[Reduction of impulse duration for saving energy in pacemaker therapy]

The application of pacemakers with a impulse duration of 0.5 msec depends on the knowledge of the upper limit of the threshold, expressed in terms of current (rheobase). Follow-up studies in patients, where the implantation of the system was performed in two sessions, revealed a rheobase of 3.6 mA as the upper limit with the specified electrode system. Pacemakers with a impulse duration of 0.5 msec primarily offer themselves for the first implantation in connection with low surface electrodes, or for pacemaker replacement.