Other

Roland Heinze

Hans D Liess

Alexander Wirtzfeld

Thomas Bock

A process and a device for regulating the stimulation frequency of heart pacemakers are disclosed. The process comprises generating with the aid of light emitted by a light-emitting element, reflected by the blood of a patient, and received by a light-receiving element, a current flow which causes, in a measuring probe, an increasing of the current flow at a constant probe voltage or a damping of the probe voltage at constant current flow. Thereafter, one of the possible changing values is measured and the change, with time, is evaluated as a measured quantity proportional to the change, with time, of the blood oxygen saturation, and, as a function of the measured quantity, the stimulation frequency of the heart pacemaker is regulated in such a manner that the greatest possible blood oxygen saturation is always achieved with the lowest stimulation frequency. The device for practicing the invention comprises a measuring probe containing at least one combination of only two active optoelectronic elements, one light-emitting element and one light-receiving element; a control circuit electrically connected to the measuring probe; a stimulation catheter in which the measuring probe is incorporated, and at least two electric lines leading through the stimulation catheter and electrically connecting the measuring probe to the control circuit of the measuring probe.

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Munich, Georgia

Roland Heinze