So a different center of the heart will generate a very slow, auxiliary rhythm to ensure life-saving function. In either one of these situations, or in other, even less common cases, the heart can be assisted through the use of an artificial pacemaker. The Pacemaker Today's pacemakers can be adapted to meet each patient s specific needs. When we speak of a pacemaker we actually mean a pacing system which consists of the pacemaker and pacing Lead or leads. The pacemaker itself is a pulse generator consisting of miniaturized electronic circuitry and a compact battery.
Modern pacemakers take action only in the absence of a natural heart rhythm.
Therefore, the pacemaker must be able to recognize or sense heart activity. When the pacemaker does not sense any intrinsic heartbeats, it releases an electric impulse. As a result, the heart muscle will contract. The pacemaker is connected to the heart through one or two leads. A lead is a very thin, electrically isolated wire that is placed directly in the right ventricle or right atrium.