The functional testing of external cardiac pacemakers.
In common with all other biomedical equipment, cardiac pacemakers should be routinely tested and serviced. Experience has shown that although they are generally very reliable some faults have occurred that might have been detected by regular testing. A testing protocol is suggested that has two levels, routine tests that check the essential functions of the pacemakers and supplementary tests that check those parameters which are less likely to be of immediate clinical significance. The measurement details and rationale of the tests are described in some detail. Finally, a preliminary evaluation of a test instrument which has been developed specifically for these procedures shows that it is rapid and easy to use and allows a more rigorous standard of testing to be achieved.
Watts
M P
MP
Department of Clinical Physics and Bio-Engineering, West of Scotland Health Boards, Glasgow, UK.
Evans
A L
AL
D004868:Equipment Failure; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000592:standards*