Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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Battery replacement

I have a pacemaker since 1999. changed battery in 2005. I might need to change it within one year. my model is :
Insignia 1 Entra 1296 bipolar lead
my question is : can I chang it to medtronic using the same lead?

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Batteries

I didn't know batteries could interfere with my pacemaker. How about my watch battery. Should I get a watch that I have to wind up instead of one that uses batteries?
Also, at my last pacemaker check the tech mentioned that I might have to have a lead replaced. I heard that they literally take your heart out of your chest to remove old leads. Please tell me this isn't true. Removing leads leaves holes in your heart that the doctors have to repair and that's why they have to take your heart...

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crossed wires

I have had a pacemaker for 5 years with no problems, but recently a close friend had a pacemaker implanted to control a low heart beat. During the procedure a wire meant for a blood vessel was implanted in his heart. He now faces a surgery to rectify the situation. What risks exist for my friend?

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sometthing coming off the back of my PM

Hoping for some guidance here. I have a Medtronics Adapta pacemaker that was installed in August, '08. It is installed under my skin on tyop of my muscle.
Last Saturday I completed a marathon and afterwards noticed a strange feeling when feeling around my PM. It feels like a thin piece of plastic coming off the back of the pacemaker. I can feel the leads are atteched to this piece.
Does anyone have any ideas what this can be and how much of a problem this could be.
I would appr...

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Atrial lead only

Anyone else out there only have one lead that's placed in the Atrium. I was told by my pacemaker technician that this lead placement is extremely rare in the US.
Just looking for confirmation.
Thanks,
Angelie

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Good News

Effort Underway to Overturn Medical Device Lawsuit Ban

Two lawmakers are working to overturn a year-old Supreme Court decision that took away the rights of consumer to sue when they are injured by defective medical devices. According to The New York Times, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) plan to soon reintroduce a bill to restore consumers' rights, and similar action is expected in the Senate.

Last February, the Supreme Court ruled in a ca...

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NEED HELP WITH LEAD EXTRACTION

Hi there all
I am a new member of your site and I need assistance.
I have a a pm since 1980(6 years old) and I am now 34. Several pm's later. My atrial lead needs to be changed as it is almost broken however, due to all the pm changes and no extractions there are too many leids in the vein. My doctors in Jamaica say we neither have the equiptment or the expertise to do the surgery here(I implanted the last pm here with great success). I was born with congenital heart block and have...

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Imagine That

Judge Who Dismissed Sprint Fidelis Lawsuits Linked to
A judge who recently dismissed hundreds of Medtronic Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead injury lawsuits apparently has a personal connection to the device maker. According to The Wall Street Journal, the son of Judge Richard H. Kyle of the federal district court in Minneapolis is employed by a law firm that has had Medtronic as a client for quite a while.

Medtronic suspended sales of its Sprint Fidelis Leads in October 2007,...

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Need NEW lead

Hi
I am 34. I have had my pacer from 1980(6ys old). I am not on top of the name and years of my pacers and leads as I was so young. To be honest I am not even sure how many leads I have had. However, the doctor has told me that one of my leads are old and needs to be changed. He says I do not need to extract this time(I will next time due to space) but not sure what putting in a new lead entails. Pacer was just replaced in 2005 so still have another 3-4yrs of that. Does anyone have...

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battery in safe mode

Once my Kappa 700 battery goes into safe mode... How long do I have before my battery goes dead?

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battery life?

I got my medtronic kappa 700 in 1999. My pacemaker began a constant pace a few months ago. I was wondering if anybody can tell me how long I have before I will have to get the battery replaced? Or how can you tell if and when the battery is completely dead? Or a website where I can find this information would be helpful... Thanks!!!

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FEb 09 2009

Lawsuits filed by victims of the defective Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead are in legal limbo. Thanks to a ruling last year by the U.S. Supreme Court, it is unclear if they will be able to sue Medtronic for painful injuries caused by the Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead. According to an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the best hope for the victims of this faulty lead is a law passed by Congress to reverse the Supreme Court's decision.

Medtronic suspended sales of its Sprint...

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Lead Pain?

Just wanted to check with all of you who have had lead problems if any were ever associated with pain in the heart area. I am intermittently getting some very specific pain in a quarter size area in the general heart area. This is not associated with any "heart attack" symptoms and all testing for that type of thing is negative. So, I just wanted to check and see if others that eventually had a lead problem on the "heart end" of the wire experienced this type of thing. Two Cents

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Lead Insulation Problem - Extreme Fatigue - HELP

New to the club and need some advice. I have had pacemaker since 1997 and then had repalcement 2005(symphony DR2550). Since then I have lots of issues relating to periods of extreme fatigue, anxiety and body twitches/tremors. I have also been getting zings of energy into my left armpit which have been quite painful. I have found that If I over do it I suffer for days after having to sleep for periods of 15 hours to recover and loose the debilitating tiredness and fuzzy brain. I have origin...

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Is Hanging up-side-down bad?

Someone told me that Yoga positions where you hang up-side-down or stand on your head are bad because they could pull out your electrodes. I think it's bull. It seems like it would be insignificant when you think of the way the electrodes whip around all of the time. Has anyone else heard of this?

Thanks,

Jim Jim

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Medical Device Safety Act of 2008


January 28, 2009




Senator William Nelson
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

RE: Medical Device Safety Act of 2008

Dear Senator Nelson:

The purpose of my letter is to express my dismay that the proposed Medical Device Safety Act of 2008 has yet to be implemented. The current ruling under Riegel v. Medtronic gives manufacturers of FDA-approved medical devices complete immunity...

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pacemaker removal

Has anyone had a pacemaker lead removed or replaced? My husband is 33 and has had his pacer for 18 months and already has broken a lead. He has a single lead pacer and is told now that after having an ablation the pacer is not needed. Rather than replacing it we are having it removed.

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Power Tool Interference

My father received a Boston Scientific pacemaker model S603 in October. He is progressing well.

A question arose about the use of battery powered or cordless tools. He wants to be sure there will be no interference with the following or similar tools:

-Riding mower. Engine in center back. Pacemaker battery on left. Appears to be at least 12 inches from pacemaker.
-Battery powered, cordless tools.
-Chain saw. Used on right side with battery of

Than...

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ticking ticking ticking

I have had my pacemaker for 2 years. Just today I noticed in a silent room a ticking. I heard it again this evening and realized that it was coming from my PM. I have never heard this before. I feel like a ticking time bomb! Has anyone else experiended this ticking sound? Does it indicate a problem of some sort? Zwin

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Lead Life


I was just wonding what other's experience has been with lead replacement. I have guidant leads that were implanted 8 years ago and I'm 100% paced (the device has been changed). I have had no problems with the devices or leads despite the long history of recalls that happened a few years ago. I am just wonding how long they typically last.

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You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker has ultimately saved mine and my unborn child’s life for which I am thankful.