A New Concept for Atrial Triggered Pulse Generators

Abstract
In order to avoid the potential risk of a short refractory period and the inconvenience of the electronic blocking mechanism at the highest synchronous rate with the conventional atrial triggered pulse generator, two more functions have been added to the normal atrial triggered (VAT) pulse generator. First, it has been designed to be ventricular inhibited; second, a highest synchronous rate detector has been added, When the highest synchronous rate of about 140 is exceeded, the atrial signals are blocked and the frequency of the basic rate generator is increased to about 130. Two patients could hardly feel the change from atrial triggered pacing to ventricular inhibited stimulation, and both were able to work at higher loads with this type of pacing compared with the conventional atrial triggered pulse generator.