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Category Archives: Mennen Medical (1976-1980)

In Memoriam: Dr. Shmuel Yerushalmi ז״ל (1934–2025)

Posted on by Posted in Bradycardia, Cardiac Pacing, History, Mennen Medical (1976-1980), News, Omikron Scientific (1979-1985)

Dr. Shmuel Yerushalmi ז״ל (1934–2025)
Pacemaker Pioneer and Builder of Israel’s Biomedical Industry

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Shmuel Yerushalmi ז״ל, a pacemaker pioneer whose work has been central to my research on the early history of implantable cardiac devices in Israel, and whom I had planned to visit during my current stay in the country.

Dr. Yerushalmi’s death marks the loss of one of the key figures in the formative period of Israel’s implantable medical device industry.  He was an engineer whose career bridged academic research, industrial development, and the practical challenges of bringing life-sustaining technology to patients. Continue reading→

History: Mennen Medical and the First Israeli Pacemakers 1976-1980

Posted on by Posted in Bradycardia, Cardiac Pacing, Greatbatch Medical (Power), History, Mennen Medical (1976-1980), Museum, Omikron Scientific (1979-1985)
Mennen Medical’s Model 801 pacemaker. From: https://www.makash.org.il/sy/jerusa_book.pdf

Mennen Medical’s Model 801 pacemaker. From: Dr. Shmuel Yerushalmi’s memoir at www.makash.org.il/sy/jerusa_book.pdf

I spent the year-end holidays in Israel and had the pleasure of speaking with some of Mennen Medical’s and Omikron Scientific’s first employees regarding the efforts that these companies made in the late 1970s and early 1980s towards the development and manufacture of pacemakers in Israel.

Benny Kiron, who joined Mennen Medical in 1976 as a product designer, referred me to Dr. Shmuel Yerushalmi’s memoir at www.makash.org.il/sy/jerusa_book.pdf, from which I was finally able to understand the origin of Mennen Medical’s pacemaker project, as well as its relationship with Omikron Scientific.

Dr. Shmuel Yerushalmi was born in Brasil and emigrated to Israel in 1956. In 1976, while still pursuing his doctorate at the prestigious Weizmann Institute, he started working at the Israeli subsidiary of Mennen-Greatbatch of Clarence, NY.

The Mennen-Greatbatch partnership was dissolved when Wilson Greatbatch decided to concentrate on lithium battery development, and the Israeli company became a subsidiary of Mennen Medical, where an implantable pacemaker project was started.

RF-powered pacemaker developed by the Weizmann Institute and meant for production by Elta. From: https://www.makash.org.il/sy/jerusa_book.pdf

RF-powered pacemaker developed by the Weizmann Institute and meant for production by Elta. From: Dr. Shmuel Yerushalmi’s memoir at www.makash.org.il/sy/jerusa_book.pdf

Shmuel Yerushalmi had worked on the development of an RF-powered pacemaker while still a technician at the Weizmann institute, so his experience was tapped at Mennen Medical to lead the development of a VVI pacemaker powered by a Greatbatch lithium battery. The project was supported by Israel’s Chief Scientist Office and the BIRD (Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation .

PCBA of Mennen Medical’s Model 801 pacemaker. Device was kindly gifted to me by Koby Kamin. ©2025 David Prutchi.

PCBA of Mennen Medical’s Model 801 pacemaker. Device was kindly gifted to me by Koby Kamin. ©2025 David Prutchi.

Continue reading→