What is Pacemaker?

Pacemaker is a small battery operated device which is placed (implanted) in the chest to help control the heartbeat. This device is also called cardiac pacing device. It is used to prevent the heart from beating too slow. Implanting a pacemaker in the chest requires a surgical procedure.

Types of Pacemaker

There are 3 types of pacemaker, depending upon your condition, you might have one of the following types:-

• Single chamber pacemaker:-This type usually carries electrical impulses to the right ventricle of your heart.
• Dual chamber pacemaker:-This type carries electrical impulses to the right ventricle and the right atrium of your heart to help control the timing of contractions between the two chambers.
• Biventricular pacemaker:- Biventricular pacing, also called cardiac resynchronization therapy is for people who have heart failure and heartbeat problems. This type of pacemaker stimulates both of the lower heart chambers (the right and left ventricles) to make the heart beat more efficiently.

How Pacemaker device work?

• It is a small battery operated device about the size of a matchbox or smaller that weighs 20 to 50g.
• It consists of a pulse generator, which has a battery and a tiny computer circuit, and 1 or more wires known as pacing leads, which attach to your heart.
• The pulse generator emits electrical impulses through the wires to your heart. The rate at which the electrical impulses are sent out is called the pacing rate.
• Almost all modern pacemakers work on demand. This means they can be programmed to adjust the discharge rate in response to your body's needs.
• If the pacemaker senses that your heart has missed a beat or is beating too slow, it sends signals at a steady rate.
• If it senses that your heart is beating normally by itself, it does not send out any signals.
• Most pacemakers have a special sensor that recognises body movement or your breathing rate.
• This allows it to speed up the discharge rate when you're active.