Digital system for P-wave detection and synchronization of the artificial heart.
This paper describes the implementation of a microcomputer based P-wave synchronization system for the artificial heart. This system provides for synchronization of the cardiac prosthesis pump with P-wave signals from electrodes implanted in the remnant of the natural atrium. The device carries out the functions of P-wave detection and determines the duration of systole based upon a moving average of the time intervals between successive pulses. The system has been tested both on a mock circulatory system and in vivo on calves. The purpose of the paper is to provide details of the circuitry and algorithms used.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003201:Computers; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology*; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D013599:Systole