American Innovation $1 Coin 2024 Rolls and Bags – Maine

Dr. Bernard Lown was a Lithuanian-American cardiologist whose passion for saving lives left a lasting impact on medicine. He immigrated to the United States in 1935 to escape Nazi persecution due to his Jewish heritage, eventually settling in Lewiston, Maine. Lown made significant contributions to cardiac care, most notably inventing the Direct Current Defibrillator. This groundbreaking device delivers direct electrical current in sync with the heartbeat, effectively correcting abnormal rhythms responsible for approximately 40% of fatal heart attacks in the U.S.

In 1961, Lown, along with engineer Baruch Berkovitz, began testing the defibrillator on 11 critically ill patients. Remarkably, all were returned to normal heart rhythms, showcasing the device’s effectiveness. By 1964, the defibrillator was adopted by thousands of hospitals, saving countless lives. Lown’s invention paved the way for further advancements in cardiac technology, including pacemakers and implantable defibrillators, which are now used by millions across the country.