A device that regulates the rhythm of the heart beat.
A small group of specialized cells in the heart that produce electrical impulses to start heart contractions.
Electrical device used to maintain a normal sinus rhythm of myocardial contraction by electrically stimulating the heart muscle.
Electrical (battery-operated) device used to maintain a normal heart rhythm by stimulating the heart muscle to contract. Some pacemakers stimulate the heart at a fixed rate; others stimulate the heart muscle on demand, sensing when heart contractions fall below a minimum rate.
Natural or artificial regulatory mechanism of rate of an activity; often used in relation to heart contraction.
An artificial device that provides electric stimulation to regulate the heartbeat; it can be either temporary or permanent. Current permanent pacemakers may last 8-10 years before requiring replacement.
An electronic device that causes the heart to beat by releasing small electrical discharges. A temporary external pacemaker can be used to regulate an abnormally slow heartbeat for a short time. It is connected to the heart by wires threaded through a narrow tube inserted into a vein in the neck, chest, or groin. An internal, permanent pacemaker is implanted in the chest wall. Pacemakers are often used to correct bradycardia (an abnormally slow heartbeat) by electrically stimulating the heart to maintain a sufficient, predetermined heart rate. In some cases, pacemakers are used to correct tachycardia (an abnormally fast heartbeat). Pacemakers can increase the heartbeat automatically during increased physical activity.
A device used to produce and maintain a normal heart rate in patients who have ‘heart block. The unit consists of a battery that stimulates the heart through an insulated electrode wire attached to the surface of the ventricle (epicardial pacemaker) or lying in contact with the lining of the heart {endocardial pacemaker). A pacemaker may be used as a temporary measure with an external battery or it may be permanent, when the whole apparatus is surgically implanted under the skin. Some pacemakers stimulate the heart at a fixed rate; others sense when the natural heart rate falls below a predetermined value and then stimulate the heart (demand pacemaker).
A cardiac or artificial pacemaker is a device that helps a faulty heart to maintain normal rhythm. It consists of a battery that stimulates the heart by an electric current passed through an insulated wire which is attached either to the surface of the ventricle (epicardial pacemaker) or to the heart lining (endocardial pacemaker). In a normal heart, the, regular electrical impulses are initiated by a special area of tissue (sinoatrial node). A cardiac pacemaker is used when a person’s sinoatrial node is malfunctioning or when there is interference with the passage of normal impulses. Some devices send out signals at a fixed rate; others monitor the rate and, when it falters in any way, stimulate regular contractions. Implantation is carried out under a local anaesthetic, and the lithium batteries can last for several years. People with pacemakers should avoid any source of powerful electromagnetic radiation radio or radar transmitters or airport security screens.
Anything that influences the rate and rhythm of occurrence of some activity or process.
A group of cells in the wall of the right atrium that helps regulate the rate at which the heart beats.
An electronic device comprising electrodes that are connected to the heart, serving to generate electrical impulses and restore a regular heartbeat. Pacemakers can be either internal, positioned beneath the skin, or external, where the electrodes are placed on the skin or threaded through a tube inserted into the heart.
A compact apparatus that delivers electrical signals to the heart, ensuring the maintenance of a consistent heart rhythm.
A pacemaker is required when there’s a malfunction in the heart’s sinoatrial node, when the transmission of electrical signals prompting heart contractions is hindered, or when there are inconsistent fluctuations in heart rate or irregular rhythms.
Pacemakers can be placed externally as a temporary solution until a permanent one is installed. Alternatively, they can be surgically implanted inside the chest. These internal pacemakers can either emit impulses consistently at a set rate or only when the heart rate drops or skips a beat. Some variants can enhance the heart rate during physical activity or rectify an irregular rhythm to a regular one. There are single-chamber and dual-chamber configurations for internal pacemakers. Single-chamber models use one wire either in the right atrium or ventricle, while dual-chamber versions utilize two wires, one in the right atrium and another in the right ventricle.
A structure that impacts the speed of a reaction or process, like the sinoatrial node, a tiny cluster of muscle tissue that governs the heartbeat’s pace.