USING SUB-THRESHOLD UNIPOLAR PACING MARKERS TO IMPROVE THE INTERPRETATION OF SURFACE EKG IN PACEMAKER PATIENT

摘要

A pacemaker including a marker code generatorgenerating marker codes between an indifferent electrodedisposed on the pacemaker housing and the pacemaker canserving as a reference electrode. Marker code signals aregenerated proximate the pacemaker rather than proximatecardiac tissue, and thus can be generated at a largepotential for sensing by surface EKG, and can also begenerated simultaneously while pacing the heart and notnecessarily in the refractory period. The pacemakerfacilitates the interpretation of surface EKG, and can besensed and recorded by commercially available two-channelholter monitors which can be taken home with the patient.Thus, marker code signals can be sensed and recorded whileat home and played back for the physician at a later timefor analysis. The marker code generator can be selectivelyturned on by the external programmer such that battery lifedepreciation is not appreciable. The pacemaker can beadapted with either a unipolar or bipolar endocardial lead.