AN EXPERIMENT OF THE INTRAMUSCULAR DIAPHRAGM PACEMAKER WHICH CAN BE CONTROLLED BY THE ENDTIDAL CO₂

Abstract

An intramuscular diaphragm pacemaker which can be controlled by the end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) was developed. A couple of unipolar electrodes were attached into dog's diaphragm. The animal's metabolism was elevated and the pacing rate was controlled by ETCO₂. A biphasic cathodal waveform was used. The burst frequency and the pulse width were 23Hz and 0.15msec, respectively. The current amplitude was submaximal. PaCO₂ was maintained at a constant value and the effective ventilation was achieved.