Key result
Review traces pacemaker evolution from early electrical impulses to modern physiological devices and conduction systems.
Why the study?
The historical development and evolution of heart pacemakers from their origins to current physiological devices and ongoing research were reviewed to provide context and understanding.
This paper provides a historical overview of the development and evolution of cardiac pacemakers.
Educational overview of pacing history and conduction system; leaves open its role in updating clinician training curricula.
The use of electrically-generated impulses to stimulate the contraction of the chambers of the heart began over sixty years ago and implanted pacemakers, in which a pulse generator complete with its power source is is surgically placed inside the body, were first used in the late 1950s. Since that time pacing has become a therapy used worldwide with over 250,000 implants undertaken per year. This paper introduces the operation of the cardiac conducting system-the body natural pacemaker-and indicates some of the problems which can arise within it. It goes on to trace the evolution of pacing systems from their origins to the `physiological' devices used today and gives an indication of some current lines of research.
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D J Woollons (1995) conducted a review in Cardiac conduction system disorders. Heart pacemakers was evaluated. This paper reviews the history and evolution of heart pacemakers, from early electrically-generated impulses to modern physiological devices, and discusses the cardiac conducting system.
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