artificial pacemaker
Sign in to saveA pacemaker, also known as an artificial cardiac pacemaker, is an implanted medical device that generates electrical pulses delivered by electrodes to one or more of the chambers of the heart. Each pulse causes the targeted chamber(s) to contract and pump blood, thus regulating the function of the electrical conduction system of the heart.
Key facts
- Medical intervention.name
- Pacemaker
- Medical intervention.image
- St Jude Medical pacemaker with ruler.jpg
- Medical intervention.caption
- St. Jude single-lead pacemaker with ruler in cm (released in 2005)
- Medical intervention.specialty
- Cardiology, electrophysiology
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
35 sectionsContents
- Methods of cardiac pacing
- Percussive pacing
- Transcutaneous pacing
- Epicardial pacing
- Transvenous pacing (temporary)
- Permanent transvenous pacing
- Leadless pacing
- Basic function
- Pacing modes
- Threshold
- Sensing and sensitivity
- Biventricular pacing
- Conduction System Pacing
- Advancements in function
- Considerations
- Insertion
- Periodic pacemaker checkups
- Magnetic fields, MRIs, and other lifestyle issues
- End-of-life care and pacemaker deactivation
- Privacy and security
- Complications
- Other devices
- History
- Origin
- Transcutaneous
- Wearable
- Implantable
- Lithium battery
- Intra-cardial
- Reusable pacemakers
- In animals
- Manufacturers
- See also
- References
- External links
A pacemaker, also known as an artificial cardiac pacemaker, is an implanted medical device that generates electrical pulses delivered by electrodes to one or more of the chambers of the heart. Each pulse causes the targeted chamber(s) to contract and pump blood, thus regulating the function of the electrical conduction system of the heart.
The primary purpose of a pacemaker is to maintain an even heart rate, either because the heart's natural cardiac pacemaker provides an inadequate or irregular heartbeat, or because there is a block in the heart's electrical conduction system. Modern pacemakers are externally programmable and allow a cardiologist to select the optimal pacing modes for individual patients. Most pacemakers are on demand, in which the stimulation of the heart is based on the dynamic demand of the circulatory system. Others send out a fixed rate of impulses.