battery life

I have seen several posting latly on battery life, so thought I would add mine. My Crt Pm/ ICD was implanted may of 05. I transmitt it in every 3 months, and see the EP once a year. I always get a copy of the results. I started plotting the battery voltage from the start. When I saw the EP may of 09, I showed a copy of my plot that showed the battery would reach ERI in late Sept. He said I was the first patient to bring him a plot of battery voltage. Anyway, I was right, about the middle of Sept my PM started beeping me every day at 5;00. Called up the office and transmitted the info, it showed the ERI indicator was on. I am getting a new unit next week (Oct 21). Battery has lasted 53 months. Mine is a CRT unit plus ICD, so battery does not last as long as some units.

Thomas

4 Comments

A fellow engineer?

by ElectricFrank - 2009-10-18 03:10:27

I've been doing the same thing. I have an Excel spreadsheet set up to take battery voltage and impedance plus a bunch of other goodies. I plot and track them.

I also have an ECG I built that really shows the pacing pulses.

frank

Plotting Battery Life

by SMITTY - 2009-10-18 05:10:08

Thomas,

I have been plotting mine on Excel since '05. when I got my first copies of the printouts. I was plotting volts and estimated remaining battery life. After each office checkup (every 6 months) I have put in he numbers and then extend the line to about where I thought it would be at some point in the future, usually about 6 mo. I was doing pretty well with my guesses until I got my first report from after the big changes made in July. Even then it looked like my battery would not bottom out until about January, but what I didn't anticipate was the voltage that would be remaining when it shifted to VVI mode. That report showed there was still 2.5 V. left and I was guessing it would go to about 2.0 V.

Anyway it has been a good way to pass killer and I get to start over with my new game next week.

Just saw you last message and I agree with you. Frank is a year or so older than you and I'm a year or so older than Frank and we just all may very well be considered obsolete and deemed not worth repairing before too long.

Smitty

Fellow engineer

by thomast - 2009-10-18 05:10:58

Electricfrank, I am a retired electronic technician. I still do everything by hand with pencil and paper the way we used to do. I have been retired over 23 years. I am almost 78 so better hurry and get my new unit before Obama tells me I cannot have one.

Thomas

Correction

by SMITTY - 2009-10-18 06:10:11

The 3rd paragraph in my comment is supposed to read "Anyway it is a good way to pass TIME."
Smitty

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

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