Feasibility of the automatic generating system (AGS) for quartz watches as a leadless pacemaker power source: a preliminary report

An automatic power generating system developed for quartz watches was tested as a power source for implantable cardiac pacemakers. An automatic power generating mechanism and a capacitor (0.33 F) were taken out of a quartz watch and encapsulated in a polyvinyl case (AGS). Characteristics of the AGS were investigated by reciprocating equipment (2 Hz). The capacitor in the AGS was charged to 2.0 V (0.66 J) by placing it on the equipment for about 30 minutes. The AGS. which was charged, to 2.0 V was used as a power source for a pulse generator circuit that was made by the commercially available CMOS IC. The pulse generator supplied pulses of 0.5 msec width through a 510 /spl Omega/ load at 1 Hz (60 bpm). The voltage of the AGS was maintained at 1.6 V while it was being charged by the reciprocations. The pulse generator supplies a pulse of 0.75 V, 1.47 mA through a 510 /spl Omega/ load. The AGS, which was placed on the wall of the right ventricle in a mongrel dog under anesthesia, stored 80 mJ in a capacitor at about 200 bpm during 30 minutes.