wireless pacemakers

My grandson recently watched the new wireless pacemaker being inplanted. My question is I do know that they communicate with the doctors, but do they have lead wires? Does anyone out there know? I am very curious. He is only in high school but hopes to one day become a cardiologist and was allowed to "scrub" in and watch but was not able to answer that. Would love to know. aldeer

9 Comments

what I think

by aldeer - 2009-12-13 07:12:00

I am almost certain it is wireless because it communicates with the doctor's office, but has to have a wire connected to the heart. What do you know? Electric Frank...you must know :) aldeer

still has leads

by Tracey_E - 2009-12-13 08:12:14

Wireless communication, it still has regular leads.

Hope is answer question

by swty562@excite.com - 2009-12-13 08:12:23

Hello, I just recently received a wireless PM. I hope this answers your question? The wires that going from the PM to your heart are just wires and at he end of each wire (in which i have three) has a lead on each end. When you go to the doctors office they just wave the hand held wand across the PM and it reads the progress and makes a report. I hope this answered your question? :+) swty562

wireless

by mikesmom93 - 2009-12-13 09:12:53

I just got my ICD three weeks ago, and it is wireless. Still has the lead going into the heart, but when I went for a check-up the tech waved a wand across my ICD and then did everything else on the computer.

I even have a box at home that will check my ICD and send everything to the doctor's office.

Melissa

My Wireless

by Mark_in_NJ - 2009-12-13 11:12:29

I just had a wireless pacemaker implanted last month. As has been stated it has leads into the heart like any other pacemaker. The wireless portion is that it 'phones home' overnight by wirelessly connecting to a box next to the bed. The box uses a phone line to upload you data to the a server at the doctor's offfice. Software at the doctor's office inspects the data and issues an alert if anything is abnormal.

When you get an interrogation there is no need for a wand. The radio in the pacemaker talks to the programmer.

I have heard of doctors calling patients about problems uncovered in the data uploads that the patient wasn't even aware they had. I see this as the big advantage. Early detection is a good thing.

Hope this helps,
Mark

Also...

by ela-girl - 2009-12-14 04:12:05

ELA medical (Sorin Group) is just now testing their "digital pacemakers." You will be able to do checks over the computer instead of the phone line!

Isn't technology grand?!

ela-girl

Wonders Never Cease ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2009-12-14 05:12:36

Dat Blasted, I should have waited a coupla more months & I could have had the latest in science. What a break thru for PM wearers. Mine is just the ol' Boston Scientific implanted on 10/2/09. Have to trip all the way into Austin, downtown, to have a wand waved @ me or even wear it around my neck! An hour of driving in Austin's traffic, 10-15 minutes w/tech, and to think, I could of had the phone by my bed, with my PM yakking with the doctor's office AND all the while ~ me sleeping! This ol' dog "ain't" sure of this new outfit.

You people who have the latest ~ next the doctor will be able to smell the bacon while monitoring the digital, wireless PM. (ha-ha)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, Carolyn G. in TEXAS

Quick comment from Frank

by ElectricFrank - 2009-12-15 02:12:28

You folks are replacing me with all the "right on" information!!!

As several mentiioned the wireless part is just for communicating with the doctors office. It serves the same function as the magnet puck on the telephone monitors. The advantage is that it can send information much more often since it doesn't require anything on the patients part. It can also send information during life threatening situations such as cardiac arrest during sleep.

Some things to think about:
* What happens if there is an error in either the wireless system or the internet connect that causes a false alarm to be sent. Do you want to have paramedics crashing through your front door during the night?

* How about the conflict between the wireless alarm and your wishes about being resuscitated. (DNR)?

* How is it handled when you are away from home.

* The wireless monitoring can certainly be beneficial for someone with potentially life threatening arrhythmias.

I should know more about the technology in the next month or so. I am coming up on end of battery life and will need a replacement. My intention is to schedule an advance appointment with the cardiologist to talk over his thoughts on what pacer to implant. This is one of the items on my agenda. I don't mind the wireless technology as long as he realized I will use it like the telephone link. I'll only turn it on at scheduled intervals.

frank

Me too

by lenora - 2009-12-16 03:12:00

I didn't realize the wireless pacers could be hacked until my son came across info on that. It's terrifying to think somebody could change your settings or turn the pacer off. Think I'll stick with my St. Jude 5386. Nothing has messed with it yet except the security gate at CVS and a copier at work.

You know you're wired when...

You have a new body part.

Member Quotes

Yesterday I moved to a new place in my mind and realized how bad I felt 'before' and the difference my pacemaker has made.