The pacemaker is a medical device used to treat cardiac
arrhythmias or cardiac failure by sending an electrical signal to
stimulate and regulate heartbeat.
Pacemakers are designed for two functions: pacing and sensing.
Pacing involves sending an electrical impulse to the heart in order
to stimulate a heartbeat.
Modern pacemakers also “sense” or monitor the heart’s intrinsic
electric activity through electrocardiography. If the pacemaker
senses a natural heartbeat, it will not send a pacing pulse.
An artificial pacemaker consists of two main parts a pulse generator
and a lead.
The pulse generator component contains the sensing unit, control
unit, and power source needed to control the timing of each pulse.
The lead connects the pulse generator to the heart through the
subclavian or cephalic vein. If abnormalities in the heartbeat are
detected, the pacemaker paces the heart by applying a voltage to
the heart that restores the heart's natural rhythm.
Diagram showing how the components of a cardiac pacemaker
Heart lung machine
A machine through which blood is shunted to maintain circulation during heart surgery. A, device that maintains the circulation of the blood and the oxygen content of the body when connected with the arteriovenous system; it is also called the pump oxygenator. The machine is used in open-heart surgery when it is necessary to effect a bypass of the circulatory system of the heart and lungs. The oxygenator repeatedly draws off the blood from the veins, reoxygenates it, and pumps it into the arterial system. The contractions of the heart are halted by running a potassium citrate solution through the coronary vessels. The surgeon is thus enabled to open the heart and make the necessary repairs while the heart is still and his view is not obstructed by blood Before surgeons can perform open-heart surgery or heart transplants or even to correct a simple heart defect, they have to be able to open up the heart and expose the chambers. To enable this, circulation and respiration are maintained by the heart - lung machine. The function of the heart is performed by a roller pump. Oxygenation of blood is carried out by an oxygenator, which is the artificial lung. This is a heart lung bypass, where by blood bypasses the heart and lungs completely. Blood is pumped and oxygenated by the machine outside the body. The heart lung machine thus functions as the heart and the lung. This helps the surgeons to perform the surgery or procedure. Modern heart - lung machines may also chill the blood to produce hypothermia (low body temperature to slow metabolism and reduce oxygen need) as well. AUDIOMETERS
John A. Soubik, of The Estate of Cecilia Soubik v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, United States Department of Labor, 366 F.3d 226, 3rd Cir. (2004)