Abstract: An extra-corporeal, self-contained, on-line, beat-to-beat pacemaker function analyzer (PFA) for automatic evaluation and indication of the quality of performance of cardiac pacing systems implanted in place for: routine examination of ambulatory patients; long-term surveillance of hospitalized patients; and examination of ECG traces (including pacing artefacts) of remote pacemaker patients, transferred by telephone or radio to a central follow-up station. The PFA provides a comprehensive examination of asynchronous, demand and demand-hysteresis pacemakers of all makes, including the state of the pacemaker's battery, the intactness of the electronic circuitry and of the electrodes, and the proper location of the electrodes in the heart.

Abstract: A heart beat detector for use in emergencies and especially under adverse conditions of noise and vibration, of the type adapted to continuously monitor the ECG, extracting the QRS complexes and signalling the occurrence of heart beats by easily perceptible, light signals. The detector includes an inter-electrode impedance sensor; for automatically ascertaining whether adequate conductivity exists between the body of the patient and the electrodes of the detector applied to said body. According to a specific embodiment of the invention the device comprises a sub-system adapted to indicate the activity of the batteries of the instrument, the state of the electrodes and of the other circuits.