A new rechargeable epicardial cardiac pacemaker

Bonnabeau, Raymond C.; Ferlic, Randolph M.; Lillehei, C. Walton

doi:10.1016/s0022-5223(19)33139-3

Cited by 13 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The race for an implantable device was well underway in 1959 between investigators in North America and Europe. Three power sources dominated the first units implanted in humans, nickel‐cadmium rechargeable cells, 57,58 radiofrequency energy transmission, 59,60 and a battery of mercury‐zinc cells 61 . The rechargeable and radiofrequency models each had a component external to the body as part of the system and were intended for permanent implant without eventual revision.…”

Section: Basic Innovations In Cardiac Pacingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Early History of Cardiac Pacing

Furman

2003

Pacing Clinical Electrophis

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Section: Basic Innovations In Cardiac Pacingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Early History of Cardiac Pacing

Furman

2003

Pacing Clinical Electrophis

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“…Previously we had developed a pacemaker with these properties, one to be directly implanted on the heart. [14][15][16] It was tested in the dog with excellent results, but the fibrosis forming around the electrodes, previously experienced with the radio-frequency epicardial receiver, and the shelf life of rechargeable batteries, foreseen by the manufacturers to be not more than two years, have discouraged the epicardial implantation of this pacemaker in clinical use. We have, however, used this device in some patients, by connecting it to a bipolar catheter.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Radio‐frequency Cardiac Pacing

Grassi¹,

Cammilli²,

Buttini³

et al. 1969

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

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For about ten years we have studied radio-frequency as a means of transmitting pulses for heart stimulation from an external source.l*p The most immediate and simplest solution appeared to be the epicardial application of a passive receiver, leading the stimulus to the heart by means of two electrodes. The electrical pulses, in the form of radio-frequency wave trains, were produced by an external tran~mitter.~*~ With this system, we attempted to resolve the problem of breakage of the wire electrodes used in most pacemakers at that time. A total of 38 patients were treated in this manner.This system was abandoned because of the electrophysiological factors that quickly produced fibrosis formation around the pacing electrodes, thus causing their electrical insulation (FIGURE 1 ) . However, the good results obtained with catheter electrodesSl0 prompted us to connect one of these catheters, of the bipolar type, to a radio-frequency receiver of the type previously used, and to implant this unit subcutaneously in the thoracic wall (FIGURE 2). An external transmitter with an annular antenna (FIGURE 3) was placed upon the receiver but outside the thorax.11-13 The transmitter power supply was furnished by rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, charged every five days.Catheter use has the notable advantage that thoracotomy is not necessary, and trauma is minimized. Moreover, the following properties of the first system were retained: (1) the ability to change the stimulus energy and to stop the stimulation whenever necessary; (2) the ability to change the cardiac frequency;(3) the ability to modify or replace the pulse transmitter, without a new surgical operation (FIGURE 4 ) . The characteristics of this radiopacemaker, which we have named model RFlZ/C, compared with those of our other models, are reported in TABLE 1.To date, 46 pacemakers of this model have been implanted, since October, 1966. The first 33 were implanted with the United States Catheter & Instrument Co. catheter 5651, which was the only one available at that time in Italy. Although we were aware that this type of catheter was designed by its manufacturer for temporary pacing, we were encouraged to use it for long-term stimulation after our own successful experience and that of others with it. However, we noticed that after a period of time varying from two to 21 months, the woven Dacron insulator between the coaxial conductors, of which the catheter is formed, tended in several cases to absorb organic fluids. This led to a gradual short circuit of the catheter, making the stimulation ineffective.In the meantime, the Medtronic catheters for long-term stimulation became available, and we substituted them for the old catheters in the patients who showed signs of short circuiting. In addition, we encountered one case of receiver failure; two cases of transmitter failure, one of which was due to the batteries; and one case of catheter displacement that could not be overcome with an increase 846

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Fundamentals of cardiac pacing

Furman

1967

American Heart Journal

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A new rechargeable epicardial cardiac pacemaker

Cited by 13 publications

References 6 publications

The Early History of Cardiac Pacing

The Early History of Cardiac Pacing

Radio‐frequency Cardiac Pacing

Fundamentals of cardiac pacing

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