Increasing Cardiac Rate by Measurement of Right Ventricular Temperature

Abstract

A pacemaker that increases pacing rate in response to exercise enables the pacemaker patient to improve his state of well-being. Possible sensors include atrial rate, Q-T interval, pH, venous oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, cardiac output, body motion, and blood temperature. To determine the efficacy of right ventricular blood temperature as an indicator of exercise, an experimental temperature-controlled pacemaker was developed and was evaluated in dogs. A resulting algorithm was implemented in a microcomputer-based VVI pacemaker which reliably detected exercise and rest from blood temperature when totally implanted. The pacemaker generated two pacing rates to provide increased cardiac output. Data is being obtained to establish feasibility in humans.