Abstract
Since 1967, work has been underway at The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory and School of Medicine, and also at Pacesetter Systems, Inc., Sylmar, California (since 1969) on a rechargeable cardiac pacemaker that should not have to be replaced during the patient’s lifetime. The most important element of this pacemaker is the rechargeable, space-type, hermetically sealed, nickel-cadmium cell. The concept of using a rechargeable cell for an implantable cardiac pacemaker is not new. Commercial quality, nickel-cadmium cells have been tried unsuccessfully in implantable pacers on several occasions (1,2,3,4). These cells have typically failed in six months or less because they lose their voltage due to a decrease in energy storage capacity when operated at body temperature. However, since the mid-1950’s, the United States space effort alone has provided between 20 and 25 million dollars in research and development funds (not including funds expended for cell production) to perfect the hermetically sealed, nickel-cadmium cell (5). This intensive support has resulted in a cell with vastly improved capability (e.g., low self-discharge) and reliability.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
R. Elmquist, A. Senning, “An Implantable Cardiac Pacemaker”, Medical Electronics, (Iliff and Son, London) p. 253 (1960)
H. Siddons, O’N. Humphries, “Complete Heart Block with Stokes-Adams Attacks Treated by Indwelling Pacemaker”, Proc. Royal Soc. Med., 54, 237 (1961)
S. Furman, W. Raddi, P. Escher, J. Schnebel, S. Horwitt, “Rechargeable Pace- maker for Direct Myocardial Implantation”, Archives of Surgery, 91, 796 (1965)
A.W. Silver, G. Root, F.X. Byron, H. Sandberg, “Externally Rechargeable Cardiac Pacemaker”, Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1, 380 (1965)
W.H. Woodward, Director, Space Propulsion and Power Division, The U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D. C. (Private Communication)
M. Suma, Y. Fujimori, T. Mitsui, M. Hori, K. Asano, S. Kimoto, T. Wogawa, J. Nagumo, “Direct Induction Pacemaker”, Digest of the 6th International Conference on Medical Electronics and Biological Engineering, Tokyo, 96 (1965)
W. Greatbatch, “Clinical Power Supplies for Implantable Cardiac Pacemakers”, Cardiac Pacing, edited by H.J.Th. Thalen, Van Gorcum and Co., B.V. Assen, The Netherlands, p. 188 (1973)
J.W. Love, K.B. Lewis, R.E. Fischell, J.H. Schulman, “Experimental Testing of a Permanent Rechargeable Cardiac Pacemaker”, Ann. Thorac. Surg., 17, 152 (1974)
M.H. Frick, “Efficiency of a Pacemaker Clinic to Prevent Sudden Pacing Failures”, British Heart Journal, 35, 1280–1284 (1973)
V. Parsonnet, G.H. Meyers, L. Gilbert, I.R. Zucky, E. Shilling, “Follow-Up of Implanted Pacemakers”, American Heart Journal, 87, 642–653 (1974)
R.E. Fischell, “Solar Cell Power Systems for APL Satellites”, APL Report TG-950, February 1968
P.W. Barnhart, R.E. Fischell, K.B. Lewis, W.E. Radford, “A Fixed Rate Rechargeable Cardiac Pacemaker”, APL Technical Digest, 9 (1970)
J.I. Hirsch, R.L. Davidson, “Cardiac Pacemakers with Alternate-Polarity Pulses”, Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of Engr. in Med. and Biology, p. 161 (1961)
J. Lilly, J. Hughes, E. Alvord, T. Galki, “Brief Non-Injurious Electrical Waveforms for Stimulation of the Brain”, Science, 121, 468–469 (1960)
W.M. Chardack, E.E. Bakker, L. Bolduc, F.A. Giori and A.A. Gage, “Magnetically Activated Pulse Width Control for Implantable Pacemakers — Its Significance for Follow-Up Patients and the Reduction of Current Drain”, Ann. Cardiol. Angeiol., 20, 345–355 (1971)
W.F.Frain, Section Supervisor for Electro-Mechanical Analysis and Test. Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University (Private Communication)
R.G. King, et al, “Effect of Microwave Oven on Implanted Cardiac Pacemaker”, Journal of the American Medical Assoc., 212, 1213 (1970)
R.F. Matteau, “Radar Induced Failure of a Demand Pacemaker”, New England J. of Medicine, 283, 1447 (1970)
I. Lichter, J. Borrie and W.M. Miller, “Radio Frequency Hazards with Cardiac Pacemakers”, British Medical Journal, 1, 1513 (1965)
J.C. Mitchell, W.D. Hurt, T.O. Steiner, “Special Problems of General Public Exposure to R.F. Radiation”, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks, AFB, Texas, presented at the Aerospace Medical Association, Washington, D.C. (1974)
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1975 Springer-Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fischell, R.E., Lewis, K.B., Schulman, J.H., Love, J.W. (1975). A Long-Lived, Reliable, Rechargeable Cardiac Pacemaker. In: Schaldach, M., Furman, S. (eds) Engineering in Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-66187-7_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-66187-7_23
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-66189-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-66187-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive