ARTICLES

Baikal medical appliances – full pulse of life

The first cardiac pacemakers (EKS) have been successfully implanted at the end of 50th. As is generally known, the Cardiac Pacemakers are the medical devices granting a chance to prolong life for people with cardiac pathologies. This invention has helped to millions of people. Expediency of treatment by implantation of EKS, as well as its medical and social value are universally recognized by surgeons and cardiologists all over the world.

At the beginning of 90th the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod” (IMZ), supported by powerful industrial and technical potential of the defence enterprise, has started development and manufacture of EKS and Programmers under the "Baikal" trade mark.

Today IMZ is one of leaders in the market of domestic cardiac pacemakers.

The manufacture of cardiac pacemakers implements high-clean and high-precision technologies, as well as materials, resistant against biological environment.

The first cardiac pacemaker EKS-500 (VVI type) has appeared in 1988.

Latest "know-how" in micro circuitry together with domestic small-size lithium-iodide cell has enabled creation and manufacture of EKS-501 (VVI type) of twice smaller size and weight as compared with EKS-500. Although the latter is in series production for more than fifteen years, the demand for it remains stable.

As a following step in the field of cardiac pacing emerged the SSI-type EKS-321-IMZ which can be used for pacing both ventricles and atriums.

Upon meticulous marketing research and detailed study of medical practice in EKS application the conclusion has been drawn on necessity to develop essentially new form-factor.

As a result of analysis of recent world-leaders’ projects in pacemaker production appeared a stream-lined eardrop-shaped design - new form-factor which facilitates implantation and promotes both convenient and reliable connection with electrode. On the basis of this design the Implantable Programmable Cardiac Pacemakers have been developed, such as “EKS-310-IMZ”, unipolar type, and “EKS-323-IMZ”, bipolar type. Their stimulation data clone those of predecessors, though the weight and size have significantly reduced.

Currently IMZ serially makes eight models of EKS; two more run through implementation phase. In 2006 the manufacture of monolocular EKS - “BAIKAL-SC” of SSI type started. It differs from the previous models in shape, small weight (23 g) and expanded programming data adjustable individually for each patient. Additionally “Baikal-SC” accommodates the telemetering communication channel which noticeably simplifies the surgeon’s work in operation and postoperative period.

By reading out the pacemaker data, the doctor monitors both cardiac activity of patient and overall performance of device. At the present time "Baikal-SC" surpasses all the Russian analogues and ranks between the best foreign pacemakers.

Next phase includes developmental works and launching in series manufacture of a bilocular DDD-type pacemaker “Baikal–DDD” intended for patients with severe cardiac pathologies. The EKS supports all necessary operating functions of a bilocular pacemaker plus the critical auto-switch function to monitor stimulation modes depending on actual cardiac rhythm and thus appreciably improves the rhythm control. One more version of a bilocular pacemaker – “BAIKAL-DC” is developed, technical capacities of which clone the “BAIKAL-DDD”, the size and weight being reduced by half.

New monolocular pacemaker “Baikal–332” offers two options: dia 5.2 mm or 3.2 mm connectors. The EKS excels in extended values of all quantitative data. Programmable by the “PROGREKS–05” Universal Programmers.

Programmer consists of the programming control block and magnetic or telemetering programming heads connected. Adaptation of programmer for new pacemaker models requires updating of software.

New EKS models have passed all kinds of technical and medical tests; their batch production now is launched. All tried-and-true models feature a high degree of unification.

On the basis of effectively proven technologies IMZ pursues now the exploratory projects of small-size mono- and bilocular frequency-adaptive EKS “Baikal-SR” and “Baikal-DR”.

The upgraded models of implantable pacemakers meet strict requirements of technical assignments comprising results of marketing research and detailed studies in medical practice.

Actually Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod is the unique enterprise in Russia enjoying own "know-how" in domain of microelectronic circuitry that stipulate steady perfection of EKS and guarantee high quality of these devices.

Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod takes regular part in the All-Russia Congress of Cardiovascular Surgeons (annually) and All-Russia Congress of Arrhythmologists (every two years). The EKS options such as “Baikal-SC”, “Baikal-332” and “PROGREKS-05-IMZ” Programmer have been specifically distinguished, much attention being also paid to «Baikal-DC». In 2002 and 2005 IMZ was awarded by diplomas of winners in the All-Russia contest "The 100 best products in Russia” for implantable EKS-321-IMZ and EKS-323-IMZ.

Economic issues of cardiac pacemakers are of great importance, as procedure of implantation relates to expensive ones. EKS, offered by Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod, are more economical than their foreign and even domestic analogues.

Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod has succeeded to provide RF Ministry of Health and Social Development by national affordable and reliable pacemakers with advanced facilities.

Engineering solutions originally incorporated and effectively proven in products have allowed IMZ to pioneer the way for domestic EKS producers and enter the foreign markets.

IMZ dealers successfully represent the cardiac pacemakers in the Russian market, their volume of annual orders grows up.

Year after year the dynamics of implantations goes up; the children’s implantation has noticeably increased. In Russia the cardiac pacemakers are implantable in over 100 clinics. Owing to EKS the patients come back to their usual rhythm of life: work, study, car driving and outdoor activity.

Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod receives many favourable comments of EKS from people of different age. For example, an inhabitant of Voronezh-city writes: “Hello, clever brains, creators and saviors! From the bottom of my heart I thank you for the invaluable device which has prolonged my life for 9 years. Recently I’ve got implanted by second EKS made by Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod. I hope, with the help of God this device will serve as long as the first one”.