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Unit V- Life Assisting and Therapeutic Devices

CARDIAC PACEMAKER

 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

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