Where can I find the technical details of my pacemaker?

I've recently received a dual chamber pacemaker for an AV block (Assurity MRI PM2272) and would love to understand all of its capabilities better ahead of my follow up appointment with the EP.

I work in technology and would be very happy to read through the "real" documentation if I could find it, e.g. something like the instruction manual for the programmer.

This forum is a great source of information and I've learnt a lot already about how these things are set up but I'm sure there are unknown unknowns, such as someone recently mentioning a setting for only starting pacing if you had so many skipped beats instead of immediately.

Would anyone know how to find this sort of thing?

4 Comments

Not sure

by Lavender - 2023-07-22 15:22:57

But here's a link to try:

https://www.cardiovascular.abbott/us/en/hcp/products/cardiac-rhythm-management/pacemakers/assurity-pacemaker/manuals-resources.html

I think that only lets you see a manual with specs but doesn't show you setting alterations. It's probably because there are onscreen instructions in the laptops used by pacemaker techs. 

https://manuals.sjm.com/~/media/manuals/product-manual-pdfs/6/c/6caa851e-45eb-4e3a-a08a-70e26a3bccb5.pdf

Really as a complement to what is seen on their reports at pacemaker interrogations, they go by symptoms to make setting adjustments. They test and ask questions of the patient. It's best left to the pros, in my opinion. I do think it's important to clearly document your symptoms so you can present a written note to the tech in determining adjustments. 

Info

by Good Dog - 2023-07-22 16:20:54

https://www.cardiovascular.abbott/content/dam/cv/cardiovascular/hcp/products/cardiac-rhythm-management/assurity-mri-pacemakers/documents/us-crm-assurity-dual-chamber-catalog.pdf

 

https://www.cardiovascular.abbott/us/en/hcp/products/cardiac-rhythm-management/pacemakers/assurity-pacemaker/about.html

Good luck

by piglet22 - 2023-07-23 08:10:37

As a fellow UK pacemaker patient and NHS user, all I can say is good luck with that.

You may have wonderful cardiologists where you are, but where I am, you might just as well ask for the combination number of the Crown Jewels safe.

My advice would be look at what people have to say here and you will learn a lot more than a session with your consultant.

If you are a technical type, as I am, you are probably well capable of finding your own information and it could ge a good deal less frustrating.

I do a bit of microcontroller coding and pacemakers are highly dependent on MCUs, op amps, memory, communication etc., and some very clever coding.

I once asked some more technical questions when I was admitted to A&E for a heart related problem, and the answer from the pompous consultant was along the lines of you wouldn't understand it.

Well, why not try explaining it? You, the consulant, might be surprised what your patients might know.

18-years on since my first PM, and 18 months away from number three, I've learnt vastly more information about my device here and the multitude of conditions that are helped by PMs, than you ever get from the hospital.

Try here

by crustyg - 2023-07-24 05:54:48

https://manuals.sjm.com/Search-Form?re=North-America&cc=US&ln=EN&ct=professional&qry=PM2272&ipp=10

Didn't seem that difficult to find. The one that I think meets your needs is

Bradycardia and Tachycardia Devices Merlin Patient Care System Help Manual, US [PDF 15.01MB] (EN)

OR

https://manuals.sjm.com/Search-Form?re=Europe&cc=GB&ln=EN&ct=professional&qry=PM2272&ipp=10 if you think that the European versions will be much different.

You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

Member Quotes

Without this little machine, we would not be here.