Abstract: An atrium-controlled heart pacemaker has a monitoring circuit for interrupting tachycardia which may be generated by the pacemaker. The monitoring circuit includes a P-wave counter and a window generator connected thereto. The window generator prescribes a window for the P-wave counter within which a predetermined maximum number n of P-waves is allowed to appear. When the n.sup.th P-wave appears in the window, forwarding of the n+1.sup.th P-wave to the stimulation circuit is blocked.

Abstract: An atrium controlled heart pacemaker has a switching stage which is controlled in dependence upon the appearance of atrial signals. The switching stage switches the heart pacemaker to a VVI mode for a predetermined number of stimulation pulses or natural ventricular events, or a predetermined time, upon the appearance of at least one atrial signal before a selected time limit. The time limit is derived from the difference between a smallest synchronous interval and the AV delay.

Abstract: An atrium-controlled heart pacemaker operates using set parameters including a smallest synchronous interval (SSI) between two stimulation pulses, a minimum atrial-ventricular delay time (AVmin) and a maximum atrial-ventricular delay time (AVmax). A control unit, dependent upon the appearance of an atrial signal, controls operation of the pacemaker such that the pacemaker operates with a variable pulse rate (DDD mode) when the atrial signal appears after a point in time SSI-AVmin, operates the pacemaker with a highest synchronous pulse rate when the atrial signal is between the points in time SSI-AVmin and SSI-AVmax, and causes no stimulation pulses to be emitted when the atrial signal appears before the point in time SSI-AVmax.