Clinical use of a new myocardial electrode

Prior to clinical use, this new myocardial stimulating electrode was studied in animals in order to test its electrical and mechanical reliability. The Telectronics 030.168 electrode consists of a conductor constructed of 3 stainless steel wires. Its present surface area is 25 mm and its length is 10 mm. The device is easily inserted into the myocardium with a suture and needle and is held in place with a surgical clip. We report observations on 42 patients made over an average follow-up period of 14.6 months. There were no surgical complications and there was no operative mortality. Calculated as an average of recorded electrical measurements, the stimulating threshold was 1.03 volts and 2.40 mA at 500 ms. None of the patients have required further surgery and no malfunctions have been discovered.