involved in the further processing of these raw materials?
- What is the energy consumption involved in the extraction of these raw materials?
- What are the main environmental and working-environmental issues involved in the extraction of the raw materials?
- How are a pacemaker and a lithium iodine battery produced?
- Why are the materials, which are directly in contact to the human body, biocompatible?
- What are the main environmental issues in the disposal of the pacemaker?

Contacts
St. Jude Medical