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A rate-responsive pacemaker controlled by right ventricular blood temperature
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|September 1, 1984
Summary
Right ventricular blood temperature reliably controls pacemaker rate during exercise. A prototype pacemaker demonstrated accurate rate adjustments, paving the way for implantable temperature-controlled devices.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Implantable Electronic Devices
Background:
- Complete atrioventricular (AV) block necessitates pacing.
- Current pacemakers may not adequately adjust to physiological demands.
- Right ventricular blood temperature offers a potential physiological index for rate responsiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and test a rate-responsive pacemaker controlled by right ventricular blood temperature.
- To evaluate the pacemaker's ability to detect exercise and adjust pacing rates.
- To assess the reliability of blood temperature as a control parameter.
Main Methods:
- A prototype microprocessor-based pacemaker was developed.
- A control algorithm was created using a database of canine right ventricular blood temperature during rest and exercise.
- The pacemaker was tested in dogs with complete AV block during treadmill exercise at various speeds and grades.
Main Results:
- The pacemaker accurately detected exercise onset and cessation with latencies of 35-124 seconds.
- Pacemaker rate increase latency decreased with increasing exercise intensity.
- Response latency was independent of the selected resting or exercise pacing rates.
Conclusions:
- Right ventricular blood temperature is a reliable index for controlling pacemaker rate.
- The developed algorithm enables effective rate adjustment in response to exercise.
- Further evaluation of an implantable temperature-controlled pacemaker is ongoing.