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Cardiac implantable electronic devices' longevity: A novel modelling tool

16 points by PaulHoule

by jamesblonde

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I have one (top of the line!). Here's how bad the engineers were. For the last 6 months, the device emits 10 audible beeps every 6 hours. I do a lot of customer meetings and public speaking. People would sometimes ask - "what is that noise"? I would say "No idea, but if you wait 8 seconds, it will stop"!
Also, my heart rate would sometimes drop below 40 bpm. Then it would start pacing, which i didn't want and was extremely uncomfortable.
p.s., the reason the battery ran out was because i found a treatment for my condition that works really well through talking globally to experts (i am a computer scientist). I wrote a case study paper about my condition to help others, co-authored by my doctors. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/arvc-and-flecainide-cas... 16 years later, the device is still in place, but I will have it removed early next year.

by varenc

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> Longevity can be calculated based upon a simple concept entitled the “power consumption index” (PCI = t x I/C, where t is a constant of 1 hour, I is the current required by the device and C, its battery capacity).
So basically current draw over battery capacity? Or just amps / amp-hours, then * 1 hour to cancel the unit; needlessly IMHO. Surprised this isn't already a standard metric.

by et2o

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Cardiology fellow here. The more you have to pace the shorter the battery lasts? Struggling to see what the novelty is here.