An Experimental Investigation to Redesign A Pacemaker Training Board for Educational Purposes

Abstract

An artificial pacemaker is a medical device that can generate electrical impulses which are delivered by electrodes to maintain the controlled rhythm of the heartbeats. Such a medical device can assist for extensive period of time and thereby regulates the pumping capacity of the heart. Usually, the need for a permanent pacemaker implantation arises from the occurrence of cardiac diseases such as failure of impulse formation (sick sinus syndrome) and/or conduction (A-V block). Functionally, a pacemaker comprises of at least three parts: an electrical pulse generator, a power source (battery) and an electrode (lead) system. This paper aims to provide a design of the trainer board of a typical pacemaker, which generates a QRS pulse and displays it on an oscilloscope which will help understand the basic components of the device for educational purposes. To do so, an extensive literature review was undertaken to comprehend the theory behind the design of a pacemaker. Further, the paper describes the practical methodology adopted in the design of the pacemaker and the achieved results of this study while making suggestions for future work.