Sintered platinum for cardiac pacing.
Platinum electrodes for cardiac stimulation having a surface porosity in the range of 40 micrometers have been prepared with a sintering process. These electrodes showed excellent in vitro characteristics (low polarization and sensing impedance). Animal testing proved good tissue acceptance and clinical trials in 31 patients gave the following results: threshold at implant 0,375 microJ (SD: 0.174 microJ), chronic threshold 1.15 microJ (SD: 1.05 microJ). The longest observation period was 7 months and the mean observation period was 17.1 weeks. These results indicate that this type of electrode allows safe stimulation of the heart with low energy pulses; in particular a reliable safety margin could be obtained with pulses having the amplitude of the existing lithium batteries, avoiding the need for a voltage doubler. This would improve the battery utilization and the pulse generator longevity.
D000818:Animals; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D010984:Platinum
D010984:Platinum