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Hi people! I am new in this club. Tickled to death to find it. I can tell there are many very knowlegeable people in here. Hoping someone can explain the capacitor, apparently my battery is fine. My capacitor is starting to get low. I know that it juices everything that works...so-o-o when it gets too low will it make the battery beep? (Guidant was implanted in 2005) or will it shake, rattle and roll??? lol ..Thank you to anyone who responds in advance.
9 Comments
Electric Frank
by Bevof NC - 2012-09-23 04:09:52
Thanks so much for your input. I thought it provided the juice for all the working parts...Guess it won't tell me when it's ready to be replaced . I really appreciate you taking the time to answere my question.
trekkienurse
by Bevof NC - 2012-09-23 04:09:53
Cute name! Thanks for reassuring me. I have an ICD. I know it won't last much more than 8 years.. I appreciate you taking your time to respond to my question. Bev of NC
Battery is it
by ElectricFrank - 2012-09-23 08:09:29
The battery is the thing that limits the life of the device. The rest of it is just a bunch of electronic components that should last for decades. The problem is that the pacer is a sealed device with the battery inside so it has to be replaced as a unit.
Estimated battery life is one of the things that is read at each checkup. The estimate isn't very accurate early in the pacers life, but as you get nearer the end its pretty good.
The actual life depends on how active the pacer is. If yours only used as a defibrillator and has never fired it could last for many years. If it is pacing as well it should be good for maybe 4-8 years. If it has fired then all bets are off as this is a high energy event.
So my suggestion is to ask for the last checkup estimate. The important thing is that they are checking it regularly. You may not know it has failed until a defib is needed, and then wouldn't know it for long. It's also more convenient to be able to plan for the replacement surgery rather than the doc's office to call and tell you your next weeks hospital schedule.
frank
Capacitor
by trekkienurse - 2012-09-23 11:09:34
Hi,
I am not certain if you have just a pacemaker or a ICD. I had a Guidant Pacemaker placed in 2004. The End of life for my pacemaker was in October, 2011. I didn't feel anything different. And no you won't "shake, rattle or roll". The fact that it has lasted this long is great. Have the doctors said you need to change the device out?
Hope this is helpful.
Judi
Capacitor
by ElectricFrank - 2012-09-25 11:09:26
I haven't had any experience with the ICD's and the capacitor. I'm just looking at it from an engineering perspective. The only capacitor that could be measured externally is the one that holds the charge for the shock. Unless you actually needed to have your heart shocked you wouldn't have any way of knowing it's condition. Even then a slightly weak capacitor would still deliver the joky, which could still be sufficient to do the job.
The only sure way to deal with it is to have it checked at frequent intervals.
frank
Capacitor reading
by Bevof NC - 2012-09-25 12:09:32
The thing is this...The RN told me they do not like 4 the capacitor to get below 19. Mine was 17 in May. (don't know about August. I've heard the magic number is 13 (appropriate???) lol...if it reads this 2 times it must be replaced. (Again, my battery is fine. Ha! ) Just wondered if the thing would let me know first. Thanks to all. Love this club!!!
electricfrank
by Bevof NC - 2012-09-26 02:09:03
You are way too nice! you are so-o-o helpful . I sent U a Private message to thank you but I couldn't see that it "sent" or if you got it, Just know, please, that I really appreciate all your comments and help!. Bev of NC
No Private Message
by ElectricFrank - 2012-09-27 01:09:15
I just checked and didn't receive you Private Message. No problem, but wanted to let you know. The most likely problem was that you entered one of the characters wrong in the Spam filter. This is something we all do once in a while. When this happens the message isn't sent and it takes some poking around to find out.
frank
You know you're wired when...
The mortgage on your device is more than your house.
Member Quotes
The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.
Capacitor
by ElectricFrank - 2012-09-23 03:09:53
Welcome,
The purpose of the capacitor in a defibrillator is to store a high voltage charge used to jolt the heart into submission if it stops or fibrillates. The battery supplies power to some electronic circuitry that charges the capacitor.
Beyond that I'm not that up on the life of the capacitor. Generally capacitors have a petty long life.
frank