Calculating Charge & Battery Life of Pacemakers

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the charge and battery life of pacemakers utilizing lithium-iodine batteries that provide 0.42 A·h of charge. The total charge supplied by the battery is determined to be 1512 coulombs using the formula Q = I × t, where t is converted from hours to seconds. Additionally, the average current of 5.6 microamperes (mcA) is clarified, leading to the conclusion that understanding the unit conversions is essential for determining the device's expected lifetime.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrical units, specifically amperes and coulombs
  • Familiarity with the concept of current and its measurement in microamperes
  • Knowledge of battery specifications, particularly lithium-iodine batteries
  • Basic proficiency in using the formula Q = I × t for charge calculations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and applications of lithium-iodine batteries in medical devices
  • Learn about unit conversions in electrical engineering, especially between amperes and microamperes
  • Explore the implications of battery life calculations for pacemaker design and patient care
  • Investigate the impact of current draw on the longevity of battery-operated medical devices
USEFUL FOR

Medical device engineers, biomedical technicians, and anyone involved in the design and maintenance of pacemakers or similar battery-operated medical devices.

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Pacemakers which are designed for long-term use commonly employ a lithium-iodine battery capable of supplying 0.42 A x h of charge. (a) How many coloumbs of charge can such a battery supply? (b) If the average current produced by the pacemaker is 5.6 mcA, what is the expected lifetime of the device?

I am pretty sure I have to use the equation I = Q/t, so Q = It? How do I get t, since it is not mentioned at all? Does this have anything to do with the "x h" mentioned in the problem?
 
Last edited:
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what unit make up an Ampere??

since I = Q/t
and time is in what units?

can you figure out how to d oyour problem now??
 
A = C/s, so C = As = (0.42)(3600) = 1512C. As for part (b), what is 5.6 mcA? I see the A, but was does mc mean?
 
Last edited:
FlipStyle1308 said:
A = C/s, so C = As = (0.42)(3600) = 1512C. As for part (b), what is 5.6 mcA? I see the A, but was does mc mean?

mc = micro (althouhg usually they use the symbol mu \mu)

micro = 10^-6
 
Okay, I correctly solved this problem, thank you!
 

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