SIMULATION OF SINUS NODE ACTIVITY BY AN ELECTRONIC RELAXATION OSCILLATOR

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Abstract
After the sinus node was destroyed, its rhythmic activity was simulated by an electronic relaxation oscillator coupled to the beating heart. The output of the oscillator was used to stimulate the right atrium, and the ventricular response was returned to the input of the relaxation oscillator. By manually varying the frequency of this artificial pacemaker it was possible to produce changes in the rate of the atrio–ventricular (A–V) node similar to those obtained by perfusion of the intact sinus node with chronotropic agents. Particular attention was paid to the transitions from "oscillator" rhythm to A–V nodal rhythm, and vice versa. The results provide support for the following hypotheses relative to the intact heart: (i) some form of sinus node activity persists during A–V nodal rhythm, and (ii) the principal pacemakers of the heart, the sinus and A–V nodes, behave as a system of coupled relaxation oscillators.

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