The ‘Animal Pacer’ model EP 6877 is small and lightweight in design for animal use only. Pulse amplitude width and rate are adjustable, which provides high rate pacing up to 460 pulses per min. In the last 10 years, this pacer had successfully been used in pacing-Induced heart failure in the conscious dog and rabbit in USA. The device comes complete with extension cable and myocardial pacing lead.
Operational Specifications for EP6877.pdf EP 6877 Question & Answer.pdf

EP 6877问题的答复:

1.起博器的型号?
EP 6877.

2.起博器是否是外置的?
是外置起博器. 动物先穿一内衣, 起博器用胶带固定在动物肩胛部的内衣外面. 然后再给动物穿一件外衣. 起博器就可以固定得很好了.

3.起博系统是否由导线,起博器,导联线和控制面板4部分组成?临时起博器放置在体外,体内与导线相连,体外与导联线连接.导联线再与控制面板连接?
经手术在动物左心室连一导线(有效极), 地线可连在左心室或胸壁肌肉上. 将此两导线经胸腔皮下引至肩胛部穿出皮肤. 将皮肤外的导线部分缠绕成一团,胶带固定在局部. 待手术伤口愈合后(术后7-10),动物可开始接受心脏起博.

4.能否大致介绍一下起博器的安装流程?
先在上述(3)两根起博线线头上锡焊两个接头(类似于插座与插头),然后将起博器固定好,再将起博线的插头与起博器的插座联好后,即开始起博. 起博器上有三个旋钮,可按需要设定起博的强度,波宽,频率. 起博频率的设定可用PowerLab或任何一种能测量电脉冲频率的仪器完成. 也可用动物的动脉脉搏波来即使监控.起博器上的控制面板没有刻度.

5. 用户情况:

此起博器已在美国成功地用于兔及狗 10 余年, 2007 年开始进入中国市埸。
上海泽生科技开发有限公司引进10 余套 EP 6877 起博器后，成功地应用此起博器建立狗的心衰模型，开展新药研究。
徐州市心血管研究所已签定购买合同, 将应用此起博器建立狗的心衰模型，开展心衰发生发展机理的研究。


Operational Specifications:

Battery requirement: one standard size 9 volt alkaline battery.

Output signal specifications –

Pulse amplitude width and rate are adjustable between the following values:

Signal Amplitude: Max = 8.0 vdc ; Min = 0.8 vdc
Pulse wide: Max =4.msec; Min = 0.2msec
Pulse Rate: Max=460 pulses per min(interval=130msec)
Min=120 pulses per min (interval= 500msec)

Battery life: In excess of 72 days when tested under continuous operation with a 100 ohm load, 1.0 msec pulse width and 300 pulses per min and a fresh battery to an endpoint of 2.8 volts. Output amplitude on day 1 was 8.0 volts DC and 2.8 volts on day 72. Battery life in actual use will vary depending on a variety of conditions, hut should be in excess of 60 days in most cases. The output pulse width and rate did not change over the 72 day test period. Always start a new experiment with a fresh battery. Output voltage will fall during prolonged use, slowly at first, and more rapidly as the battery drains. This causes need for regular monitoring of the animal and perhaps slight adjustments of the output amplitude to ensure the cardiac rhythm remains entrained.


Physical Specifications

Dimensions of polyethylene Case:
Height=6.0 cm; Width=5.3 cm; Depth=2.1 cm

Total Weight (without battery) 26.0 gm
(with battery-Duracell) 70.5gm


Surgical Procedure and Instrumentation
Male dogs weighing 25 to 27 kg were sedated with acepromazine maleate (1 mg/kg IM), anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (25 mg/kg IV), and ventilated with room air.
A thoracotomy was performed in the left fifth intercostal space. Catheters (Tygon) were placed in the descending thoracic aorta and left atrial appendage for pressure measurements. A third catheter was inserted in the coronary sinus (CS) with the tip leading away from the right atrium.
During the surgery, a blood sample was taken from the CS catheter and immediately measured on a pH/blood gas analyzer. If the PO2 was >25 mm Hg, the catheter was repositioned and tied into place.
A screw-type, unipolar myocardial pacing lead was placed on the left ventricle (LV).
Wires and catheters were run subcutaneously to the intrascapular region, the chest was closed in layers, and the pneumothorax was reduced.
Antibiotics were given after surgery, and the dogs were allowed to fully recover.
After 10 days, dogs were trained to lie quietly on the laboratory table.


Heart Electrodes for rabbits


1. Each Electrode set consists of 1 Black and 1 Red electrode. The black electrode attaches to the heart on the left ventricle with 5-0 or 6-0 cardiovascular suture. Use at least 2 stitches through the mersilene mesh to attach the electrode to the heart muscle points down into the muscle (3 or 4 at opposing corners is best). The red electrode is the indifferent electrode and can be placed on another portion of the left ventricle as far as possible from the black electrode or on a muscle in the chest. Stitch through the loop at 2 separate points to attach the electrode as desired. Stabilize the wires by stitching down the wires to muscle in the chest prior to exiting the wires.
2. The mersilene mesh can be trimmed to fit the rabbit heart. You need to leave enough to stitch to the heart. This size is a surgeon preference.
3. The black electrode will connect to the black wire on the pacer and the red electrode will attach to the red wire on the pacer.
4. After implantation and exit of the electrode wires on the scapular region of the rabbit, solder the male pin to the tip of the black wire and the female socket to the tip of the red wire. Use small shrink tube to cover the solder points and to strengthen the area of pin attachment.
5. Keep excess wire coiled and taped up on the scapular area until ready to attach to the pacer. Keep covered by some manner of jacket otherwise the rabbit WILL chew the wires off.
6. These electrodes are for single use only.
7. Electrodes must be gas sterilized. They will be damaged and unusable if autoclaved or chemically sterilized.