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A decade of nuclear pacing.
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Nuclear pacemakers, powered by plutonium 238, demonstrated high reliability over a decade. With a 10-year survival rate of 92%, these devices show potential for future use.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Nuclear-powered pacemakers were developed to address limitations of conventional battery-powered devices.
- The United States Atomic Energy Commission initiated a study on radioisotopic power sources for pacemakers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term performance and reliability of nuclear-powered pacemakers.
- To assess the feasibility of using plutonium 238 as a power source for cardiac pacemakers.
Main Methods:
- A 10-year study involving 151 nuclear pacemaker implants in 131 patients.
- Utilized pacemakers from 4 different manufacturers, powered by plutonium 238.
- Actuarial survival analysis was performed to determine device longevity.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 10-year actuarial survival rate of 92%, exceeding the performance goal of 90%.
- Ninety nuclear pulse generators remain in service; 36 were replaced, most commonly due to pacing mode issues.
- Demonstrated superior reliability compared to early non-nuclear pacemaker technologies.
Conclusions:
- The high reliability and performance of nuclear pacemakers justify continued investigation of radioisotopic power sources.
- Future applications could integrate advanced radioisotopic power with modern dual-chamber, multiprogrammable pacemaker electronics.